Sunday, August 23, 2009

LAMENTATIONS 3

1 I am a man who has suffered greatly.
The Lord has used the Babylonians
to punish our people.
2 He has driven me away. He has made me walk
in darkness instead of light.
3 He has turned his powerful hand against me.
He has done it again and again, all day long.
4 He has worn my body out.
He has broken my bones.
5 He has surrounded me and attacked me.
He has made me suffer bitterly.
He has made things hard for me.
6 He has made me live in darkness
like those who are dead and gone.
7 He has built walls around me. I can't escape.
He has put heavy chains on me.
8 I call out and cry for help.
But he won't listen to me when I pray.
9 He has put up a stone wall to block my way.
He has made my paths crooked.
10 He has been like a bear waiting to attack me.
He has been like a lion hiding in the bushes.
11 He has dragged me off the path.
He has torn me to pieces.
And he has left me helpless.
12 He has gotten his bow ready to use.
He has shot his arrows at me.
13 The arrows from his bag
have gone through my heart.
14 My people laugh at me all the time.
They sing and make fun of me all day long.
15 The Lord has made my life bitter.
He has made me suffer bitterly.
16 He made me chew stones that broke my teeth.
He has walked all over me in the dust.
17 I have lost all hope of ever having any peace.
I've forgotten what good times are like.
18 So I say, "My glory has faded away.
My hope in the Lord is gone."
19 I remember how I suffered and wandered.
I remember how bitter my life was.
20 I remember it very well.
My spirit is very sad deep down inside me.
21 But here is something else I remember.
And it gives me hope.
22 The Lord loves us very much.
So we haven't been completely destroyed.
His loving concern never fails.23 His great love is new every morning.
Lord, how faithful you are!
24 I say to myself, "The Lord is everything I will ever need.
So I will put my hope in him."
25 The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him.
He is good to those who look to him.
26 It is good when people wait quietly
for the Lord to save them.
27 It is good for a man to carry a heavy load of suffering
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone and not say anything.
The Lord has placed that load on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust.
There might still be hope for him.
30 Let him turn his cheek toward those who would slap him.
Let him be filled with shame.
31 The Lord doesn't turn his back
on people forever.
32 He might bring suffering.
But he will also show loving concern.
How great his faithful love is!
33 He doesn't want to bring pain
or suffering to people.
34 Every time people crush prisoners under their feet,
the Lord knows all about it.
35 When people refuse to give a man his rights,
the Most High God knows it.
36 When people don't treat a man fairly,
the Lord knows it.
37 Suppose people order something to happen.
It won't happen unless the Lord has planned it.
38 Troubles and good things alike come to people
because the Most High God has commanded them to come.
39 A man who is still alive shouldn't blame God
when God punishes him for his sins.
40 Let's take a good look at the way we're living.
Let's return to the Lord.
41 Let's lift up our hands to God in heaven.
Let's pray to him with all our hearts.
42 Let's say, "We have sinned.
We've refused to obey you.
And you haven't forgiven us.
43 "You have covered yourself with the cloud of your anger.
You have chased us.
You have killed our people without pity.
44 You have covered yourself wit45 You have made us become like trash and garbage
among the nations.
46 "All of our enemies have opened their mouths wide
to swallow us up.
47 We are terrified and trapped.
We are broken and destroyed."
48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes.
That's because my people are destroyed.
49 Tears will never stop flowing from my eyes.
My eyes can't get any rest.
50 I'll sob until the Lord looks down from heaven.
I'll cry until he notices my tears.
51 What I see brings pain to my spirit.
All of the people in my city are suffering so much.
52 Those who were my enemies for no reason at all
hunted me down as if I were a bird.
53 They tried to end my life
by throwing me into a deep pit.
They threw stones down at me.
54 The water rose and covered my head.
I thought I was going to die.
55 Lord, I called out to you.
I called out from the bottom of the pit.
56 I prayed, "Please don't close your ears
to my cry for help."
And you heard my appeal.
57 You came near when I called out to you.
You said, "Do not be afraid."
58 Lord, you stood up for me in court.
You saved my life and set me free.
59 Lord, you have seen the wrong things
people have done to me.
Stand up for me again!
60 You have seen how my enemies
have tried to get even with me.
You know all about their plans against me.
61 Lord, you have heard them laugh at me.
You know all about their plans against me.
62 You have heard my enemies
whispering among themselves.
They speak against me all day long.
63 Just look at them sitting and standing there!
They sing and make fun of me.
64 Lord, pay them back.
Punish them for what their hands have done.
65 Cover their minds with a veil.
Put a curse on them!
66 Lord, get angry with them and hunt them down.
Wipe them off

Sunday, August 2, 2009

SAINT CHRISTOPHER

he one-time Catholic patron saint of travellers, Saint Christopher -- whose name means "Christ carrier" -- is not mentioned in the Bible. While there may have been a 3rd century Greek martyr named Christopher, the story told of him is now generally acknowledged to be a 12th century addendum to the Christian canon. Christopher is typically depicted as a tall, middle-aged, bearded man with a staff who wades across a river carrying the Christ child on his shoulders. As the story goes, the extremely robust Christopher devoted his life to carrying people across an otherwise unfordable stream. One day a little child appeared before him and asked to be carried across. To Christopher's surprise, as he forded the river, the child steadily increased in weight until Christopher found his tiny burden so heavy that it was amost impossible to bear. When he asked the holy babe why he weighed so much, the child replied that he carried the world's sins upon his shoulders. As a reward for his service, Christopher's staff was miraculously transformed into a living tree, and Christopher himself became the Patron Saint of travellers.

Christopher was a widely popular saint, and was especially revered by mariners, ferrymen, and travellers. HIs feast day was July 25th, except in Greece, where it was celebrated on March 9th. In modern times a major center of his cult was in Italy and among Italian-Americans, a fact that did not stop the Vatican from de-canonizing him during a late 20th century purge of the list of saints. Saint Christopher medals and holy cards are more difficult to find now that his status has been downgraded to that of a mere legend, but they are still being manufactured and many Mexican and Italian Catholics still believe that his image is the best amulet to carry in one's wallet, wear on a necklace while on a journey, or hang from the rear view mirror attachment of one's car. The enamel and silver Saint Christopher medal shown here dates from the 1930s.

Testimony

glory to Jesus

at 12 O'clock 2007, i was in labour ward operation theatre on my night duty. in my internship that was the first day i was posted in the labour ward. as i was immediately asked to go to theatre i really forgot about the new year. when the clock past 12 we had been dealing with the toughest case on caesarean. at last mother was saved but the child died before his first breath. i was really disturbed by it.. i just lamented to God why this year starts like ths?
then at 0ne o clock we got a very good scoldings from our maa'm. then i did not go to church even. so the start was dreadful..
i was not able to go to church even one sunday and by great toil i finished my internship by march 2007
then i really toiled a lot at home, they did not understand my spirituality, i suffered a ill health. all my friends moved away, i not able to prepare wel for my post graduate entrance.
but the otherside was wonderful.. i felt holy spirit in every of my movement. He guided me to send BIBLE verse to all throu' sms, and touched many hearts. i was gifted to give THE BIBLE to many. to counsel and pray for many.. God rreally worked miracles . even i had a good fight with temptations and sins, God sustained me till the end
at last He gave me sucess in my Dipnb exam CET in miraculous way.. i did not prepare at all but i tasted victory..

Friends "JESUS is on the way"
so our worldly battle is going to end.. Rejoice and sustain in your fight.. God will give victory..
share with me ur prayers and blessings.. MAY GOD BLESS U ..