John&Jacq~s Garden

Saving power of The Divine Mercy Image!

Little did John and I expect to experience God’s saving grace and mercy so powerfully and so soon after enthroning the Divine Mercy Image in our home.

It all started last Thursday, June 18. Having lunched at a popular chicken rice shop along Jalan Gasing, John, Michael (a dear friend) and I ventured (not planned beforehand) into a store, G to G Enterprise, dealing with Christian religious products. And, behold, hanging on its wall was the most beautiful image of the Divine Mercy that we’ve ever encountered so far. It was love at first sight!

An oil painting, measuring 60 x 90 cm and costing RM1,600+ that was way beyond our budget but has a beauty that is so stunning and irresistible! Julie, the proprietress must have seen my longing and graciously reduced it to RM1,300. Gave John my sweetest radiant smile ever and without hesitation he agreed to buy, teasingly saying that it was my early birthday gift. He knew that I’ve been desiring one for quite sometime! :)

Nonetheless, we paid a deposit of RM400 and decided to collect it on July 6th when we’ll be around that area again for my mother-in-law’s post cataract-surgery appointment. Subsequently, I revised to collect it on June 30th and then brought forward again to Wednesday 24th. John was exasperated with my suggestion at the eleventh hour, just when we were leaving home to attend a wedding luncheon. Moreover, he wasn’t sure of the route and needed Michael’s help in mapping the way. Thank God that he put up with my fickleness though I couldn’t comprehend why my yearning to have home the Divine Mercy Image so soon. Must have been the Holy Spirit’s soft prompting, with something wonderful in store for us!

We brought home the lovely Mercy Image that Wednesday afternoon, a little disappointed though that no priests were available at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi to bless the Image. Again, why the urgency?

Only when everything finally climaxed into an extraordinary miracle the next day (that was yesterday) that made us realized God’s loving hand in everything that had happened.

Yesterday was a day filled with alarm, fear and terror, yet wonder, awe and amazement surfaced as fast as the negative feelings waned as we ponder on the miraculous event of that day.

John and I started the morning by going to Church at about 10 am to have the Image of Divine Mercy blessed by our beloved Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Andrew Manickam. Then, into the Church to pray, praise and thank God for all His unceasing love, mercy and blessings. Returned home about half an hour later and then out again to accompany my mother-in-law for her monthly medical appointment, have lunch, shopped for groceries at Tesco and sent her home.

My beloved and I then proceeded to run some errands and returned home almost 3 pm, only to be paralyzed momentarily with fear as we noticed 3 guys inside our house compound, just outside our sliding glass door. Frightfully alarmed and glued to our car seat, so to speak, it took us a few seconds to realize they were burglars, trying to break in. Upon seeing our car parked outside the entrance gate and realizing that the house-owners have returned, they coolly walked past our car with a threatening look as they passed by before entering into a white Kanchil car parked across the road! Only then, dare we jump out of the car and managed to see the car number which we included in our police report later.

Praise the Lord Jesus that we returned in the nick of time to thwart the plans of the robbers. Such precise timing! Had we been a minute or two later, they would have broken our sliding glass door and gone inside and heaven alone knows what disastrous consequences would have unfurled. Instead, only the padlocks and grille were damaged as seen in the photos above and by the grace of our Merciful Jesus, both of us were safe and unharmed, and home not broken into.

We’re extremely overwhelmed and in awe of God’s wondrous power! As we ponder further, we know undoubtedly, with confidence and trust that God had manifested His love, protection and mercy through the Divine Mercy Image that grace our home since the day before. That unexpected brush with the burglars who didn’t harm us at all, occurred just before 3.00 pm, the hour of great mercy. God shielded us for sure. What an amazing experience of His tender loving mercy! A marvelous miracle indeed.

More about the Divine Mercy Image here and here.
Jesus Christ had revealed Himself to St. Faustina on February 22, 1931 in a white garment with two rays radiating from his breast and said to her:

• “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature, Jesus I Trust In You. I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel, and throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, and especially at the hour of death. I, Myself will defend it as My own glory.” (Diary 47-48)
• “The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.” (Diary 299)
• “Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush, lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace.” (Diary 313)
• “By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.” (Diary 742)
• “My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My Mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My Merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace. Tell all people, My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself.” (Diary 742)

Do explore the websites whose links were given above for more divine revelation from Jesus to St. Faustina.

We praise and thank The Lord Jesus for everything. Boundless are His blessings, love and mercies, and ever faithful in His promises to all people. All praise, glory and honor to you always, O God!

Jesus really saves! Having just experienced His saving mercy so dramatically, I want to shout joyfully and sing aloud this hymn, one of my favourite! :D

JESUS SAVES

• Refrain:
  Jesus saves! Tell the nations!
  Tell it to your friends everywhere!
  He will lead you as you trust Him and pray always
  And declare that Jesus really saves!

1. Let not the cares and joy of this wide world
   Crowd out the Christ in you
   Let Jesus be the centre of your life
   And let Him shine through you!
   *Repeat Refrain*
2. Wherever Jesus calls that you should go
   Don’t linger anymore
   Speak out the love that conquered even death
   And lives forevermore!
   *Repeat Refrain*

Postscript: A pity that our Divine Mercy Image does not bear the inscription, ‘Jesus I Trust In You’. The text as seen in our Image above had been typed on, using Photoshop CS3. Nevertheless, what’s really important is these words are embedded in our hearts and minds! Jesus sees, knows our desires and rewards handsomely! :)
Sharing below is Psalm 37:3-4, a favourite Bible verse for me:

• Trust in the Lord and do good;
  live in the land and be safe.
  Seek your happiness in the Lord,
  and He will give you your heart’s desire.

Tags: hymns, miracles, spiritual