A RETREAT TO SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTMAS

PART II

How perfect are the deeds of God, how dependable His words! He is like a shield for all those who seek His protection. The Lord alone is God; God alone is our defence. He is the God who makes me strong, who makes my path safe. He makes me sure-footed as a deer; He keeps me safe on the mountains. He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow. O Lord, You protect me and save me; your care has made me great, and your power has kept me safe.   (Psalms 18)

You may ask what exactly are we supposed to do this Christmas? How can we have a spirit filled Christmas?

Dear devotees, it is essential to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the commencement of December month. It is only when we shatter the doors of falsehood, injustice etc to approach the Lord, can He come as the Lord of our life.

When decorations adorn only the exterior portion of our lives, we tend to defame the word ‘Christmas’. The Holy Infant laments, “As I enter to glance into every home, no where do I receive a welcome or a place to call my own. Everywhere people are miserably exhibiting the master of the world. They spend time preparing the most beautiful crib but fail to invite Me to it. People are busy exchanging greetings but forgeT to present themselves to Me.”

The Infant weeps bitterly when He finds you immersed in drinks; inattentive to His groans and fails to honor Him as the chief guest of His birthday banquet.

Dear devotees, let us retreat from the traditional rituals. Check for yourselves as to how long has that Lamp of divine truth  been burning without oil?

Let’s come to the Lord’s presence to experience the beauty and spiritual happiness that is wrapped up in Christmas.

Offer every minute and big deeds and accomplishment as a penance for the sins of self and your family; the Lord in return will surely grant you great satisfaction, acceptance and unity among the family members. You will be blessed with the opportunity to decide things together and carry them out in all unity.

When the Infant sees this heart adorned with good décor He will enter into it, establishing a place for Himself in  your family, presiding as the chief guest of your home.

Your heart and home will be filled with renewed, spirit filled experiences.

Two thousand years ago, God sent His love into this world in the form of an innocent child. While on this earth, He was known as the carpenter’s son, who recognized the measure of hard work of His mother and foster father.  While healing the hearts and bodies of those around him; He understood the depth of their lifeless situation of their Spirit.

Lord Jesus spent the majority of his life engrossed in doing good by helping the people, loving children, strengthening the weak all the while bringing them closer to Salvation. Not only did He preach the Good News but the Lord provided the physical and spiritual needs of His people in abundance.

Since Lord Jesus’ teachings were very light; He exalts us to become like little children. He excluded preaching about practicing rituals or traditions and educated people on love and how to live in love. He taught about things necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 22:7)

Becoming the friend of the people who were rejected and abandoned by the world; He took heed not to sell Himself for the approval of the Holy Word.

Jesus told them thus, “You shall enter the kingdom of God before those people who are sealed as good by the world and those who are considered holy and upright.”

Seeking comfort of His message, many followed Him. However the Teachers of the Law and other jealous authorities were filled with awe. To them the deeds of the carpenter’s son seemed threatening, thus turning them hostile, and carrying out unmerited actions against Lord Jesus.

In spite of His innocence being proved, the world crucified Him. For three days, His divine body rested in the lifeless tomb but on the third day by destroying the doors of death and hell, and uplifting the banner of victory, He rose to eternal life.

This man celebrated as Jesus Christ, was not just a prophet, Teacher, a Rabbi, or a Master. He is the Son of God, the only holy lamb of Salvation for the entire mankind; the Everlasting Peace of every family.

Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

He is the Creator of the entire Universe. He is everything.

Dear devotees, In order to fetch us, who have gone astray and distant from God due to our sinful nature and deeds; and to lead us more closer to the Streams of Everlasting Love; He came and Lived among us with  the name ‘Jesus’.

His life is handed over to us as a lesson as He is the only way for our Salvation.

Jesus, the Savoir, says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6)

With Love filled Blessings,

Your Sister In Christ

RECONCILIATION

Part II

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony………that is where the Lord has promised His blessings – life that never ends.  (Psalms 133)

Click here for the earlier part.

When you accept God, you will be bestowed with the grace to accept yourself and your partner. The relationship given by God should not be broken.

But, aren't there numerous broken chords that ought to be tied?

 You may be a son or daughter not accepted by your father or mother or it could be that you would not have accepted them.   

It is time to seal the cracks that you have with your parents as it has erected an invisible wall between God and you. Unless you strive to correct it, you will observe a downfall in your life, resulting in you being a unsuccessful individual.

Remember God does not want to see His beloved children like this.

 The more arrogant, stubborn and delay in correcting yourself, your actions will result in many people’s tears which will reach to the Lord, who cannot close His eyes to injustice.

By the arrival of other generation, events turn out to be more serious.

That is why is it more vital to clear the issues as early as possible and be free from misery.

 God is very thorough with the correction of His children; and therefore He chose and sends prophets among the people to deliver His message.

There are also instances when God uses our little children as His tools to correct and reveal His teachings and will for us.

 When you observe that your child reacts to your advice adversely, instead of punishing and reprimanding them, turn to the Lord and ask forgiveness for your wrongdoing. Be humble and eager to correct yourself.

 The Holy Bible says, “The children are a gift from the Lord, they are a real blessing. The sons a man has when he is young are like arrows in a soldier’s hand.” (Psalms 127:3-4)

Some parents tend to be too casual when their little ones get mischievous; forgetting that if they are not corrected at the proper time, may turn out to be serious offenders in the future.

Every moment God is watching such parents and warning them.

It is time to bring changes in your behavior towards God and your child.

Break the walls that were build up because of you and your attitude, as the wicked world with its fast, foolish growth is awaiting to swallow your next generation for the reason that if you are the cause for it, it is truly terrible for you.  

Check and reconcile with all the relationships so as to bring up your child with God’s blessings. Accept Lord Jesus as your Spiritual Teacher, learn about Him and as parents spend time together with God, because Lord Jesus says, “I tell you more : whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”  (Matt 18:19) 

You have been trying this for many years, but in vain.  Why? 

Take a look back again, there could be much many more walls put up by you against your blessings.

Don’t think Sister is being too harsh with you.  Never! dear ones. I am a lady who sacrificed her family for the sake of the Gospel as per the Will of God to win families.

It is my responsibility to help you with true spiritual knowledge, so that families may be saved. By spreading the knowledge we would be able to help save each other, successfully defeating the cunning enemy. It is only for your peaceful future and for the salvation of your soul from the cruel foe fighting against out Heavenly Father, who is so full of pure love.

If you have ears, listen!

Let’s take a walk down the memory lane to the early days of your life. Engraved in your thoughts will be your home a dwelling of  your family— be it poor, middle class, or rich, orthodox consisting of grandparents, parents, siblings, other relatives etc. surrounded by good neighbors, teachers, friends, and other well wishers etc;

Where are they now? How are they doing? Are you in good terms with them ? Do you visit, help or console them often? Are they in good health or bedridden? Or are you bed ridden? Could be that some are leading a lifeless and meaningless life? Are they visiting you? Do you invite them or they keep inviting you? Deep in your heart are you cheerful when they reflect in your memory?

Where is the good Samaritan who helped you to progress in your life by bringing up your child? There are other few who emptied themselves by helping you and your siblings etc;

These are the few among the numerous questions God your Creator is raising over you!

God wants us to renew every relationship for the welfare of our descendants.

How can you forget the old home where you were born and lived with your siblings in limitations? In the absence of your parents, how you overcame the fear of the heavy thunderstorm by tightly holding your sibling. The meals she/ he fed you when in hunger, sat, cried and consoled you when sick in bed, the roads traveled without caring the distance, be it to school, church etc; games you played together; learning the initial lessons of sharing and caring for each other; the movies you watched together, etc;

If possible, put a pause to your busy life to recollect and reconcile with them to make a complete family tree to introduce them to your children, inviting them to take a dip in the blessings that God has showered over you.

Our Good Loving Father desires a unity like the Holy Trinity i.e. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A tri-chord will not break easily. So reconcile with yourself, parents, siblings, children etc and then soon God will bless you and your dream home.

Certainly it is not easy to reconcile and patch up the differences because evil has pierced through it. But the Lord Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever can penetrate into our past and remove the obstacles. Certain incidents may be fresh and cancerous.

You may deny all this, saying that you have nothing against them.

But analyze for yourself, if you are peace when alone? Is your soul safe in God’s hands? Are you content when you offer prayer and sacrifices? Are you able to present peace to your partner and children? Are you truly guilt free?

The Lord is giving an opportunity to recollect and repent truly for having forgetting them when life was greener on your side.

Let us make use of this opportunity to discard any miscommunication and reach out to our siblings and relatives, forgetting what so ever may be the reason we drifted apart.  

The greatest gift we can give each other is the ‘gift of prayer’.

The Holy Bible instructs us: “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people.” (1Timothy 2:1)

The Lord is always looking for someone who will to pray. As their names or any memory comes before you simply lift them to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to help them and release His Power and Love on their behalf.

Talk to the Lord as you would to your dad.

“Father, I pray, please meet their needs, as Your heart desire be done.”

The best way to begin reconnecting is by lifting them in Prayer to the Father.

“You are the God who works miracles; You showed your might among the nations.” (Psalms 77:14)

Lord, grant me your blessing and let your light adorn and shine on my family tree.

With Love filled Blessings,

Your Sister in Christ

RECONCILIATION

Part I

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony………that is where the Lord has promised His blessings – life that never ends.  (Psalms 133)

During a public ministry service, a mother pulling her nine year old son approached me. “Ever since his birth, I have lost all my peace. Tried sending him to my mother’s place, then admitted him twice to a hostel, but all my attempts to inculcate some discipline in him goes futile. Why did God give me such a huge punishment? I myself have a lot of health issues and many a times, I attempted to end my life regards to the shame and disgrace he gifts me every time.”

I turned my attention towards the little boy, who was all the more in his own world.  Placing my hands and blessing them, I was guided by the Lord to give her an appointment, which gave me a chance to meet the mother personally.

During the conversation, she explained that she was a devotee of Christ, so I casually enquired about her spiritual life.  The very next moment the Savior revealed to me the critical situation of the family.

Dear ones in Christ, the Holy Bible says, “Parents do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry, instead bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.”  (Eph 6:4)

Thereafter, I took an opportunity to meet the child alone. After a casual talk, I began to ask him to address his issue. The innocence look mixed with sorrows was overpowering. Suddenly he hugged me tightly, and began to cry severely as he burst out, “I am alone, and I have nobody. I hate myself and each and everyone. Even today mother brought me forcefully to you. You treated me so gently, that I like you. Can I be with you? I promise to obey you and become like you. But I hate my home, my family, my dad. He is addicted to alcohol and brings home a bad set of friends. Once drunk, he beats up my mother and abuses her with bad foul language. She always cries. He does not allow me to do anything I wish. I hate my life. I do not want to obey dad, hence I don’t study.”

When the head of the family is too busy with no time for his wife and children, he is disregarding his God given responsibilities. How do we expect a child to be polite and obedient towards such a father?

Each heart no matter big or small; are totally broken and deep rooted with unpleasant memories, witnessed from childhood.

When parents construct a platform for their own pleasures, not recalling that there is a Heavenly Father, who watches them and to whom they are accountable for each and minute second of their life, time, skills, family, siblings and neighbor.

It is only through the parent’s mutual respect and love that their children would grow in age as well as wisdom and grace.

It is the equal duty of both the father and mother to truthfully accept self and each other; seek God, accepting Him as the mediator of the wedlock and honor Him by obeying His Law. Be sure to keep your gaze fixed on God, all the while drawing all the strength, patience and grace from Him, to carry out the daily responsibilities without fail.

When the child observes his/ her parents obeying the Great Grandpa above (God), willingly the child will be guided by God.

 Parents! Do you struggle hard to accumulate richness of this world, dreaming about the day when your child would grow up and attain higher position and make your name prominent? How many times have you secretly planned for his/her future keeping away your life partner, so that the child grows up to fulfill your dreams and desires?  

All your ambitious plans and fruits of your hard labor would deplete if you do not care to seek the will of God along with your partner before charting the future plans for His gift to you (your child).  

Your name, fame and wealth and all your goodness will be washed out by God himself, because the connectivity is broken. 

So reconcile with God today!

Likewise, the fate of those husbands and wives, who have been living together for years yet are unable to accept each other wholeheartedly, beware of the tragedy that awaits you. Each member in a family has a different story to share.

Let me utilize this opportunity to pen certain fundamental truths for the success of life!

Marriage is sacrament that calls for several and countless sacrifices in each step.  It is a life that consists not only of two different individuals who take the promise but the truthfulness and acceptance of two different families. This could be termed as the first and foremost foundation towards the success of marital life.

When a man and woman commit themselves fully and with a contrite heart during the sacrament of matrimony,  God showers certain qualities like acceptance, truthfulness, love, patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, endurance, punctuality, kindness, compassion,  upon the couple during their marital vows which is need for entering into a new mutual sacrificial life. 

So if you have failed to reconcile with God prior to receiving this Sacrament, surely there will be failures from your side, such as lack of self acceptance, non-acceptance of your partner, her /his family, child, etc.  Since sin always brings disaster in our life so the web in your heart will bring failures and brokenness in your life.

Can guilt convey joy to a person?  Or can a blameworthy person make her /his partner happy?  A pretender cannot trust others because he is already enslaved to fear, guilt, anxiety and anger. 

These attitudes will create misunderstandings and empty out the happiness of the other person.  However good natured and soft spoken a spouse may be, do not forget that if they are subjected to injustice, unfaithfulness etc; gradually the lamp of faith in God would be put off.

That is why Lord Jesus commanded, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to loss his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large milestone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea.” 

With the aid of the above verse from the Holy Bible evaluate yourself!  Review if you are the reason for your life partner’s loss of faith in God? Is your nature of concealing your faults and not being truthful the sole cause for bringing miseries upon your family? The Lord is teaching each one of us that we are answerable for the injustice that we bring upon others.

So if you are ready to correct yourself, you will be free from God’s penalty.  Our loving God is full of mercy and slow to anger.  He showers His promises to thousands of generations but He punishes up to three to four generations.  The Holy Bible says do not delay your repentance thinking that God will not punish.  A stubborn person will be burdened with troubles.  (Sirach 3)

Are you chocked up and suffocating spiritually, mentally and physically?  The Holy Bible says, “Have you sinned, my son? Don't do it again, and pray for forgiveness for what you have already done. Avoid sin as if it were a snake. If you get too near, it will sink its teeth into your soul like a lion, and destroy you. (Sirach 21:1-2)

Today is the day and the right time for you to reconcile with God.  Do not delay any further.

 A family counseling could assist you to the right direction and release you from the evil trap.  When you accept God, you would be able to accept yourself and your partner.

“How wonderful and pleasant it is for God’s people to live together in harmony… (Psalm 133)

                                                                                             (To be continued)

With Love filled Blessings,

Your Sister in Christ

Kindly Note:

As per the message from God of KLWC, our team will be conducting an in-house Night Vigil service from 11 pm (1/11/2015) to 6 am (2/11/2015)   Your Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are welcome.