My Daughters

My Daughters
my cute daughters

Monday, October 6, 2014

Who is Jesus?




Sometimes, I get really wonderful Whatsapp messages which I like to convert into my blog post. Some days back I received this message on Whatsapp and I just loved it. Immediately, I thought of making it my blog post but I couldn’t do so. Today since I have some spare time and so I thought that I should be making this message into my blog post. Here’s an excerpt from the message:

Who is Jesus?
In Chemistry, He turned water into wine.
In Biology, He was born without the normal conception.
In Physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven.
In Economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes and 5 loaves of bread.
In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.
In History, He is the beginning and the end.
In Government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.
In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him.
So, who is He? He is Jesus!
Join me and let’s celebrate Him; He is worthy.
In Him I have found everything. The greatest Man in History. Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb yet He lives today. I feel honoured to serve such a Leader who loves us.

Even I feel honoured to serve Him. I feel restless when I don’t take His name. Last week, I had gone to my brother’s place for spending some Festive Moments with them during the Happy Holidays. Though I loved to spend these Festive Moments as a family, I really missed Jesus. Though before marriage I used to celebrate the Vanity Fair myself, I found all these extremely superficial now. Instead of worshipping, I found people more interested in walking the ramp. Same thing used to happen during my time also and I realized that nothing has changed. Same things are happening even now albeit at a higher level -- it’s so disgusting!

So I am proud to be a child of Jesus now whom I can call my own. I am extremely privileged to be in His family.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Woman of the Home

This morning I received this beautiful message on Whatsapp.

In Luke 7, Jesus observed a huge funeral procession in Nain. The entire town was present over there. He observed the young men and women weeping. He observed the pastors and apostles weeping. He observed the elders weeping. He observed the fathers weeping. He observed the children weeping. He observed the sadness on all their faces. Nothing seemed to move Him, until HE SAW THE MOTHER. The Bible says He had compassion when He saw her and immediately raised her boy from the dead. (Luke 7:12- 15) It was the cry of a mother that moved the Heart of God. Mothers who cry before the Lord for their families, marriages, for their homes, move the heart of God. When mothers stop praying for their families (especially children) perish. Satan gets a foothold and starts destroying the home, yet when they return to their rightful place as the anchor of the home, demonic strongholds get demolished. In Psalms 17, 36, 57, 63 and 91, God’s role is likening that of a mother. As a mother protects, upholds and defends her children, so does God also protects us under the shadow of His wings. We find refuge there and can hide there until the danger is over. A mother’s role is so vital that a father cannot get his prayers answered if he dishonours/disrespects her (1 Peter 3: 7). Because of this favours over mothers, they are also the most attacked people in their homes (the powerhouse in the home). Yet the Lord has put inside mothers, grace and resilience, to overcome any situation. Today, as the woman of the home, consider yourself blessed. Consider yourself highly favoured and consider yourself dangerous when you pray.

So I am feeling highly favoured and blessed right now. This message has answered all my doubts and soothed all my pains. Now I am ready to run my race. Now I am ready to take up my daily cross smilingly, patiently and without any inhibitions. This message has come to me at the right time. As a mother of the home, I have to be strong and carry on with all trials and tribulations. I am not alone – Jesus Christ is always there with me – He’s my strength. And His momma, Momma Mary, is always there interceding to Him for me. I just have to “do whatever He tells me to”.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

God understands...




The heart is restless but the faith in it is immense. There is restlessness because not much is happening in the work front – a person who had been multitasking with 3-4 jobs in hand suddenly has not much to do. There’s a sinking feeling in the heart but the faith in it whispers that everything will be alright – the Lord will straighten all the crooked paths. He will make even all the valleys and mountains of our life – I just need to keep trusting in Him. He knows well when to end these testing times! I just need to persevere, just go on!!!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Happy and gay!




Today after a very long time I am not under pressure. Whenever it’s like this, I like to write down my thoughts as a blog post. I don’t have anything particular to write about, but I am writing just because I have time and the inkling – these two are becoming extremely rare for me nowadays.

Yesterday we celebrated 15 years of togetherness – yesterday was the day we had met up at Dadar station and Golu had proposed to me and the rest is history. We had a good time yesterday though it wasn’t raining all that heavily like the original day. Actually, an original is always an original and no matter what, it cannot be duplicated. We just have to live with the memories for the rest of our lives and 19th June, 1999, will always have fond memories for us.

And now that I have time and inkling today, I just don’t know what to write. May be it happens with everyone – when we are caught up with a busy schedule we yearn for something and our minds run to different things that we like to do – and when we have the time, we don’t have that same feeling.

Well, I am happy that Sunday school finally opens on this Sunday. I will be busy with Confirmation classes. This will be my third year as a Confirmation catechist and I still don’t know anything. I will have to start from scratch for each lesson – I will have to study and research like earlier. But I am glad; it will keep me busy in a productive way. I will be happy and gay!

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Oreo




It happens to be my favourite biscuit brand. Incidentally, it’s the only biscuit brand that I like to have. I love the taste of it – l like to dip them in either tea or coffee and enjoy myself! It’s a kind of luxury for me and it rejuvenates me to the core. But I will have to stop my luxurious enjoyment from June onwards because I will not be able to afford them anymore. I will have to give up my luxury.

Much more than that, as an act of sacrifice, I want to give up eating Oreo till July 11. I will have coffee and Oreo on my birthday – not before that! It’s kind of small act of penance for the Lord to listen to my prayers for giving us back the financial condition we used to enjoy before this crisis struck us! It’s not that the Lord doesn’t listen to my prayers; it’s just that I want to sacrifice a bit to earn what I deserve. We weren’t rolling in luxury but maybe us or rather I was insensitive to the need of others. It’s quite possible that I was blind to someone’s financial need or maybe I was taking life too easily. So I ask pardon from God for being insensitive to someone’s need or unknowingly and unintentionally laughing or commenting on someone’s financial situation.

And so as an act of penance, I give up my most favourite Oreo till my birthday – 11th July – my most favourite day!!!

Friday, May 30, 2014

It will keep me sane!



Sometimes you like to do things only for sheer pleasure – not for any financial gains! Last year, exactly at this time of the year, it was PROJECT T and this year it’s going to be Woman's Beautiful World for me.

What is this Woman's Beautiful World? It’s nothing but fine jewellery, watch, clothes and beauty trendsetting news site or rather a blog for women! Only for women – all woman-related interesting write ups and news and features and other things! I really don’t know what will be the financial gain from it but it’s something I want to do. I know it will keep me happy. It will keep me sane!

I have experimented with a lot of things and my instinct says that I will be happy doing this. Like the way I tried PROJECT T last year, I want to try out Woman's Beautiful World this year. My heart tells me I will be happy. When the pressures of the world will madden me, Woman's Beautiful World will surely gladden me!

I have already started getting so many likes for my posts. It’s really very encouraging. I have few followers also. Though this is not my first blog, it’s going to be my first step as a professional blogger with a lot of woman-oriented features and write ups. A whisper within me tells me it will be my solace when things become tougher!!!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Happiness, where art thou?




I have tears in my eyes right now. Nowadays I cry a lot – because I am unable to handle so much of work pressure. The new assignment which I have taken up from April 1 is very stressful – it leaves me completely drained off! I have absolutely no time to do anything – right from cooking, to talking to my daughters, to even doing regular household chores – I am completely at the mercy of my assignment! I do them only if I have time and most of the times I don’t get the time.

It’s so annoying to be not able to do anything except go on trolling for news from across the globe. Why should I be interested in knowing what’s happening around the world when I don’t know what my daughters are doing in their May school holidays. It’s so frustrating to see them only watch television throughout the day because we are not able to go out on short trips the way we used to earlier! There is no break from this mundane news search! I am so frustrated!

I am at the computer from the time I wake up in the morning till late at night and on top of that, I get to hear unhealthy things about my work. It’s extremely demotivating – I can’t react back because I need this job. I am stressed out.

I can’t even blog but I have been intending to write a post with the above title – and then today I saw this beautiful necklace. It gave me a good feeling and there were tears in my eyes and I started writing this post – something in me stirred after seeing this necklace and it brought back my vigour to write! I am feeling nice to vent my feelings through this post; feeling like good old times!

But one thing is for sure – the Lord is there with me during these testing times! He has not forsaken me and He has not forgotten me. He sees the tears I shed everyday and I am sure that He intentionally brought up this beautiful necklace to perk me up! He knows I like jewellery and that’s the reason He is speaking to me through this necklace! The Lord always speaks to His people through circumstances, situations and may be objects – He is speaking to me through this diamond necklace!

He is telling me, Jubilee, my child, don’t be disheartened. I am always with you. He wants me to look at the beauty of this necklace and remind myself that how much more beautiful the Lord Himself is. He is much more beautiful than the beauty of ten such necklaces – He’s awesome, He’s incomparable, He is compassionate and He is counting all my tears and witnessing all my hardship. He will reward me at His own time. I just have to be patient and rely on His well-timed plans. I have to keep trusting in Him!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter Sunday



Acts 10: 34, 37 - 43

And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality,
the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;
not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."



Psalms 118: 1 - 2, 16 - 17, 22 - 23

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.




Colossians 3: 1 - 4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.




John 20: 1 - 9

Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first;
and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Koi Diamond




The Koi Diamond, an elongated pear shaped stone, was found more than a decade ago in in the Republic of Congo and was cut from the original 60-carat rough diamond. The diamond, it was agreed by all gemological experts involved, cannot be graded. In its polished form, the diamond displays an unusual color mix of light yellow, dark blue, black - and orange, which is the stone's dominant hue. Due to its colorless zones, the diamond is almost striped, the patterns and colors being very much reminiscent of the Koi, the ornamental, Japanese variety of carp, which are often seen in the ponds or water gardens of the Orient.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Today's Bible Readings and Gospel



1st Reading

Ezk 37:12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel.
And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD."


2nd Reading

Rom 8:8-11


and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.


Gospel

Jn 11:1-45


Now a certain man was ill, Laz'arus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Laz'arus was ill.
So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it."
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus.
So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again."
The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?"
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep."
The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead;
and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the tomb four days.
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house.
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."
When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."
And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.
Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.
When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled;
and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."
Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."
Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me."
When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out."
The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him;

PS: All the three readings of today touched me so much that I was in tears during the Gospel. Each and every verse held such a deep meaning for me.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Family Retreat, Feb 7 to 9, 2014



These are some of my most favorite Bible quotes which I picked up during the Family Retreat from Feb 7 to 9 at my St. Joseph Church, Mira Road (East).