Word of God: Keeping in touch with God

Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find and the door will be open to anyone who knocks.
Luke 11:9-10

How much more enduring are our security, peace and joy when we walk daily with God in prayer. How much more tender and loving is the touch of God when we turn away from the busyness of daily life to experience the presence of God in quiet prayer!

To want to prayer is an expression of our yearning for God. Prayer is a profound experience of the abiding presence of God in our lives. It deepens our awareness and appreciation of God's love, mercy and goodness and in increasing our enthusiasm for him.

To pray is to let go of ourselves and let God come and take over our lives. It is saying that we are entirely dependent on God and are willing to submit our will to His. To pray calls for faith and trust in God's love, wisdom, abundance and providence. St Therese of Lisieux described prayer as letting God be Father and friend to us.

God the Father loves us very much and if we are open, sincere, trusting and persevering in our prayer, He will draw us even closer to himself.

In life's situations, there are times when we are pushed to the brink, with our back against the wall..right up to our neck. Bless and thank God for all these occasions for it is only in these dark, crushing moments that we really crack open and recognise that God is there with us all the time.

Crises bruise and crush and in crushing our self-centeredness, they often refine and purify. And prayer does the teaching, the listening, the learning in God. Constant prayer means keeping in contact with God, and as God is the source of all life, we live and grow in Him.

An Irish blessing

You know how sometimes you hear a song or a hymn and it speaks to you? This morning, there were several hymns that spoke to me during mass and one brought tears to my eyes. I decided to approach one of the choir members to find out the title of the hymn. The title is May the road rise to meet you.

The choir sang it so beautifully and the words went straight to my heart. I am reminded that God is always here with me. I like to share this blessing with you and I pray that the road will rise to meet you especially if you are in need of His grace at this moment. Peace be with you.




May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again
May you keep safe in the gentle loving arms of God.

For everything there is a season
a time for meeting , a time to say goodbye
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

For everything there is a season
a time for loving, a time for letting go
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

2 questions

Something to ponder on:
Question 1: Have you experienced joy in your life?
Question 2: Have you brought joy to others?

Source:

the movie - The Bucket List

Quote:

You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you. ~Carter Chambers

18th July 2009

Another anniversary is here since that fateful day when I decided to go ahead with the first of 2 surgeries to treat a rare illness. 2 years on and I am pleased to share that I am doing very well, I've been asymptomatic and my quality of life has improved tremendously :)

I was reading the journal that I kept during those difficult period and I am impressed with what I wrote in there. The conviction and faith that I had in God was astounding. I almost don't recognize that person. Truly, it was through God's grace that I was able to go through all that I had to - pre and post surgeries.

An excerpt of what I wrote:

I want to remember the feeling - being at peace, cheerful and hopeful. There are lots of things for me to worry about and I could potentially be immobilized by fear. I'm going to take a different strategy- I'd stare fear in the eye. I will deal with it with faith. It's tough but I know I can do it with God's blessing and support from all round. 18 June 07

Who is that person??

I am truly blessed because grace, courage and wisdom came to me when I needed them most. That's the only explanation I can offer as to how I was able to cope with everything. As I have shared earlier I suffered a stroke after my second op on 17 September 07. As a result I lost the ability to read, write, recall, text, tell the time, use the mobile phone and other simple functions that I took for granted. I could only write or type simple sentences and even then it took me a great deal of effort and time.



Samples of my handwriting at different stages of recovery - 5-days, 12-days and 7.5 months post-op.

It may not be the politically-correct thing to say but I am grateful that I had the chance to go through what I did. In many ways my illness has shaped and molded me into a better and more mature person. I discovered my own strength- what I am made of. Never in my life did I expect myself to be calm and cheerful in the face of trials and tribulations. Through the experience I was/am reminded that I must not take my life and health for granted. Being ill allowed me to appreciate being cared for. I had lots of people praying and rallying for me and in some ways it was a testimony to the kind of person that I am. I was validated as many people wanted only the best for me and they came in full force to tell me that. That was a great feeling - knowing that you are loved. I believe after being through a recovery process myself it will make me a better (and more credible) clinician and listener.

I am really grateful to my wonderful surgeon and his team - staff who went the extra mile to make me feel more comfortable when I felt most vulnerable. My husband who stood by me every step of the way and being my pillar of strength; my sister and mom who took great care of me; good friends who showed their kindness and generosity; acquaintances and strangers who prayed for the success of the surgeries and speedy recovery. I will always remember the kindness shown to me. Thank you!

My hope is that my story will inspire you to live your life courageously and know that you are stronger and more resilient than you think. Seemingly "bad" situations can turn out to be opportunities for growth and learning if you choose to let go. Somehow when we feel like we have reached the limits we will discover that we can still extend the limits. And grace will find us and give us the special boost to get through life. Trust the process.

Grace expands our intellect by endowing us with intuitive wisdom. Grace expands our will by giving us strength or courage we did not have before.

I'm happy to share more of my experiences so feel free to email me if you want to know more :)

What I Know For Sure

Change is the only constant as they say. Things change all the time and it is not always easy to deal with them. Is there anything that we can hold on to in the midst of storms and rain?

After reading The Top 20 Things Oprah Knows for Sure I was inspired to think about my own list.

1. There is a Higher Power much greater than I.
2. Life is full of surprises.
3. No one is too rich to receive and too poor to give.
4. This too shall pass.
5. The desert spares nobody. Dark nights eventually find us all.
6. Marriage is like a plant and it requires constant work and nurturing.
7. Friends especially girlfriends are angels in disguise.
8. Where there is a will, there's a way.
9. Not all battles are worth fighting.
10. Human being is adaptable, resilient and stronger than he/she thinks.
11. Change begins with me.
12. The best is yet to be.
13. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
14. Every day brings a chance to start over.
15. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth.
16. You reap what you sow.
17. There is a time and place for everything.
18. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all the rest will fall in line.
19. Charity begins at home
20. The attitude of gratitude can help you get through tough times.

The one on suffering

I read the article on suffering by a Catholic priest, Father Ronald Rolheiser and it struck a chord. I found it comforting and meaningful and it is something that I would like to keep in mind. I hope you draw strength from it too. Here are some excerpts:

"Lost is a place too...being down-and-out, alone, lost, struggling for meaning, and looking bad, is also a valid place to be."

I've always considered myself independent and capable of handling my life. Naturally I don't like the feeling of being lost. It gives me lots of anxiety and frustration. I think most people feel the same way. This is a nice reminder that being lost is a valid place to be and as long as I recognise this, it will help me ride through my own insecurities and anxieties. We often forget that suffering is the flip side of joy.

"..this is a good place to be, a biblical and mystical place. that doesn't make it less painful or humiliating. It just gives you the consolation of knowing that you're in a valid place, a necessary one, and that everyone before you, spent some time there and everyone, including all those people who seem to be forever on top of the world, will spend some time there too. The desert spares nobody. Dark nights eventually find us all."

"knowing this doesn't make it easier to accept feeling lost and on the outside, especially in a world in which being successful is everything. That is why it's hard to ever admit, even to our closest friends, that we're struggling, tasting more ashes than glory."

"...inside that place, our souls are being shaped in ways we cannot understand but in ways that will stretch and widen them for a deeper love and happiness in the future.

"Beauty is ultimately more about the size of our hearts, about how much they can empathise, and about how widely and unselfishly they can embrace. To that end, the desert heat of loneliness is helpful in softening the heart, enough at least to let it be painfully stretched. That happens more easily when we're lost, feeling like unanimity-minus-one, unsure of ourselves, empty of consolation, aching in frustration, and running a psychic temperature. Not pleasant but it's a place too.