Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died "peacefully" at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke, her family has announced.

David Cameron called her a "great Briton" and the Queen spoke of her sadness at the death.

Lady Thatcher was Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990. She was the first woman to hold the role.

She will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

The ceremony, with full military honours, will take place at London's St Paul's Cathedral.

The union jack above Number 10 Downing Street has been lowered to half-mast.
'Force of nature'
Mr Cameron, who is in Madrid for meetings, has cancelled planned talks in Paris with French President Francois Hollande and will return to the UK later on Monday.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

She didn't just lead our country; she saved our country”

End Quote David Cameron

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Lady Thatcher had been a controversial politician who inspired "passion" among both her critics and supporters.

Her government privatised several state-owned industries and was involved in a year-long stand-off with unions during the Miners' Strike of 1984-5. She was also in power when the UK fought a war following Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982.

Lady Thatcher survived an assassination attempt in 1984, when the IRA bombed the Brighton Grand Hotel, where she was staying for the Conservative Party's annual conference.

During her later years in office she became increasingly associated with Euroscepticism. She is also seen as one of the key movers behind the fall of communism in eastern Europe.

She stood down in 1990 after she failed to beat Michael Heseltine by enough votes to prevent his leadership challenge going into a second round.
'Respect'
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Margaret Thatcher succeeded against all the odds. The real thing is she didn't just lead our country; she saved our country.

"I believe she will go down as the greatest British peacetime prime minister."

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

In an era in which politicians are all too often greeted with indifference, it is easy to forget that Britain was once led by a woman who inspired passion - both love and loathing.”

End Quote

Nick Robinson Political editor

---

• Read more from Nick

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family."

Lady Thatcher, born Margaret Roberts, served as MP for Finchley, north London, from 1959 to 1992.

Having been education secretary, she successfully challenged former prime minister Edward Heath for her party's leadership in 1975 and won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

Sir John Major, who replaced Lady Thatcher was prime minister in 1990, called her a "true force of nature".

He added: "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private."
'Unique'
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair called her a "towering figure", while his successor Gordon Brown praised her "determination and resilience".

David Cameron: ''She didn't just lead our country, she saved our country''

Labour leader Ed Miliband said Lady Thatcher had been a "unique figure" who "reshaped the politics of a whole generation".

He added: "The Labour Party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg described Lady Thatcher as one of the "defining figures in modern British politics", adding: "She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics."

London Mayor Boris Johnson tweeted: "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics."

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage called Lady Thatcher a "great inspiration", adding: "Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people. A towering figure in recent British and political history has passed from the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family."

Lady Thatcher had suffered poor health for several years. Her husband Denis died in 2003

---

(Source BBC  News  Service)

My Roses

This  year  my  roses  bloomed  quite  late,  they should have  come  up  in  Nov/Dec  but because  of  unfavourable   weather conditions  , I  got  them  in  February.  Soon  the   heat  will  wither  them and   the  rose   bushed   will  'pack up"  for  the summer.  In  October  they  will be  pruned  an d fertilised and   they  will  be  ready  to  bloom in  the  cool weather.

Hello Friends

Hello friends,

Sorry  I  neglected  my  blog  a  bit,

needed  a  break too. But  I  am  very much   alive  and well 

and  blessed  of  God.

Good  and  exciting  things  have  been  happening  here

and I  have passed through  troubled waters 

too. But  in  everything  God   has 

been an  Ever Present  help.

I  am  spending a  lot  of   time  on Facebook,

its   sort  of  faster and  takes less  time.

I  meet  many  of  my  blog friends on  Facebook..

But  I have lots  of  pictures  and  event  reports

which  I  want  to  share  here  too.

See  you  soon.

 

Sunday Blessings- Mission in Life

The Healing Blood

JESUS THE OVERCOMER
Dr. Felix Ruh, a Jewish doctor in Paris, had a granddaughter who died of black diphtheria. Vowing to find out what had killed her, he locked himself in his laboratory for days and emerged with a fierce determination to prove, with his colleague, Louis Pasteur, the germ theory of disease. The medical association had disapproved of Pasteur and had succeeded in getting him exiled, but he hid in the forest near Paris and erected a laboratory for his forbidden research.
Twenty beautiful horses were led out into the forest to the improvised laboratory. Scientists, doctors, and nurses came to watch the experiment. Ruh opened a steel vault and took out a large pail filled with black diphtheria germs, which he had cultured carefully for months. There were enough germs in that pail to kill everyone in France.
The scientist went to each horse and swabbed its nostrils, tongue, throat, and eyes with the deadly germs. Every horse except one developed a terrific fever and died. Most of the doctors and scientists wearied of the experiment, and did not remain for what they thought would be the death of the remaining horse.
For several more days this final horse lingered, lying pathetically on the ground. While Ruh, Pasteur, and several others were sleeping on cots in the stables, the orderly on duty had been instructed to awaken the scientists should there be any change in the animal’s temperature during the night. About two a.m., the temperature showed a half degree decrease, and the orderly wakened Dr. Ruh. By morning the thermometer had dropped two more degrees. By night the fever was entirely gone, and the horse was able to stand, eat, and drink.
Then Dr. Ruh took a sledgehammer and struck that beautiful horse a deathblow between the eyes. The scientists drew blood from the veins of this animal that had developed the black diphtheria but had overcome it. They drove as fast as they could to the Paris municipal hospital, and forced their way past the superintendent and the guards. They went into the ward where three hundred babies lay, segregated to die from black diphtheria. With the blood of the horse, they inoculated every one of the babies. All but three lived and recovered completely.
The blood of an overcomer saved them. The blood of an Overcomer has also spiritually saved many people. He too had to die to bring life to others.

RESPONSEToday I will repeatedly praise Jesus for the
blood He shed as an Overcomer for my sin.

PRAYERThank you, Lord, for sacrificing Yourself,
an Overcomer, so that I might have
abundant and eternal life.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS) A daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks

© 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission03/01/2013
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5)

True Colours

I am sure you will love this song and performance as much as I do

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Though I realize
It's hard to take courage,
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it
And the darkness, inside you
Makes you feel so small

But I see your true colours
Shining through
I see your true colours
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Just show your true colours,
True colours, ooh are beautiful like a rainbow.

Show me a smile,
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear,
Just call me up,
Cause you know I'll be there


And see your true colours
Shining through
I see your true colours
That's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colours,
True colours are beautiful,
Oh Like a rainbow

Show me a smile, (show me a smile),
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear,
Just call me up,
Because you know I'll be there

Such sad eyes,
Take courage now,
Realize

When this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
Just call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And see your true colours
Shining through
I see your true colours
That's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Just show your true colours
True colours, true colours

Are shining through
I see your true colours
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid; just let them show
Your true colours, true colours
True colours are beautiful,
So beautiful, like a rainbow

Yeah, Yeah, (Yeah, Yeah), Yeah(Yeah), Yeah(Yeah)

Show me your colours,
(Show me your colours)
Show me your rainbow,
(Beautiful)
Like a rainbow,(Show Me your colours)

Colours, Colours(True Colours shine)
Show me your rainbow, so beautiful
That's why I love you
Show me your colours (True Colours Shinin through)
Show me your rainbow, beautiful
Oohooh show me your colours, colours, colours

True Coulours

 

Serve in Radiacal Ways

When we choose to live and serve in radical ways, and to have Jesus more than anything, there are natural consequences to this choice.

Nairay  Ohanian

The Chain is Not Broken

On  January 29th my  mother  completed  her  first  year  in  heaven (earth time) of   course.  Time  doesn' t  mean  anything  in  eternity.

On that day  I  received these  lovely  flowers  and  a  potted  plant.

For  me  to live  is  Christ  to  die  is  gain
Philippians  1:21
My  Mother 's  motto

Forsaken by All

Sometimes  one  feels  forsaken  and  abandoned   by  ones  he  has  been  relying  and  depending  upon. In  an  hour  of  trial the  possibility  looms  threateningly  that they   might  leave  you  alone. This  actually happened  with  Jesus. Betrayed  by  Judas , abandoned  by  his  closest  friends,  one  of  whom  denied  ever  associating  with  him  publicly.
Jesus  understands when we  are  going  through  a  similar  situation.  He  stands   by  us.
I found  the  following  article  very  comforting  and  I  am  sharing  it  here.

Consider Jesus– as Forsaken by Man "Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled. " –Matt. 26:56 What a sad contrast does this picture present to the one we have just been viewing--"Jesus, our fellow-sufferer." His time of suffering has now come, but, lo! "all His disciples have forsaken Him, and fled." Is there nothing, my soul, in this affecting and significant fact from which you may gather much that is instructive and consolatory concerning your own condition? We have been contemplating the sympathy of Jesus with His afflicted saints. And oh, what heart can conceive, or imagery portray, the reality, humanity, and tenderness of that sympathy! In all our afflictions He is afflicted, in all our trials He is tried, in all our persecutions He is persecuted, in all our temptations He is tempted. My soul! there is no sympathy among men, saints, or angels, that can compare with Christ's. And yet how thankful should you be for the smallest measure of human sympathy given you. It may have been, and doubtless was, but as a drop in comparison of the ocean-fullness of Christ's; nevertheless, that drop has proved inexpressibly and immeasurably soothing, sweetening many a bitter trial, gilding many a cloud, and lighting the pressure of many a burden. For this uplift your praiseful heart to God. But even this drop of 'creature sympathy' afforded you was denied your suffering Lord. How earnestly and touchingly did He ask it! "Stay here and watch with me, while I go yonder and pray." And when from the scene of His conflict and anguish He returned, sobbing and gory, to bury His grief in their compassion and love--lo! He found them sleeping! How gentle, yet how searching, His rebuke--"Could you not watch with me one hour?" What condition in the experience of the saints does this page of our Lord's history meet? It meets a sad and painful one--one which could only thus be met--the lack of human sympathy. You are, perhaps, in a condition which needs the sympathy of a kind and loving spirit, and your sad and clinging heart yearns for it. But, as in the case of your sorrowing Lord, it slumbers at the moment that you most needed its wakeful, watchful expression. And yet its very absence may prove your richest soothing, by bringing you into a closer experience of the sympathy of Jesus. Having Himself felt its need and its lack, He is all the more fitted, as your fellow-sufferer, to sympathize with, and supply your present need. You are, perhaps, suffering from MISPLACED AND WOUNDED AFFECTION. You have naturally allowed the fibers of your heart to entwine around some object of its warm and clinging love; but chilled affection, or the whisper of envy, or the venomed tooth of slander, has wrenched those fibers from their stem, and trailed them, torn and bleeding, in the dust. How like Jesus now you are, of whose loved disciples it is recorded, "They all forsook Him, and fled." Or, you are suffering from BETRAYED AND DISAPPOINTED CONFIDENCE. One you thought a friend, tender and true, has deserted you; a judgment upon whose guidance you leaned has misled you; a source upon whose supplies you depended has failed you; a confidence in which you too implicitly reposed has betrayed you; and thus you are learning the lesson Jesus learned when, "all His disciples forsook Him, and fled." Cheer up, my soul! there is One who has promised never to leave you. When father and mother, husband and wife, lover and friend, forsake you, the Lord will take you up. He who was deserted by friends and followers, will cling to you in prosperity and in adversity, in weal and in woe, with unfaltering fidelity and unchanging love; and though all forsake you, yet will He not in life, in death, and through eternity. How great and precious the divine promise--"They may forget, yet I will not." "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." Precious Jesus! though all forsake me, as all forsook You; yet YOU will never leave me, nor forsake me!

Sunday Blessings - Moonlight

 Brother  Mike  preached  about what   should  be  our  motivation for  worshipping  God .Worship God  for  who  He  is and because  He  alone  is  worthy to  be   worshipped and  not because  we  want  our  prayers  answered or  feel  good  and  holy.
After service everyone was  served  hot, sweet  milky  chai (tea)  with  sweet  biscuits and  samosas ( fried snack). We  stayed on  meeting  people,  having  fellowship. Even Sheeba  joined in  playing   the  children. Returned  home  just   before  3 PM.  God  is   good.

The  moon  looks   so  beautiful tonight.

The  moon  like  a  flower
In heaven 's high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and  smiles  on  the  night.
-WILLIAM BLAKE
 

Republic Day

On  26th  January  India  celebrates  her  Republic Day.  We  adopted  our  Constitution  64 years  ago  on  this  day.
In  Chapter 25 of  his  book  "Why  are  we backward?" Dr Vishal Mangalwadi observes that on this  day  India  did  what  God  commanded  Moses  to  do in  the   Old  Testament...govern the  country according to the  law and   not   according  to  man.
             Happy Republic Day

I watched  the  grand  Republic  Day Parade telecast   live  from  New Delhi. It is  a  colourful  and  impressive  display  of our nation 's  military strength, progress  and  development  in  various  fields ,  art and culture  encompassing different  religious and  ethnic streams.

Tomorrow  is  the  second  holy bathing  day at the  Hindu  festival of  the  Mahakumbh on  the  banks  of  River  Ganga. Thousands  of  pilgrims  are  pouring  into our city to camp on the  river  banks to take  a sin purging  dip in  the  river  at  the  auspicious  time. People  believe  their  sins  will  be washed  away  by Mother Ganga and  they  will attain salvation ,  moksha or  nirvana through  this  holy  act.

Thousands  of  security and  infra structure etc.  workers  have  come  here  from  all  over  our  state  and  neighbouring  states  to smoothly run  the  activities  in  the  pilgrim city on  the  river  banks.

Some Christian  people working  in  the  railways  and  police department visit our church for  worship and  Bible  study.They  are  here  only for  a  month or  two and will return to their  hometowns once their  duty  in  Sangam city   is  over.

Today I met Police  Sub Inspector Santosh  who  has been  coming  to  our  church  for  fellowship in his off  duty hours. I was  so  thrilled  to  hear  his  testimony and  what  God  is  doing  in  his  hometown.

He  told  us  that  his  father  was  the  village  Pandit , or  man  of learning  and  people  used  to  come  to  him  to  study  the  Hindu Scriptures. One  day   Santosh took a pastor to meet  him. When  the  pastor  explained the  way of  salvation , the  elderly man  was taken by surprise. No one had  told  him  things  found  in the  Bible. A seed  of  faith  was  sown in his heart which later  took  root leading him to the Way, the Truth and  the   Life.

I 've got a mansion just over the hill top

An  old  haveli  or  mansion I  pass  by  sometimes.

The Mahakumbh at Allahabad

This  video  will  give  you  a  glimpse  of  what  happened  on   the  banks  of  the  river  on  Jan 14th and  why  it  is  the   world 's  largest  religious  gethering.
 

For those who could not raise a Taj Mahal for their beloved

Albert Godwin, 1896

Taj Mahal
A  poem  by  Sahir  Ludhianavi  ( esteemed  Indian  poet  and  lyricist)
The Taj, mayhap, to you may seem, a mark of love supreme
You may hold this beauteous vale in great esteem;
Yet, my love, meet me hence at some other place!
How odd for the poor folk to frequent royal resorts;
‘Tis strange that the amorous souls should tread the regal paths
Trodden once by mighty kings and their proud consorts.
Behind the facade of love my dear, you had better seen,
The marks of imperial might that herein lie screen
You who take delight in tombs of kings deceased,
Should have seen the hutments dark where you and I did wean.
Countless men in this world must have loved and gone,
Who would say their loves weren’t truthful or strong?
But in the name of their loves, no memorial is raised
For they too, like you and me, belonged to the common throng.
These structures and sepulchres, these ramparts and forts,
These relics of the mighty dead are, in fact, no more
Than the cancerous tumours on the face of earth,
Fattened on our ancestor’s very blood and bones.
They too must have loved, my love, whose hands had made,
This marble monument, nicely chiselled and shaped
But their dear ones lived and died, unhonoured, unknown,
None burnt even a taper on their lowly graves.
This bank of Jamuna, this edifice, these groves and lawns,
These carved walls and doors, arches and alcoves,
An emperor on the strength of wealth, Has played with us a cruel joke.
Meet me hence, my love, at some other place.
Translation by K.C. Kanda, appeared in Masterpieces of Urdu Nazm published by Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. – found here

Spiritual Bath - Allahabad Kumbh Mela

India's Hindu Kumbh Mela festival begins in Allahabad

By Geeta Pandey BBC News, Allahabad

 

India's Kumbh Mela festival begins

Continue reading the main story

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Several million people have been bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers at Allahabad in India, on the opening day of the Kumbh Mela festival.

At least 10 million pilgrims are set to do so by the end of the day.

The event, every 12 years, is billed as the biggest gathering on Earth. More than 100 million people are expected to attend the 55-day festival.

Hindus believe a festival dip will cleanse sins and help bring salvation.

In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day of the festival, breaking a record for the biggest human gathering.
Sprint to waters
The festival formally started at dawn on Monday. All roads leading to the Kumbh Mela grounds are packed with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Continue reading the main story

Kumbh Mela in numbers

• Visitors: 80-100 million
• Number of days: 55
• Area: 20 sq km (4,932 acres)
• Drinking water: 80 million litres
• Toilets: 35,000
• Doctors: 243
• Police: 30,000

• Live updates
• Preparing for millions

There was a chill in the air as holy men sprinted into the waters in Allahabad, but the day dawned warmer than in recent weeks when a cold snap hit northern India.

Police estimated that by early afternoon about four million people had bathed.

For many at the festival, one of the most memorable spectacles of the day was when the Naga sadhus, or ascetics, sprinted into the river reciting religious chants, many clad only in marigold garlands.

The naked ash-smeared men arrived in a colourful procession and waded into the chilly waters of Sangam - the point at which the rivers converge.

The Kumbh Mela has its origins in Hindu mythology - many believe that when gods and demons fought over a pitcher of nectar, a few drops fell in the cities of Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar - the four places where the Kumbh festival has been held for centuries.

Teams are managing crowds on the river bank - as soon as pilgrims finishing bathing, they are encouraged to move away and make space for other bathers.

"I have washed off my sins," Mandita Panna, a resident of Nepal and an early bather, said.

Allahabad has been preparing for the festival for months and a vast tented city has grown up around the river.

Fourteen temporary hospitals have been set up with 243 doctors deployed round-the-clock, and more than 40,000 toilets have been built for the pilgrims.

Police checkpoints have been set up on all roads leading to Allahabad and about 30,000 policemen and security officials have been deployed to provide security during the festival.

The main attraction at the festival is the sadhus, the Hindu holy men

Tens of thousands of men, women and children have set up camp on the white sands of the river front.

On Sunday night, smoke could be seen rising from hundreds of small fires which people had built to cook dinner or keep warm.

One of the main attractions at the festival is the sadhus - Hindu holy men - who have been leading processions accompanied by elephants, camels, horses, chariots and music bands in recent days.
Health concerns
The festival has prompted health concerns, however, with campaigners warning that the river waters are heavily polluted.

Most pilgrims drink a few drops of the Ganges water and many fill bottles to take home with them.

Authorities say they have taken steps to address the concerns.

Last week, companies along the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna were warned against discharging any pollutants into the waters.

Hindus believe a festival dip will cleanse sins and help bring salvation

Reservoirs upstream have been ordered to discharge fresh water into the rivers ahead of the six big bathing days, and the festival authorities have declared the Kumbh Mela area a plastic-free zone.

The Kumbh Mela, which is costing the authorities 11.5bn rupees ($210m; £130m) to organise, is expected to generate business worth at least 120bn rupees, according to a report by India's Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

The report says that the festival is also expected to draw over a million foreign tourists.

Are you taking part in the Kumbh Mela? What prompted you to take part? What's the atmosphere like? Please share your comments and experiences either using the form below or tweet us at @BBC_HaveYourSay using the hashtag #BBCkumbh - please also include your contact number in India if applicable

 

From  BBC.com

Images

Dear  friends,  I  am  having  trouble  uploading  photos  from  my  computer (files).  Only  when  I  choose  the  HTML  option   can  I  browse   for  photos   saved  on  my  comouter.  Is  anyone else  facing   this  problem

Three for $1

A grocer put up a sign that read: "Eggplants, 25¢ ea. Three for $1."

All day long, customers came in exclaiming: "Don't be ridiculous! I should get four for a dollar!"

Meekly the grocer capitulated and packaged four eggplants. The tailor next door had been watching these antics and finally asked the grocer, "Aren't you going to fix the mistake on your sign?"

"What mistake?" the grocer asked. "Before I put up that sign, no one ever bought more than one eggplant." (Cybersalt Digest)

Welcome 2013

Goodbye  2012
Welcome 2013
A very  Happy   New  Year  to  all  my   readers
My  Scripture  verse  for   2013

The Lord  fulfilled  His Word  in  2012

My heart  is  full  of  thanksgiving