Matters of the Heart

It hurts to love someone and not to be loved in return. But what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right ones so that when we finally meet the right person we will know how to be grateful for that gift. Love is when you take away the feeling; the passion and the romance in a relationship and find out you still care for that person. 

A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be, and you just have to let go. When the door of happiness closes another opens but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us. The best kind of friend is the kind you can just be with; never say a word and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had. It is true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives. 

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they love you back, don’t expect love in return. Just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it doesn’t, be contempt it grew in yours. There are things you would love to hear that you would never hear from the person you may want to hear them from. But don’t be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their hearts. Never say goodbye if you still want to try, never give up if you still feel you can go on, never say you don’t love a person anymore if you can’t let go. Love comes to those who still hope although they have been disappointed, to those who still believe although they’ve been betrayed, to those who still need to love although they’ve been hurt before, and to those who have the courage and faith to build trust again. 

It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don’t go for looks, they can deceive, don’t go for wealth, even that fades away, go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a  dark day seem bright. Hope you find that someone that makes you smile.

Compiled by: Charles Joseph

MY UNSPOKEN-THE QUITE SERMON

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fire place and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked the brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.

 As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.

Immediately, it began to glow once more with the light and the warmth of the burning coals around it. The pastor reached the door to leave. With tears running down his cheek, the host said, “thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.” 

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes, the best ‘sermons’ are the ones left unspoken. Her response, “when things looked darkest, I would have trusted God quicker.” We too!

Quote: The God who created the butterfly, is the same God who created the locusts

Challenge: Try to be someone’s reason to smile even when your own smile is lost

----Blessed Day!!----

Compiled by: Charles Joseph

THE LAW OF THE LORD

Shalom brothers and sisters, have you thought of Love as the Law of the Lord as the reason why God created you and me. There are three fragments in the law of the Lord. First you are required to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. Second you have an obligation to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Finally  it is mandatory that you love yourself.

 This law of the Lord is perfect, sure, right, pure, righteous, sweeter than honey and it is to be desired more than fine gold. Jesus gave an example of the good Samaritan to demonstrate the second fragment. Today the priest and levite is you Mary, Joseph, Titus, Lucy, John, Elizabeth and me.The man who was beaten by robbers is that child who is not able to pay school fees, a family that has not had good food for days, a jobless youth and the list of neighbors is endless.

 You are obliged to assist those in need of your help.  In order to observe the third fragment you have to abscond corruption opportunities that you have and chances of adultery and homosexuality that are presenting themselves to you just to name a few. If you love yourself you will keep yourself pure.

The law of the Lord which is Love conquers all. It captures all the commandments that God gave us. Therefore, loving God, others and Yourself is neither too hard nor is it too far off. Deuteronomy 30:1-20 presents us with a choice for blessing if we obey the laws of the Lord or a curse if we do not conform. It's interesting how 17 verses spell out blessing and only 3 verses have curses. I urge you to follow the law of the Lord and he will enable you to be prosperous and numerous.

In this week, the Lord will facilitate you live, multiply, restore your fortunes and bless you in the land you are entering be it a new job, business, family or an area of study.God bless!!
Source:http://jacquelinewords.wordpress.com/

Written by
Jacqueline Kamau

KINDNESS

One day a poor boy who was begging from door to door to feed his hungry stomach decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door, instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. 

The woman thought he looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, ‘how much do I owe you?’, “you don’t owe me anything”, she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept anything for kindness”. He said, “Then I thank you from my heart”.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled because they couldn’t cure her. They finally sent her to the big city, where they call specialist to study her rare illness. 

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town where she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to that case. 

After a long struggle, the battle was won! Dr. Kelly requested the Accounts office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the bill. It was then sent to her room. The woman feared opening it for she was sure it will take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and noticed something was written at the edge of the note:”paid for in full for a glass of milk”, tears filled her eyes as she immediately remembered…

Moral of the story:

Every form of kindness you show doesn’t bounce, it reproduces itself. Not necessarily before your eyes, but it always does. It is good to be good. Always be nice for it always comes back to you. Remember Kindness the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see!!

Compiled by: Charles Joseph

Eucharistic Mystery

The change of bread and wine into Body and Blood of Christ (called “transubstantiation”) is a mystery we will never fully understand. But even though we may find it difficult to imagine how this event takes place, we can be sure that the God who created the universe out of nothing has the power to accomplish this miracle as well.

Jesus is present in his Body and Blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. As a sign of respect, we as Catholics genuflect (bend the right knee to the floor and rise again) before a tabernacle in a church, where Eucharist is reserved. One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve souls from falling, and to help those who fall from weaknesses to rise again. Therefore, it is much more profitable to approach the divine Sacrament frequently with love, respect and confidence.

The bible quotes Jesus saying, “Except you eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life; and I will raise him in the last day; for my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed”.

Worship is a primary duty owed to God by his creatures, who receive from him not only their very existence, but every other good gift as well. Worship is also a privilege, a precious opportunity to encounter the great king of the universe who loves his people beyond all telling. The reason why the holy mass is offered is: To give supreme honor and glory to God, To thank him for all his benefits, To obtain pardon for our sins and To gain all other graces and blessings we need though Jesus Christ, our mediator and savior.

Before receiving the Eucharist, say something brief to Jesus in silent. For example, one may say, “Dear Jesus, am about to receive you into my soul. I am a sick person needing the physician of life. I am blind seeking the light of external splendor. Please help”. The Lord is saying to someone today; worry no more for I am now in charge of that difficulties you are passing through. Let us praise the Lord!!
 

Charles Joseph - Youth

The Pentecost - Church Birthday

Pentecost is a holiday (holy day) on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church”. Thus, from a historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. 

This is also true from the spiritual perspective, since the Holy Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus, Pentecost is the church Birthday. 

Christians are meant to live in the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to confess Jesus as Lord, empowers us to serve God with supernatural power, binds us together as the body of Christ, helps us to pray and even intercedes for us with God the Father. 

The Spirit guides us, helping us to live like Jesus. What a gift to have this experience going on in our lives right now! What a joy to be the ones who get to invite others into this beautiful experience! There is a renewed focus on evangelism, empowerment from the Holy Spirit, deeper intimacy with God and fellowship.

The celebration of the Pentecost imparts faith, hope, a sharing of community and an awareness of purpose. With the Holy Spirit in us we have all we need, we are only limited by our fear, our sin, our low expectations, not to mention our tendency to be distracted from God’s work in us. Pentecost offers us a chance to confess our failure to live by the Spirit and to ask the Lord to fill us a fresh with his power. God pours out the spirit upon all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and become his disciples.

This day, let us pray God to send us His Holy Spirit so that we may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord and the fruits which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Have a blessed holy day full of God’s love; will you?

Charles Joseph - Youth