DON'T NEGLECT THE GRACE YOU HAVE RECEIVED

As you begin this new week, I wish to remind you that life is not a bed of roses. There are challenges of life which by the  grace of God, can not overpower you. But we must thank God always and in everywhere 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.

In 2 Corinthians 6, 1-10, St. Paul is saying: We prove we are servants of God when we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching, hunger, etc.

St. Paul said that because the grace of God was sufficient for him, and he was begging the Corinthians not to neglect the grace that they had received. Because it will be by the grace of God that they will be able to receive the help from God to overcome all trials and difficulties and also to receive the salvation from God.

As you begin this new week, may God's grace be sufficient unto you, may His love go with you, may His peace overshadow you, may His healing hands stretch above you, and may you receive from Him abundance of mercies. Amen

Good morning!
Rabbi😘

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE BEHIND YOUR OFFERING?

Talking about offering, does it mean only money? Can we offer another thing in place of money? Is money the ultimate means or medium of offering? Can we only show charity through offering money? Well, when St. Paul was talking about giving in 2 Cor. 9, 6-11,  he was certainly referring to money. But, is that all?😱

Unfortunately, even though money is the means of giving, there are other things that are equally very important like the spirituality of giving. This is made manifest in Matt. 6, 1-6, 16-18 when Jesus was talking about prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In fact, He is saying that God the Father knows the intentions of doing it 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻.

My dear friend(s), whether it is prayer, fasting or almsgiving, it is a form of spiritual offering to God the Father, and when God sees the purity of the intentions behind it, He will reward the giver accordingly 👏🏻👏🏻.

Answering the question, "what is the attitude behind the giving or the offering?" St. Paul answers thus: "thin sowing means thin reaping. And God loves a cheerful giver." God also will reward those who give generously of themselves in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Have you planned to give sparingly? Hmmm, have a rethink.

I am here praying for you, believing you have done that for me too. Have a beautiful day ahead, and like I always advised, eat and drink plenty of water. I just finished my pineapple juice😜.

Good morning!
Rabbi😘

FORGIVE, FORGIVE, AND KEEP FORGIVING

Who has done you more harm? Who did you say you will never forgive? Why did God forgive you? Why can't you forgive him/her? Are you better than the person you're accusing? Do you know that "small" sins can kill? Is hate and grudge not a sin also? Are you a prayer warrior without a forgiving heart? Are you expecting God to forgive your sins? 😱😱

My dear friend(s), let's take out time to answer some or all of the questions above and stop acting sanctimonious when we cannot even forgive others.    After Jesus had  taught His disciples to pray, He vehemently emphasized on forgiveness. Because when we stand before God, we stand before Him as sinners with our own set of failings.

If we as sinners cannot  forgive our neighbours and friends for their failings, then our  prayers does not make any sense, and that was what Jesus was saying. But when we realize that we are no better than the other person whom we are about to point our fingers at, then mercy and forgiveness have already begun to flow in us.

As for me, I have forgiven you a long time. We must live by examples for the coming generation. Today, I urge you to forgive him/her, and claim your place in heaven. The day is bright, eat and go to work. Meanwhile, I have taken a glass of chilled orange juice👍🏻.

Bonjour!
Rabbi😘

DON'T BE AT YOUR BEST IN THE PUBLIC AND WORST IN PRIVATE

Have you ever helped people to the point of saying, "I am tired of helping?" Or better still, have you ever been paid evil for your good deeds? Or, do you help so that people would applaud you and say all kinds of good things about you? Have you helped someone privately before?😳🙏🏻

We are told in the scripture that wherever Jesus went, people will come and approach Him with their numerous requests. Did he run away from them? Well, not all days are exactly the same. Matthew 8, 5-17 gives us a glimpse of a typical day for Jesus.

My dear friend(s), we know that Jesus had also a human nature, which means that at some point in his life, he was also tired from hectic works. So when He went to Peter's mother-in-law's house, probably it was to take a break. He needed to rest for a while 👍🏻👍🏻.

But when He saw Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever, did He just rest? He couldn't have rested. So whether in public or in private, Jesus poured out all His love and power. Jesus was not certainly the type who would be at their best in public, but are at their worst in private. He was the same at all times👍🏻👍🏻

What we are in public should be a reflection of who we are in private and vice versa. Is not a  case of "Christian in the day, oracle at night." Whether it is outside or inside, let us know that we are to reflect God's love and care always.

As you go out today, think of doing good. Did you take your favourite juice the whole of this week? I did, trust me. Happy new month and weekend.

Good morning!

Rabbi😘