Dear beloved in Jesus, I cant thank God enough for his many blessings everyday in my life. Ever since the Lord touched my life, he has been doing beautiful things for me. One thing that God has ensured is that jj never lacks the love of brothers and sisters. God has given me numerous brothers and sisters scattered all over. I feel more closer to a brother or sister in Jesus may be thousands of miles away than a colleague or secular acquaintance I have here in Delhi. Its the love of Jesus that binds us together. Isnt it? Many of my brothers and sisters know me thru and thru and still love the view. Believe me jj is a maverick, can be very bullheaded, obstinate, inane at times. God is gracious to me, nevertheless.
Well, life of late has been handing jj some great bumps. Ive been passing thru some thriller meat grinding experiences. I say thriller because every experience (including the setbacks) prove to be an ultimate blessing. So they thrill me a lot. Hey! I dont want to sound so utopian. There are times I feel really dejected, forlorn and hopless. Recently during one such time I wrote to some of my beloved Christian brethren about my strife, requesting prayers. The encouragement I received recharged me again. The love bestowed eclipses the discouragement, misunderstanding, rejection etc.. So, If there is any of us who are finding the going tough, remember what a very tough woman of God, Mother Theresa said, tough times dont last long, but tough people do some other wise person said, when the going gets tough, the tough get going!. So, never let anything to permanently discourage us ok. It takes one moment for God to make a sick person healthy, a poor man rich, a weak person strong. Just hang in there. Ok. I feel a lot strengthened by a profound mail send to me by a dear JY chechi today. Here is what chechi send. Hope it lifts someones spirits. I was going through this beautiful passage sometime back and found it good and soothing my mind. Hope Jesus will speak to you through this. Hudson Taylor once said, "The Lord is my Shepherd; is on Sunday, is on Monday and is through everyday of the week; is on January, is in December, and every month of the year, is at home and is in America , is in peace, and is in war in abundance and in penury!" At another time he wrote: All Gods dealings are full of blessing: He is good, doeth good, good only, and continually. The believer who has taken the Lord as his shepherd can assuredly say in words of the Psalmist: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Hence we may be sure that the days of adversity, as well as days of prosperity, are full of blessing. The believer does not need to wait until he sees the reason of God's afflictive dealings with him to be satisfied; He knows 'that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose." The shepherd is responsible for the sheep; not the sheep for the shepherd! The worst of it is that we sometimes think we are both the shepherd and the sheep, and that we have both to guide and follow! Happy are we when we realize that He is responsible: that He goes before: and goodness and mercy shall follow us! So maybe you are being severely tested, almost to the breaking point! Maybe wondering about the tomorrows! He knows all about your tomorrows, and is thinking in advance for you! Yes for you! For you he careth! Hide away in your Heart the gracious promise: " How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God" Let shadows come, let shadows go, Let life be bright or dark with woe, I am content, for this I know, Thou thinkest, Lord of me Yo man! Gods thoughts are on each of us. And he thinks were masterpiece stuff! God bless, Josun Jose/New Delhi/India ----------------------------------------- Meet the Reluctant Saint, Palm Sunday, April 13, 7pm ET/PT, on Hallmark Channel. http://www.reluctantsaint.tv During the Lenten Season, please help support the mission of Catholic Online by purchasing goods and services from our sponsors at http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================================================
