THE MOST

The most destructive habit. Worry
The greatest Joy. Giving
The greatest loss. Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work. Helping others
The ugliest personality trait. Selfishness
The most endangered species. Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource. Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm". Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome. Fear
The most effective sleeping pill. Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease. Excuses
The most powerful force in life. Love
The most dangerous pariah. A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer.The brain
The worst thing to be without.  Hope
The deadliest weapon. The tongue
The two most power-filled words.   "I Can"
The greatest asset. Faith
The most worthless emotion. Self-pity
The most beautiful attire. SMILE!
The most prized possession. Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication. Prayer
The most contagious spirit. Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life. GOD

The late Professor Dr. Shafik Abdel-Malek, former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, was a loving close friend of Pope Kyrillos VI. He told Mr. Justice Zaki Shenouda, Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies:
"After the departure of Pope Kyrillos VI to Heaven, whenever I faced a problem I used to write it in a letter and put it under my pillow, and the next morning I would always find the answer in Pope Kyrillos' handwriting on the same piece of paper, with the Pope's instructions to me to burn the paper after reading it. What is even more surprising is that one night while I was asleep, Pope Kyrillos VI appeared to me and put in my hand a carved silver medal. When I awoke I found the medal in my hand!"
Interestingly, Dr. Shafik's sister (who is also the wife of Mr. Justice Zaki Shenouda) complained to Pope Kyrillos (all this happened after his departure) that he gave her brother a medal and didn't give her anything. The next night, Pope Kyrillos VI came and put a cross in her hand, and in the morning she found it!

In December 1981, I successfully passed a competition held in Aswan for a job at the Electric Networks Administration. Six months later in June 1982, I asked someone who is well connected to inquire about my job application status and I was told that my turn didn't come and that I have to withdraw my application... But I didn't do so.
 
On 21 August 1982 (the eve of the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary), I went to pray at St. Mary's Church, El-Salamyia (near my town).
 
At midnight, I looked at a picture of Pope Kyrillos VI that I had with me, and started to argue with him: "Oh great saint, you lived here in this world and know its sorrows and pains, so why is it that I couldn't get this job to earn my living; I don't have any certificates except that of the preparatory school." I found myself crying.
 
After awhile I fell asleep and I saw Pope Kyrillos in a dream dressed in church vestments; he said to me: "Rise up son and don't be upset... Count 15 days on your fingers and after they have passed you will be relieved of your trouble."
 
On 4 September 1982, I received a letter by recorded delivery confirming my employment at Nag Hammadi Networks Administration (where I was supposed to go to withdraw my job application).
 
The period from the night Pope Kyrillos appeared to me (21/8/1982) till 4/9/1982 (the day I received my offer of employment letter) is 15 days as mentioned by His Holiness in the dream.
 
I thank God and the great saint whose prophecy was fulfilled.

The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much From Mrs. A.A.G. (Alexandria, Egypt):
My parents are separated since I was a child. I used to live with my mother and didn't know my father because I never saw him during my childhood. In 1964, I reached the legal age that permits my father to have me under his custody, and he did so via police authorities.
After moving to my father's house to live with his non-Christian wife, he forbade me to visit my mother or even call her by telephone. This was a very painful situation for me and it made me very sad. I once asked my father to give me permission to visit my mother, but he strongly refused, then after I cried and insisted and some relatives intervened, he accepted to allow me to visit her on the condition that I don't ask to see her again.
During my visit to my mother, she took me to see Pope Kyrillos who was at the Church of St. Mark (El-Morkossia) in Alexandria at that time. As usual, there was a large number of visitors asking for His Holiness' blessings.
When it was our turn, my mother explained my case to the pope and asked for his prayers for me. Pope Kyrillos put his hand over my head and prayed a long prayer. He then said to my mother: "Don't worry, your daughter will return back to you."
On the same day, immediately upon my return to my father's house, my father asked me: "Do you want to go to your mother?" I replied: "Yes", so he said:
"Go back to her and remain there." I was surprised!! How could my father change his mind and resolute insistence so quickly? This was impossible to achieve with any kind of human intervention on Earth.
But it was the blessing of Pope Kyrillos' prayer that made him change his mind, and from that day till today (May 1996) I live with my mother.

Mariam Arrived after 21 Years!!
Uncle Shafik, a blessed and kind-hearted man, was serving at the Social Service Office of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in El-Azbakiah, Cairo, Egypt, during the 1960s. Everyday on his way to work, he used to go to the Patriarchate to receive Pope Kyrillos VI's blessing.
One day, Uncle Shafik and his family met Pope Kyrillos at St. Mina Monastery in Mariut. Mr. Shafik and his family (his wife and a young lady) were part of a group trip to the monastery. As they stood to receive the Pope's blessing, the Pope asked the head of the family: "Who is this young lady?"
Mr. Shafik replied: "This is my wife and this is my daughter." The Pope replied: "Is she your daughter? Or your sister's daughter (niece)?" The man answered: "Actually, Sayedna, she is my niece. I don't have any children of my own, and I have been married for 21 years."
The Pope then said: "Don't be sad... Mariam is coming." The man replied:
"Sayedna, my wife is 45 years old." The Pope told him: "Elizabeth was old in age my son..."
After a year elapsed, Uncle Shafik got his baby girl and called her Mariam as told by Pope Kyrillos VI.

My name is "Safwat Yaakoub Abdel-Malek", so how could they call me "Kyrillos"?
"Safwat" and "Kyrillos"... There is no linguistic relationship between the two names and no similarity whatsoever. So how could a person confuse both names, especially given the fact that this person is non-Christian ("Kyrillos" is a very Christian name in Egypt).
I was preparing my doctoral thesis for submission to one of the Universities in Egypt. Scientific research is tedious and difficult for many reasons...
But the most painful of these reasons are those obstacles of personal nature that are unrelated to the research subject itself. We have to accept these difficulties with a thankful attitude, knowing that God never forsakes us and never leaves us to fail. As matters were getting more complicated, I was praying to God, asking for
the intercession of Pope Kyrillos VI, and in this way I was able to overcome obstacles one by one. I felt the interference of Heaven, and the help of God when a date was set for my viva voce (for defending my thesis). But I was aware of another evil human plot aiming at destroying and
rendering useless my efforts, pains and the long nights I spent on my work, or at least it was aiming at reducing the scientific value of my thesis.
This matter wasn't hidden to some people, and they were watching in fear what tomorrow is going to bring. I sent to (the late) His Grace Bishop Mina, the late Bishop and Abbot of St.
Mina Monastery, asking for the intercession of St. Mina the Martyr and his beloved Pope Kyrillos VI.
At last, the thesis was accepted, and I got a much higher grade (distinction grade) than what I was expecting. How mighty is God! All human plots become nothing beside Him. His power and might control human hearts and wills.
You might ask me: Where is Pope Kyrillos VI's intercession in this story? I was feeling his intercession throughout all my research years, and he wouldn't leave me in doubt, questioning his intercession. One of the Professors who examined my thesis told me: "Whenever I asked for your thesis to read it, I found myself saying: 'Where is Kyrillos' thesis'... Do you have a relative named Kyrillos?"
How powerful and great is your intercession, Pope Kyrillos. Glory be to God in His saints.

Choosing truth

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14).
Persons in bondage are not liberated by what I do as the pastor/counselor, but what they do with my help. It's not what I believe that breaks the bonds; it's what they believe, confess, renounce and forgive. Notice the progressive logic of Scripture:
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).
I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13).
I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. . . . Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth (John 17:15, 17).
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14).
Finally, brethren, whatever is true . . . let your mind dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8).
When Satan harasses you, you may be prone to languish in the shadows of your misery. You cry out for God to deliver you, like Jesus
miraculously and instantaneously delivered the demonized people in the Gospels. But when you read through the Epistles, it is obvious
that your deliverance has already been accomplished in Christ's work on the cross and His resurrection. Since you are with Christ in the
light, you never again need to live in the shadows.
You must choose the truth and assume your responsibility to exercise your authority and resist the devil. From your position in Christ,
you must resist the devil, renounce participation in his schemes, confess sin and forgive those who have offended you.
Lord, Your truth gives me life and leads me in the everlasting way. I embrace Your truth to direct my steps today.

My room

It was dark. I was lying in my bed when I heard knocks on the door. I tried to ignore the noise, but it was persistant. I woke up trying to find my way to the door hitting and dropping a few things on the floor making noise. I reached the door, and opened it.
I had to close my eyes as the light was strong. Looking at the person in front of me, He said: "I came to have dinner with you". I couldn't remember I invited anyone to dinner, but I said: Please come in.
He came in and placed the light He had on the table. It was very bright and I saw clearly my room. I knew it was dirty, but not to the extent I am seeing now.
I looked at Him ashamed, I didn't know what to say. He said: "I have to cleanup this room before dinner, do you permit?" I knocked my head yes. He started working on the floor. He threw away lots of things that looked important to me before, but not anymore. He threw lots of garbbage I wanted to get rid of for a long time and didn't. He cleaned the mess of a number of years.
After sometime He said: "What about that box in the corner?"
"What about it?"
"What's in it?"
"It is a garbbage box, but I keep things I love and want to keep it"
"But if you want a clean room, you have to throw it away. It is making the room look ugly."
"Please don't throw it. I want to keep it."
He looked at me begging, asking for my approval.
I gave up to The looks of His eyes and said: "Ok, do what You want."
He smiled and the box disappeared in seconds.
He kept on working until the room was clean shinning. Then He said: "Is there anything else you want me to do. There's a lot that needs fixing".
I said: "Ok, do what You want. Please be quick, I like to keep my privacy".
He said: "but I was thinking of living here with you so I can always help you".
I said: "but I like my freedom and Your presence will limit it".
He said: "if I leave, your room will be dirty again and will be dark as I have the light. And I wanted to decorate this room so we can live in it together and you will not need anything else".
I gave up to The looks of His eyes and said: "Ok, welcome to my room".
I woke up from my short sleep and The Bible was opened in front of me on Revelation 3:20
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
He is at the door knocking, let's open the door and enjoy His presence. He will reveal Himself and His love to us. He will open His heart, make us feel His care and interest. Amazing is our God. He gives lots of interest to His creation.
Pope Shenouda the third

Life Inside the Womb

Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the womb. Seconds, minutes, hours passed as the two embryonic lives developed. The spark of life grew and each tiny brain began to take shape and form. With the development of their brain came feeling, and with feeling, perception. A perception of surroundings, of each other, and their own lives. They discovered that life was good and they laughed and rejoiced in their hearts.
One said to the other, "We are sure lucky to have been conceived and to have this wonderful world."
The other chimed in, "Yes, blessed be our mother who gave us life and each other."
Each of the twins continued to grow and soon their arms and fingers, legs and toes began to take shape. They stretched their bodies and churned and turned in their little world. They explored it and found the life cord which gave them life from their mother's blood. They were grateful for this new discovery and sang, "How great is the love of our mother--that she shares all she has with us!"
Weeks passed into months and with the advent of each new month, they noticed a change in each other and in themselves.
"We are changing," one said. "What can it mean?"
"It means," said the other, "that we are drawing near to birth."
An unsettling chill crept over the two. They were afraid of birth, for they knew that it meant leaving their wonderful world behind.
Said the one, "Were it up to me, I would live here forever."
"But we must be born," said the other. "It has happened to all the others." Indeed, there was evidence inside the womb that the mother had carried life before theirs. "And I believe that there is life after birth, don't you?"
"How can there be life after birth?" cried the one. "Do we not shed our life cord and also the blood tissue when we are born? And have you ever
talked to anyone that has been born? Has anyone ever re-entered the womb after birth to describe what birth is like? NO!" As he spoke, he fell into despair, and in his despair he moaned, "If the purpose of conception and our growth inside the womb is to end in birth, then truly our life is senseless." He clutched his precious life cord to his breast and said, "And if this is so, and life is absurd, then there really can be no mothers!"
"But there is a mother," protested the other. "Who else gave us nourishment? Who else created this world for us?"
"We get our nourishment from this cord--and our world has always been here?" said the one. "And if there is a mother--where is she? Have you ever seen her? Does she ever talk to you? No! We invented the mother when we were young because it satisfied a need in us. It made us feel secure and happy."
Thus, while the one raved and despaired, the other resign himself to birth and placed his trust in the hands of his mother. Hours turned into
days, and days into weeks. And soon it was time. They both knew their birth was at hand, and they both feared what they did not know. As the one was first to be conceived, so he was the first to be born, the other following.
They cried as they were born into the light. The coughed out fluid and gasped the dry air. And when they were sure they had been born, they
opened their eyes--seeing life after birth for the very first time. What they saw was the beautiful eyes of their mother, as they were cradled lovingly in her arms. They were home.
"No eye has seen, no ear had heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

From Professor Dr. Samir Fahim El-Minyawi, Professor at the Centre of Agricultural Research, Department of Atomic Radiation (Egypt)
In 1977, I was secretary general of the First Arab Biologists Conference, which was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister. The chairman of the committee that prepared for this conference was the President of Ain Shams University. The volume of work was too much for only the two of us to handle.
Upon leaving work, I was very tired and felt dizzy and sweaty, even though it wasn't summer weather. I couldn't breath, and because of extreme exhaustion and sickness, I was transported by car to home. In the evening, I went to see Dr. Ali Eissa, the well-known Professor of Cardiology, who found that I am suffering from coronary artery disease (narrowing or constriction). I slept this night on the floor in my home's reception room. I opened the window. In this room, there is a picture of Pope Kyrillos VI with his signature and the verse saying "The salvation of the faithful is from the Lord, and He is their victory in difficult times". This night I couldn't sleep well. I was thinking about my heart disease and how this happened despite the fact that I do physical exercises every morning. I kept thinking until it was three in the morning. The weather was a bit cold, but despite this I felt the room's temperature gradually increasing, and I saw Pope Kyrillos VI coming through the window holding the cross. He stood beside my head and said: "Why are you sleeping this way, ya habib abouk (your father's beloved)?"
I answered: "I am sick."
He said: "Rise... rise."
I stood and he held my head with his left hand, struck me with the cross on my heart three times, and said: "Don't take the treatment that was prescribed by the doctor you have visited." At the moment, I felt full of energy. Then the Pope started to leave through the window as he came, and the room's temperature began to decrease gradually. I prayed the Lord's Prayer, thanking God for the good deed He has done to me, and was amazed by the greatness of this saint (Pope Kyrillos) who is still looking after his children even after his departure to Heaven.
What I have said is not an illusion or imagination; it is supported by material facts:
- The two electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs) done for me by Dr. Ali Eissa before and after Pope Kyrillos VI's visit (only 16 hours apart).
- The prescription written by the same doctor.
Dr. Ali Eissa (a Muslim) was stunned by what happened, and asked me to stop all treatment, and whenever we met he used to tell me: "Your story has no medical explanation." And it happened one day that we met the University President at a ceremony for awarding prizes and medals to some University professors. Dr. Ali Eissa told the University President while pointing at me: "Do you know this man?"
The President answered: "Of course I know him very well."
Dr. Ali Eissa replied: "This man puzzled me and defied medicine."
The University President said: "We were about to loose him last year (he was about to die)."
Dr. Ali Eissa replied: "He visited me, and I examined him and did an electrocardiogram for him. He was sick. After one day, he came back, and asked me to examine him again. I refused, but as he insisted, I re-examined him. It was an amazing surprise... I found his heart completely normal... I can't find an explanation for this until now."
The University President replied: "He told me the story... Their 'Sheikh' who was their former Patriarch visited him."

All Mighty God

On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone. The pastor let the phone ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.
The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used last Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the man was talking about. Then the man said, “It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to
call his wife. The man said, "That's, OK. Let me tell you my story.
You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do
this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'. I was afraid to answer! "The reason why it showed on the man's caller ID that the call came from 'Almighty God' is because the church that the pastor attends is called Almighty God Tabernacle!!

In one of the miracle books of Pope Kyrillos the sixth, a person mentioned he was living with his brother and sister in law. One day they asked him to find another place to live. This was a Thursday evening. The man left the next morning even without breakfast and without any money. He went to his sister's house that lived nearby. She was very busy and didn't offer him breakfast or ask him what was wrong either. He left her not knowing what to do or where to go. He stopped at the metro station loosing hope. He dropped his key chain and when he was picking it up, he found 5 piastres on the ground. He decided to buy two sandwiches and with the rest of the money take the bus to the cathedral and back. He bought his sandwiches, and went to meet Pope Kyrillos.

When Pope Kyrillos saw him sad, he asked him: what's wrong my son?
The man answered: Looks like God forgot me.
Pope Kyrillos asked him: How can you say that and He just gave you to eat the 2 sandwiches.
The man quickly discovered he is in front of a miracle. He left and went back to his brother who met him with an unusual welcome.

How many problems do we face that affect us and the devil uses them so we give up in despair?
Our saint fathers warned us a lot to watch for the despair devil. He was the one that killed Joshua. With hope he could have repented and God accepted him and didn't suicide.

So don't despair
Don't despair because God is close.
Very close to you.
Don't despair

Virgin, Pure, Silent, Blessed and Saint

When dwelling in the most pure, tender, calm, silent and humble personality in The Bible you cannot help staying magically touched by Virgin Mary. Taken with all her virtues that made her very special. As if she was a once in a lifetime happening and never again without exaggeration.
I know I love her a love that cannot be described. There is no corner in my house without a picture of her. Between book pages, in my wallet. I always find her in my life, loving and loved. What can I say about a girl that has virtues that never gathered in any other girl up to today. A girl raised in a temple between hymns, prayers and Bible readings. Where she learned silence, calmness, humbleness, peace in her heart and surrender to God's plan in her life. With no fear or doubt, a peace nobody experienced before.
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." This was her answer to Gabriel the angel. She heard God's voice, she believed and she abided. When I think of that peace she gave to Elizabeth and the baby moved in her womb with joy. Wow, all I want at this moment is to kneel and ask the Virgin Mary to give us all that peace so that our hearts dance with joy. We need lots of this Holy spiritual joy instead of these earthly joys that leave us with thirst and hunger all the time.
It is God's plan since the beginning, that the woman seed shall bruise the serpent's head. And who is this woman?
She is the fully pure, ever Virgin Mary Mother of God.
I want to ask a question: Was Virgin Mary aware of all what was going to happen to her?
Big question. And I hope I am right in the answer. I know that God's acts are never random or by chance.
Maybe Virgin Mary was not aware that this will happen specifically to her. But the life of prayers in the temple and the way she was raised had a reason. God was preparing this little girl for His grace and the great gift He was giving her. And you can see this from her words to Elizabeth:
"My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name".
And this joy came to Mary after the angel Gabriel came to her and told her: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;"
So the Holy Spirit coming upon her gave her the knowledge and certainty that "the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God".
Not only that. But in the first miracle of Jesus in Cana of Galilee. How can she ask Him for the wine unless she knew He had the solution?
Look at the simple discussion between Jesus and Virgin Mary
And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
Who listens to Jesus understands He refused
But only she understood what he meant and asked the servants to do whatever He says
Whatever I will say about the Virgin, the tender mother of God, I know I am not saying enough
We all know how humble she is. Who of us doesn't brag about a position, money, parents, family, etc.. Specially in social challenging events? Nobody.
Which mother doesn't brag and talk about the success or position of one of her sons? Nobody
Except her, the Virgin Mary the only one who didn't loose against bragging, but she won with her humbleness and silence.
She accepted all without complaining. Always accepting God's will in her life.
Surrounded with lots of miracles before she was born, during her life to her death and after.
Up to today and to the end of time those miracles will still go on.
In our prayers we remember her to ask God for us.
How can we not have her intercession for us? what a stupid question.
A queen with a crown on her head
A saint and her head surrounded with this luminous circle
At the right of Lord Jesus
Angels, white clouds and stars around her, she is the second sky
She is the eternal orthodox love, The Virgin Mary icon
Her prayers and her intercessions be with us all
Amen
Happy Virgin Mary feast

Bold In Faith

Mark 7:25-28 - In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." (NIV)
When my boys were growing up, we lived in the country. They had to depend on my transporting them to places of entertainment. They knew also that I had lots of responsibilities at home that came before taking them swimming, or wherever they wanted to go.
Early in the day, they would ask me to take them somewhere. My reply was always "maybe" -- when all the chores are done, if I have time, we'll go. They learned early that the chores could be done much more quickly if they helped. They would get busy, and do all they could to help get the work done. Then, when the chores were done, the house was neat, lunch was over, and the dishes were washed, they would say, "We can go swimming now. All the chores are done." There might be many more things I wanted to do, but who can resist their type of wisdom? Naturally, I let other things wait, and took the boys swimming, or wherever they wanted to go.
The woman in today's Scripture could have been offended when Jesus spoke as he did, but she chose to speak boldly to him. Jesus respected her boldness and clear thinking, and healed her child. Sometimes we knock too gently at the doors of life, whether in prayer, work, study, or social action. Then we read the answers wrong. Do we, like the Syrophoenician woman, need to speak up more boldly in expressing our faith?
Prayer: Lord, you have told us to ask, and we shall receive. Make us bold in our asking, and alert and attentive to the answers we receive.
Amen.

Thank You Lord

A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven. Both of them walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with angels. St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received". The soul looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all the people of the world.
They walked again until they reached the 2nd section, and St. Peter told the soul, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are packed and delivered to the persons who asked for them down on earth." The soul saw how busy it was. There were so many angels working in that room, since so many blessing were being packed and delivered to Earth.
Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the surprise of the soul, only one angel stayed there idly, doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledging Section," St. Peter told the soul. "How is it that, there is no work here?"
"That's the sad thing," St. Peter answered. "After the people received the blessings they asked for, very few send their acknowledgments".
"How does one acknowledge God's blessing?" "Simple," St. Peter answered. "Just say, "'Thank you, Lord'."
Thank you Lord, for giving me the chance to share this message with others and also, for giving me so many wonderful people to share this with.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep .. you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace .. you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy..
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness . . you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ..you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
If your parents are still alive and still married .. you are very rare.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful .. you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder .. you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.
If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that.. someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.
THANK YOU LORD!

Who is he

The father of a church in a small town died. When the congregation could not find a possible priest amongst them, they asked for a meeting with their Bishop to have a priest.

Part of the congregation and the church comity went to meet the Bishop who started to suggest priest names to them. When he started suggesting names he was surprised that there were refusing them with weak objections on each one like: his mass is too long, he is too young and cannot be a good confession father, he does most of the mass in Coptic and so on.

The Bishop took a piece of paper that looked like a posted letter and told them: this is the last one I suggest to you. Listen to this letter from him and he really wants to serve you, if you accept.

Dearest:

"Let me introduce myself as I know you are looking for a priest, and if you want I really would love to serve you. I am 50 years old, my health is not that good but I do lots of work. I never served more than 3 years in one place. I always created trouble wherever I served. I won't hide that I went to prison 3 or 4 times but not because I did wrong. I don't have any good filing system for the people I serve, I even forgot the people I baptized. I fought with other servants, but we still love each other. Some think I am a good preacher and a good writer. So if you are willing, I will be very happy to be your priest."

The Bishop rose his eyes and said: What do you think?

The people looked at each other, what's happening?

The Bishop wants to give them a priest That's ill, lost his memory, travels a lot and on top went through prison. And who is this with all those problems and claims he is not just the servant of God but a priest. No, they cannot accept such a priest.

But out of curiosity, one of the congregation asked the bishop: What's the name of this priest?

The Bishop answered: Saint Paul the apostle.

God Bless you and pray for me.
 

In my weak times I call you

The Spoken Word

Successful life through the power of the spoken word

The human being is not just another animal. You are not a normal creature. You have inside you the power to reign on the materialistic world. And through this power you can control your circumstances, give beauty to the ugly and healing to the sick.

The Holy Bible says that the tong is a small member but it controls the whole body. The talk centre can control the body to the point that the Spoken Word can give the human power over his whole body and guide him to the way he wants. If somebody keeps saying: "I am weak, I feel sick". His whole system will receive this message and say: "Let's get ready for weakness because we received the message from our central system that we are weak". And then all the body members will start feeling the weakness.

If any member says: "I don't have any power, I can't do this mission". Then all members will translate these words to actions and start giving up its powers and will become incapable of doing any work.

I lately discovered the power of the Spoken Word to create a successful life. If you keep saying that you are capable of success and advancement, you will be able to face any challenge and win.

Talk the language of faith, fill your nerve system with power, victory and fruit words. Repeat those words a lot until they control all your body. And Then you will be able to face all circumstances and challenges and win. This is the usage number one of the Spoken Word.

Copied from the book: The Fourth Dimension

God Bless you all

ME, A CHILD?!

GET ALONE WITH GOD
Christianity is more than fire insurance or something to do on Sunday morning. It is a relationship with Jesus. We are supposed to grow once we are born again. We will look at what it means to grow in Christ beginning today with being a spiritual infant.

READ GOD'S WORD
Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.John 3:5-7 (New Living Translation)

It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 1Corinthians 13:11 (New Living Translation)

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith to be strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done. Colossians 2:6-7 (New Living Translation)

INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND

1) What does Jesus mean by being "born of the spirit?"
2) What does the phrase "born again" mean?
3) How do you think and act like an infant in your spiritual walk?
4) How can you put childish spiritual ways behind you?
5) What are you supposed to do once you are born again?

PRAY ABOUT IT ALL!!
Ask God to help you put behind your spiritual immaturity.

GUTSY ACTS
Today I am committing myself to . . . (choose one)

- Make a list of ways that I am still a spiritual infant.
- Same as above, and make a commitment to put one of these ways behind me starting today.
- Same as above and spend an hour of prayer overflowing with thankfulness to God for my birth in the spirit.

REMEMBER
An infant is not born and then stays a baby forever. He eventually grows up.

God Bless you all

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