Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand?

Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand? Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand?
Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand?
Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand? Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand?Where do I see and recognise God’s presence? Where do I see the imprint of God’s hand?

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

When I saw him, he resembled like a Kathakali artist who is putting on the make up for the next show. I thought that he will make up a good subject to photograph. While focusing on him, I understood the gravity of the situation. He is a painter appointed by the painting contractor painting my house and the white dots are caused by the paint drops fell on him while painting. I am sure that many might have gone into his eyes as well. Since painting is his job, this might be happening every day for him. How many days can his eyes withstand this onslaught. His daily wage will be around Rs.500 which is hardly around 10 US dollar. Is that sufficient to take care of his present and future needs?. These are the thoughts in my mind when I am seeing this photograph taken by me.

Today I pray for all those who are working under potentially dangerous environments and are not taken care of properly by their employers

All praise is your's Lord

He is the one who walks in, when all the guests disappear....

Sometimes the road is empty and lonely. I am tired, dejected and frustrated....on the verge of giving up on my destination. My ego is shattered......The fact that you are there as a loving father to intercede with my situations ....when I call upon you from the gutters of this world...is the only hope.....God, do not abandon me.......this prodigal son, daughter....Give us the strength and grace to be back on our feet and continue the journey....

Whoever looses their life for the sake of me......will have a meaningful life....

In fact, I did not have anything to blog today...and something meaningful to blog ...was my prayer of that moment, when I landed at the Bangaluru airport at 1.a.m. As usual, even if I was tired, I made my routine rounds to the book store at the exit, and this book cover got my attention which in turn triggered thoughts about this saint of our times.What did she do, differently?. Where am I?....

Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.

Dear Lord, let me not discriminate people based on their wealth. Let me always have the realization that all are your sons and daughters, and treat every one with respect and politeness. I ask for this grace today.

Love your neighbor

 

If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Praise you Lord, Love You Lord, Thank You Lord.

Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?

Best wishes on this first working day 2012

Another brand day of the brand new year, filled with possibilities is unleashing in front of us today. It's another beautiful day of a brand new year. The world has not changed much overnight and we will not be able to do that as well. All that we can do is to change our responses to the demands of work. We have only three choices when it comes to work. Do it with unhappiness; Enjoy it; Do it as a mission entrusted by God. Based on these our responses to the work situations will change. Wish you the very best work life in Year 2012.

Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 (see Colossians 3:22- 4:1)

Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Ephesians 6:6
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:13
For the people worked with all their heart.
Nehemiah 4:6
Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7
The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
Exodus 18:18
The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
John 17:4

ഒരു പുതുവത്സര ചിന്ത

പുതുവത്സരത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭാത സൂര്യന്‍ കൊച്ചി നഗരത്തിനുമേല്‍ പതിക്കുന്നു. കൊച്ചി ഒരു വലിയ ആഘോഷത്തിന്റെ ആലസ്യത്തില്‍ നിന്നും മെല്ലെ ഉണരുന്നു. എന്റെ പുതുവത്സരം ആരംഭിച്ചത് കന്നംകുന്നത് പള്ളിയില്‍ പാതിരാ കുര്‍ബാന കണ്ടുകൊണ്ടായിരുന്നു, ചൊട്ടയിലെ ശീലം ചുടുല വരെ എന്ന ചൊല്ലിനെ അന്വര്‍ഥം ആക്കും വിധം. അപ്പനില്‍ നിന്നും ഞാന്‍ പഠിച്ചു, വരും തലമുറയിലേക്കു ഞാന്‍ അറിഞ്ഞോ, അറിയാതെയോ പകര്‍ന്ന ഒരു ആചാരം. കര്‍ത്താവിനു എല്ലാത്തിനും നന്ദി അര്‍പിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പള്ളിക്കകത്ത്‌ തുടങ്ങിയ എന്റെ പുതുവത്സരം, പള്ളിക്ക് പുറത്തു കുടിച്ചു കൂത്താടി, മൃഗങ്ങളെ പോലെ അലമുറയിടുന്ന ഒരു വളരുന്ന അഥവാ തളരുന്ന ശുഷ്കിച്ച  തലമുറയെ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞു. എന്റെ ദൈവമേ, ഇവന്മാര്‍ക് മദ്യം നന്നായി ആസ്വദിക്കാന്‍ പോലും അറിയില്ലേ. വെറുതെ കുറെ അപശബ്ദം പുറപ്പെടുവിക്കുന്നതോ, കുടിച്ചു ലക്കുകെട്ട് ഇല്ലാത്ത സന്തോഷം വരുതുന്നതോ ...അതാണോ ആഘോഷം. രാത്രി ഒരുമണിക്ക് ഭരത് ടൂറിസ്റ്റ് ഹോമില്‍ നിന്നും മസാല ദോശ കഴിചിറങ്ങിയ എന്നെയും പോലീസ് ഊതിച്ചു. ഇത്തവണ ഞാന്‍ സധൈര്യം ഊതി....അയാള്‍ എനിക്ക് പുതുവത്സര ആശംസകളും അര്‍പിച്ചു. കുടിച്ചു ലക്കുകെട്ട് പോസ്റ്റിന്റെ സഹായത്തോടെ നേരെ നില്‍കാന്‍ പാടുപെടുന്ന ഒരു ചെറുപ്പക്കാരന്റെ ചിത്രം ...ഒരു നിമിഷം അങ്ങിനെ ഒരു മകന്‍ ഇല്ലാത്തതിനെ കുറിച്ച് എന്നെ സന്തോഷവനാക്കി. സാരമില്ല....ഉയിര്തെഴുന്നെല്കൂ....മുടിയനായ പുത്രന്മാരെ...കര്‍ത്താവു കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നു, നിന്നെ കൈ പിടിച്ചു രക്ഷയുടെ മാര്‍ഗത്തിലേക്ക്, ഏറ്റവും മനോഹരമായ ആഘോഷത്തിലേക്ക് കൈ പിടിച്ചു കയറ്റുവാന്‍...നിന്റെ കരം ഒന്ന് നീട്ടയാല്‍ മാത്രം മതി.....കെട്ടുകള്‍ വിടട്ടെ.......മുടിയനായ ഞാന്‍ വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കുമുന്‍പ്, അല്ലാ, എല്ലാ ദിവസവും ചെയ്യുന്നത് പോലെ....ദൈവമേ ഈ അഗാദത്തില്‍ നിന്നും നിന്നെ ഞാന്‍ വിളിക്കുന്നു. എന്നെ കര കയറ്റെണമേ....എന്നെപ്പോലുള്ളവരെയും, അല്ല നിന്റെ ചായയില്‍ സൃഷ്ടിക്കപെട്ട...പല കാരണങ്ങള്‍ കൊണ്ട് നിന്റെ ചായ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട എല്ലാ മക്കളെയും ..........ദൈവമേ നന്ദി...വേറെ ഒന്നിനും അല്ല...ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു അത്താണി അഥവാ ആശ്രയം അങ്ങില്‍ ഉള്ളതുകൊണ്ട്....ലോകം മുഴുവന്‍ കൈവിട്ട അവസരങ്ങളില്‍ അങ്ങ് അഭയം ആയി ഉണ്ടെന്നുള്ള വസ്തുത ഇരുളില്‍ വസിക്കുന്ന എന്നെപോലുള്ള മുടിയനായ പുത്രന്മാര്ക് പ്രത്യാശ നല്‍കുന്നു. ഈ പുതുവത്സരത്തിലെ എല്ലാ ചുവടുകള്‍ക്കും ഒപ്പം അങ്ങ് ഉണ്ടാകണമേ.... 

A very quiet new year eve, with those who stood by me always....Here I am in the land of my ancestors to capture this new life sprouting from a heap of fallen leaves....reminding me of the years passed by.....and at the same planting the hope of New year within me. Thank you Lord for all the Blessings...I must say, the unconditional blessings showered upon us...even when we did not deserve them.....During this new year, I rely on you more dear Lord. Guide me, Protect me..make your plans work through me...

The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." -Proverbs 31:8-9

Where did I see him?. I can see him every where, the poor, the needy, the destitute, the ill, the lonely, the sick, the poor, the orphan....are all different versions of him, which I ignore very conveniently, and at the same time crib about the little inconveniences of life. By ignoring the poorest of the poor, can we pray sincerely, and even if we pray, what will be the depth of it. Dear Lord, help me to stop cribbing about the little inconveniences of day to day life, and to deal with every one, especially the ones whose living conditions are worse than mine, with compassion, humility and respect. This grace I ask you Lord. 

To celebrate Christmas every day

Christmas is all about birth, joy, friendship and celebrations. When the decibels around me reaches a new peak during this December, inside me, I am haunted by one question..."Did anything change between the last Christmas and this Christmas". The essence of Christmas is in wearing a new child ourselves, getting rid of all the evil in us, by committing to the commandments of Jesus, one hundred percentage. Was I successful at it, during the last year?. Not at all. There is still a big gap between what is intended out of me and the real me. 

Again, I am committing to you Jesus, one hundred percentage, like a child, trusting her father one hundred percentage. Sanctify me, bless me and guide me in your path. Be along with me in this journey, to give me a hand, whenever I am about to fall down again. I am so weak. Make me strong enough. Come to me every day, the rest of my life, so that I can celebrate Christmas every day, inside out, bubbling with a heart and soul, possessed by you....Once again, I surrender to you completely....to celebrate Christmas, every day!. 

Merry Christmas to You?.

 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Believe me, I am at my best, when I have a clean heart, and that is possible only when I am in light. Without him nothing is possible, and with him, everything is possible. That fact inspires me.