Good morning everyone although it is not so good morning for me!   A very close friend succumbed to heart attack just last night and it was only early morning today that I’ve learned about it.  I can only offer prayers for the repose of her soul and her untimely demise definitely is a sore loss for the family.  Technology connected me to her only daughter Sarah because it is physically impossible for me to go to her mother’s wake.  I wanted so much to give the little girl a hug and  know she being a strong willed and a brave girl would find comfort with the thought that her mom was safely home to her Creator.  No more pain.. no more sufferings.. There is peace.. goodbye my friend…

Oh well.. life has to go on.   Good morning everyone!

Reghann is the daughter of my cousin who lives in California.  Such a refreshing face and the innocence exudes in her young face.  This is her first Ash Wednesday celebration for a Christian child like her.  It was the beginning of Lent for Catholics and the ash that was marked on  her forehead signifies penitence and mortality. It helps freshen the memory of the people about Ashes to ashes (meaning we come from dust, we return to dust),  It was yesterday that Lenten season begun and Catholics all over the world will engage in abstinence and fasting to meet their obligation of penance that is required by the church.

Children are not to required to observe the rules of Lent

There should be mutual respect… we should respect each other’s religious views and beliefs…..whether you are a Christian or a Muslim brother….

I called my sister to check how was the Endoscopy and Colonoscopy procedures which she undergo this morning and we felt relieved that there is nothing to worry about.   Of course, she was a bit tensed and apprehensive on what is going to happen but according to her she was sedated and in few minutes, the test results were out.

So she was advised to change her eating habits, develop a healthy lifestyle and continue with the meds prescribed to her.   That’s about it and she definitely will be back to her blogging!

See!  If we always believe that if we storm heavens with prayers, nothing is impossible!  So, let us forever keep the faith!

Let me share this beautiful lyrics of the song Give Thanks.

GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS BECAUSE HE’S GIVEN
JESUS CHRIST HIS SON

AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY “I AM STRONG”
LET THE POOR SAY “I AM RICH”
BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US
AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY “I AM STRONG”
LET THE POOR SAY “I AM RICH”
BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US
GIVE THANKS

My Birthday Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day, for another blessed year in my life, I thank You for being able to experience your goodness everyday and being able to experience the love of my family and friends. I know I am blessed because You are a forgiving, loving and understanding Father despite of my unworthiness and sinfulness and yet You keep blessing me.  Despite that I sometimes failed to do what is expected of me, still You are there loving me.   You have done so many great and wonderful things for me, my family and all of my loved ones.  May You continue to shower us with Your love, grace and blessings.  You sustain me with good health and I know You have forgiven me for every sins that I have done knowingly or unknowingly.  Help me start another year of my life full of gratitude and a better person that I should be.  Bless me with wisdom and knowledge so that I can share it with others.  Help me to become a light to others and may they see You in me through my words and actions.   Please continue to bless me so that I will also be a blessings to others.  Make me an instrument of Your peace and love.

This I ask in Your Mighty Name!

 

Our trip to Bahrain for the Middle East Conference is a part of my spiritual journey.  I believe that Spirituality is growth. I am demanding progress of myself and need to push myself harder to feel that I am living the best of my life. I am seeking wisdom into making genuine growth and living my spiritual life.  It is about action.

This is not the case where we can simply change overnight; we achieved a spiritual life by living righteously.  I’ve read a saying that “You can’t think your way into good living… you have to live your way into good thinking.”

I know that still it will be a long journey for me … but it will be worth it!

Col 2: 6-7 ….6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.