[TXT] Happy New Year!

And then here are last year's new year greetings... Save for maybe 3, these new year text greetings aren't as elaborate as those for Christmas. Goes to show which one is the more important event!

* From Cecille
May u cntinue to bless other people. Thank u and happy new year.

* From Lesly & Miselle
Wishing you and your family a prosperous 2009. Happy new year

* From Jay, Manya, Anna, and Elijah
Happy New Year May this year b a grace filled year for all. God bless! :-)

* From Jing
For d friendship,
4 d prayers,
4 d encouragmnts,
4 d jokes,
4 d company,
4 d trust,
4 d suport,
4 evrythng,

THANK U..
HAPI NEW YEAR!!
God bless! :-)

* From Mhel
Wishing u & ur loved ones, the best for 2009. God bless. Happy New Year! :-)

* From the Cabanelas
Wishing you and your family all the best that the New Year has in store! Mabuhay and God Bless.

* From Miriam, Toby, and Dodgie
Happy NEW year! May 2009 be a great, joyful, peaceful and prosperous year for you and your family.

* From Alma
Happy new year! God bless!

* From Jules & Karen
happy new year t0 u & ur family! may this new year bring h0pe, l0ve, peace & happiness t0 all. God Bless You

* From Roy
hello, kapatid...
Welcome HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009...

In this beautiful w0rld, "Some0ne" stands behind, silently loving us..

reaching out His forgiving hands
when we've fallen..

encouraging us when
we're tested & in fear..

understanding us
when no one d0es..

p0inting us d light
when we're in d dark..

God deserves a pause, a hug,
a kiss, a "thank you"
because we're wrapped in a beautiful truth that we're so much loved w/o measure!

you are so blessed, my ever dearest friend & brethren..

so, be as well, an unconditional "blessing to others!!" this HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009... Godbless..

* From Bars
A Prosperous & Joyful New Year 2 u my friend!:-)
Thank you 4 being a part of my lyf's journey n 2008.
Together let's continue 2 hope & realize our dreams ds 2009 leaving all negative moments behind and moving forward wid more courage, hope and faith in Him! Godbless us all always!Ü

* From Joan
Helowie! i hope na maging oks na oks ang ating year of the ox.Ü
Happy new year! God bless.:-)

[reactions+reflections] CHRISTmas

I attended the Christmas Eve mass at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church (OLLC) in Singapore.  At the start of the celebration, and during his homily, the priest reminds us, "It is not Christmas if Jesus is not in your life."  Amen to that.

I have heard of people saying "it's not a happy Christmas for me," or "it's a sad Christmas day."  Well it's normal to experience sadness once in a while or when something unpleasant unexpectedly happens.  But above it all, I hope Christmas is still Christmas for everyone...

I think there's a reason why it's not called GIFTmas or ROMANCEmas or YOURPARTNERmas or YOURFAMILYmas or YOUmas or SANTAmas or YOURWISHESGRANTEDmas or YOURHAPPINESSmas or NOCHEBUENAmas or AGUINALDOmas or MONEYmas.  It's just not about any of those things, first of all.

Although Christmas originated from "Christ's Mass," we can look at it as Christ-mas: more of Christ.  And that is what it should really be, more of Christ.

Celebrating Jesus' birth on this day (though it is most likely not the actual birthdate of Jesus) is a reminder for us of how God loves us so much, that he gave his only begotten Son to live among us, as one of us, and later in his life, to die and be offered as The Most Holy Sacrifice on the Cross to save us all from our sins!  That is really all the gift that should matter: God's gift of salvation in Jesus his Son who became mortal but overcame death by his resurrection.

The priest-celebrator at OLLC also reminded us that Jesus was born at the darkest hour, around midnight - where a lot of sins happen particularly in today's highly urbanized areas.  A lot of crime.  A lot of pre- and extra-marital sex.  And so on.

Jesus was born in the darkest hour because he is to be the Brightest Light, our Salvation, in the midst of all of our sins.  Thus also the highly symbolic "Star of Bethlehem."

That is probably one reason why Christmas is celebrated late in December 25, corresponding to the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (where Jesus was born), when the darkest of nights also occur.  (Daylight is shortest around this time.)

Jesus is our light in the darkest of times.  He is the reason why we should be happy and why we greet others to be happy on Christmas day.

Reflecting on this now, I believe the best way to respond to someone greeting you "Merry Christmas," just as you would respond "You are welcome" when someone tells you "Thank you," is "Thank God for Jesus."  Essentially they are the same greeting.

And thus this should be why Christmas becomes a time for giving - because we are thankful that God gave us Jesus first.  It's not a time for asking for gifts.  We all have already been given the greatest gift of all!

Thank God for Jesus!

[did you know?] San Roque

San Roque is the "patron saint" of our Baranggay (smallest political subdivision in the Philippines). We usually hold our Baranggay feast in mid-August, approximately the same feast day for the saint. For years, I have been trying to find out what San Roque is in English. Apparently, the English translation is "St Roch." He is also known as Rock or Rocco in English. Yes, I am just quoting a Wikipedia article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Roch

Apparently, San Roque's statues usually shows him pointing to some wound on his left thigh, and a dog that is offering him bread.

The Bible in Computer Files

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF FINDING TIME TO READ GOD'S WORDS.  MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ALWAYS. 
 
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

----- This is by far the best email I have received and the best one that I will ever forward.You can now read the Bible at the click of a button.....no more excuses for not reading it.

See special bonus below

New International Version (NIV)

Books	Chapters
Genesis	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Exodus	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Leviticus	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Numbers	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Deuteronomy	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
Joshua	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Judges	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Ruth	1 2 3 4
1 Samuel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2 Samuel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 Kings	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
2 Kings	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1 Chronicles	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
2 Chronicles	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Ezra	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Nehemiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Esther	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Job	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
Psalm	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
Proverbs	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Ecclesiastes	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Song of Solomon	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Isaiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
Jeremiah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
Lamentations	1 2 3 4 5
Ezekiel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Daniel	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Hosea	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Joel	1 2 3
Amos	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Obadiah	1
Jonah	1 2 3 4
Micah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Nahum	1 2 3
Habakkuk	1 2 3
Zephaniah	1 2 3
Haggai	1 2
Zechariah	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Malachi	1 2 3 4
Matthew	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Mark	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Luke	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
John	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Acts	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Romans	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1 Corinthians	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2 Corinthians	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Galatians	1 2 3 4 5 6
Ephesians	1 2 3 4 5 6
Philippians	1 2 3 4
Colossians	1 2 3 4
1 Thessalonians	1 2 3 4 5
2 Thessalonians	1 2 3
1 Timothy	1 2 3 4 5 6
2 Timothy	1 2 3 4
Titus	1 2 3
Philemon	1
Hebrews	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
James	1 2 3 4 5
1 Peter	1 2 3 4 5
2 Peter	1 2 3
1 John	1 2 3 4 5
2 John	1
3 John	1
Jude	1
Revelation	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911

When -

You are sad, phone John 14

You have sinned, phone Psalm 51

You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91

People have failed you, phone Psalm 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11

You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23

You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87

You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1

Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31

You are depressive, phone Psalm 27

Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37

You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15

You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19

You want to carry fruit, phone John 15

Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17

With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55

To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS

For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47

For security, call Psalm 121:3

For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.

NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.

ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.