The promise is for you

Just as promised, God raised His Son Jesus back to life -- eternal life -- on the third day after His burial. He was seen by His closest friends and over 500 of His followers before He went up into heaven before their very eyes. After His resurrection, his close friend Peter told a great crowd to repent from their sins and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved, "for the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call." This promise is for you!

There are many religions and prophets, but no one but Jesus Christ offers complete forgiveness from your sins and eternal life with God. He has already died for your sins; now you must put your faith in Him. "For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." If you believe in Jesus, you can pray a prayer like this right now and receive the gift of eternal life.

Saturday's Gospel: "Lord Jesus, may the fire of your love burn in my heart

Scripture: Luke 16:9-15

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.

10 "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they scoffed at him.

15 But he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

ReflectionsWhat does "tainted money" (or "unrighteous mammon") have to do with heavenly treasure and eternal life? Jesus exhorts his disciples to be like the shrewd steward who used money generously to make friends and win for himself a secure and happy future (see the parable of the dishonest steward in Luke 16:1-9). Generous giving is connected with almsgiving – giving financial assistance to those in need (sell your possessions and give alms -Luke 12:33).

Those who receive alms become your friends because you are merciful to them in their time of need, just as God is merciful to you in your need for his forgiveness and help. What is the enemy of generosity? It's greed, the excessive desire for personal gain and security. True generosity does not impoverish the giver, but enriches that person a hundredfold! Generosity expands the soul; greed contracts it. God is generous and superabundant in lavishing his gifts upon us. We can never outgive God in what he has already given to us. Do you know the joy and freedom of generosity and liberality in giving to others what God has so richly given to you?

Jesus concludes his parable with a lesson on what controls or rules our lives. Who is the master (or ruler) in charge of your life? Our "master" is that which governs our thought-life, shapes our ideals, controls the desires of the heart and the values we choose to live by. We can be ruled by many different things – the love of money or possessions, the power of position, the glamor of wealth and prestige, the driving force of unruly passions and addictions.

Ultimately the choice boils down to two: God and "mammon". What is mammon? "Mammon" stands for "material wealth or possessions" or whatever tends to "control our appetites and desires". There is one Master alone who has the power to set us free from the slavery of sin and addiction. That Master is the Lord Jesus Christ.

God loves generosity and he gives generously and liberally to those who share his gifts with others. The Pharisees, however, had no room in their hearts for God. The gospel says they were lovers of money. Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our heart must either be possessed by God's love or our heart will be possessed by the love of something else. What does your heart most treasure?

The fairest flower

Genuine humility isn't something we can announce very easily. To claim this virtue is, as a rule, to forfeit it. Humility is the fairest and rarest flower that blooms. Put it on display and instantly it wilts and loses it's fragrance. No, humility is not something to be announced. It simply belongs in one's life, in the private journal of one's walk with God.

Let's look up at the Virgin Mary and her humility...

There are two simple and quick ways God says the true condition of the heart is revealed. The first is through the eyes and the second is through the mouth. Keen counselors and wise people are careful to listen to words and watch the eyes of the others. You soon discover that the heart is like a well and the eyes are the tongue are like buckets that draw water from the same well. If true humility is not in the heart, the eyes will show it.

Projector rentals

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The projector can project even the most mundane television show on a large screen or even the wall. This is normally less expensive than buying a large screen HDTV, but does an impressive job of presenting sporting events and movies.

Of course, light-weight projectors have become almost a required part of the baggage of sales and business people who must travel and make presentations. Fairly spectacular multi-media presentations can be created using Microsoft's PowerPoint or some similar tool. However a friend of mine is just simply make use of projector rentals .

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When looking at doing presentations for clients out of the office, a portable projector may be the best solution. This will make it much easier to carry around, as some projectors can be rather large.

Friday's Gospel: What do you most treasure in your heart?

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8

1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

2 And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

3 And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'

5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?'

6 He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

7 Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.'

8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

ReflectionsDo you make good use of your money and possessions? Jesus seemed to praise a steward (a manager entrusted with his master's goods) who misused his employer's money. What did the steward do that made Jesus praise him? The steward was responsible for managing his wealthy landowner's property. The steward very likely overcharged his master's tenants for their use of the land and kept more than his fair share of the profit. When the landowner discovers the steward's dishonest practice he immediately removes him from his job, leaving him penniless and ashamed to beg or do manual work.

Before news of his dismissal becomes public knowledge, the shrewd steward strikes a deal with his master's debtors. In discounting their debts he probably was giving up his generous commission. Such a deal won him great favor with the debtors. Since he acted as the landowner's agent, such a deal made his master look very generous and forgiving towards those who owned him money. Surely everyone would praise such a generous landowner as the town hero! Since the master could not undo the steward's cancellation of the debts without losing face and making his debtors resent him, he praises the steward for outwitting him as a generous and merciful landowner.

Jesus obviously thought that the example of a very clever steward would be a perfect illustration for a spiritual lesson about God and how God treats those who belong to his kingdom! What's the point of Jesus's parable? The dishonest steward is commended not for mishandling his master's wealth, but for his shrewd provision in averting personal disaster and in securing his future livelihood. The original meaning of "shrewdness" is "foresight".

A shrewd person grasps a critical situation with resolution, foresight, and the determination to avoid serious loss or disaster. Jesus is concerned here with something more critical than a financial or economic crisis. His concern is that we avert spiritual crisis and personal moral disaster through the exercise of faith and foresight. If Christians would only expend as much foresight and energy to spiritual matters which have eternal consequences as much as they do to earthly matters which have temporal consequences, then they would be truly better off, both in this life and in the age to come.

Ambrose, a 4th century bishop said: The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever. True wealth consists not in what we keep but in what we give away. Possessions are a great responsibility. The Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at his service and the service of others.

We belong to God and all that we have is his as well. He expects us to make a good return on what he gives us. God loves generosity and he gives liberally to those who share his gifts with others. The Pharisees, however, had no room for God or others in their hearts. The gospel says they were lovers of money (Luke 16:14). Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our hearts must either be possessed by God's love or our hearts will be possessed by the love of something else. What do you most treasure in your heart?

God and our decision

Does itt make sense to you if I tell you that God wills for us only the best things in this world? Does it make sense to you if I tell you that in every decision that we make, God is continuously supporting us and assisting us to arrive at a good one?

How?

God, through His divine inspiration and revelation, helps us arrive at decisions that will make us real happy. God reveals Himself to us and His mighty power and His love to us through the Scriptures, the truths of our Christian Tradition, and the human experiences that we had in our daily life as witnesses of God's acts revealing Himself to us.

God wills for us the best decisions that we could ever make which will make us real happy in our life. When we make corrections from the erroneous decisions that we make in our lives, God’s heart goes with us and tries to connect Himself with us through our prayers and our personal relationship with Him through His grace, and brings us back to the right path that will lead us to attain real happiness in our life.

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God uses His heart

God uses His heart in creating humankind. His love for the human race comes from His heart and not from His mind. It makes sense then; that when He created the world and the human race, He used His emotions and feelings and not his mind and thinking. It follows; too, that humans need to use their feelings in making good and brilliant decisions and these decisions must make sense thru our minds.

So, when a human person makes a decision, it should come from the heart and not from the mind because the heart which generates the main feelings is the main source of real happiness that every human person should attain and experience. When a person makes decision using his/her rational mind, it always almost ends up in a deadly frustration.

We will never be happy in the end with decisions that we made which were based from the rationality of our minds because real happiness comes from the decisions that are made with the use of our feelings and emotions from our hearts.

The feelings and emotions that God felt when He created His first man proved to Him to be that fulfilling and perfecting. God’s happiness emanates from His acts of creation. Remember the OT Genesis? He, therefore, did not use His rationale mind in creating the world, the man, and all living things. He mainly used His heart and He felt very good at the results of His actions.

exchange unwanted stuff for exciting free stuff

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Well. this is a very promising offer, isn't it? Actually, it works this way: everything on Listia is being given away by users for free so anyone who has the fancy and gets drawn to this very unique trade can get items for free by using credits, instead of cash, and each item is being auctioned off using those credits for bidding. So, there is no cash, no fees involved but just free stuff being given away by users. Do you want to try it?

This may be the chance you have been waiting for in regards to giving away your unwanted stuff for a rebound. Listia is an "auctions for free stuff". That's how it works. DO you want to get rid of your unwanted cameras, clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as your unwanted video games, or books and cellphone for some new exciting stuff which you want to acquire like jewelries and watches, sporting goods and cars and their spare parts? Then, Listia is the right answer for your quest.

Hurry up because as of this writing, Listia is currently doing promotion of giving away 300 credits free to those who will join the auction. SAnd mind you, you may be the lucky one to get this reward: a handsome Panasonic 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV! Such a cool auction reward, isn't it?

Listia also offers charity auctions and great way to recycle goods that you might otherwise throw away, such as old cell phones, vhs tapes, clothes, old TV. You may not be able to sell these items for cash, but you can recycle them by giving them away to someone who needs them, and you get something in return. That's how Listia works. A charity given is a charity received. Try Listia now!

Savor satisfaction

The good life- the one that truly satisfies- exists only when we stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is rather than longing for what might be.

The itch for things, the lust for more- so brilliantly injected by those who peddle them- is a virus draining our souls of happy contentment. Have you noticed?

A man never earns enough. A woman is never beautiful enough. Clothes are never fashionable enough. cars are never nice enough. Gadgets are never modern enough.

Houses are never furnished enough. Food is never fancy enough. Relationships are never romantic enough. Life is never full enough.

Satisfaction comes when we step off the escalator desire and say, "This is enough. What I have will do. What I make of it is up to me and my vital union with the living world. "

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God is all in all

God rules, God reigns, God, and God alone. And His way is right. it leads to His glory.

Deep within the hearts of men and women. Even though most would never acknowledge it, is the realization that we really don't have the final answer. There is a little hidden clause tucked away in the deep recesses of most thinking minds that says " There may be a God after all"

When we take this to the ultimate future for humanity, God is sovereignly in charge. One second after they die., the men and women who have rejected and resisted the Lord for years will step into eternity. One second.,. and they will be totally at a loss to determine their future. God's sovereignity steps over their loves and sets the forth His decree, "That God may be all in all"

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Thursday's Gospel: What is lost may be found and restored

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

3 So he told them this parable:

4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

ReflectionsDo you ever feel resentful or get upset when someone else gets an unearned favor or gets treated better than you think they deserve? The scribes and Pharisees took great offense at Jesus because he went out of his way to meet with sinners and he treated them graciously like they were his friends. The Pharisees had strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners, lest they incur ritual defilement.

They were not to entrust money to them or have any business dealings with them, nor trust them with a secret, nor entrust orphans to their care, nor accompany them on a journey, nor give their daughter in marriage to any of their sons, nor invite them as guests or be their guests. They were shocked with the way in which Jesus freely received sinners and ate with them. Sinners, nonetheless, were drawn to Jesus to hear him speak about the mercy of God. Jesus characteristically answered the Pharisees' charge with a parable or lesson drawn from everyday life.

What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin tell us about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. The housewife who lost a coin faced something of an economic disaster, since the value of the coin would be equivalent to her husband's daily wage. What would she say to her husband when he returned home from work?

They were poor and would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety turn to joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the housewife "search until what they have lost is found." Their persistence pays off. They both instinctively share their joy with the whole community. The poor are particularly good at sharing in one another's sorrows and joys.

What was new in Jesus' teaching was the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?

We need each other

Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken.

Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited.

Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete.

You guessed it. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated island we're not.

To make this thing called life work, we gotta lean and support. And relate and respond. and give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out and embrace.

Garments that fit

It is a wonderful feeling to wear garments that fit you perfectly. One feels light and comfortable as the clothes seem to float around the body, neither heavy nor tight anywhere but rather resting evenly throughout. A man in clothing that fits him is confident in his appearance and free to focus on the task at hand.

My friend Obet use to invest shirts even funny t shirts from Badideashirts site For him, owning clothing that is made to compliment your features is a smart move for any man. The beauty of custom clothing is that it is designed with your measurements; by its very nature it will fit you better than anything else in your closet, and as a result will look better than anything you've ever worn.

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Storehouse of promises

God's book is a veritable storehouse of promises over thousand of them. Not empty hopes and dreams, not just nice-sounding, eloquently worded thoughts that make you feel warm all over, but promises. Verbal guarantees in writing, signed by the creator Himsepf, in which He declae He will do or refrain from doing specific things.

In a world of liars, cheaters. deceivers, and conartists, isn't it a relief to know there is Someone you can trust? If He said it, you can count on it. Unlike the rhetoric of politicians who promises anybody anything they want to hear to get elected, what God says, God does.

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A men’s dress shirt can help reorganize the way you look. A dress shirt is comfortable and can be cool, fashionable, elegant, stylish and it is the easiest way to express your personality and style. You can wear them anytime and for any purpose.

The shirt is the most noticeable of the dress items. It is often said that the dress shirt is the first alphabet of person’s body language. You need to understand that the first impression may not always be the best impression if you pick the wrong shirt. Selecting a suitable and matching dress shirt is very important, and we recommend a woman’s advice. It is important to take into consideration the occasion, color, design, dimension, fabric and collar.

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"My mother, may she rest in peace, dressed up and wore make-up every day of her life until the last week. A week before she died, she went to the beauty parlor. She was quite weak then. She had her hair done. She wanted to look great. She always looked great. Her hair, her make-up, her clothing. She was a model for me.

"This notion that some women have of not wearing make-up because it is not natural, I don’t get. Of course it is not natural. Clothing isn’t natural. It’s not natural to smell nice. Soap isn’t natural. Deodorant isn’t natural. Toothpaste isn’t natural. So what?"

"It adds to the quality of life when you are surrounded by people who care about how they look, not just their clothing, but their make-up, their cleanliness.

Wednesday's Gospel: Abundant life and everlasting peace and happiness with God.

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them,

26 "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying,

30 This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'

31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace.

33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

ReflectionsWhy does Jesus say we must 'hate' our families and even ourselves? The expression 'to hate' often meant to 'prefer less'. Jesus used strong language to make clear that nothing should take precedence or first place in our lives over God. Jesus knew that the way of the cross was the Father's way to glory and victory over sin and death. He counted the cost and said 'yes' to his Father's will. We, too, must 'count the cost' and be ready to follow Jesus in the way of the cross if we want to share in his glory and victory.

What is the 'way of the cross' for you and for me? When my will crosses with God's will, then his will must be done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus' sake. What makes such sacrifice possible and "sweet" for us is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can expect or imagine. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love of God?

What does the parable of the tower builder and a ruler on a war campaign have in common? Both risk serious loss if they don't carefully plan ahead. In a shame and honor culture people want to avoid at all costs being mocked by their community for failing to complete a task they began in earnest. This double parable echoes the instruction of Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built" and "by wise guidance you can wage a war" to ensure victory (Proverbs 24:3-6).

Every landowner who could afford it walled in his orchard as a protection from intruders who might steal or harm his produce. A tower was usually built in a corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest time when thieves would likely try to make off with the goods. Starting a building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it unfinished because of poor planning would invite the scorn of the whole village. Likewise a king who decided to wage a war against an opponent who was much stronger, would be considered foolish if he did not come up with a plan that had a decent chance of success.

Jesus tells his would-be disciples that they, too, must count the cost if they want to succeed as his disciples. Jesus assures success for those willing to pay the price. All it cost is everything! What does Jesus have to offer that's worth giving up everything else? More than we can imagine! Jesus offers the gift of abundant life and everlasting peace and happiness with God. (See the parable of the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44-45).

It's natural to ask what will it require of me or cost me before I sign up or agree to pay for something. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to follow after him. There can be no room for compromise or concession with God. We either give our lives over to him entirely or we keep them for ourselves. Paul the Apostle says, "We are not our own. We were bought with a price" ( 1 Corinthians 6:19b,20). That price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed for us upon the cross to redeem us from slavery to sin and death.

The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first and foremost. Jesus' way to glory and power is opposite the world's way of glory, power, and success. The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose to follow him. Does the love of Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (see 2 Corinthians 5)?

Let God build your home

Here's the idea. During those all important early months and years of marriage, make sure that the Lord your God is the heart and center of your family! If He is not, the whole experience is a study in futility- a wasted, empty, counterproductive effort. It will all be in vain. He doesn't have in mind a home that hangs a lot of religious mottos on the walls or a couple that simply goes to church regularly or offers up a quick prayer before meals or places a big bible on the living room coffee table. No, the essential ingredient is the Lord.

A family gets started on the right foot when Jesus Christ is in each life (husband and wife are both born again), and when the lengthening shadow of His Lordship pervades that relationship. When a couple makes Christ a vital part of their life, in the terms of psalm, that's whe the Lord build's the house.

Personal touch through wedding decorations

One of the most important times in a man, and woman's life is when they get married. That time should be most memorable for the bride, groom, participants of the wedding, and guests. Planning, and having patience is certainly required. There are many steps for preparation of the wedding, and afterwards. Keeping in mind, that plans can often be change or unfortunate events that may unfold.

Planning your wedding can be complicated and stressful. But it can also be enjoyable and memorable. Many people prepare for their wedding two or three before the event. Preparing for your wedding is tiresome yet so much fun. You get to explore your creativity. It can also be a time for you and your partner to have quality time together while moving forward with your wedding plans.

Preparation is like transforming personal touches to fabulous flourish. You have to consider fashion, gifts, souvenirs, the honeymoon, and the invitations. You have to find the hairstyle to match your gown. You will need to decide where to spend your honeymoon. So many things to consider, so, don’t rush. It’s your wedding.

Whether simple or elaborate, your wedding will be a breathtakingly beautiful occasion, one you will remember and cherish for the rest of your lives. But the numerous steps leading up to it can be nearly overwhelming-the decisions to make, the arrangements to coordinate, the families' feelings to consider-it's intimidating enough to make you want to elope.

But remember that it is your wedding. Be sure that it reflects you. No one can or should dictate to you what to do and how to do it. Though you may seek advice, the final decision is yours.Your wedding is a deeply serious and intimate moment declaring your love and commitment to each other. Add your personal touches.

Make your wedding truly a one-of-a-kind event. Pick a few aspects of your wedding and make them personalized. The personal touch is what makes a wedding most meaningful and memorable to the bridal couple, their attendants, family and all invited guests.

Weddingstar has the perfect wedding favors, wedding decorations and wedding cake toppers to make your wedding day uniquely special. From traditional to contemporary, today's Brides continue to search for unique Weddingstar wedding accessories that reflect their personal style for the last 25 years

Many bridal couples become overwhelmed by all the 'must do's and instead of enjoying the journey get stressed out. Don't be one of them. When you look at the tasks at hand in preparing for your wedding, the list may be overwhelming. Don't try to do everything all at once. Break your list it into small manageable portions that you can successfully accomplish.

Also, fill your day with cherished moments and keepsakes. Whether you choose a favorite theme, a special setting or an intimate gathering of friends and loved ones, enjoy the road leading to it because, sad to say, the wedding itself will be over before you know it. Yet the memories and keepsakes will stay with you forever. Treasure them!

Isn't it a glorious thing to gaze into the eyes of the one you love, knowing you've just made the best decision of your life?

"To have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…" You've probably dreamed for years about hearing those wonderful words and standing up in front of family and friends with your soul mate to say "I do."

moments of contemplation, moments with God

We need to remind ourselves every day that we are made in the image of a God who is lavish in doing goodness, a God who delights in redeeming, restoring, refreshing, rebuilding, and revitalizing, a God who has called us to do the same.

Imagine how our world would be transformed if the approximately two billion people in the world who call themselves perfect were doing the goodness they have the power to do.

Imagine what would happen if they were allowing God to do His work of loving and healing and uplifting through them. Now, imagine living in a world where all six or seven billion people were doing that.

Why don't we live in a world like that? Because the world is full of people like you and me who do not just let goodness penetrate our hearts and minds and souls and mouths and hands and feet but radiate and offer them for others in need.

If we want to build a courageous and vigilant faith, we must heed and obey God's call to help others. The goal of human happiness lies in the love of God through the graces bestowed upon us. Let that love be our love for our fellowmen. No amount of meditation will succeed if we do not allow our contemplation, our moments with God to be reflected in our human actions geared towards the service of God through His most loved, most favored human creatures.

viewing the world with a clear eyesight ...

In the world of academe where everyone else competes with the pressures of academic life, everybody should see to it that their eyesight can give them a clear view of what is being read, seen and observed inside and outside a classroom and as well as the world around them. There can be so much challenges but these challenges must be coupled with fun in order to avoid the dreadful stress that will wear out one's enthusiasm and energy in their pursuits. So, wearing eye glasses for necessity and fun is always highly encouraged and advised.

So, one needs a stylistic pair to be able to be maintain such graceful mood under the pressures of the pursuits of a challenging life. So, consider what we call lifestyle in wearing Holiday Fun Eyeglasses. They come in different styles, shapes, color and frame sizes. They certainly will cover one's anxiety and stress from laborious works that require reading, writing and group works.

There are always New Arrivals to choose from. These actually do not command much as each new-one costs not even ten dollars, as a matter of fact, an $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses would fill up one's stylistic taste in wearing fashionable eyeglasses. Try to go online now and avail of these glasses from zenni optical!

Tuesday's Gospel: Lavish us with the treasures of heaven

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24

15 When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many;

17 and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, `Come; for all is now ready.'

18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.'

19 And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.'

20 And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

21 So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, `Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.'

22 And the servant said, `Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'

23 And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"

Reflections What does it mean to "eat bread in the kingdom of heaven"? In the ancient world the most notable sign of favor and intimate friendship was the invitation to "share bread" at the dinner table. Who you ate with showed who you valued and trusted as your friends. A great banquet would involve a lavish meal of several courses and a large company of notable guests and friends.

One of the most beautiful images of heaven in the scriptures is the royal wedding celebration and banquet given by the King for his son and close friends. We, in fact, have been invited to the most important banquet of all! The last book in the bible ends with an invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb and his Bride, the church: The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! (Revelations 22:17). The 'Lamb of God' is the Lord Jesus Christ and his bride is the people he has redeemed by his own precious blood which was shed upon the cross for our salvation.

Jesus' "banquet parable" must have startled his audience. If a great lord or king invited his friends to a banquet, why would the guests turn down his invitation? A great banquet would take many days to prepare. And personal invitations would be sent out well in advance to the guests, so they would have plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming event. How insulting for the invited guests to then refuse when the time for celebrating came! They made light of the King's request because they put their own interests above his.

Jesus probes the reasons why people make excuses to God's great invitation to "eat bread" with him at his banquet table. The first excuse allows the claims of one's personal business or work to take precedence over God's claim. Do you allow any task or endeavor to absorb you so much that it keeps you from the thought of God? The second excuse allows our possessions to come before God. Do you allow the media and other diversions to crowd out time for God in daily prayer and worship? The third excuse puts home and family ahead of God. God never meant for our home and relationships to be used selfishly. We serve God best when we invite him into our work, our homes, and our personal lives and when we share our possessions with others.

The second part of the story focuses on those who had no claim on the king and who would never have considered getting such an invitation. The "poor, maimed, blind, and lame" represent the outcasts of society – those who can make no claim on the King. There is even ample room at the feast of God for outsiders from the highways and hedges – the Gentiles who were not members of the chosen people, the Jews. This is certainly an invitation of grace –undeserved, unmerited favor and kindness! But this invitation also contains a warning for those who refuse it or who approach the wedding feast unworthily. Grace is a free gift, but it is also an awesome responsibility.

Dieterich Bonhoeffer contrasts cheap grace and costly grace: "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves ..the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance ..grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. ..Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." [Excerpt from the Cost of Discipleship]

God invites each of us to his banquet that we may share in his joy. Are you ready to feast at the Lord's banquet table?

A blogger's need

Its the holiday season and you might want to send a gift to your favorite blogger to let them know you care. As I sat around wondering what gifts might a blogger like… it was not a box of chocolates, a key chain, or a card.

Your favorite blog may require a professional blog hosting. A good blog host should be able to make it easy for them to set up and start writing a blog with a minimum of technical know-how.

On the other hand, if they're a tech-savvy blogger who wants to customize their blog site, they should also look for a host that offers a variety of add-ons and support for more advanced Weblogs. Choosing the right blog host is especially important if they're hoping to earn money through their blogging efforts.

So in this case, why not recommend them the Web Hosting Report site. Web Hosting Report compare compare pricing, plan features, and review the top hosting companies. Not to mention that they have articles to learn about web hosting.

A few kind advise can mean bigger than any material gift.

Stop running scared

Did you know that you operate at your poorest when you are scared? A little fear is good for us when danger is present, but a lot of it's demoralizing. It takes away the hope, the dream, the vision, the possibility of overcoming.

Fears lurk in the shadows of every area of life. Perhaps you've suddenly discovered that an unexpected addition to your family is on the way. . You may be uncertain where your job is leading.. You are uneasy about what's around the corner. Or perhaps you have a doctor's appointment pending and you are afraid of what the exam might reveal. Jesus says "Stop being afraid, Trust me! "

Jesus Christ stands at the door. He holds out His hands that are scarred. His feet are pierced, and he bears in His body the marks of death. He says " I know the pressure you are under. I understand the strain. I know the unfair abuse. But let me offer you some encouragement. Don't be afraid. Look at life through My eyes! Stop letting time intimidate you! Stop running around scared. Trust me !

Reducing the risk of head injury

Weight loss is the biggest obstacle between most people and current standards of beauty. The common understanding is that combining diet and exercise is the best weight-loss solution. If I had to pick one, I'd choose to bike for an exercise. Biking raises our metabolism for hours after we're done riding out, increasing our fat-burning capacity. It also makes us feel good, keeps our bones strong and reduces stress.

However, using a Street Bike Helmets is a must if you are intended to bike. New bike helmet laws are being passed all over the world to require that bikers wear bike helmets.Bike helmets are essential in reducing the risk of head injury by absorbing the impact of blows. This might mean the difference between a concussion and a headache

To keep ourselves safe while riding our sportbike, why not choose a AGV helmets. My buddy strongly recommend me the arai helmets These helmets have features that resist fogging up inside. Other features include a fiberglass composite shell for extra durability, as well as features that protect our vision, keep out loud sounds, and regularly circulate air inside.

Endurance finds favor with God

If you are a hard-working, faithful employee, diligent, honest, productive, prompt, caring, working for a boss who is belligerent, stubborn, short-sighted, and ungrateful, and if you patiently, endure that situation- that finds favor with God.

When you endure, you put grace on display. And when you put grace on display for the glory of God, you could revolutionize your workplace or any other situation.

The purpose of the believer is society is to bring glory and honor to the name of Christ, not to be treated well or to have life be easy or even to be happy, as wonderful as all those things are.

Why are these things happening to you? So that you might follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus, who suffered us.

ease the pain away

Life is not a bed of roses.That is a resounding fact and truth about the sad part of life's existence. It is pinned between the joys and pains that our everyday living offers us. So, in the pursuit of human happiness, it is best to be always ready for balms and ointments, so to speak, that can relieve and ease the pains that we experience everyday in this earthly life.

Literally speaking, there have been various effects that the physical, mental, psychological and sociological struggles of life pin us down. Well, don't let them over-rule your life my friends! We have modern medicines and effective pain relievers that we can subscribe and use to keep the physical pains away.

Have you heard of the famous and widely visited and browsed site called tramadolbluebook.com? If not, then it is high time to go online and try to keep yourselves abreast with the wonderful benefit that this store offers: a pain reliever that is commonly termed as Tramadol HCL 50.

Well, this may sound so strange to you and you may get yourself confused and start doubting of what this wonder-medicine can offer you of a healing relief from your aches and pains. To help you get rid of your doubts and confusions, let me then, offer you an absolute source of information where you can get a full knowledge of what tramadol HCL 50 is all about and what it does for you. Please, I urge you, to go online and browse Tramadol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia site and let your eyes be opened to the healing truths of this wonderful pain reliever!

Don't wait for another day. Go online now and visit these aforementioned sites and be healed from your pains and infirmities!

Shared joy is double joy

There's an old Swedish motto that hangs in many a kitchen: "Shared joy is a double joy. Share sorrow is half a sorrow" The secret of survival is not simply enjoying life's joy and enduring its sorrows. It is in sharing both with others.

We gain perspective by having somebody at our side. We gain objectivity. We gain courage in threatening situations. Having others near tempers our dogmatism and softens our intolerance. We gain another opinion. We gain what today, in our technical world, is called "input"

In other words, it is better not to work or live one's life all alone. It's better to have someone alongside us in the battle. For that reason, during my days in the Marines, we were taught that if the command "dig in" were issued, we should dig a hole large enough for two.

photo novelties-just the right personal touch

Its the holiday season and you might want to send a gift to your best friend to let them know you care. As I sat around wondering what gifts might a good buddy like… it was not a box of chocolates, a pen drive, or an ipod but a simple photo novelties only.

You can show the ones you love just how much you appreciate them this holiday by giving them the perfect gift wherein they can treasured for a lifetime. If you're like me, you often run out of ideas to express just the right personal touch. Something with personal touch make unique gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list. It will bring you the best presents of the season.

So, why would you get frustrated with long lines and rude crowds at Christmas time? Christmas is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year," but we all know that malls and shopping centers can be frightening places to be when the Holidays are in town for a visit. Keep Christmas time the way it should be with your best gifts online source for one-of-a-kind online novelty gift through Radexinc this Christmas.

Radexinc provides photographer with quality photo novelty items, they always though what is best for their client. That would probably their reason why they come up with new design makes it easy to find and shop for unique and quality gift, such as a photo keychain. Although they may look different on the outside, they are still the same on the inside.

New products at a glance on their home page, specials and coupons,new FAQ section helps us find answers fast, account set up that save our information for easy shopping. Not to mention that we can receive email notifications of their new products and specials.

If you are shopping for photo novelty gifts such as photo scopes, photo keychains or magnetic picture frames, there's no better source than Radex. They are dedicated to bringing our customers the highest-quality and most innovative novelty products.
Perfect for corporate gifts, promotional giveaways or retail sales, their novelty photo frames make picture-perfect souvenirs

Don't spend more than you have to this Christmas! Use Radexinc to help save you time, money and energy. You'll find a great assortment of products to them. You might wish to consider purchasing one of their Sample Kits, if you'd like to see some samples of their products before you buy it.

To learn more about Radex, visit their About Us page or give them a call at 1-800-527-2056. For sure they can help you find most novelty gifts that people really want.

Monday's Gospel: Think and act with charity towards all

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 (alternate reading: John 11:17-27)

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'


37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed youe, or thirsty and give you drink?

38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'

46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."


ReflectionsWhat kind of future are you preparing for? What about the life to come after our death? God puts in the heart of every living person the desire for unending life and happiness with him. While death claims each of us at the appointed time, God gives us something which death cannot touch – his own divine life and sustaining power.

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest testimonies of faith and hope in the midst of great suffering and pain is that of Job: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another (Job 19:25-27). Jesus made an incredible promise to his disciplies and a claim which only God can make and deliver: Whoever sees and believes in Jesus, the Son of God, shall have everlasting life and be resurrected!


How can we see Jesus? He is present in his word, in the breaking of the bread, and in the church, the body of Christ. Jesus reveals himself in many countless ways to those who seek him with eyes of faith. When we read the word of God in the bible Jesus speaks to us and reveals to us the mind and heart of the Father. When we approach the table of the Lord, Jesus offers himself as spiritual food which produces the very life of God within us (I am the bread of life, John 6:35). He promises unbroken fellowship and freedom from the fear of being forsaken or cut off from everlasting life with God. And he offers us the hope of sharing in his resurrection. Is your hope and desire to see God face to face?

Jesus' parable of goats and sheep invites his audience to consider their lives in view of the age to come. What happens when you put sheep and goats together? Jesus' audience readily understood the need for separating the two. In arid lands, like Israel, goats and sheep often grazed together during the day because green pasture was sparse. They were separated at night because goats needed shelter. Goats were also less docile and more restless than sheep. They came to symbolize evil and the term "scape-goat" has become a common expression for someone bearing blame for others. (See Leviticus 26:20-22 for a description of the ritual expulsion of sin-bearing goat on the Day of Atonement.)

What's the point of this story for us? The kind of life we choose to live now and the moral choices we make will have consequences that determine our future – for better or for worse. Separation is an inevitable consequence of judgement. The Day of Judgement will reveal who showed true compassion and mercy toward their neighbor. As much as we might like to judge the parables, the parables, nonetheless, judge us. Jesus teaches us a very important lesson about loving our neighbor and taking responsibility for others.

God will judge us not only for the wrong we have done but also for what we have failed to do. Now is the time of God’s mercy, for seeking his help and grace to turn away from sin, and to walk in his way of love. We can love freely, generously, and unconditionally because God has already poured his love into our hearts through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 5:5). Ask the Holy Spirit to purify your heart and to free you from hurtful desires that you may love as God loves and live charitably with all.

This parable is similar to the parable about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man let Lazarus die on his doorstep and was doomed to crave for drops of cold water he had not thought of giving to the poor man. When Martin of Tours (who lived in the 4th century), a young Roman soldier and seeker of the Christian faith, met an unclothed man begging for alms in the freezing cold, he stopped and cut his coat in two and gave half to the stranger.

That night he dreamt he saw the heavenly court with Jesus robed in a torn cloak. One of the angels present asked, "Master, why do you wear that battered cloak?" Jesus replied, "My servant Martin gave it to me." Martin’s disciple and biographer Sulpicius Severus states that as a consequence of this vision Martin “flew to be baptized.” God is gracious and merciful; his love compels us to treat others with mercy and kindness. When we do something for one of Christ's little ones, we do it for Christ. Do you treat your neighbor with mercy and love as Christ has treated you?

The scriptures present us with the choice between two kingdoms – the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The choice is ours. Which kingdom do you serve? God's kingdom lasts forever because it is built on the foundation of God's love and justice. To accept Jesus as Lord and King is to enter a kingdom that will last forever where righteousness, love, truth, and peace dwell. Is your life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus?

God loves us still

From a distance, we dazzle; up close, we're tarnished. Put enough of us together and we may resemble an impressive mountain range. But when you get down into the shadowy crevices.. the Alps we ain't.

That's why our Lord means so much to us. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. Darkness and light are alike to him. No one of us is hidden from His sight. All things are open and laid bare before Him: our darkest secret, our deepest shame, our stormy past, our worst thought, our hidden motive, our vilest imagination, even our vain attempts to cover the ugly with snow-white beauty.

He sees it all. He knows our frame. He remembers we are dust.

Best of all, He loves us still.