Sunday, November 30, 2008

Ishru!! (Mk13:33)

Our Maltese “Ishru!” (Mk 13:33) combines: “Stay awake!” and “Keep watch!”. Hence for me, as Maltese, it is more appropriate to use this imperative ;-) (I am thankful that i am Catholic but I am ALSO thankful to be Maltese because ours is a VERY RICH and beautiful language :-)

So Jesus says: “Ishru!” (Mark 13:33)
…it is not an option but rather an imperative!
“Ishru!” Jesus repeats a while later! (Mk 13:37)

And as i heard these words being read i remembered God's cry:

"Could you not watch with me for one hour?"
(Mt 26:40)

"He went back to his disciples and found them asleep, and he said to Peter, “Could you not stay awake with me for even an hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you may not slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak.” " (Mt 26:40,41)

Today's "Ishru!" (Mk 13:33 and 37) and God's cry "Could you not watch with me for one hour?" (Mt 26:40) were said in different contexts and perhaps they are hardly related yet, on this day: 1st Sunday of Advent, as i remembered the both, they seemed to be linked:

we wait in hope and prepare ourselves for the Birth of Christ Jesus. In So doing i, and all, are invited to visit Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist :-)

"Could you not watch with me for one hour?"
(Mt 26:40)
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As God’s “Ishru!” is being announced in all Catholic Churches today, on this the 1st Sunday of Advent, a song echoes: questioning: “Will We Be Sleeping?”

Thursday, November 27, 2008

my King, THE King! :-)

We have all heard (beautiful) sermons and homilies on God who humbled Himself such to become man. YET how many times have we actually delved into this truth? …pondering a while this GREAT KING who refuses to be proud?!
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In a few days time Advent will commence! It is a time whereby we shall wait with hope and in preparation so that we may celebrate the birth of the Child Jesus. A time whereby we shall reflect further on this great and wonderous miracle! In so doing we are bound to recall these words:

“Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the kingdom of David, His ancestor; He will rule over the people of Jacob for­­ever and His reign shall have no end.”

(Luke 1:30-33)

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We wait in hope and prepare for the coming of the Child Jesus during Advent.

We rejoice at the miraculous birth of this Holy Child on Christmas Day!

YET we celebrate

the Feast of the King of Kings

before any of this commences!!!!

…we just did!
Last Sunday!!!! :-)

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“Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the kingdom of David, His ancestor; He will rule over the people of Jacob for­­ever and His reign shall have no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)



Life begins at the moment of conception and right from the very start Mary is told:

"He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the kingdom of David, His ancestor; He will rule over the people of Jacob For­­ever and His reign shall have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

Mary is told …We are told!
A King …or rather THE King… is on His way!

Right from moment 1 (this being conception) we are told!!!!!
NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT!!!!! :-)

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Yet who is this King?

One can say loads about this King ...i guess... yet NO ONE can answer that FOR anybody! Each one us us must answer that for him/herself.

Who is this King to YOU?

Have YOU met Him?

Do YOU know Him?

WHO is this King?

I can ONLY answer for myself!
The reason: Christ is the same yesterday, today and always YET Christ is different to each and every one of us …depending on what relationship we have with Him. :-)

Does Christ love us the same? DEFINITELY!

Does Christ care for me, just a ruth (i.e. who sins as bad as anyone else) as He cares for the holiest person on earth? DEFINITELY! …hmmm I’m tempted to say that, precisely for the same reason, God might actually give me a little more attention ;-)

Yet this King is different to each of us:

My name is ruth and I am me YET the relationship I have with different people leads them to see and relate to “ruth” differently. For my parents, WHO HAVE CO-OPERATED WITH GOD (thank you pa u ma) in order that I may have life, I am ruth: daughter, cherished, this that and the other etc… For my friends, whom I see or speak with less frequently I am still ruth but a “different” ruth! I am me all along …but the interpretation of “ruth” will vary according to how well the person knows me! It is the same for anybody! It is the same for Christ too. (vis a vis how we humans relate to Him and not vice versa! God knows the REAL me whether I relate to Him or not!)

WHO is this King?

YOU must answer! NO ONE can answer that FOR YOU!!

i must answer! NO ONE can do that FOR ME!!

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It is said that pictures are worth a thousand words:


That ^ is the picture which speaks best of the King whom i have come to know* :-)

(“Know” sounds presumptious ...yet it is God Himself who comes to us! Hence if I …or anyone for that matter… have met and come to know Christ it is NOT because i deserve to know but solely because God in His BIG and infinate mercy reveals Himself to us! God does so particularly through His Word, The Catholic Teachings, the Sacraments and through Holy People …and I have met many of the latter! Also by “know” I do not mean COMPLETELY know!! Far from it!!!! A human mind and heart can never come to fully know God! …well those who know Christ know what I mean ;-) …and they know it is hard/impossible to explain what I mean lol!)

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

“Iżżu ħajr lil Alla f’Kollox!!!” (1 Thess 5:18)

Għaddiet ġimgħa sħiħa.
Bdiet oħra ġdida.
U f’dawn il-ġranet
Għalkemm ma ktibtx darba
Kelma waħda baqqgħet tidwi ġewwa fija:

“Iżżu ħajr lil Alla f’kollox!”
(1 Thess 5:18)

Ma ktibtx …iżda qalbi hija mimlija ringrazzjament.
Ċertament li mhux dejjem nifhem u/jew napprezza kollox
(…trid tara nintebaħx l-ewwel!!!!!)
Iżda nifhem u napprezza li Alla jħobbni u ma jitlaqni qatt. :-)

Nifhem u napprezza li Alla kontinwament jagħtini
(…u jagħtina fil-fatt …għaliex Alla jagħmel dan ma' kulħadd! :-)
bosta barkiet …illi forsi xi drabi anqas nintebħu bihom!
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Veru li f’Malta wkoll:
il-parteċipazzjoni (minn naħa tagħna l-lajċi) fil-Knisja qed tonqos iżda minkejja dan hawn ukoll BOSTA li qed jagħtu s-sehem tagħhom! Bosta li …anke jekk mhux qed jagħtu sehem daqstant viżibli fil-Knisja… qegħdin iqaddsuhA permezz tat-talb u x-xhieda, bla ebda daqq tat-trombi, tagħhom. Hawn ħafna li qed iħaddnu l-Fidi Kattolika u jagħmlu ħilithom biex, bil- għajnuna t’Alla jgħixuhA mill-aħjar li jistgħu!! :-)

Bi grazzja t’Alla aħna wkoll, bħal fil-kumplament tal-Parroċċi Maltin, kellna l-Assemblea Parrokkjali …u għalkemm l-attendenza ma kenitx xi waħda fenomenali madanakollu kien hemm numru sabiħ u spirtu ta’ ħeġġa. Xi ħaġa li lili fakkritni li tassew li aħna, għalkemm differenti, membri ta’ Ġisem wieħed. …il-Ġisem Mistiku ta’ Kristu!!! :-)
..........
Iżda mhuwhiex ta’ dan biss li jiena nirringrazzja lil Alla! :-)
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F’Malta għandna diversi Quddies f’kull post! KULJUM!
...xi ħadd li jaf li noqgħod quddiem il-knisja, ftit tal-ġranet ilu, qalli:
“ruth inti QATT m’għandek skuża tajba
biex ma tieħux sehem fil-Quddiesa”
OUCH! ;-)
...iżda ma setax ikollu iżjed raġun!! :-)
…u żgur li mhux kulħadd joqgħod pass minn Knisja …iżda f’Malta mpossibbli nemmen li xi ħadd għandu iżjed minn kwarta biex jasal għal Knisja ;-) …

Kristu jinżel mis-sema KULJUM bosta drabi sempliċiment biex

JIENA nista’ nirċeviH!
Biex INTI tista tirċeviĦ!

L-Attendenza u l-parteċipażżjoni fil-Knisja f’ħafna partijiet tad-dinja qegħda tonqos …iżda nemmen li hemm ħeġġa sabiħa …forsi wkoll qaddisa… f’dawk li jieħdu sehem. Nemmen li din hija grazzja!! :-)

…bix-xieraq nirringrazzja lil Alla le? ;-)
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Fuq nota kemmxejn differenti …iżda wkoll relatata…
Dan il-vidjo huwa ntenzjonat għat-tfal iżda lilna, li aħna tikk’akbar, żgur li ma jgħamlilniex ħsara! ;-P
F’dawn l-aħħar ġimgħat, minħabba li kellhom xi konvivenzi, il-ma u l-pa mhux dejjem kienu hawn fil-“weekends”. Huma, bħal uħud mill-aħwa l-oħra fil-Komunita tagħhom, semgħu l-Kelma u wasslu l-Kelma li semgħu… Jiena ma kontx magħhom u anqas ħuti …iżda NAF li l-Kelma li semgħu kienet waħda qawwija. NAF għaliex għalkemm ma smajtiex, smajthom jitkellmu fuqha ...u smajt biċċa minnha ;-)

Il-ma kellha katekeżi dwar il-Kant il-ġdid għal din is-sena li jitratta Żakkew.
Kiko jkanta l-Kant il-ġdid ġewwa Sydney 2008)

Ċertament li ma nistax nidħol f’dettal iżda nista ngħid li din il-katekeżi, billi traduċejtilha jien, smajtha b’attenzjoni ta’ l-inqas erba darbiet …u dan biex ma nsemmix kemm il-darba smajt lil ma tgħidili sakemm qed ‘titgħallimha’!!! ;-)

Il-Qari ta’ llum huwa dwar Żakkew (Luke 19:1-10) u bla ma rrid erġajt smajt Kelma li smajtha bosta drabi tul dawn l-aħħar ġimgħat!

L-aktar kelma qawwija:
Zaccheo sei tu!!
Zaccheo sono venuto per TE!!!
(Żakkew inti! Żakkew ġejt GĦALIK!!!)
…li Kristu jiġi għal-midneb!
...Li Kristu jiġi għalija!
...Li Kristu jiġi APPOSTA!

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Abraham:

“Rafa għajnejħ u ħares, u ra tlitt irġiel weqfin quddiemu;
u malli rahom mar jiġri jilqagħhom mill-bieb ta’ l-għarix
u nxteħet wiċċu fl-art quddiemhom. U qal:
“Sidi jekk jien sibt ħniena f’għajnejk, tibqax għaddej!”
(Ġen 18: 2,3)

L-Għama ta’ Ġeriko:

“Meta sema li Ġesu kien Ġesu ta’ Nażaret
qabad jgħajjat u jgħid:
“Ġesu, bin David, ikollok ħniena minni!”
(Mark 11:47)

Iżda llum mhuwhiex jien li nwaqqaf lil Kristu
iżda huwa HU STESS li jieqaf quddiemi!!!
Illum Kristu, ALLA!, jssejjaħ lili!!!

“Ġesu kif wasal hemm, ħares ‘il fuq u qallu:
“Żakkew, isa, inżel min hemm
għax illum jeħtieġli noqgħod għandek!”
(Luke 19:5)

…kif nista jiena nibqa’ għaddejja?!
…kif nista jiena nibqa’ passiva?!


…forsi għalhekk li l-Kliem:

“Jiena naf l-opri tiegħek, u naf li la inti kiesaħ u lanqas sħun. M’hux li kont jew kiesaħ jew sħun! U hekk la darba inti biered, u la sħun u lanqas kiesaħ jiena nobżqok minn ġo ħalqi!” (Rev 3:15,16)
…jagħmel aktar sens!
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“Min għandu widnejn,
ħa jisma’ x’jgħid l-Ispirtu lill-Knejjes.”
(Rev 3:22)

Li jiena nisma' ifisser li jiena NGĦIX din il-kelma:

“Il-fidi mela tiġi mis-smiegħ,
u s-smiegħ mix-xandir tal-Kelma ta’ Kristu!”
(Rom 10:17)

Biex inxandar jenħtieġ li NGĦIX il-fidi! ;-)
Ara:
(jekk tixtieq :-)

Monday, November 10, 2008

Does Jesus really 'hurt' when i sin? (a reflection)


I've heard young children asking that and i'm not sure i ever gave it much thought. Yet today's Gospel was God asking us ...me... to forgive continually (Luke 17:1-6) and it got me thinking a little about forgiveness...
One line which immediately came to mind was that verse in the prayer which Jesus taught us to pray whereby it says: "Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who trespass against us"
...hmmm we SURE NEED TO forgive to be forgiven!! ;-)
Then i remembered that line which says that should i, whilst taking up my offering, remember that my brother has sinned against me, i should leave it there and go to him to make amends with him.
...hmmmm so it's HIS fault and I go make amends??
...hmmm.... ;-)
...And then came to mind Jesus' words: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do!"
...em? ...isn't that EXACTLY like the what Jesus was talking about when He spoke of making peace with a brother before taking up my offering? ...as in: When Jesus was OFFERING HIMSELF UP to God He comes to forgive us!!!!!!!!! It was NOT JESUS who had something against us but US ...ME... who sinned against Him ...and He comes to forgive us!!!!!!!! ...further more He even excuses us: "...for they know not what they do!" ...WOW!!!
...one thing leads to another and somehow it got me thinking about that question...
"Does Jesus really 'hurt' when i sin?"
Some people say that when we sin we don't really 'hurt' Jesus. They say that " It's only a way of speaking ...Jesus is not actually 'hurt'. "
Well i am no one to say...
...but what i think and/or believe?
I believe that TRULY God is hurt when i sin. Very simply:
sin = saying 'NO' to God and 'YES' to the evil one
Honestly i believe that in doing such i hurt God. 'Hurt God' in the sense that well i'm disobeying aren't i? A loving parent is hurt when his/her child disobeys ...especially if the child does so deliberately.

Yet, putting that aside i believe that God's hurt is much deeper than that.

Adam "hid" because he had sinned. (Gen 3:8)
Moses "fled" because he had sinned. (Ex 2:15)
Peter "wept bitterly" because he had sinned. (Lk 22:62)
Judas "hanged himself" because he had sinned. (Mt 27:5)

...Each time someone sinned they got themselves hurt!!!
Sin hurts us!

When we sin we hurt ourselves!
When i sin i hurt myself!!

God Loves us dearly! He does!! (John 10:15)
And He wants us to be happy! (John 15:11)

A loving parent (human) does not want his/her child to be hurt! If and when the child is hurt the parent is hurt too ...because a caring parent will feel with and for his son or daughter!!

...and if a parent (human) can do such...
...if a parent (human) can be hurt when his/her child is hurt...
...how much more so God then?! GOD!!!!!!
...God who is Himself LOVE!!!! (1Jn 4:8)

God loves us sooooo much!!! Yes i believe God is truly hurt when we hurt ourselves. When one of my relatives or friends has been hurt, i, ruth, because i CARE about him or her will feel hurt too. If i, human and sinful am hurt then God, GOD who is INFINATE LOVE is MUCH MORE HURT when He sees me or anyone else hurting!
...Because GOD CARES!!!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

“Il-Ħeġġa għal Darek KILITNI”!!!! (Jn 2:17)

Versions for this sentence vary. In Maltese we have two terms being used: “fnietni” (consumes me) and “kilitni” (devours me).

Likewise in English:

"Zeal for your house will consume me."
(Jn 2:17, New American Bible)

“Zeal for your house devours me.”
(Jn 2:17, Christian Community Bible (Catholic Pastoral Edition))

…is there a difference?
Well I’m not sure…
…but if you ask me?...

BOTH terms are hardly pleasant!!

“fnietni” (consumes me) – ouch! It almost hurts!!!
When something “consumes me” it hurts …it drains all my energy!!!

“kilitni” (devours me) – ouch ouch!!!! That SURE hurts!!!
The Maltese term I should think is MUCH stronger than the English tem! It practically links “consumes” and “devours” taking the meaning of devoured me “from the inside”!

"Zeal" remains unchanged.

…and I guess we all know what zeal is :-)
…I think I’d define it as something like: BIG enthusiasm, a deep longing, a very very VERY strong fervour… and because it is "zeal" …all that takes HOLY before it :-) …a Holy BIG enthusiasm, a Holy deep longing. ...well fervour is holy already I would say :-)

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Il-Ħeġġa għal Darek kilitni”!!!!
(Jn 2:17)

...why am I going into these details?
Because words have meaning!
And THESE words are EXTREMELY strong!!!
"
Zeal for Your House devours me!
"
(Jn 2:17)
…Yes it Does!
If I truly love God it sure does!!!

Why?
Why does it “devour” me?!

Salm 42:1 reads:
“As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.”
(You can listen to a sung version of this line:
If I TRULY love God than YES! My heart will yearn! My heart will long!
My heart will long to worship! AND My heart will sure long to be with Him who loves me so!

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While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And he said, "Take this, it is my body." Then he took a cup and after he had given thanks, passed it to them and they all drank from it. And he said, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for you." (Mark 14:22-24)

God has given us Himself! YES I BELIEVE that Jesus is truly Present with Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist!

Precisely because God IS present in such a way, precisely BECAUSE God still comes to us in the Most Holy Eucharist, God STILL dwells amongst us in the most real way ever! (hence the “Real Presence” ;-)

God is Present in the Holy Bread! ...and this Holy Bread is found in the Tabernacle!
Yeah well God does not leave Heaven to come dwell in the Tabernacle but rather to dwell in our hearts. ...YET God IS Truly Present in the Catholic Church! …not just the Catholic Church as in the Catholic Family but ALSO in the Catholic Church as in the stone structure. …For the Holy Eucharist is found in our Tabernacles!

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“Il-Ħeġġa għal Darek kilitni!”!!!! (Jn 2:17)
“Zeal for Your House devours me!” (Jn 2:17)

…if I truly love God then it SURE does!!!!!!!

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David prayed:
(PSALM 84)

1I want to see the living God.
The joy of the pilgrimage
and of going up to the Temple.
2 How lovely are your rooms,*
O Lord of hosts!

3 My soul yearns, pines,
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
4 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God!
5 Happy are those who live in your house,
continually singing your praise!
6 Happy the pilgrims whom you strengthen,
to make the ascent to you.
7 As they pass through the Valley,
they make it a place of springs,
the early rain covers it with blessings.
8 They go from strength to strength
till they appear before God in Zion.
9 O Lord of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
10 Look upon our shield, O God;
look upon the face of your anointed!
11 One day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be left at the threshold
in the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.
12 For the Lord God is a sun and a shield;
he bestows favor and glory.
The Lord withholds no good thing
from those who walk in uprightness.
13 O Lord of hosts,
blessed are those who trust in you.


Here’s a sung version:
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I’d like this to be my prayer too!
…yet is it?

Am I yearning to be with God?
Does the Zeal for God’s house consume me?
Does the Zeal for God’s house devour me?

…if it doesn’t do so yet then I pray that it shall!!!!!

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* I’m not sure about the word “rooms” we use “id-dar tiegħek” (your dwelling place) in Maltese.
Maltese is a very strong language and I’d rather have put this up in it. Yet the Christian Community Bible (Catholic Pastoral Edition) is very close to the Maltese Translation and hence its just great! (well for me, being Maltese, it sure is!) This Bible has as its Imprimatur the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
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God dwells in those who choose to welcome Him :-)

"Do you not know that your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God?" (1 Cor 6:19)

Mary was definately the
FIRST TABERNACLE!!
and the linked song proclaims this truth:

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Plastic and/or Money


Many of us are using it on a daily basis yet if st.Paul lived in our times I bet he would not even dream of having ...let alone using… plastic money! My reason for thinking so? Well:

"I have learnt to manage on whatever I have, I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through all kinds of conditions and now I am ready for anything anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty." (Philippians 4:11,12)

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He seems quite flexible huh? ;-)

...and just in case I’m doubting st.Paul adds:

"There is nothing I cannot master with the help
of the One who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:13)

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Wow! St.Paul sure can adapt!!!!
And Boy he seems SOOO confident!!!!

…but how?
…Why?

"There is nothing I cannot master with the help
of the One who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:13)

Well here’s the “how and why” ;-)

“...with the help of the one
who gives me strength."
(Philippians 4:13)

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"

Just as Jesus was setting out on his jour­ney again, a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, “Good Master, what must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.”
The man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood.”

Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him and he said, “For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful for he was a man of great wealth.

"
(Mark 10:17-22)

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On another occasion, and as we have read and/or heard in today’s Gospel, Jesus said:

'No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.' (Luke 16:13)

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Well SURE money is important!
Yet if I got money I am expected to use it well :-)

…If I have money let me share it with thise who have less of it
...let me share it with those who need it more :-)
...THAT is justice!!!!

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“...give...
...to the poor...”
(Mark 10:21)

…well perhaps we do not much like to do that but in truth and as st.Francis said:

"it is in giving that we receive!" :-)

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…i'm sure we've all given gifts at one time or another :-) …and well, if we are giving a gift, I guess the money must come out of our pockets ;-) …yet we don’t usually mind that much! …and even if we did mind that, when we see our friends or relatives happy with the gift we have given them we feel soooooo glad!!!!!!!!
We’d think to ourselves that “Oh well what do I care if i have spent the money? ...What do i care if it was a little expensive? Look how happy she is!! …Look how happy he is!!!!" We KNOW it was worth it! Deep down we’re so very glad to have given!
For indeed "there is more joy in
giving than in receiving" !!!


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If I have money let me use it well for as Jesus said:

"The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great." (Luke 16:10)

:-)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Happy Birthday Faith!! :-)


Ten years and nine months ago we:
two parents, four children and one angel
were glad to hear that God was giving this family
a new member :-)

Something close to nine months later

this family had the gift of a new child
YOU FAITH!!!!!

And today, 10 years later,
God continues to give you life
and bless you with His love dear sister! :-)


I am thankful to God Faith,
that He gives you life!

I am thankful to God Faith,
that He loves you so very much!

I am thankful to God Faith,
that you too love Him soo much!!

GOD BLESS YOU
AND KEEP YOU SAFE FAITH!
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You remember Cherub Faith...
...he's on internet lol!!!

Check him out :-):

http://web.cherubwings.com/cherub-channel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAITH!!!!!! :-)

If you're pro-life you GOT TO do this!

If you're pro-life you GOT TO do this!
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