Dear Terrorist,

As I was preparing a meal for my child to eat after the liturgy, I heard an explosion coming from a couple of streets away. I ran out of my house and I saw smoke arising from the direction of the Church. As I began dashing towards the misty road, my thoughts camouflaged with the dusty air “please have mercy on my dear child! Lord, please let him be alive!” I prayed as I approached the ruined castle, Pushing and shoving everyone out of the way,

I desperately sought after my son. I desperately sought after for my beloved child. After minutes of torment, there he was… laying besides the altar, slain with nothing covering his torn body but rubble and innocence. I helplessly held his lifeless body in my arms and my tears...my tears he blessed with his martyred blood. I heard the cry of every family echo throughout the room. I saw parents collecting the body parts of their children. I saw the priests and bishops looking at to the heavens and praying. I bowed my head and I looked at my child hanging off my arms. My surroundings silenced.

The first time I held him, he was covered in my blood and was afraid. And now as I held him for the last time, his blood was shed and he was in peace. I am now at peace. Today he was given wings to ascend and join the rest of the angels and saints. You thought you have won by killing the innocent but their souls have now risen to the eternal Kingdom.

The walls of the church are now splattered with the blood of those you martyred. Before you entered, the icons were hazed with aromatic incense and now they’re coated with the blood of the new saints. I am writing to you for one reason only. From the depths of my heart, I want you to know that “I forgive you”. No bomb can ever detonate the love we have for our Savior. Our knees have hit the ground and created an impact that no explosive is ever capable of doing. I want you to know that when you execute these attacks, you widen our pathway to the Heavenly Kingdom.

I thank you with all my heart for sending my child to his Father. Although you’ve left him in pieces on Holy grounds, he is now complete in the eyes of our Lord. Our limbs can be amputated but our love for our God cannot be pulled apart. When Christ was on the wood of the cross, He looked up to heaven and asked His Father to forgive those who tortured and crucified Him for they do not know what they do. I know you’re blinded by darkness and unaware of your actions and that is why I forgive you. In your eyes, you see broken walls and bodies torn apart but in our eyes we see the Soldiers of Christ becoming stronger and the love of God growing in our hearts.
The Coptic Church has not been destroyed but instead has become victorious once again.

Yours truly,
The one who has forgiven you

By: Steven Attalla

*'God, Why Is This Happening to Me?"*

*_“We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. . . . Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understand us”_*  (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 CEV).

In his pain and despair, Job asked a lot of legitimate questions: “Why let people go on living in misery? Why give light to those in grief”(Job 3:20 GNT).

This “why” question is human nature, and we all ask it. We have this misconception that if we understand the reason behind our pain, then it will make the pain easier.

You don’t need an explanation; you need strength. You don’t need an explanation; you need a Savior. You don’t need an explanation; you need comfort and support.

*But we always go looking for an explanation! We ask questions like, “Why did that person walk out of my life? Why did he make a promise to me and then break it? Why did he hurt me? Why did I lose my job? Why did she die? Why did I get sick?”*

Friends, I’ve been studying the “why” question for years, and I’m going to give you my educated answer: I don’t know. And I’m never going to know, because I’m not God. And neither are you! Some things we’re just never going to understand until we get to the other side of death. Then it’s all going to become very, very clear. Only God knows. And if you don’t get his answer right off the bat, you might as well stop asking “Why?” because you’re simply prolonging the pain.

Proverbs 25:2a says, “It is God’s privilege to conceal things” (TLB). *God is a God of revelation. He reveals himself through nature, circumstances, and Scripture. The only reason you know anything about God is because he has chosen to reveal himself.*

*But the Bible says God doesn’t just reveal; God also conceals. And sometimes God intentionally hides his face from us. Why? So we’ll learn to trust him and to live by faithrather than by our feelings.*

*God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything. God doesn’t have to check in with you first before he does something. God doesn’t have to get your permission before he allows things to happen in life. God is God, and we’re not always going to understand why some things happen.*

*One day it’s all going to be clear. It’s all going to make sense. You’re going to be able to say, “So that’s why God allowed that in my life!” Until then, God wants you to trust him.*


"Have a blessed day"

Beautiful message

*Beautiful   Message*!!

💬   If    You    Are    Right    Then     There    is     No    Need    to    Get    Angry ...

💬   And    If    You    Are    Wrong    Then    You     Don't     Have    Any    Right    to    Get    Angry.

💬   Patience    With    Family    is   Love .....

💬   Patience    With    Others    is   Respect.

💬   Patience     With     Self     is   Confidence   And   Patience   With   GOD   is   Faith.

💬   Never    Think    Hard    About    The    PAST ,    It    Brings    Tears...

💬   Don't    Think    More    About   The   FUTURE ,   It   Brings   Fear...

💬  Live   This   Moment   With   A   Smile ,  It    Brings   Cheer.

💬  Every     Test     in    Our    Life   Makes   Us   Bitter   Or   Better .....

💬   Every   Problem   Comes   To   Make   Us   Or   Break   Us  !

💬   The      Choice     is       Ours   Whether   We   Become   Victims   Or   Victorious.

💬   Beautiful   Things    Are    Not   Always   Good   But   Good  Things   Are   Always   Beautiful ......

💬   Do   You   Know    Why    God  Created   Gaps  between  Fingers ?  So     That     Someone ,    Who    is     Special    To    You ,   Comes    And   Fills   Those    Gaps ,   By   Holding   Your   Hand   Forever.

💬   " Happiness "   Keeps   You ....  Sweet   But   Being   Sweet   Brings   Happiness.

Do    Share    It  ,    With    All    The    Good    People   In   Your   Life.

😊

Trust in God not in man. ..

*Very  motivational story*

Long  time  ago there  lived  a  great king  and  two beggars  who always  stood  at the  gate  of  his  palace  everyday.

As  the  king  rode by  everyday,  the 1st beggar would say 'blessed  is  he whom  the  king helps' while  the 2nd beggar would say 'blessed is he whom God helps'. 

The  king  always felt  pleased  to hear  the  praise  of the 1st  beggar.

One  evening  the king  decided  to reward  the  1st beggar  for  all  the praise;  he  ordered his  baker  to  bake a  cake  and  wrapped gold inside  the  cake.

The  next day  as  he  rode  by, he gave  the  cake  to the  1st beggar  as he  hailed  him  as usual. 

The 1st beggar  who  was  in  dire need  of  cash  sold  the  cake  to  the 2nd beggar at  a cheap  price. 

When the 2nd beggar cut open the cake he saw the gold, sold them and became a wealthy man. 

He did not return back to the kings gate the next day.

As  the  king  rode out  of  his  palace the  next day,  he saw  the  1st beggar  still  begging for money  and stopped  to  ask him  if  he  ate  the cake  he  gave  him.

The  1st beggar replied  and  said  no  sir,  I  sold  it  to my  friend  who  was  here  with  me yesterday;  I  have not  seen  him today.

The  king shook his head highly disappointed and confessed silently to himself that 

"Indeed Blessed is he Who God helps"  

Our  God  is  the  all knowing  God, HE has  not  forgotten you. God  always does His work just  in  time.

Be  blessed  and  Trust  God  even  when  you  don't understand  His WILL. Someday your blessings shall be in abundance. when you *Trust in God and not Man.*

*Stay blessed!*
*Jesus Loves You...*

WHAT SHOULD I GIVE UP FOR LENT?

 MEAT?SWEETS? CHOCOLATE?  ICE CREAM?  BEVERAGES ?

Many of us try to be more disciplined for Lent and give up something that we really like. That’s great! Fasting has always been an important tradition of Lent. This year however, let us also consider other things that we can give up.

*Give up complaining* - _Focus on gratitude_
Philippians 2:14-15 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure...
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.

*Give up bitterness* - _Turn to forgiveness_
Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

*Give up worry* - _Trust in God_
Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

*Give up discouragement* - _Be full of hope_
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you: he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

*Give up hatred* - _Return good for evil_
1 John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
Luke 6:27 – “But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

*Give up anger* - _Be more patient_
Matthew 5:22 – But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Proverbs 15:18 – A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

*Give up gossiping* - _Control your tongue_
Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Proverbs 21:23 – He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

🙏🙏🙏

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS !

!! 

Count your blessings!!! Merlyn's Dad taught her this. She teaches me the same, every single day.

Merlyn is a strong and vibrant person. Someone, who would never sit and grieve for any sort of Trouble. She trained herself to be strong even from a very early age and all she practiced in life is how to laugh out one’s pain.

A few things, Merlyn taught me during the wonderful days we spent together…

How to try and be strong even when there is pain and suffering,

How to try and be happy even when things are not favorable,

How to love life even if Life deceives

Merl is a very very positive person. After her diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia, we were initially shattered. It took us a while to even understand and accept what was going on but it is Merlyn’s strength that took us through.  “Why Me?” was a question that was bothering her initially, instead she transformed herself and started questioning “Why should anyone?” Even during weekly treatments, she would bring cookies and chocolates to fellow patients. She started appreciating the beauty of even tiny things. Being the youngest patient at the hospital, everyone remembers Merl as the young lady with the beautiful smile. 

Merl always believes in ‘Sharing our blessings’. She keeps saying sharing our blessings is more important than sharing our sorrows. Her simple motto in life is "Everyone is equally blessed". If someone is blessed with more goodness, the only reason God did that is because He believes that they will share those extra blessings with the less fortune ones. That is the trust God has in us.

Even after her diagnosis, Merl signed up as an organ donor and she inspired me to enroll as well. Merl donated her hair for kids who suffered from cancer. Merlyn’s corneas are donated. I am hoping someone’s eyesight will be restored soon because of her. Again, this is something that she wanted to do. I just helped in fulfilling her dream.

 

Merlyn was receiving weekly blood/platelet transfusions for almost 4 years. Friends who saw her for the first time could never guess that she was going through something like this. During her transfusions, I would be sitting by her side talking to her, giving her company. But, one day, she says this. “Who are these folks donating blood and platelets for me every week?  What is the need for them to share their blessings?” And asks me why don’t you try donating blood so someone like me, on the other side of the donation, would feel so happy?"  Ever since, I started donating blood and platelets every 3 months. I can proudly say I am a registered organ donor, blood donor and stem cell donor. It's all because of my super girl.

Some of our friends asked why you guys don’t take support from family/friends. Honestly, with Merl by my side, I never felt the need of someone else's support. In fact I took it as an opportunity to love her more, to take care of her more. Love, Care, Respect, we feel them while receiving. We feel more, while giving. Giving abundantly. Overflowing just like rain.  

Merl has got a lot of older friends from hospital in their 70s, 80s and 90s. The amount of enthusiasm and Passion they had towards life, touched us. Merl says, at this age, when they have so much value and interest for life, why should I sit and worry. God gifted this life and I never questioned the good stuff. Why should I bother about the negatives? If this sickness wasn’t there, we wouldn’t have realized the value of life. May be, we would have been complaining about traffic and weather. May be, God uses me to bring this awareness to our society.

Some of our friends and family at the funeral told me that the smiling picture of Merlyn gave them a lot of pain. It’s true. Even the thought of Merl not being around physically, kills me, but this smile gives me strength. This particular picture was taken in a birthday party after a 2 day painful treatment. Pain is a relative term. Nobody can measure or rate pain unless we go through the situation. But, after a doctor discusses a life threating diagnosis, if someone stays positive, smiles every day and decides to live the moment. That Is Something.  Merl’s smile is a source of hope, a symbol of courage. The name Merlyn has a different meaning for me, going forward.  

Something on a lighter note!! Most men would definitely agree with me. We enjoy sharing and forwarding jokes about wife and marriage. We always give an irresponsible excuse that it’s just for fun. I understand we all respect our women. But these jokes actually hurt us; because I saw the pain and suffering that my Merl went through and on the other side, folks were laughing at jokes on wife/marriage. Any medical condition can have additional complications just because the patient is female. Women go through a lot of struggle emotionally, physically and biologically. Men are not even close. Things that our mom, sister, daughter, friends won’t trust us to discuss; only our wife does. There is a deeper meaning in marriage. We have joked about it enough. These jokes could create a negative impression about marriage and women to our future generations and younger crowd. So, I ask all my friends to take a pledge for Merlyn and stop sharing such jokes about marriage/wife on social media.  

One final request. If you are a registered stem cell donor, because of Merlyn, I want you to continue your registration. Please don’t quit the registry. There are thousands of fighters like Merl who are still waiting for a donor. I can't express how happy we were, when we heard from the doctors that Merlyn found a stem cell donor. Unfortunately, there were other complications that did not support us.

Merlyn is a strong believer, a real fighter, a true inspiration. And yes, definitely, the strongest girl I have ever seen in my real life.

Some of the expressions that excites Merl, 

#Stella  #Goodshe #PreethiHouse #Chennai #Maniratnam  #Newyork  #Broadway #Baking  #Biryani  #Dessert  #Darkchocolate… all this will continue to cheer me. This is definitely not a good bye. I will continue to live her dreams. I will continue to share my blessings.

It’s been the toughest 30 days of my life but trust me Merl, I am ok. Just following your footsteps.

It hurts only because I miss you… I miss your love and care. I miss cooking for you.

I miss the way you would jump like a puppy when I return home.

I miss how we laughed together for those dark jokes we cracked at hospitals.

I miss how we vented out our frustration from the medical reports by ordering the best desserts. 

And I miss taking care of you.

I am sure you are resting in peace, in a much better place, where pain and death has no meaning.

I personally thank every friend/family for being there for us, praying for us during this difficult time. Please continue your prayers.

If you wanna consider sharing your blessings, please register yourself @   

https://bethematch.org/   if you are in the US  or

http://datri.org/   if you are in India. 

Or Google (bonemarrow registry) for your country and register. 

Stem cell donation is just like blood donation and there is a possibility that you are the only person in the whole world who could save a life. If you are already a registered donor, please spread the word and inspire others to join. 

Merl Lives!!! 

- Merlyn & John.

*Love Your* *"Own Beautiful Wife"*

╔════  🚨   💎   🚨 ════╗

           

  🔹Don’t shout at your
       wife when you are
       talking. It really 
       hurts her. 
       *Proverbs 15:1*

  🔹Do not speak evil 
       of her to anyone. 
       Your wife will become
       who you call her. 
      *Gen. 2:19*

  🔹Do not share her love
      or affection with another
      woman.
      It is called Adultery.
      *Matt. 5:28*

  🔹Never compare your
       wife to another woman.
       If the other woman was
       good for you, God would
       have given her to you.
      *2 Cor. 10:12*

  🔹Be gentle and 
       accommodating. She
       has sacrificed so much
       to be with you. 
       It hurts her deeply
       when you are hash
       and irritating. 
       Be tender.
       *Eph. 4:2*

  🔹Hide nothing from her.
       You are now one and
       she’s your helpmate.
       Let there be no secret
       you are keeping 
       from her.
       *Gen. 2:25*

  🔹Do not make negative
       comment about her
       body. She risked her
       life and beauty to carry
       your babies. She is a
       living soul not just
       flesh and blood. 
       *Proverbs 18:22*

  🔹Do not let her body
       determine her worth.
       Cherish and appreciate
       her even till old age.
       *Eph. 5:29*

  🔹Never shout at her
       in the public and in
       private. If you have
       an issue to sort with
       her, do it in the privacy
       of your room.
       *Matt. 1:19*

  🔹Thank and appreciate
       her for taking good
       care of you, the kids
       and the house. It is
       a great sacrifice she
       is making.
       *1 Thesso. 5:18*

  🔹All women cannot
       cook the same way;
       appreciate your 
       wife’s food.
       It is not easy to cook
       three meals a day,
       365 days a year 
       for several years.
       *Pro. 31:14*

  🔹Never place your 
       siblings before her.
       She is your wife. 
       She is one with you.
       She must come 
       before your family.
       *Gen. 2:24*

  🔹Invest seriously in
       her spiritual growth. 
       Buy books, tapes and
       any material that will
       edify her *&* strengthen
       her walk with God. 
       That’s the best thing
       you can do for her.
       *Eph. 5:26*

  🔹Spend time with her
       to do Bible study 
       and pray.
       *James 5:16*

  🔹Make time to play
       with her and enjoy
       her company.
       Remember when you
       are dead, she’s gonna
       be by your grave but
       your friends may be
       too busy to attend
       your funeral. 
       *Ecc. 9:9*

  🔹Never use money
       to manipulate or 
       control her. All your
       money belongs to
       her. She is a joint heir
       with you of the 
       grace of God.
       *1 Pet. 3:7*

  🔹Do not expose her
       weakness. You will be
       exposing yourself too.
       Be a shield around her.
       *Eph. 5:30*

  🔹Honour her parents
       and be kind to her
       siblings.
       *SOS. 8:2*

  🔹Never cease to tell
       her how much you
       love her all the days
       of her life. Women
       are never tired of
       hearing that.
       *Eph. 5:25*

  🔹Grow to be like Jesus.
       That’s the only way
       you can be a good
       and godly husband.
      *Rom. 8:29*


     *SAVE A HOME TODAY,* 
              *PASS IT ON* 

╚════  🚨   🌟   🚨 ════╝

*🙏What is Christian Prayer?*

✍Prayer is having conversation with God.
Prayer is a time to listen to what God is telling you.
Prayer is a time to thank God for His goodness.
Prayer is a time to worship God for who He is.
Prayer is a time to pour out your heart to God.
Prayer is a time to look to God for guidance.
Prayer is a time to ask God to forgive your sins.
Prayer is a time to tell God your needs.
Prayer is talking to God about the needs of others.
Prayer is a time to seek God and His favor.
Prayer is a time to make commitments to Him.
Prayer is a time to seek God’s will for your life.
Prayer is the way to draw closer to God.
Prayer is the source of your strength.
Prayer is a time to cry out to God in your distress.
Prayer is warfare against the enemy of your soul.
Prayer is what softens the hardest of hearts.
Prayer is what breaks bondages.
Prayer is what brings healing.
Prayer is what gives joy and peace.
Prayer is what makes impossible things possible.
Prayer is receiving divine protection against the devil.
Prayer is obtaining instructions and guidance from God.
Prayer gives wisdom and divine revelations.
Prayer gives boldness.
Prayer gives hope even in the most hopeless situation.
Prayer draws people to God and saves them.
Prayer increases faith in God.
Prayer means never giving up on God.
Prayer shows our dependence on God and not on our wisdom.  
Prayer brings victory.
Prayer always pleases God.

*Col 4:2* … _“Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving…”_
*1 Thess 5:17* … _“Pray without ceasing”_

*_A WEDDING GIFT:_*

She married him today. At the end of the wedding
party, her mother gave her a newly opened bank
savings passbook, with $1000 deposited in it. 

She told her, "My dear daughter, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your married life. Whenever something
happy and memorable happens in your new life, put
some money in. Write down what it's about next to the
amount. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with your husband. When you look back after many years, you will know how much happiness you've both shared.' 

She shared this with
him after getting home. Both of them thought it was a
great idea and couldn't wait to make the next deposit!
This is what the passbook looked like after a while: - 
7Feb: $100, his first birthday celebration after marriage 
1 Mar: $300, she gets a salary raise 
20 Mar: $200, vacation 
15 Apr: $2000, She's pregnant! 
1 Jun: $1000, He gets the big promotion and so on...

However, as the years went by, they began fighting
and arguing over trivial things. They didn't talk much.

They regretted that they had married the most nasty
person in the world. There was no more love. 

One day she talked to her Mother. 'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We have decided to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!' 

Her mother replied, 'Sure, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want, if
you really can't stand it. 

But before that, do one thing remember the savings passbook I gave you on your
wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first.
You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor
marriage.' 

She agreed with her mother. So she went to the bank, and was waiting in the queue to cancel the account. 

While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joyful moments came back to her. Her eyes were filled with tears. 

She left and went home. When she got home, she handed the passbook to her hubby and asked him to spend the money before getting divorced. 

So the next day, he went to the bank, and was waiting in the queue to cancel the account. While he was waiting, he took a look at the passbook record. He looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joyful moments came back to him. His eyes were filled with tears. 

He left and went home. He gave the passbook back to her. She found a new deposit of $5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I realized how much I've loved you throughout all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.' They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back into the safe.

Marriage is not a game, it's not easy but it's beautiful. You will fight and argue, this is normal, because the both of you came from different
background, different homes and you both were raised by
different parents, beliefs and moral. So you cannot expect that everything you say will be accepted by your spouse without their opinion being tendered first. So before you give up, think back to the good times and to what brought you together in the first place.

We can fly...!!!

Hardship is part of life.  None of us can escape it, yet all of us want to.

It makes me think about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.  After it forms a chrysalis around itself, the caterpillar gradually changes into a butterfly inside it.  

But, exiting the chrysalis is the hardest part of the caterpillar's metamorphosis.  

You see, the new butterfly must push and pull its way out of the chrysalis, and it is quite painful to watch.  

One might think it needs to reach out and help the butterfly to escape, but this is the worst thing we could do.  

Why, you ask?  The painful process of exiting the chrysalis is the very thing that gives the butterfly enough strength to flap it's wings and fly.  Isn't that amazing? 

Sometimes, life can be a  metaphorical chrysalis of sorts.  It's uncomfortable, and we wonder why God would allow things to be so hard.  

We want an easy exit.  

But, what if this grueling season is the very thing that equips us for the calling that God has placed on us?  

What if an early exit from this difficult time would be detrimental to our life as a whole?  

When I think about hardship this way, I can see the purpose and hope in it.  

God is never finished with us.  We are all works in progress, and walking through hard times is an essential part of our growth in Him.  But, we don't have to walk through it alone.  

He is with us through every step--guiding us, holding us, and reminding us that we CAN pull through.  

After some time, we experience a beautiful transformation from the inside out. 

And, we realize that WE CAN FLY.