Spiritual Snobbishness

A man walked in to a doctor's office and said, "Doctor, I have this awful headache that never leaves me. Could you give me something for it?" 

"I will," said the doctor, "But I want to check a few things out first. Tell me, do you drink a lot of liquor?"

"I never touch the filthy stuff," said the man indignantly.

"How about smoking?"

"I think smoking is disgusting. I've never in my life touched tobacco."

"I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this, but...you know the way some men are...do you do any running around at night?"

"Of course not. What do you take me for? I'm in bed every night by ten o'clock at the latest."

"Tell me," said the doctor, "this pain in the head you speak of, is it a sharp, shooting kind of pain?"

"Yes," said the man. "That's it - a sharp, shooting kind of pain."

"Simple my dear fellow! Your trouble is you have your halo on a bit too tight."

Adapted from Anthony de Mello's 'The Pray of the Frog'
Corinne has a beautiful post here:
http://www.everydaygyaan.com/2011/07/suffering-from-headache.html

Your presence makes me brave

No matter how often we read or hear the familiar 23rd Psalm, it seems to come with a fresh message of God’s care for us.


The Lord my Shepherd guards me well,
And all my wants are fed:
Amid green pastures made to lie,
Beside still waters led.
My care-worn soul grows strong and whole
When God’s true path I tread.


Though I should walk in darkest ways
Through valleys like the grave,
No evil shall I ever fear;
Your presence makes me brave.
On my behalf Your rod and staff
Assure me You will save.

Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. 

Frances R. Havergal

   

Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord;

That you lowered your dignity;

So that you can be near to me, with me.

Thank you Lord;

That you took all insults on my behalf;

So that I can have abundant life;

Thank you Lord,

That you suffered for me,

Even before I was born;

Thank you Lord,

For taking care of me so well;

For loving me beyond what I can ever imagine.
Please help to honour you in all I do.

And Lord, please always keep me in the hollow of your hands;

Your grace is all I have.

Can We Really Hear From God?

I'm more convinced than ever that God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek Him especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static - Philip Yancey

The joy of submitting to Christ's authority .

From Holy Spirit Interactive : Daily Reflection

"My heart rejoices in the Lord, my Savior." This is the scripture that Mary used when she became the mother of Christ. Can you say it, too? Even when your life is in turmoil ?

If we truly accept and understand his authority over our lives, we can rejoice in the Lord even when our hearts are broken and there seems to be no relief.

Why? Because we know that his authority is supreme, which means that everything we've place under his authority will be transformed from bad into good. Tragedies will be changed into triumphs. Sorrows will give way to joy.

However, if we reject Christ's authority by acting as if we're the ones in charge, deciding on our own how to run our lives, how to spend our time, what to do and when to do it, based on our feelings and limited perceptions, our problems will only grow worse. It doesn't feel safe to give up control and let Jesus have full authority, but do we really think that we're smarter than Jesus? It doesn't feel right to slow down and take time to prayerfully listen for the Lord's guidance in decisions, especially when we don't like his advice, but can we really trust ourselves?

By doing what Jesus tells us to do, we're submitting ourselves to Christ's authority. We're choosing to trust that we're safe living under his authority. And thus we're able to benefit from this authority.

Remember that the most loving, most powerful, most wise One in the universe is using his supreme authority on our behalf. This awareness is what gives our hearts great reason to rejoice.

Read more HERE

Has God ever let you down?

From Holy Spirit Interactive : Daily Reflection
I found it very meaningful. Read on .

Is this you? "Sometimes it feels like God has let me down. Forgotten my needs. Forsaken me."

Our feelings cannot be trusted to speak the truth to us. Today's first reading ( Isaiah 49:8-15 )assures us that God will never never and again I say never stop caring about us and doing good for us. Mothers have strong, instinctive bonds with their children, but suppose a mother does forget her child? God has a much better memory. And YOU, dear one, are his very precious child!

Read Isaiah's words personalized for you.

This is your Father speaking directly to you about you:
"What are your prayer requests? In a time of favor (my perfect timing) I answer you. What failures and sins and mistakes have destroyed your life? I will restore your land (your life). What addictions or injustices are imprisoning you? I am saying to you: Come out!

"Do you need rest and nourishment? Along the ways that I guide you, you shall find pastures where you will be refreshed. But only if you let me lead you and stop insisting that we try it your way. "

"Let me tell you about those hard times that are drying up your life: The scorching wind and the sun shall not strike you down. Let me lead you and guide you beside springs of water, the powerfully healing waters of my Holy Spirit. I will cut a road through mountains and make the highways level so that you won't become lost or too weary on the road that you travel with me, and you will know which way to go. "

In today's Gospel reading (John 5:17-30 ) look at the intimacy between the Father and the Son. Look at how one speaks for the other. Notice how Jesus, even while in human flesh, does nothing apart from his divine Father. Look at how the only thing that really matters to Jesus is doing the will of his Father. Look at how the Father supplies to Jesus everything that he needs.

Look again at Isaiah's reading. You are just as important to the Father as Jesus is! He completely loves you, his adopted child, no less than his begotten Son! It's impossible for him to love you or anyone incompletely. How well do you know your Father? If you still think he has ever let you down, you don't really know him. He is unlike any human father you've known; he is the Perfect Father.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is still with us, and so ever,Jesus is born each day in us, as and when we give a little place to anyone (of these little ones) here around and so we are blessed to give Jesus a little manger each moment if I and You wish so.

How true! Along with the Christmas wishes, I got this message too from someone very close to me.

Our most gracious advocate.

During the lenten season I was able to attend the Way of the Cross on some days. The way of the cross has 14 stations where we pray and meditate on Christ's sacrifice for us, the way to Calvary where he died on Cross.I don’t know what happened today; my eyes filled with tears at the fourth station.

It is where we meditate on the pinnacle of the pain of the Lord's mother (Mother Mary) where she meets her child suffering and carrying the cross. Haven't we all come across situations where the mental or physical agony of our beloved ones hurt us, perhaps more than they themselves?

Well, she experienced the same pain, throughout the whole journey, when she followed her son Jesus, all the way to Calvary.

If an unmarried female like me feel her pain this way, I wonder,how intense any mother could relate her pain.

And the fourth station also made me think of the greatness of the same lady who discerned Lord's voice even when she was very young. I notice with sadness and bit derision how much importance I give to other's opinion than Lord's opinion. And here, she, who a virgin,believed in providence and conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit when it was foolishness to any one else of the very conservative society in which she lived. What a strong faith! What obedience! What humility! What serenity in the midst of extreme adversities! Mother, how I admire you!

And as the one closest to Jesus here on earth and now in heaven who else can nurture us in his love than her? So with all the glory her creator has given, she appears in different parts of the world to direct us to the Lord's love, conveying the message of love, peace and joy.

Oh Holy Queen, our most gracious advocate, how joyful is to proclaim that you are the radiant temple of the Holy Spirit.