sometimes the answer is "no"

Last August, my friends and I made plans to go on a tour of Budapest, Hungary on our October EID Holiday. We booked our flight ticket, made hotel reservations and prepared all the required documents – the only glitch is that our UAE visas were up for renewal and as such won’t be able to apply for Hungarian Tourist visa at the earliest. 

Still, we pushed thru with our plans and prayed that everything will fall into place – which everything seemed to…. our UAE visas were renewed and our tourist visas approved– but because everything came at the last minute, we lost our flight booking…

… Just when we thought everything is going as planned – something goes awry… 

… It was disheartening to say the least but the words that kept ringing in my head are “sometimes the answer is no…”

… yes sometimes the answer to our prayers can be “no”,  and we just have to ask for the grace to accept God’s will, learn to see the bigger picture and understand the message – keeping faith that all is well because surely God has better plans for our own good…

… as of writing all our plans are yet to be finalized – I am having second thoughts about going even though my friends are determined to go no matter what…

… I lift it all up to you Lord – May your plans be our plans…

… And for all of this May God Be Praised!!!

Growing in the Spirit - Christian Life Program Talk 10

God's call for every Christian is to grow in holiness.  To this end, God has provided us with the tools for growth. Will you eagerly avail of these tools and strive to be holy as God is holy?

Receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit - Christian Life Program Talk 9

God has promised the Holy Spirit to His people.  With the Holy Spirit, we gain a new nature, spiritual power, and the power to serve.

You have claimed Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.  You have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and have received a new life from the Lord.  You are "a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  You have begun a new life in faith.  Will you commit yourself fully to Jesus Christ and grow into the life in the Holy Spirit?

Life in the Holy Spirit - Christian Life Program Talk 8

God is calling us to live a life of holiness and spiritual power.  For this, God has promised us the Holy Spirit.  Will you trust in the promise of your Father?  Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Will you ask for the infilling of the Holy Spirit in your life?

The Christian Family - Christian Life Program Talk 7

The family being the basic unit of society has the power to create a ripple effect of change in society.

God is trying to restore the Christian family back to His original plan.  We are called to respond to His divine efforts and to be a part of His work.  Will you take the steps necessary to have God's plan happen in your family?

the Great I AM

inspirationa reading for today!

 

The word of the Lord is upright and all his works done in faithfulness.    – Psalm 33:4

 

Whenever we encounter stressful moments, let us call on God using personal endearing names that revela His character to us in the way that we need him to be at those times.

 

When we feel our temper starting to get the better of us, let us call on the God of peace to call our nerves. When we are having a frenetic day, let us call on the God of order to work all things out.

 

Calling on God in an intimate, fatherly way deepens our realtionship with Him. His words “when you call to Me, I will answer you,” becomes a reality. Our God is not a distant, but a personal God.

 

Reflection:  are you tired and anxious about certain situations in your life? Call on the Lord who is the Great I Am.

 

Prayer:  Oh Holy Spirit, guide us always to the path where your grace and gifts abound.

Exaltation of the Cross

"...our life of Faith is not always upward with bliss and happiness, when we are faced with struggles may we learn to embrace the Cross and make it a symbol of God's victory..."