Nicki Minaj Channels Her Inner Goddess

Nicki Minaj Channels Her Inner Goddess
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"Celebrating 'The Greats' issue for the New York Times style magazine The Met Breuer in NYC. I'm told I'm the 3rd musician to be on the cover. Such a proud New Yorker tonight. Dress by Botegga Venetta. Shawl by Givenchy."

Love sin- cherish death

⏰Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (26 October 2017)

📖Rom 6:19-23; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 (R. Ps 40:5ab); Luke 12:49-53

🎤"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST" (Rom 6:23)

You see, out of laziness or wickedness, and in a bid to run away from our family responsibilities, many of us try to appeal to religion as a tool of division. Imagine a brother telling his siblings that he will not take care of them until they have embraced his religious orientation. Is that Christ-like? Even Christ himself embraced sinners.

So, what does Jesus mean when he says that he has come to bring division and not peace (Luke 12:49-53)? The answer must be seen more from the individual before going social. First, the division separates the old self which was rooted in sin and death from the new self which has embraced light and life.

The new self refuses to be associated again with its sinful past, which may include family or national beliefs. This refusal might attract resentment from families and nation. So, it is not the individual who is separating himself.

Instead of focusing on that social division, we are encouraged to yearn more for the internal division which is necessary for our salvation. St. Paul reminds us that the wages of sin is death. Christ has already separated us from that sin and death through his own death on the cross (cf. Rom 6:19-23).

It is important that we maintain this particular division so that we might remain on the track to eternal life. And may God grant us the grace to stay away from sin and embrace the free gift of eternal life which he gives us in Christ. Amen.

Have a spiritually focused and fulfilling day. Peace be with you.

Miracle subduer

Miracle miracle MIRACLE

"An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money left. They were moving to a smaller house because they could not afford to stay in the present house after paying the doctor's bills. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and there was no one to loan them the money.

When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother with whispered desperation, 'Only a miracle can save him now', the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.

Clutching the precious piggy bank tightly, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the local drugstore. She took a quarter from her bank and placed it on the glass counter.

"And what do you want?" asked the pharmacist.

"It's for my little brother," the girl answered back. "He's really very sick and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.

"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, child. I'm sorry," the pharmacist said, smiling sadly at the little girl.

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs."

In the shop was a well-dressed customer. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"

"I don't know," she replied with her eyes welling up. "He's really sick and mommy says he needs an operation. But my daddy can't pay for it, so I have brought my savings".

"How much do you have?" asked the man.

"One dollar and eleven cents; but I can try and get some more", she answered barely audibly.

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man, "A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."

He took her money in one hand and held her hand with the other. He said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." 

That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a neurosurgeon. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again and doing well.

"That surgery," her mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost."

The little girl smiled. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.

Perseverance can make miracles happen! Miracle can come in various forms - as a doctor, as a lawyer, as a teacher, and many others..

A river cuts the rock not because of its power, but because of its consistency.

Never lose your hope; keep walking towards your vision."‎

Judge not

*AN INTERESTING READ*

A girl by name Fatima went to school in the neighbouring village where she wasn't known well.

For three weeks, she came to school late and every time the teacher punished her.

On the fourth week, Fatima didn't attend school at all and many thought she had *GIVEN UP* on school due to the everyday punishment.

However, Fatima reported again on fifth week and this time she came earlier than everybody.

When the teacher came to class, Fatima was punished for not attending school the previous week but the teacher was also kind enough to commend her for coming early that day, stating that the punishments had finally yielded some results.

Just then, Fatima asked if she could say something and the teacher gave her permission.

Then she started

_"I've been raised up by a single mother without a brother or a sister. Five weeks ago, my mother fell ill and was hospitalized. The three weeks I came late, I had to prepare something for her every morning and pass by the hospital to deliver the same. Unfortunately, mother passed away last week and that's the reason I didn't come to school. We buried her last Friday. Today I came early since I didn't have to prepare anything or even pass by the hospital. And now that she is gone, I will always be here early''_

As she sat down, no one in the whole class was able to hold their tears, the teacher was not spared either.

*Lesson:*

How many times do we judge others for things we know not ?

We ask questions like :

- When will you get married?
- When will you have kids ?
- When will you find a job ?
-When will you buy a car?
-When will you build a house?
etc....

Do we attempt to understand their situations or we just judge from the *case scenarios*

Some situations are not relative and what we think could be very far from the truth.

Don't assume you know what others go through or that people move in the same pace or direction as you

_*Life is far from that..*_

Just be kind enough to love one another as God has commanded, take time and kindly find out why your friend is not phoning, why your messages are not being replied promptly, why they are not coming to worship, why someone is missing in our midst as a colleague, friend, brother or sister even why someone is always late

Be kind, always......the position u are is not permanent someone was there before u and someone w b available when u leave d position. B nice to others.

🎤TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED (Luke 12:48)

⏰Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (25 October 2017)

📖Rom 6:12-18; Ps 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8 (R.v.8a); Luke 12:39-48

🎤TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED (Luke 12:48)

Yesterday, we pointed out about two challenges which Christ's coming into the world gives to us - to stay away from sin and to assist others to come to have a share in that salvation. These challenges are not optional to us as Christians. They are the only ways we can reciprocate the great love of God for us.

Again, we pointed out that the time to begin is now as tomorrow might be too late. Are you in the camp of those who always think they can 'enjoy' sin today and repent tomorrow? A stitch in time saves nine; be warned!

By the way, have you heard the Catholics talk about mortal and venial sins? We say that mortal sin is a serious offence against God which kills the soul and deserves hell while venial sin is ALSO an offence against God which DOES NOT kill the soul, but can lead to mortal sin. Venial sins are more easily pardoned than mortal sins.

"These Catholics don come again!" abi? Read Luke 12:45-48 and see for yourself whether that is Catholic invention.

And while doing that, also reflect on this: Assuming both the servant, who deserves to be punished with severe beatings, and the one who, deserves to be beaten lightly, dies at the same time, will our God of justice subject both of them to hell? If he does that, where would be the justification of paying each man according to his deed (Matt 16:27)? Now, does the doctrine of purgatory still sound unbiblical to you?

May God continue to give us the grace to stay away from all sins, whether mortal or venial, so that we may enjoy the opportunity that grace offers us (Rom 6:12-18) and so journey smoothly into eternal life. Amen.

Have a blessed day ahead. Peace be with you.

🎤"HERE I AM, LORD; I COME TO DO YOUR WILL" (Ps 40:8, 9)

⏰Tuesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time 1 (24 October 2017)

📖Rom 5:5, 12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21; Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17 (R.v.8a, 9a); Luke 12:35-38

🎤"HERE I AM, LORD; I COME TO DO YOUR WILL" (Ps 40:8, 9)

Are you encouraged by the account of our redemption which St. Paul gives us in Rom 5:12-21? St. Paul reminded us there that, through his coming, which we shall celebrate at Christmas in no distant time time, Jesus restored us back to life from death. That is a message of joy!

Nonetheless, that places two important challenges to us:
👉 We must work hard to stay away from sin, which initially placed us in that condition of death, so that we may remain alive in Christ.
👉 Now that we have been redeemed, we must assist Christ in working for the redemption of others. That is the challenge which St. Paul throws at the Romans, and indeed, to us today.

There is no gain waiting in order to begin another day. The Lord wants us to be on our toes doing good at all times so that he will meet us at it when he beckons on us to come to him (see Luke 12:35-38).

Are you ready to respond to him?

May God strengthen us always to do his will at all times. Amen.

Have a grace filled day ahead. Peace be with you.