the return of the lion

For a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak. But Aslan spoke.
"Lucy", he said, "we must not lie here for long. You have work in hand, and much time has been lost today."
"Yes, wasn't it a shame?" said Lucy. "I saw you all right. They wouldn't believe me. They're all so-"
From somewhere deep inside Aslan's body there came the faintest suggestion of a growl.
"I am sorry," said Lucy, who understood some of his moods. "I didn't mean to start slanging the others. But it wasn't my fault anyway, was it?"
The Lion looked straight into her eyes.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "You don't mean it was? How could I - I couldn't have left the others and come up to you alone, how could I? Don't look at me like that.. oh well, I suppose I could. Yes, and it wouldn't have been alone, I know, not if I was with you. But what would have been the good?"
Aslan said nothing.
"You mean," said Lucy rather faintly, "that it would have turned out all right - somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?"
"To know what would have happened, child?" said Aslan.
"No. Nobody is ever told that."
"Oh dear," said Lucy.
"But anyone can find out what will happen," said Aslan. "If you go back to the others now, and wake them up; and tell them you have seen me again; and that you must all get up at once and follow me - what will happen? There is only one way of finding out."
"Do you mean that is what you want me to do?" gasped Lucy.
"Yes, little one," said Aslan.
"Will the others see you too?" asked Lucy.
"Certainly not at first," said Aslan. "Later on, it depends."
"But they won't believe me!" said Lucy.
"It doesn't matter," said Aslan.
"Oh dear, oh dear," said Lucy. "And I was so pleased at finding you again. And I
thought you'd let me stay. And I thought you'd come roaring in and frighten all the enemies away - like last time. And now everything is going to be horrid."
"It is hard for you, little one," said Aslan. "But things never happen the same way twice. It has been hard forus all in Narnia before now."
Lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face. But there must have been magic in his mane. She could feel lion-strength going into her.
Quite suddenly she sat up. "I'm sorry, Aslan," she said. "I'm ready now."

C.S. Lewis - Prince Caspian

(From the Chronicles of Narnia - pg. 380-1)

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nothing like birthing 201

pic: when caleb meets nathan.

(nathan was born on sunday five mins close to midnight within two hours of admission into the hospital).

it could be a tough world further on, sharing the spotlight is a skill to learn for a two-year old tot. so far, he's just a little sweet big bro, no fuss, and liking most babies (he could eat them! getting squeezyy..).

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The Lord' Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

Hallowed by your Name
Dear Father, the maker of Heaven and Earth, how majestic is your name in all the Earth. Your name alone is to be praised for You are the One and Only God whose Name is holy and You have power over every created thing.

Your Kingdom comes
We acknowledge your rule over us. We thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to die on the Cross, through whom God’s Kingdom has been brought near. Thank You for intervening into the history so that everything will be made right again in the future. We long to see your Kingdom come fully and your rule finally made plain to everyone. We long for that Day when every knee will bow down and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord of all.

Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven
We pray that while there are opportunities still, that men and women may come into repentance and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that as God’s people, we’ll submit to Jesus’ lordship over our life. Please help us to be your faithful ambassadors of You as we share the good news of Christ through our speech and action to those who haven’t submitted their life to Jesus’ rule yet.

Give us today our daily bread
We thank You for our daily provision that comes from a generous God. We ask that your blessings will be upon us as we earn for our living in a way that honors Your name. We pray that You will teach us to depend on You to sustain us physically, so we won’t fall into the trap of self-sufficiency but rather being transformed in our view toward the material possessions that You’ve blessed us with. Help us to seek first Your Kingdom for You promised that all these things will be given us as well. As you’ve blessed us, so help us to help those who are in need more than us. Open our eyes that we may be sensitive to the needs of others, most importantly their need to know God, so all our efforts will be directed toward that end.

Forgive us our sin as we’ve forgiven those who sinned against us
We acknowledge that we are weak and we still sin against You from time to time. Therefore, we beg for mercy that Jesus blood would cleanse away all our sins. And as You’ve forgiven us, empower us through Your Spirit to forgive those who sinned against us. Help us to find comfort in Jesus and heal us of our past hurts.

Lead us not into temptations
As we are still living in this sinful world, we ask that Your Spirit helps us to not easily give into temptations. We pray that Your Word which is life will teach us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for Christ to come the second time.

But deliver us from the evil one
We know Father that through the death and the resurrection of Jesus, Satan no longer has power, though he is still at work to blind people’s mind to the Gospel. Please help us to resist him. Help us to stand firm by putting on the full armor of God, which is Your Word, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s scheme.

For Yours is the Kingdom, and power and glory forever and ever. Amen.

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