LIFE Stories

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:41. +++ “Wonderful Lord, on the Feast of Mary's visit with Elizabeth, we are reminded that You are a God of joy and that You always fulfill Your promises. We ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us when we feel discouraged, so that our soul may always magnify You, O Lord.   Dearest Mother, you are the first missionary, who took our Lord Jesus to your cousin Elizabeth and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. We ask that you also bring our Lord Jesus to us in this present life, and after this our exile, show unto us, the Blessed Fruit of thy womb Jesus; O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us. Amen!” +++ - Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, Mary brings God’s presence into the lives of other people. - As David danced before the Ark, John the Baptist leaps for joy. - As the Ark helped to unite the 12 tr...

+++ An old beggar lay on his deathbed. His last words were to his youngest son who had been his constant companion during his begging trips.  “Dear son," he said, “I have nothing to give you except a cotton bag and a dirty bronze bowl which I got in my younger days from the junk yard of a rich lady.” After his father’s death, the boy continued begging, using the bowl his father had given him. One day a gold merchant dropped a coin in the boy’s bowl and he was surprised to hear a familiar clinking sound.   “Let me check your bowl,” the merchant said. To his great surprise, he found that the beggar’s bowl was made of pure gold.   “My dear young man," he said, “why do you waste your time begging? You are a rich man. That bowl of yours is worth at least 50 thousand dollars.”  +++ We Christians are often like the old beggar and his youngest son who have failed to recognize and appreciate the value of his bowl. We fail to appreciate the infinite worth of The Holy Spirit li...

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." – 1 Thessalonians 5:18. +++ Into the shell of an oyster a tiny foreign body—such as a tiny parasite—finds its way into the soft oyster body. The intruder, though microscopic, is a source of irritation and pain to the soft body of the oyster. Unable to rid itself of the unwelcome 'guest,' the oyster seeks to reduce the irritation by coating it with layers of soft, iridescent mother-of-pearl material from its own shell. Over time, the oyster transforms a painful irritation into a beautiful pearl of great value. +++ Most of us have "tiny parasites" or annoying "pebbles" that come into our life on a regular basis … many of which can be very frustrating and even painful. But every one of these annoyances gives us a chance to grow and mature. - Some will require great patience, others tough love. - Some will require our turning the other cheek. - Some confrontation, and - ...

“Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” – Luke 12:15. +++ A student asked his teacher, “What is Greed?” The teacher said, “In order to answer your question, go through the chocolate factory next to our school and pick the one chocolate you like the most. But there is a rule. As you pass through the factory, you cannot turn back. You must pick the chocolate as you go forward only.” The student went to the chocolate factory. As he walked through, He saw the one chocolate wrapped nicely, he instantly liked it but he wondered that he may find much bigger one further. So, He walked further, then he saw another chocolate. But again, he thought the same. When he started to reach near the end of the factory, he couldn’t see any chocolates as big as the one he didn’t pick earlier and started to regret his decision of letting it go. Finally, he gave up. He went back to the teacher with an empty hand and explained ...

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9. +++ A man wanted to get married, but he didn't know whom to marry. So he prayed to God, “Lord, open my eyes or reveal to me whom to marry.”  After the prayer, God showed him a poor blind woman in his church, and told him to marry the blind woman.  The man refused and went back to God in prayers, he prayed many times, and after the prayer, God still revealed the same blind woman to him as his wife. So he had no other option than to marry the woman, they fixed a date for their wedding. It so happened, on the day of their wedding, behold! The eyes of the woman opened and she began to see, everybody was happy and some were surprised. From that day, the spirit of blindness was rolled away from the life of that woman. +++ Note: God knows why he kept you in the c...

"Then Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” – Luke 17:17. +++ A television plot portrayed two best friends caught in a tense situation. They both loved the same woman. Later the two men were competing against each other in a parachute competition. Both jumped out of the plane at the same time. But when one of the men pulled his ripcord, his chute failed to open. His death seemed sure. However, the other man noticed his predicament,maneuvered into position through freefall, and tied himself to his friend's tangled canopy. Then he opened his own chute. The pair came down together and landed safely. But the real shock came after they had hit the ground.The rescued friend got up and walked away without even thanking the one who saved him. +++ Now, this story is fictitious, but it sounds a little like the real-life event described in Luke 17. Ten lepers, on their way home from a meeting with Christ, suddenly realized that He had healed them of their dreadful...

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its variou forms." (1 Peter 4:10). +++ One of the most beautiful books to read is "Die Empty" by Todd Henry. The author was inspired and got this idea of writing this book while attending a business meeting.  At the meeting, the Director asked the audience: "Where is the richest land in the world?" One in the audience answered: "Oil-rich Gulf states." Another replied: "Diamond mines in Africa." Then the Director said: "No, it is the Cemetery. Yes, it is the richest land in the world, because millions of people have departed, died and they carried many valuable ideas that did not come to light nor benefit others. It is all in the cemetery where they are buried." Inspired by this answer, Todd Henry wrote his book, "Die empty" where he did his best to motivate people to pour out their ideas and potential e...

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5. +++ Mark Twain, the famous American author and humorist, who lived in the late 1800s, tells a story that he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did. So, he put in a bird, a pig and a goat. They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments. Then, he put in a Baptist, a Presbyterian and a Catholic, but hell broke loose. +++ Mark Twain did not even bother putting together a Christian, a Muslim and a Hindu, that was unthinkable in his days. In today's world, however, it has become obvious that Christians live in the same cage, in the same city, in the same world, with people of other religions and people without any religion. Sisters and brothers, we have heard phrases like: - "Unity is strength" or, - "United we stand, divided we fall." We are called to, first of ...

This story is a call to humility, a call to servant-hood, a call to overcome any perceived weaknesses and live an honorable and decent life, all for God's glory. +++ His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally a wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian recently while attending college. One day Bill decides to go to church. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and So Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and, when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happe...

“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25. +++ A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the Priest decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The Priest found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his Priest’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the Priest took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lon...

Salty…Add Extra Curd… +++ On a Sunday afternoon a family gathered over the lunch table to have their favourite Mutton Biryani. Wife was serving both her Son and her Husband. After the food was served, the husband tasted the Biryani along with Raita and started yelling at his wife for adding extra salt in the Raita. She opened the refrigerator and added some curd to it and she served it again. After tasting it the husband said “You should have done it properly and checked it before serving it to us, because of the extra salt, you have spoiled my mood of eating Biryani.”  After some time, the son and the father completed their lunch and the wife served herself and completed her lunch. While she was washing the vessels, her son came to meet her and he saw his mother with tears in her eyes. When he inquired why she was crying, she just wiped her tears and said “nothing” and asked him what he wanted. He asked for some money and she told him to take it from her purse.  After some ye...

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8. +++ The man whispered, "God, speak to me" And a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" And the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not see. And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born. But, the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. This is a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted even in our electronic age, so I would like to add one more: The man cried, "God, I need...

“Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” – Psalm 25:4. +++ She was a whore, prostitute, harlot, or whatever word we want to use. The fact is she sold her body for profit. Then a moment came that changed everything for her. Rahab lived in the city wall of Jericho. She not only sold her body but provided rooms for visitors. Two of those visitors were spies that were sent by Joshua to look for any weakness in the city. Unfortunately, word got out that the spies were at her house so she hid them and told the soldiers that they had already left.  Until that moment, Rahab had nothing but a regrettable life to offer God, but in that instance, she gave God the only thing she could...her faith! Hiding the spies and betraying her city would most certainly mean instant death. Yet, she chose to believe God and act on her faith. At that moment, God overlooked her lifestyle and looked at her heart.  Not only were Rahab and her family saved, but she went from being a prostitute...

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” – Romans 14:13. +++ Once upon a time, there was a man who was very helpful, kind hearted, and generous. He was a man who would help someone without asking anything to pay him back. He will help someone because he wants to and he loves to. One day while walking into a dusty road, this man saw a purse, so he picked it up and noticed that the purse was empty. Suddenly a woman with a policeman shows up and gets him arrested. The woman kept on asking where he hid her money but the man replied, “It was empty when I found it, Ma’am.” The woman yelled at him, “Please give it back, It’s for my son’s school fees.” The man noticed that the woman really felt sad, so he handed all his money. He could say that the woman was a single mother. The man said, “Take these, sorry for the inconvenience.” The woman left and the policeman held the ma...

You don’t have to leap and jump over hurdles to make someone feel good. It just takes a smile or a hug or a joke or holding the door for someone or being a good listener or sharing, etc. to bring someone out of their shell. Sometimes, these small gestures mean the most. +++ I got on to the bus. Seeing the crowd inside, I was upset. There was no place to sit. Just then, a person vacated his seat. The man standing next to the vacant seat could have sat there, but instead he offered the seat to me. At the next stop, the same thing happened again. He gave his seat to another. This happened 4 times during the entire journey. The man looked like a normal worker, returning home after a long day at work. At the last stop when all of us got off, I spoke to him.  "Why were you giving your seat to another person every time you got a vacant seat?" His answer took me by surprise. "I haven’t studied much in my life nor do I know many things. I don't have much money either. So I do...

  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31.   +++    The song "It Is Well With My Soul" was written by a successful Christian lawyer Heratio Spafford.  His only son died at age 4 in 1871. In 1872, the great Chicago fire wiped out his vast estate, which made from a successful legal career. In 1873 he sent his wife & 4 daughters over to Europe on a summer trip on the ill-fated SS Ville du Havre. (A steamship that  sank in 12 minutes with the loss of 226 lives. ) Since he had a lot of work to do, he planned to follow them later. The Ship sank and he lost his 4 daughters with his wife being the only survivor. She sent him a famous telegram which simply read,  "SAVED ALONE...." On his return home, his Law firm was burned down and the insurance company refused to pay him, saying, "It's an Act of God". He had no money to pay for his house and no work, he also lost his house.  Then while sitting and thinking about what's ha...

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. +++ On July 14, 1771, Samuel Hearne led a party from the Hudson’s Bay Company toward the Coppermine River in the Northwestern Territories of Canada. A few days after they started the expedition, they were raided by a group of thugs who stole most of their supplies. After the next day’s journey, Hearne made a journal entry where he commented on this apparent misfortune. He wrote, “The weight of our baggage being so much lightened, our next day’s journey was more swift and pleasant.” Hearne discovered something about people who are moving forward: a lighter load makes all the difference. Sure, if the party had been holed up in a cabin somewhere, then the weight of their provisions wouldn’t have been an issue. But because he was on the move, such things did little...