Little Cozy Corner

Yay! Now I can officially say that I *was* there at WYD 2008. Although I missed catching a glimpse at the Pope, at least I attended one event. So, yes, I’m glad that we make it through in one piece. Suffice to say that the crowd was overwhelming. I never thought that the option of answering God’s call was that many!! So many booths of various religious orders were there and it was simply mind blowing. I definitely managed to get some postcards and a couple of keychains too. I wish there was more there but obviously the souvenir shop was not located at this area. I have no idea where the shop is located because I never found out so that’s my bad and my loss. But I think I can get these souvenirs post-WYD though - it’s just too massive to be cleared out right after such a huge event.

Anyway, I’m also glad to say that Arianna did very well in that massive crowd. A lot better than I expected although we had her up way pass her bedtime. Poor thing was a mess by the time we started for home. She was quite an attraction as well, getting poked and prodded by total strangers who obviously mean well. We even had a chance to meet up with the priest to baptised Arianna, Fr. Dom from the Dominican Brothers. He is the Vocations Director. Ok, I think that’s enough talk for now. Enjoy the few pix that I took - I went to WYD 2008!!! *lol*

The main entrance to the expo

Lots & lots & LOTS of people!

Banners everywhere - love the colors!

A live band singing some divine music while people enjoyed they coffee at the  vocation.com Coffee House.

An aerial [sort of] view from the 3rd floor. Who would have thought that that were that many options to choose from?!?! Check out the number of booths there! UNBELIEVABLE.

God is calling - can you hear Him?

We didn’t spend a lot of time there which was fine by me since the crowd suddenly became so huge with a rush of pilgrims rushing in as we were leaving. I guess many just wanted to be out of the cold. I can’t imagine what the pilgrims from the Carribbean are going through! SO kesian….

As a Catholic, seeing the Pope in flesh will be the height of my spiritual life. To be able to see the Holy Father up close is as good as it gets as chances of us making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is currently out of our reach. World Youth Day 2008 is to be celebrated in Sydney this year and there is a lot of hype going on and in preparation, and in anticipation of His Holiness’ arrival.

World Youth Day was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1984. And the largest crowd ever gathered for this event was in Rome in 2000 where approximately 2 million people gathered together. For the event in Sydney, they expect about 500, 000 to turn up and fingers crossed, we will amongst the throngs of people as well. The last time the Pope stepped foot in Sydney was in 1995.

Pope John Paul II visited Sydney in 1995 to beatify the Venerable Mother Mary of the Cross, MacKillop (1842-1909). And I believe Ted didn’t miss this chance to catch a glimpse of the Pope. In fact, he even has the paper cutting of this visit plastered on Arianna cupboard, it was his back then. I don’t really know what to expect but I can imagine what it’s going to be like.

An upside down standing ovation for the organisers as I personally think that it’s passed the point of balding to be part of this huge event. I can’t even imagine what these people are going through, the stress and pressure must be just beyond words! As for me, I’m just wondering how the heck are we going to get there, lugging Arianna along. Everyone has been strongly encouraged to take the public transport which will be the main mode of getting to and from the site. Randwick is going to burst with the number of people who will be coming for this. Aiyo….I’m already tension thinking of this now and the Pope is only coming in July!!!

Anyhow, I really am looking forward to this mega huge event because as I said, this maybe the only chance for me to catch the Pope in action and how often do you get the chance to check out the Popemobile???

Picture from Beliefnet - ain’t it one of a kind?

I normally don’t post forwarded stuff unless I think it’s really something that I think is awesome. Seeing that my spiritual life has taken a turn for the worst as in I’ve not been as prayerful as I should be seeing that I’ve been blessed in abundance, this email was a rather painful slap to the face. I reckon that it’s a wake up call for me. And if this wakes you up too, good for you! Thanks Kesh.

A letter from Jesus

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these  times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration.

Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don’t know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my  honor. The dinner table was full  of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn’t invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn’t remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In  truth, that didn’t surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn’t invited, I decided to enter the party without making any  noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a  grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa  and all the children ran to him, saying: “Santa Claus, Santa Claus” as if the party were in his honor!

At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me. Suddenly they all  began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What  would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me  to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to  save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn’t invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a  spectacular party. I’m still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to  attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book.

Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party.

Those who don’t answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon. I Love you!

Jesus

It’s about the greatest MAN on earth!

In chemistry, He turned water into wine.

In biology, He was born without the normal conception.

In physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended in heaven.

In economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread.

In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs [Nor did He use any needles AND rose from the dead after 3 days!! - Me say wan....].

In history, He is the beginning and the end.

In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.

In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him. So…..

WHO IS HE?   He is JESUS!! The Greatest Man in History, aitelyu…. :cool: 

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

So take this opportunity to celebrate His rising from the dead and may you have a blessed Easter!

Photo taken from The Story of Easter

(Check it out to get a better understanding of the real Easter - it’s not about Easter eggs and the Easter bunny lar!)

Thank you Gen for that wonderful piece which I modified here and there lar….:wink: By the way, I’m sure the Lord will forgive me for breaking my Lent sacrifice. After all, it was for a good reason!!

In less than 12 hours, my yo-yo faith in the good Lord was restored last night at our weekly Charamatic meet. Ted and I usually attend this prayer meet because he’s always been with this group and secondly, it’s always nice to share your faith with people who feel the same as you so that you dont feel as if you are left to wander this cruel world alone, fighting for your faith. For me, this is nothing new as I was, for awhile, also a member of my Charasmatic group back home but somehow, my spirit withered and I dropped out. That happens every now and then, and sad to say, I wish it wasnt that way at all.

Anyway, it was nothing short of a miracle at how fast God response when you pray about something or for something. I have been looking out for a casual/short term job just ntil before December to fill up my time and most of all, make some money lar. A woman’s got to be independant to a certain level and thus, living up to that got me on my feet to search for a job. There have been many obstacles along the way meaning that I had problems just getting started to search for a job. Mostly because I’m so dependant on the net to do stuff. Looking for jobs in the papers was just one of the things I did but I had more confidence in the job search more than anything but having no internet was just a pain in the bottom!

But thankfully, MIL’s place still had Ted’s account running and that’s when I went into full swing. Last Saturday, I checked out my online resume and job searche and found a few suitable jobs and I applied for it. But I heard from no one so I took a look at my resume and noticed that I had not updated them and so I did. I said to Ted that I’d go to the CC nearby and check my mail out on Monday and that was what I did [While I was blogging as well lar!]. Sad to say, there was no reply from anyone.

But there were a couple of jobs available and I sent in my resume, hoping for the best. I can honestly tell you that I prayed for a job to become available but I wasnt praying hard for it - honestly. But the funny thing is, and I’ve heard this being said MANY times before, the Lord will show signs of His power, might and love to those who have not much faith in Him and I guess true to this believe - that evening itself, I got an interview for THIS Friday! Now if that is not a miracle of God, I dont know what is. I couldnt believe how fast He responded to my prayer. It’s either that or someone was praying very hard for me, for which I am totally appreciative of, of course. This all happened last evening just before prayer meet.

So after I got the call and set the date, I told Ted that we have to give thanks to the Lord during our prayer meet. It was then that the Lord spoke to me and affirmed me, reassured me that no matter what I do or how shallow my faith in His is, He will always be by me. Those precious words came from Mary, one of our members after our praise and worship session. She said,’Do not worry….let your worries fall unto Me and I shall take care of you. Let not your worries burden you, for I am there.’ I felt my heart just burst from being so overwhelmed by those words and His presence there among us. What I felt was beyond description….those words really put me in my place, it was a reminder that I should not stray away from him but in fact, grow deeper in love and faith of Him. I could have taken it as a slap to my face, a rude awakening from God telling me to,’Oi, wake up! I’m always here, dont think I dont know what’s going on in that muddled head of yours.’ But instead, I felt a gentle reminder that He is always there for me, to help me when I’m down even though I did not ask for help earnestly.

Isn’t it amazing to know that the Lord will never fail you? That He is there, ALWAYS. Watching over you, protecting you from harm and most of all, an eternal source of strength? I could go on and on about the many things He has done for me but I have to also remember that when I dont get things when I want them, it’s because all things happen in His time and not mine. That’s the only thing I know when things dont happen the way I want it and when I want it, is because only He knows what best for me. :love:

Before we celebrate a Happy Easter, the sombre and solemn Good Friday is first experienced. It is the day of obligation where fast & abstinence is observed by Catholics. In short, Good Friday commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary.

Photo courtesy of Amelia who wanted to share this with everyone.

Learn more about Good Friday here.

Ps. Will post photos for FF later today. :D: O, btw….have you VOTED for me?? No?! What are you waiting for? Faster go lar, today last day for voting!! Lol