A Poem by Michael Quoist which I can identify with, and reminds me to rise once again and walk the narrow path...

SIN

I have fallen Lord, once more, I can't go on. I'll never succeed. I am ashamed. I don't dare look at You. And yet I struggled, Lord, for I knew you were right near me, bending over me, watching.

But temptation blew like a hurricane, and instead of looking at You, I turned my head away. I stepped aside while you stood, silent and sorrowful, like the spurned fiancée who sees his loved one carried away by the enemy.

When the wind died down as suddenly as it had arisen, when the lightening ceased after proudly streaking the darkness, all of a sudden I found myself alone, ashamed, disgusted, with my sin in my hands…

It's mine now, but it possesses me as the spider web holds captive the gnat. It is mine. It sticks to me, it flows in my veins, it fills my heart. It has slipped in everywhere, as darkness slips into the forest at dusk and fills all the patches of light. I can't get rid of it. I run from it the way one tries to lose a stray dog, but it catches up with me and bounds joyfully against my legs.

Everyone must notice it. I'm so ashamed that I feel like crawling to avoid being seen. I'm ashamed of being seen by my friends. I'm ashamed of being seen by You, Lord, for You loved me, and I forgot You. I forgot You because I was thinking of myself and one can't think of several persons at once. One must choose, and I chose…

Lord, don't look at me like that. I am naked. I am dirty. I am down, shattered, with no strength left. I dare make no more promises. I can only lie bowed before You…

And the Father's Response...
Come, child, look up. Isn't it mainly your vanity that is wounded? Do you think there is a limit to My love? Do you think that for a moment I stopped loving You? But you still rely on yourself. You must rely only on Me. Ask my pardon and get up quickly. It isn't falling in the mud that is the worst…
… but staying there.

LOVE

'Love is Patient. Love is Kind. Love is not envious, or boastful, or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends' 1Cor 13:4-8

When I reflect on the 'Love of God' (Agape) and the way I love, I have sooooo much to learn and change.

My love is possessive not self-giving, impatient.... and the list goes on. And my love ends!! while the scripture tells me that (genuine) LOVE never ends!!

My desire is to love as this.

Why am I a Christian?

Today, the LORD revealed to me an important Truth.
I pray that as you read this post, it may speak to your heart too.
All Glory to Our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Recently, I was discussing with a non-christian friend about christianity & other religions, and I was compelled to think:

Why am I a Christian??


Peace? Love? Charity?
Well, if thats the case, almost all religions preach it. Take your pick.
If religion is to instill these values in a person, then, most religion preach it.
Of course, rightly followed, they transform the individual and society.

Forgiveness?
Well not all, but some religions do. Still, take your pick.
Forgiveness heals the individual & society.
Buddism & Christianity preach it.

Condemnation? Right Justice?
Yes, some religions preach it too. So that people may walk in righteousness.
Hinduism speaks about 'karma', that each person will pay for his rights/wrongs in his next-incarnation.
So do Islam & Judaism... that the righteous will be rewarded, and the wicked will be condemned.

Eternal Life?
Well, there are some religions which have hope in eternal life as the 'ultimate prize'.
Christianity, Islam & Judaism preach it.

But, is this why I am a christian??
I was thinking about it. and I realised something else......
I am a christian not because of these only......but because of what I have seen and heard... seen with my own eyes & heard with my own ears ... the Awesome Power of Our GOD.
And it did not end there... He put in me, His Spirit.. who not just draws me to Him, everytime... & especially when I am depressed or low, He has opened my heart to experience the love of God, the sacrifice that He paid for me..... His Awesome and Perfect Love.

Make no mistake, this is not a 'feeling' of peace or love, but of 'being' loved & cherished, being held dear & close, of knowing that He is there for you....always.
When I experience such as these, how can I deny it...

Acts 4:20 "for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard"

Words Of Eternal Life

Praise be to Our Lord Jesus Christ!!

May the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and remain with you!!

I'm inspired to start this blog to note down each Word Of God, that touches me.

This blog is called 'Words Of Eternal Life'. It reminds me of the words of Peter when he spoke to Our Lord Jesus.

John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"