Called to Serve

So Jesus called them all together and said, "You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest;  and if one of you wants to be first, he must be your slave"
Matthew 20:25‭-‬27 GNBDK

Reflection:
God's ways our not our ways (Is 55:8) and that is the will Christ came to establish here on Earth. How open are we to this calling? How do we treat those on who we can exercise our power? In all we do, let us always remember the words of Jesus.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father establishes his will for you as you willingly submit yours to Him. Like Jesus may you do your bit and in doing so bring more people to the knowledge of God. And may his Holy Spirit assist you in this your endeavour. Amen

God Bless you & your loved ones:)

Be Humble

"Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great."
Matthew 23:12 GNBDK

Reflection:
I often think, what Jesus might have gone through when He was on the cross. While everyone challenged him to come down and prove he is the son of God. He stayed there and prayed for their forgiveness. Jesus doesn't talk humility, his life is an example for us to see. And that is why God exalted Him to be the Lord of Lord's and the King of Kings.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father moulds your heart, so that like Jesus, you too may walk in humility and love. May his Holy Spirit be with you at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Good and Holy Life

"Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you."
Luke 6:38 GNBDK

Reflection:
A good starting point to living a good and Holy life is what one can draw from the verse above. Knowing that God will use for us the same measure, be it Good or Bad, that we use for others will help us be on track, of the path to which we are called.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out on you his grace, so that you can be a catalyst to making this world a better place to live. May you always do Good in Jesus' name as you draw strength and courage from his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Transform with Jesus

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
Mark 9:2‭-‬3 NIV

Reflection:
Jesus showed Peter, James and John his true Divinity and Glory at the transformation. Their presence there wasn't a coincidence, Peter himself recalls the same as that event strengthen his faith. (2 Peter 1:16) Something similar takes place at the Eucharist, where the offering, transubstantiates into the Body and Blood of Christ. Happy are those who have been called to receive him.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father reveals to you his mysteries, as you receive Jesus Christ his son, with whom the father was well pleased. May your faith be strengthen as you become more aware of his Holy Spirit that is guiding you at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The Freedom to Choose

But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.
Matthew 5:44‭-‬45 GNBDK

Reflection:
The popular question tossed around to people of faith is, "If there is a God, why does bad things happen?" Today's Gospel passage sums up the answer. God is Good and he loves all as He is the creator. He has given each one of us a free will to choose. We are all called to be perfect like our heavenly Father, however, the choice to choose between good and bad is with us.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out his grace on you as you willing respond to his Love acknowledging Jesus Christ his son as Lord and Saviour. May his Holy Spirit always be by your side. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Changing our Ways

"You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ But now I tell you: whoever is angry  with his brother will be brought to trial, whoever calls his brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Council, and whoever calls his brother a worthless fool will be in danger of going to the fire of hell."
Matthew 5:21‭-‬22 GNBDK

Reflection:
If you put drops of colour into a drum full of clear water, it would take many drops for the water to lose it's clarity viz-a-viz a mug. Similarly it is with sin, while we are aware of the big sins, we take for granted the smaller ones, but that like the many drops are colouring our souls. God is pure and if we want to be with him, we must be pure too; in thought, word and deed.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father reveals to you the smallest areas of your life where He desires change. May you be obedient to him like Jesus and accept his will. And may his Holy Spirit give you the wisdom and courage to change your ways. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to Serve

"Be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock."
1 Peter 5:2‭-‬3 GNBDK

Reflection:
We are all called to share the good works of Christ. From choosing the twelve right up to us. We have all been called, and here is an instruction on how to respond. We ought to give to others what we have received and that is the Love of God.

Prayer:
I pray that you eagerly respond to the calling of God our Father who now sets you on the path of Jesus Christ, so that you can carry on the good works of Lord and Saviour as you make this world a better place. May you be blessed with the fruits and gifts of his Holy Spirit for this your endeavour. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Turn to God

God saw what they did; he saw that they had given up their wicked behaviour. So he changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would.
Jonah 3:10 GNBDK

My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.
Psalms 51:17 GNBDK

Reflection:
Surely there is no sin bigger than the mercy of God, but that doesn't mean that we take God's goodness for granted. We cannot hide anything from God; He not only sees our actions, he knows the intentions of our hearts. Turn to him today with a humble and a contrite heart.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father through his Grace move your heart to conversion as you walk in the way, the truth and the life in Jesus Christ. May his Holy Spirit convict you of God's presence in your life, at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to Forgive

"If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you."
Matthew 6:14 GNBDK

Reflection:
We are all hurt by someone at some point in time and many a times we cling on to them bringing a block on our Blessings. If you find it difficult to forgive someone, invite Jesus to help you forgive. For even in pain and anguish on the cross He cried out to the Father for the forgiveness of those who put him there.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father mends your heart so that you can call out to him in Jesus' name to help you forgive of those who have wronged you. May his Holy Spirit prod you with courage, wisdom and understanding. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The Will of God: Revealed

The laws of the LORD are right, and those who obey them are happy. The commands of the LORD are just and give understanding to the mind.
Psalms 19:8 GNBDK

Reflection:
God's will has been revealed to us through his word and he gives it to us in two parts; first He tells us his law and what we ought not to break. Second He tells us what he wants us to do. The question is are we adhering to his will?

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father guards and guides your heart as you seek to do his will. May Jesus his son give you the strength to do his work and may his Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom, courage and understanding. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Live the Gospel Life

“The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”
Mark 1:15 GNBDK

Reflection:
We do not know the hour when Jesus is coming, yet we are called to live as if it is at hand. For in doing so we will live the Gospel life.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours his Grace on you enabling you to see and walk in the path of Jesus his son. And may his Holy Spirit assist you in every aspect of your life. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Acknowledge the Truth

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 5:31‭-‬32 NIV

Reflection:
We'd only believe in the gospel when we acknowledge who we really are. And our need for a saviour comes only when realize that we are sinners. May our hearts always acknowledge the truth.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out his grace on you as you realize your need for Jesus his son. May his Holy Spirit give you the courage to acknowledge your sin and wisdom to call on God. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Intention more than action

"The kind of fasting I want is this: remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives."
Isaiah 58:6‭-‬7 GNBDK

Reflection:
The Lord's ways are not like our ways. For love to be true it has to hurt and that we see when we look at the cross, for in denying himself, Jesus won for us sinners, salvation. While we may do something at the surface level God knows our hearts, for it is the intention that counts more than the action.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father through his Grace makes renews your heart and mind as you truly desire to do God's will like Jesus his son. May his Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom and lead you to your purpose. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Follow Jesus

And he said to them all, “Anyone who wants to come with me must forget self, take up their cross every day, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 GNBDK

Reflection:
Jesus gives us an option to choose him, and should we choose this option, we do it with our own free will. For it's not about us then, its about what God wants. And God wants us to experience him each and every day.

Prayer:
I pray that you willingly choose God our Father as you experience his Love and Grace in his word made flesh in Jesus his son as it encourages you to live the Gospel life. May his Holy Spirit bless you with courage, strength and wisdom. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Choosing Love

Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 GNBDK

Reflection:
When we see ourselves in the light of the image and likeness we were created in, we see Love. A love so strong and faithful that no human heart can comprehend. We surely can see this love, but the choice to accept it is with us. The choice to sin or to turn away from it, is with us.

Prayer:
I pray that you see the love God our Father has for you in the light of being a co-heir with Jesus Christ his son. May his Holy Spirit always prod your heart to choose Him. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

All Good Things come from God

Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.
James 1:17 GNBDK

“And you still don't understand?” he asked them.
Mark 8:21 GNBDK

Reflection:
The fact that we are alive and are breathing is a gift from God, for he has made us for eternity. And for this journey he has given us our family, our work, friends and so many blessings for God not only knows what we need, but gives us all we want as long as it is aligned to his will.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father reveals the mysteries of his Love for you as you seek to do his will. May you always be aligned with the way, the truth and the life in Jesus Christ his son. And may his Holy Spirit guard and guide your heart. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Seeking True Wisdom

But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.
James 1:5 GNBDK

Reflection:
Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom. And rightly so, for when you are aware of God, you know his Love for you, you see his hand in every aspect of your life. The choices you make will be based on his will, rather than yours and that is wisdom. Therefore ask and you shall receive.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out his grace on you, so that in Jesus name you ask for wisdom. And may his Holy Spirit bless you with knowledge and understanding too. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones:)

Need for a Saviour

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Mark 1:40‭-‬41 NLT

Reflection:
Jesus healed the man because the man acknowledged the need to be made clean. For Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. So it is with us, when we  acknowledge that we too need the saving grace of our Saviour, Jesus steps in to take our place, making us clean and new.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out you his grace as you acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. May his Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom and understanding. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Being Shepard

And so the people sinned, going to worship in Bethel and in Dan. This sin on his part brought about the ruin and total destruction of his dynasty.
1 Kings 12:30, 13:34 GNBDK

Reflection:
We have to be careful about how our life influences those around us, especially those who look to us and those with impressionable minds. Jesus is very clear about this fact as he sternly warns that, "It would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied round his neck and be drowned in the deep sea." than to lead another into sin (Mat 18:6)

Prayer:
I pray that you are always led by God our Father in being a Holy example for all who see you. As you emulate Jesus Christ may they see the same Jesus in you and may his Holy Spirit bear in you fruits and gifts. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Being God's Instrument

There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.  He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!” ).
Mark 7:32‭, ‬34 NIV

Reflection:
When we pray for others and bring him souls God is pleased and will work wonders. For with God all this are possible and only He makes all things new.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father makes you an instrument of his Love and Mercy as you reach out to your bretheren emulating Jesus Christ. May his Holy Spirit give you the wisdom, knowledge and understanding at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Being Just

Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
Psalm 106:3 NIV

Reflection:
We are called to be just and do what is right for that is what Christ did and has taught us to do as He walked on Earth.

Prayer:
I pray that your heart is focused on God our Father and his ways as you stay steadfast on the path shown by Jesus his son. May his Holy Spirit be with you at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

What comes from within

Then Jesus called the crowd to him once more and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing that goes into a person from the outside which can make him ritually unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.”
Mark 7:14‭-‬15 GNBDK

Reflection:
While we often are concerned about food and hygiene (which is a good thing). We also ought to pay attention to our thoughts, words and deeds for they come from the very core of our hearts. We ought to know that Jesus looks at our hearts and it's intentions.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father blesses your heart with purity and wisdom so that like Jesus your desire would be all things eternal. And may his Holy Spirit purify your heart, will, mind and body. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Eyes of Faith

“You put aside God's command and obey human teachings.”
Mark 7:8 GNBDK

Reflection:
We live our lives based on what we see and often this can be the biggest hindrance to a life of Faith. Jesus summed up the commanments to Love God and neighbour; We love God, yet we blame our humaneness for not loving our neighbour.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father unveils any cloud of doubt as you see with eyes of Faith. May you walk the path which Jesus has shown as you are lead and guided by his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Working in Faith

And everywhere Jesus went, to villages, towns, or farms, people would take those who were ill to the market places and beg him to let them at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well.
Mark 6:56 GNBDK

Reflection:
Faith as little as a mustard seed can move fountains, said Jesus and how true is this is, that today's Gospel bears witness to it. Just by touching the garment of Jesus people were healed. How much more can we do then for we have the Holy Spirit within us!

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father through his grace, stirs you within, so that you are lead by his Holy Spirit to walk in Faith in the truth, the life and the way of Jesus - the font and source of Love, Joy and Peace. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Being in Communion with the Father

And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

Mark 1:35 

Reflection:

While Jesus continuously lived his purpose here on earth, Healing the sick, Casting out demons, and Making Disciples of all, He never separated himself from the Father. Being in communion with Him was a priority. That is why Jesus took time out and prayed alone.

Prayer:

I pray that you always be in communion with God our Father as you make time to be with him in personal prayer so that like Jesus you can draw strength to live a life full of purpose with Joy and Peace. And may his Holy Spirit be with you at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Communion with God

Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil...

1 KINGS 3:9 NRSV

The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

MARK 6:30-31 NRSV

Reflection: 

God knows everything, He knows all we need and what we want. The key is to be in communion with him and you will be lead to ask for what you really need, and that pleases God, who gives us all that we need and fulfils all our wants too. 

Prayer:

I pray that you are always in communion with God our Father, just like Jesus, withdrawing your self into your room, where you are lead by his Holy Spirit. Amen 

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

God Knows and Understands

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:18 NIV

Reflection:

We often think that God doesn't understand us or our situation. But God not only created us, He came down as a man in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. So not only God knows us, He also understands every minute aspect of our lives. All we need to do is trust him more. 

Prayer:

I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to trust his plans for you. May you draw strength from Jesus his son, who always delighted in the doing the will of God and may His Holy Spirit assist and be with you at all times. Amen 

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Authority by Jesus

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

Mark 6:7 NIV

Reflection:

The apostles did great works through their faith, but a key thing to keep in mind is that they were commissioned by Jesus himself and were given the authority. We all want to do great works for Jesus but are we asking him to lead us or are we lead by what we feel?

Prayer:

I pray that you are open to the will of God our Father, for his plans for you, are yours alone. May Jesus inspire you to carry your own cross and may His Holy Spirit give you the strength and courage to walk in God's ways. Amen 

God Bless you and your loved ones :)