First Cathedral for Mother Teresa is consecrated in Kosovo
PRISTINA, Kosovo (RNS) — Twenty years after the death of St. Teresa of Calcutta, thousands of Christians and Muslims came together to celebrate the consecration, in her name, of this nation’s first Roman Catholic cathedral. St. Teresa Cathedral is also the only one in the world dedicated to the Albanian saint, who spent most of her life working in the slums of India.The consecration Tuesday (Sept. 5), which falls on the one-year anniversary of her canonization in Rome, was long-awaited by the small but active Catholic community in Kosovo.The mostly Muslim Balkan state declared its independence from Serbia almost a decade after St. Teresa — still often referred to as Mother Teresa — died in 1997.
Most Kosovars are Albanian — as St. Teresa was — and the Catholics among them have especially anticipated the completion and blessing of the cathedral.
“It is special for every Catholic in Kosovo and the region,” said Bardhe Cetta, 39, a member of the choir that sang at the consecration and one of 5,000 people who attended the ceremony. “It’s not the first time that we are singing in (this) church but this time it is something special. So for me, today is a big day.”
Special Envoy Cardinal Ernest Troshani Simoni, appointed by Pope Francis, delivers a speech as part of the consecration ceremony at the Mother Teresa Cathedral. Photo by Valerie Plesch
Although the Holy See still does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 independence from Serbia, Pope Francis appointed the 88-year-old Rev. Ernest Troshani Simoni as his special envoy to lead the ceremony, attended by local Catholic bishops, ambassadors, soldiers from NATO’s peacekeeping force and other dignitaries as well as the faithful.
Simoni, an Albanian priest, survived nearly 30 years of torture while in labor camps under the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha. The priest was twice sentenced to death at a time when the government banned practicing religion. In 2016, Pope Francis named Simoni as Albania’s new cardinal.
Simoni told the audience it was a special honor to be at the sanctuary.
“It was a great joy for me when I heard from the pope that I personally would come to Pristina, to send my heartfelt congratulations to the Kosovar-Albanian brothers, and that the Lord’s blessing be in the hearts of all Kosovars,” Simoni said.
For over two hours, priests and bishops from the region participated in a holy Mass as part of the consecration ceremonies. Priests blessed different areas of the cathedral with oil, including a newly mounted wall sculpture of St. Teresa and a stone altar. Kosovo’s president, Hashim Thaci, who is Muslim, gave a speech.
Though Kosovo’s estimated 65,000 Catholics represent a small fraction of the nation’s predominantly Muslim population of 1.8 million, their faith has strong roots in the region.
When the Ottoman Empire — historically centered in Istanbul – ruled Kosovo from the early 15th century until 1912, most Albanians converted to Islam. But some Catholics remained. Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, which at the time was the capital of the Ottoman Turkish province of Kosovo. Her parents were Albanian.
“We need to reclaim the centuries because, since the arrival of the Ottomans, hundreds of churches and cathedrals were destroyed,” said the Rev. Lush Gjergji, the general vicar of Kosovo’s Catholic diocese and also Mother Teresa’s close friend and biographer.
He noted that only one church from before the 1500s exists today in Kosovo. “When Kosovo was all Catholic, we had more than 10 cathedrals.” … read more
Our Daily Manna September 6, 2017: ODM devotional – Pope Benedict XVI: The Way God Answers!
Topic — Pope Benedict XVI: The Way God Answers! [Wednesday 6 September, 2017]
(Romans 4:18-25).
During the election of a new pope in 2005, the then elected Pope, Pope Benedict XVI, revealed that he prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected, but that even at that time, He (God) didn’t listen to him! Recollect that Benedict was elected Pope on April 19th 2005,after four rounds of balloting in 24 hours- one of the fastest elections in a century. He had gone into the conclave as a leading candidate, but serious doubt arose because at 78, he was considered too old to be named Pope. And truly he retired later due a heart condition. Heaven is reminding a user of today’s devotional again that God’s ways are not the ways of man and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Consider the four ways that God answers prayers:
1. No, NOT YET – WAIT
2. NO, NOT MY WILL AT ALL FORGET!
3. YES! YES! YES! ITS MY WILL!
4. YES AND YOU CAN HAVE MUCH MORE (CUP RUNNING OVER).
In this second half of the year, when our prayers are not answered the way we wish, it is because God knows why. If God answered all our prayers the way we desired, many of us would have been long dead. Learn to trust the Alpha and the Omega, the God who sees the end from the beginning: THE ALL WISE GOD! His ways are for your good.
Please follow the Peom below:
“Unanswered? Yes, the prayers of your lips have pleaded in agony of heart these many years? Does your faith begin to fail? Is your hope departing and you think it’s all in vain- your failing tears? Say not that the Father has not heard your prayer! You will have your desire sometime, somewhere, somehow.”
God may not answer your prayers exactly the way you asked for it, but never forget, he always answers. Remember Pope Benedict XVI (Retired)
LEKKI MOUNTAIN Now Sundays 10:30 -12 pm ( Just a 90-Minute Service), Is A Place To Begin Your Week! One-On-One with me, Dr Chris And Special Prophetic Prayers/ Worhip To Begin Your Week! Come With Prayer Points On Sundays! Something New Has Started! The Devil Is In Trouble! OGUDU SERVICE, 8:30am-10am still holds on Sundays!
Prayer Points: Take any song of worship as led.
1. Thank God for today’s word and pray as you are led!
2. O God, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, I uproot all unnecessary delays in the affairs of my life(Pray it seriously)
3. I refuse to hurry ahead of God. I refuse to miss my divine timing and divine will of God.
4. Holy Ghost, perfect all that concerns my life, family and ministry! Pray any other prayer(s) as led today.
By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek)
Publisher/Writer Of ODM And
Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.
Open Heavens 7 September 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – A Motivated Mindset
Topic: A Motivated Mindset — Thursday 7, September 2017.
Memorise: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. – Proverbs 24:14
Read: Haggai 1:12-15 (KJV)
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
13 Then spake Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 14-16, Ezekiel 37:25-28, Hymn: Sing hymn 7
MESSAGE:
Some people attend big Christian events for the sake of tradition, while some others attend because certain people are coming there. A crowd will often gather whenever there is an assembly where Jesus is present. If you attend such gatherings because of the crowd-just to belong or to show that you are current you may not receive your desired blessings. In Mark 5:24-34, a crowd gathered around Jesus Christ on His way to Jairus’ house. For many of them, it was enough that they were in the crowd following Jesus, but right there in their midst, there was a woman who was not there because others were there; she was there because she so needed and desired to touch Jesus. She was determined in her heart that if only she could touch the hem of His clothes, she would receive her healing. She touched it and she was healed. That is what a motivated mindset can do The Bible says she “came in the press behind”. She did not mind if people trampled on her, and she did not mind the pushing and shoving of the crowd; her singular focus was that she just had to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, no matter what it would take. To understand how motivated she was, you try getting to the front of a crowd from behind.
Moreover, another person who had a motivated mindset was Zerubbabel. Today’s Bible reading shows that when you have a focused mindset like Zerubbabel did, it will stir you up to take action. A motivated mindset fills your heart with the conviction that you are overdue for a breakthrough thereby ushering you into your desired blessing. For instance, when the man who was paralysed from the neck downwards was brought to Jesus, it was not for flimsy reasons (Mark 2:1-12). His friends felt he was overdue for a breakthrough, and so on their arrival, when the door was blocked off and there was no feasible way in through the window, they created a way through the roof. When you believe you are already overdue for a breakthrough, you will be compelled to take violent steps towards attaining your expectation. You will not care about the crowd, traditions or the need to socialize. You will not care about who is first, second or next to be attended to on a queue. All that fills your mind is that you are the next beneficiary of God’s mercy. Where do you stand now? Are you overdue for promotion, success, breakthrough, deliverance or prosperity? If you are, let your conviction on this drive you into your miracle. Such a belief has a way of motivating you to take actions that will trigger your blessing. It shall be well with you this season!
Key Point: While the expectations of the righteous are granted, those without expectations shall have nothing.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
David Abioye’s Daily 6 September 2017 Devotional – How To Keep Your Heaven Open
Topic: How To Keep Your Heaven Open [Wednesday September 6, 2017]
Open heaven is the cure to earthly dryness.
You can never run dry with an open heaven.
Prayer is key to open heaven.
Jesus didn’t suffer dryness once because He kept His heaven opened by His prayer. Lk.3:21
When situations around you is indicating dryness, turn your heaven with the key of prayer.
Prayer brings heaven to the earth.
By prayer heaven comes to intervene in earthly matters. The earth will always bow to heavenly injunction.
DCLM Daily Manna 6 September, 2017 by Pastor Kumuyi – Joy through Children
Topic: Joy through Children — Wednesday September 6, 2017.
Text: Proverbs 17:1-14
Key Verse: “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6).
Charles Francis Adams, 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today – a day wasted.” His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time.
The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one’s ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly. From our text, we have the usual sundry words of wisdom with a clear emphasis on the importance of children to the fathers and vice versa. Grandchildren are described as the crown of old men, while the glory of the children are their fathers. Children look up to their parents for guidance and leadership. Therefore, the time we invest in them is never wasted as they will grow to become useful to themselves and others. As fathers, we must make out time to be with our children. It’s sobering, but true, that the qualities that will determine how successful our children will be in school and in life are inculcated in them by their parents. We need to have the best influence we can on our children while they are with us.
Making out the time for this noble task usually involves sacrifice and tough choices. But it’s worth it. The time we spend with our children now will pay big dividends for the rest of their lives here and in eternity. We must dedicate quality time to mentor, mould and minister to our own children, biological and spiritual.
Thought for the day: Charity begins at home.
Bible Reading in one Year: Leviticus 18-20
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Kenneth Copeland’s Daily September 6, 2017 Devotional: Under Pressure? Plant!
Topic: Under Pressure? Plant! [Wednesday September 6, 2017]
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7
If you feel like you’re under pressure these days, you’re not alone. Satan is putting more pressure on more people right now than ever before. He’s pressuring us mentally, financially, emotionally and every other way he can. The pressure has gotten so great everywhere that governments don’t know what to do. Businesses don’t know what to do. Families don’t know. Churches don’t know.
But praise God, Jesus does! He says we can give our way right out from under any pressure the devil brings to bear.
Giving is always Jesus’ way out. Whenever there’s a need, He plants seed! In fact, in Mark 4, He compares the entire kingdom of God to a seed. Just think about the importance of seeds for a moment. Every living thing on this earth came from a seed. You came from a seed. Then you were born again from the seed of God’s Word. Jesus Himself was The Seed planted by God. God sowed Him in sacrifice. He came forth and grew up into many brethren.
So, when Satan puts you under pressure, go to Jesus and let Him tell you how and where to plant. If you’ll do it, that seed will grow up until it breaks the powers of darkness and lack. It will release you from the pressure the devil’s been putting on you.
I’ve seen it happen. When Jerry Savelle first began to work for my ministry, he didn’t have but one suit of clothes and one shirt with a pair of slacks to his name. He wore one, then the other, night after night to every service we held. He didn’t have the money to even think about buying another suit. I’m telling you, he was under pressure where clothes were concerned!
Then he found out about the principle of seed-faith and harvest. So, he went downtown in the city where we were in a meeting and found a fellow on the street who needed clothes and gave him some. Immediately people started giving Jerry clothes. It started in that meeting and they’ve been doing it ever since. Today, there are many preachers in Africa wearing Jerry Savelle suits! (Even if the sleeves and pant legs are way too short!) He’s still sowing and reaping the greatest clothes harvest I’ve ever seen.
If the devil’s pressuring you, don’t panic…plant! Plant your time. Plant your money. Plant the clothes off your back. When your harvest comes in, you can laugh and say, “Hey, Devil, who’s feeling the pressure now?”
Scripture Reading: Mark 4:1-20
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
Seeds of Destiny 6 September 2017 by Pastor Paul Enenche: Experiencing Divine Proofs through Prayer
Topic: Experiencing Divine Proofs through Prayer [Wednesday September 6, 2017]
Scripture: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. James 5:17.
Thought For The Day: If you know prayer, you will know power but when there is no prayer, there can be no power.
From the prophetic declarations for the year 2017, Our Year of Divine Proofs, God promised a drastic manifestation of His sovereignty – His “agidigbaciousness” in our midst. He promised to prove Himself in our Nation, Church, families and individual lives. God is set to overrule the rulings of men and establish His reign in our lives. So far, we have seen diverse manifestations of God’s presence in our midst to confirm His Word.
However, knowing that there is no possibility without responsibility, prayer has been identified as one of the secrets of seeing Divine proofs. To enforce the proofs of God in our lives, God led us to embark on one year prayer, fasting and meeting in the temple daily. This is because the life of prayer sets a person apart from others among members of a family, classmates, colleagues, contemporaries, etc.
Divine proofs answer to the lifestyle of prayers. If you know prayer, you will know power but if there is no prayer, there can be no power.
Now, what are some of the powers of prayer?
i. Prayer brings humanity into agreement with Divinity (Amos 3:3)
ii. Prayer establishes a person in a Divine force field
iii. Prayer gives birth to the knowledge of God and the knowledge of God is the secret of exploits
Beloved, I counsel you to amplify your prayer life by consistent fasting and praying in the spirit.
Remember this: If you know prayer, you will know power but when there is no prayer, there can be no power.
Assignment(s):
1. Make up your mind to live a life of consistent prayer and fasting.
2. Be committed to attending the Daily Divine Encounter Services (if you have not been doing so).
Prayer: O LORD, set me on fire spiritually on a perpetual basis. Draw me closer to You at the place of prayer, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DIVINE PROOFS – THE SECRETS.
Amazing Fact: Humans shed and regrow outer skin every 27 days.
Today In History: 06/09/1992 – A 35-year old man died ten weeks after receiving a transplanted baboon liver.
Daily Reading: Song of Solomon 1:1 to 4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:16 to 24, Psalm 50:1 to 23, Proverbs 22:22 to 23.
Quote: Prayer does not only changes things, it also changes people. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche.
Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.
Our Daily Bread 6 September 2017 Devotional – Give It to God
Topic: Give It to God — Wednesday September 6, 2017.
Read: 2 Kings 19:9–19, Bible in a Year: Psalms 148–150; 1 Corinthians 15:29–58
Then [Hezekiah] went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 2 Kings 19:14
As a teenager, when I became overwhelmed by enormous challenges or high-stakes decisions, my mother taught me the merits of putting pen to paper to gain perspective. When I was uncertain whether to take specific classes or which job to pursue, or how to cope with the frightening realities of adulthood, I learned her habit of writing out the basic facts and the possible courses of action with their likely outcomes. After pouring my heart onto the page, I was able to step back from the problem and view it more objectively than my emotions allowed.
Just as recording my thoughts on paper offered me fresh perspective, pouring our hearts out to God in prayer helps us gain His perspective and remind us of His power. King Hezekiah did just that after receiving a daunting letter from an ominous adversary. The Assyrians threatened to destroy Jerusalem as they had many other nations. Hezekiah spread out the letter before the Lord, prayerfully calling on Him to deliver the people so that the world would recognize He “alone . . . [is] God” (2 Kings 19:19).
When we’re faced with a situation that brings anxiety, fear, or a deep awareness that getting through it will require more than what we have, let’s follow in Hezekiah’s footsteps and run straight to the Lord. Like him, we too can lay our problem before God and trust Him to guide our steps and calm our uneasy hearts.
God is our greatest help in times of distress.
Insight:
Hezekiah had many reasons to fear Assyria, a cruel nation (19:25–26) that had already conquered the ten tribes of Israel (see 2 Kings 17:1–18). But God reminded Hezekiah that He was more powerful than Assyria and could be trusted to keep His promises (19:28–34).
What overwhelming situations might you need to trust God with?
This message was written By Kirsten Holmberg [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]
Billy Graham’s Daily 6 September 2017 Devotional – Born Again
Topic: Born Again — Wednesday September 6, 2017.
Clothe yourself with this new nature. — Ephesians 4:24 (TLB)
In Texas they tell a story about a man who used to hitch his horse every morning in front of the saloon. One morning the saloonkeeper came out and found that the horse was hitched in front of the Methodist church. He saw the man walking down the street and called out, “Say, why is your horse hitched in front of the Methodist church this morning?” The man turned around and said, “Well, last night I was converted in the revival meeting, and I’ve changed hitching posts.” That’s what it means to be born again. That’s what it means to be converted. It means that you changed hitching posts.
Prayer for the day: May I live in such a way that people will know that I am bound in the freedom of Your love.
Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.
