Friday 26 April 2013

A MEMORY WORTH CHERISHING



 
 
 
At midnight I will turn 47 and my mom who is visiting her three sons in Dubai handed over the above two articles to me at lunchtime today. The first is a medal with a rusty pin and a tarnished image which appears to be some sort of a casket being held up by two angels (Or could it be The Last Supper table?) AND the second one is a heavy gold ring which barely fits my pinky!
 
So what's so special about the two objects?
 
My mother handed me the medal requesting me always to pray for Sister Aurelia and her team of Hospice sisters. It so happens, I was born a blue baby with the umbilical cord twisted 4 times around my neck. I was given up for dead by the doctors but Sr. Aurelia unclipped the above medal from her garment and placed it on my chest and lead the rest of the sisters in prayer. She prophesied over my life and interceded for my survival. It took a whole hour for the doctor to detect a heartbeat but I did live and now I'm testifying to the fact that my heart has stayed ever strong to this day!
 
The second object is part of an inheritance that I received from my father. I knew nothing of what it looked like until today! My mother always mentioned to me that my father had left me a ring before he died but I would never remember to ask for it whenever I've been to Goa on holiday. She handed it to me today reminding me that before the four of us (brothers) started working, we had nothing in terms of land or house. All that my father could leave behind for each of us was a gold article each. The ring is a reminder of my parents' great sacrifice in order that their four sons would receive the best education. My father died some 22 years ago. He lived long enough to see their sacrifice beginning to bear fruit but not long enough to see the Lord bless us with property, houses, children etc. I believe he continues to see those from a different realm that we're all yet to comprehend - Eternity!
 
I look back at my life today and I reflect on the countless mercies I've received from God undeserved by me. Every thing that I've received from the Lord has been very good and perfect gifts! Every day I experience His unfathomable grace in my life. I may change but He never does - He is a picture of faithfulness! He always lifts me up when I fall and shines his love-light on me when I'm discouraged.
 
Who else do I have, to go to, but you Lord ... you're all I have, to turn to, because you are always there with me as promised in Mat 28:20
 
ENCOURAGE YOURSELVES IN THE LORD THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD!
 


Tuesday 23 April 2013

HOW 'RELIGIOUS' CAN ONE GET?

On the way back from dropping my son to school, my brother Antonio and i were reminiscing about our childhood days at our Grandma's place in Margao. In those days, we attended the 6.15am mass at the Carmelite Monastery, a stone's throw away from our house. Our topic of discussion ended with the memory of an interesting sermon by Fr. Silva.

Fr. Antonio Silva was a well known preacher at that time and parishes from all over Goa would book him for the 'vesperas' (10 days before any feast). He was very close to our family and to specially to me personally (explains why i still have his pic in my wallet :-). After one such sermon appointment, Fr. Silva was returning on his Luna (moped) to the Monastery and to his utter horror was struck from behind by a speeding car and was lying in an open gutter, heavily bruised and bleeding ... and, with a broken hand.

He saw a known person pass him by in a hurry, who he thought he knew! ('Maybe he did not see me' - was all Fr. Silva could think of at that moment). Fr. Silva was taken to hospital and was treated for his wounds and broken hand. Many days later, he met the same man who had passed him by on the road when he most needed help. Just to be sure it was indeed the same person, Father asked him about the incident.

The man gave him the following answer which became the topic of his next sermon!

"Father, i did see you fallen in the ditch but i did not stop BECAUSE I WAS GETTING LATE FOR MASS"


Friday 19 April 2013

THE NEED FOR INTERCESSION

Life in the Spirit can be pretty amazing and those who have experienced it know exactly what i'm talking about!

The midweek service at GCC this Tuesday left all those who attended, truly blest! Sister Assie from Holland, a true prayer warrior, visited the church and encouraged each and everyone ... the time with her was richly edifying!

The attached link will take you to a small recording of her talk. I do apologize for not bringing to you a video footing of the evening as i was myself deeply moved by the Spirit (In fact i got slain during the praying-over!)


Please note that in the middle of the talk, you will have to watch a youtube video and then continue listening to her. I have not posted the link in the body of the text just in case you go to the clip before listening to the talk :-)

BE BLEST BY THE TALK!



Saturday 13 April 2013

UNDERSTANDING JESUS - Apostle Miguel Thomas

As promised earlier, this is a teaching by the Brazilian Apostle, Miguel Thomas at Grace Covenant Church, Dubai on 09 April 2013.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwi0RnCs4LL_ZmZ2VGFXbTFCNnc/edit?usp=sharing

God bless you all!

Friday 12 April 2013

APOSTLE SIDNEY ON 'GIVING'

Last tuesday, i was blest to receive The Word from two great men of God at Grace Covenant Church. Apostle Sidney came from Puerto Rico and Apostle Miguesl Thomas from Brazil. Miguel's message will follow. Please excuse the 'shake' in the video. It was recorded on my mobile phone without a tripod!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwi0RnCs4LL_WFJYTmtfOXdLN2c/edit?usp=sharing

Whilst my own views on tithing may differ from the above message, i still believe in the 'SOWING AND REAPING' principle in the Bible with all my heart.

Tuesday 9 April 2013

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TRAIN?

My dear readers,

This is not HATE MAIL! Please watch the video with an open mind. The objective here is not to bash priests,pastors and churches but for all 'followers' to be aware and act!

It is said that if a frog was kept inside a cauldron of cold water which was being heated very slowly, the frog would not jump out even if the water came to boiling point! It would get cooked alive without even knowing it! SO IT IS WITH MANY THINGS OF THIS WORLD!

Please click on the link below to go to the short video:

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TRAIN?

Let Christ be your focus and the focus of your church (Whichever it may be!). Build a strong RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM! Nothing else matters!

HE IS OUR ROCK, OUR STRONG FOUNDATION! (See Ps. 18:2 and 1 Cor 3:11)

God bless you!

Saturday 6 April 2013

DOUBT NOT! (Cancer Defeated!)

I just got a call from my dear sister Dilu who has just returned from Sri Lanka. We had a lot of catching up to do regarding the 'Safe Home' she's planning for orphaned and abused children. During our conversation, i was telling her about my frozen shoulder pains. As she was explaining Mark 11:23 to me ("Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.), She was repeatedly telling me not to doubt even in the worst painful moments that i was healed by the blood of the Lamb!

Then the Holy Spirit reminded her of a mighty testimony ... one that made me break down in sobs after i hung up.

When i was in Sri Lanka in mid January, i was standing outside the church after Bro. Johnson's retreat. It was the last day of the retreat. My brother Antonio and i were clicking snaps of a nearby Anglican church. Suddenly i heard Sister Dilu call out to me to pray over a young Buddhist lad of about eleven. His mother was crying and his sorrowful father just stood there with his arm over the boy. I was told that the boy had blood cancer (Leukaemia). My heart broke when i heard the story. As we prayed over the boy, all that i could say was, "Lord, show them you awesomeness, power and love". Since they could only speak in Sinhalese i could only tell them with gestures to just believe and experience the GLORY of God.

Even after we returned to Dubai, the boy did come to my mind and i would say a silent prayer for him. Today, Dilu confirmed to me that the Lord had COMPLETELY HEALED him of cancer. How could it happen in just over TWO MONTHS?

Apparently, when they went home that night, the mother made a firm decision that they would take all the instructions given by Sis. Dilu to heart. The three of them decided to memorise all the scriptures given in the small white book and prayed them aloud every morning when they woke up. Soon after the prayer itself, the mother had told Dilu that the RBC count had already increased in the blood. Dilu had told them to hang on to the promises of God even if the next test showed a lesser count, telling them that the devil had to be defeated with their FAITH in the promises of God! Even when the mother would be sweeping the floor, she would remember the immutable promises made to Abraham regarding his descendants. She confessed the promises of God over her son and believed WITHOUT DOUBTING that he was ALREADY HEALED!
In mid March when the bone marrow test was performed, there were ZERO cancer cells in the boy's body!
The healing was confirmed by the doctors. Their lives are not the same anymore. The whole family is filled with the life of God!

"When we pray (Even with scriptures), DO WE REALLY BELIEVE WITHOUT DOUBTING? If not, there will be no manifestation and the faith that you build up will go back to zero", says Sis. Dilu vehemently!

GREAT INDEED ARE YOUR WORKS OH LORD!