It is God who gives victory……………..

It is God who gives victory……………..

 

The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. (2 Samuel 8:6), David was smart. David was good. David was skilled. But, God gave the victory. Like us, being smart, good and skilled at what we do is not enough to truly win. It's up to God. The message here is clear—victory and defeat are not determined by the size or power of our enemies but upon the Lord God. It is God who gives victory. Make Plans for the Next Victory. In the Bible, Caleb helped lead the people of Israel into their Promised Land. But scripture tells us that Caleb didn't just stop there. In fact, when he was 80 years old he said, "God, give me another mountain." He was saying, "God give me something else to do. Give me another assignment." Notice, he was planning on living out his life in victory. He could have said, "God, just let me retire. Man, my back's hurting. I can hardly see anymore. Medicare wouldn't pay that latest prescription. I'm so aggravated." No, he was strong. He was energetic; he was ready for the next challenge. Friend, no matter how old or how young you are, God has another assignment for you. You wouldn't be here if God didn't have a purpose for you. I believe that this next year is going to be your best ever. Why don't you make plans for another victory! Make plans to increase in influence, abundance and favor. Choose today to live full of joy, peace, strength and health and take a step of faith into the life of blessing He has in store for you! Father in heaven, thank You for creating me and giving my life purpose. Help me discover the gifts and talents You've placed within me so that I can use them for Your glory. Thank You for another victory in this New Year. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

True Reason for Merry on Christmas Day.....(must read)

Dear Friend's, I wish you and your dear ones a merry Christmas. On this Christmas day, I want to share an amazing story, tears just rolled out while I was reading in one blog. Many years ago, there was a little boy who was playing with his friends on the street. At that time an old man hobbled along and he was ugly to look at. The little boy saw the twisted arms, bent legs and wrinkled face of the old man and along with his friends threw stones at him. They did not want this old man to pass through the place where they were playing happily. The old man looked intently at that little boy for some time and then turned away in another direction. That little boy after playing along with his friends returned home. As he approached his house, he was thunderstruck to see that stranger step out of his house. He rushed inside angrily. He shouted, "Mom! Where are you?" When His mother entered with a smile he questioned, "Why did you allow that ugly old man inside? My friends will make fun of me. Why did you allow him to come inside our house?" She looked at her son. Tears trickled down her cheeks. Amidst sobs she told, "My darling son! It is because of him that you are alive today. When you were a babe, you fell into an ice pond. There was no one around to offer help. The waters were frozen and anyone who dared to enter the ice pond would freeze to death. However, it is he who jumped into the waters not minding his own life and saved your life. Alas! His hands and legs became numb and he almost froze to death. When they saved him it was too late. They could save his life but his physical appearance became disfigured. To make you live, he was disfigured". In the same manner, Jesus Christ came to this earth to give His life for you and me. On this day, when we look at the crucified Christ we find the wounds in his hands and legs that He received in order to make us live. Make Jesus Christ happy in this Christmas and you will have joy lifelong. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2Corinthians 9:15). I pray this Christmas enriches your life, May each day be happy & bright, Overflowing with pleasure and love of Christ, May your Christmas be filled with delight. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sermon on the sin of lying………

Sermon on the sin of lying………

 

A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17." The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up in the church. The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying." Of all the sins that man may commit, lying is perhaps the most destructive. Lies, per se, aren't all that harmful; they're just words, but their consequences are destructive. When people base their decisions on lies, they make bad choices which ends up destroying their and other's lives. Moreover, lies conceal the truth, which may lead to injustice for both the guilty and innocent. Sometimes it is hard to tell the truth. People don't always want to hear it because it exposes the darkness in their lives and people love darkness better than light (John 3:19). As Christians, however, we are obliged to tell the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and we speak truth because we do love (1 Corinthians 13:6). Let us do so and be people who love truth regardless the consequences of speaking it and let us never be involved in the sin of lying.

I can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but makes one feel good all the time…….…..

I can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but makes one feel good all the time…….…..

 

Christmas is for love, joy, giving and sharing, laughter, and reuniting with family and friends. Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister's son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn't been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child. I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day to help me straighten up the room. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him. As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room and told how I had missed him. Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back which was a present for me. He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box. He said that I can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but his mother always said it makes one feel good all the time, warm or cold nights, and safe when one is all alone. "What is it Mark," I asked gently, "that will make me feel so good?" "It's love," he whispered softly, "and mother always said it's best when you give it away." And he turned and quietly left the room. So now I keep a small box in my living room and only smile and I explain my friends that there is love in it. Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

Every gift reveals God's love……….

Every gift reveals God's love……….

 

Having pressed the grapes of service, we drink life's sweetest wine - the wine of giving. We are at our best when we are giving. Have you wondered why God gives so much? He could have left the world flat and gray; we wouldn't have known the difference. But he didn't .He splashed orange in the sunrise and cast the sky in blue. Did he have to make the squirrel's tail furry? Was He obliged to make the birds sing? And the funny way that chickens scurry or the majesty of thunder when it rings? Why give a flower fragrance? Why give food its taste? Could it be He loves to see that look upon your face? If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would He? If we - speckled with foibles and greed- love to give gifts, how much more does God, pure and perfect God, enjoy giving gifts to us?" Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light" (James 1:17). Every gift reveals God's love, but no gift reveals His love more than the gifts of the cross. Much has been said about the gift of the cross itself, but what of the other gifts? What of the nails, the crown of thorns? Have you taken time to open these gifts? Let's unwrap these gifts of grace and as you touch them--- as you feel the timber of the cross and trace the braid of the crown and finger the point of the spike--pause and listen. Perchance you will hear Him whisper: "I did it just for you."

Answer’s for all your question’s……….

Answer's for all your question's……….

 

I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, "No". He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, "No". He said her spirit is whole, but her body is only temporary. I asked God to grand me patience, and God said, "No". He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation, it isn't granted, and it's earned. I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, "No". He said He gives blessings, but happiness is up to me.  I asked God to spare me pain, and God said, "No". He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me." I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, "No". He said I must grow on my own, but he would prune me to make me fruitful. God will not allow any difficulty to come into our lives that we are not capable of bearing. But what does it mean to "overcome" trials? It means the trials do not overcome our faith or our position as children of God, but we come through the trials in fact. Our eternal destiny is not in danger, because we are kept by the Holy Spirit who was given to us as a down payment on our salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14) I asked God if He loved me, and God said, "Yes". He gave me His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.

Lazarus, come out……….

Lazarus, come out……….

 

A few weeks ago, I met a 10-year-old boy who was so different. Certain encounters with kids really touch my heart and gives boost. Church Sunday School classes were presenting their end of the year program for the congregation - telling about the life of Jesus. When it came to the part about Jesus' miracles, that little boy said, "Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!" The teacher urged him to tell us more. He said, "Well, Jesus told them to open the tomb, and then He said, 'Lazarus, come out!' And it's a good thing that He didn't just say 'Come out!', because there would have been a stampede of dead guys raised." The simple faith of a child, they think different and the way implement is different. How do you think the children must have felt when Jesus said everyone should be like them? Amazing! Kids don't worry for tomorrow and they just lean on their father's bosom. I encourage everyone to surrender all your worries and needs in the hands of God and just lean on to His bosom (Matthew 18:1-5). At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

A ten year old disobedience boy………..

A ten year old disobedience boy………..

 

Recently; I read an amazing story about a small kid in United States, This story has great meaning in it. A ten year old disobedience boy was failing to show excellence in studies, His parents tried everything from tutors to teachers; but nothing worked out. Finally, at the insistence of a family friend, they decided to enroll their son in a Christian organizational school. After the first day, the boy's parents were surprised when he walked in after school with a stern, focused and very determined expression on his face. He went straight past them, right to his room and quietly closed the door. For nearly two hours he toiled away in his room - with school books strewn about his desk and the surrounding floor. He emerged long enough to eat, and after quickly cleaning his plate, went straight back to his room, closed the door and worked feverishly at his studies until bedtime. This pattern of behavior continued until it was time for the first quarter's report card. The boy walked in with it unopened - laid it on the dinner table and went straight to his room. Cautiously, his mother opened it and, to her amazement, boy scored 90 percentages of marks in all the subjects, Overjoyed, she and her husband rushed into their son's room, thrilled at his remarkable progress. "Was it the nuns that did it?" the father asked. The boy shook his head and said "No." "Was it the one-to-one tutoring? The peer-mentoring?" "No." "The textbooks? The teachers? The curriculum?" "No", said the son. "On that first day, when I walked in the front door and saw that man (Jesus) nailed to the cross, I KNEW they meant for disobedience kids!" Later her mother explained, The man on the cross was Christ, He was crushed and cursed, that we may be blessed. His mother was so happy that cross changed his son.

Unwrap your gifts………

Unwrap your gifts………

 

Imagine waking up on Christmas morning and seeing a pile of presents under the tree, but never opening them. Imagine that your friends and family spent a lot of money on you, buying you things you need and desire but could never afford. Imagine that you even know what was inside those packages, but just decided to let them sit under the tree day in and day out, year after year. After all, now you have what you've always dreamed of. You own whatever is in those boxes. If anyone asked, you'd say, "Yes, I have that." But it wouldn't do you any good because you would never be able to use those gifts unless you took the time to unwrap those packages. Friend, it's the same way with God. He wants you to have an abundant life. His gifts are all right there for you wrapped up in the Word of God. You "open" His gift by meditating on His Word, obeying His commands and declaring it out of your mouth. Today, I encourage you to unwrap your gifts! Don't let a single present sit "under the tree" any longer. Jesus paid a precious price so you could have both eternal life and abundant life. Unwrap your gifts and live in His fullness today! "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"(Romans 8:32) Heavenly Father, today I receive every good and perfect promise You have for me. I choose to take a step of faith to activate Your Word in my life. Teach me, by Your Spirit, to walk and live according to Your precepts. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

why me...?

Why me………..?

 

Why me? Why am I suffering? Why this problem or pain? These questions have been asked by many people; why is God not answering my prayers? Where is God when I need him most? Why is God taking so long to answer? These are honest questions. If you are honest with yourself, you probably have asked the same questions at some point in your life. God will bring good out of every bad situation. Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Philippians 4:12, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  God does answer your prayers. Not according to your will, but according to God's will.  God sometimes answers with "yes", and sometimes with "no" and sometimes God instructs us to "wait" for the right time.  It's not easy to hear "no" or to be told to "wait", but it's worth it. 2Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Friendship with God……….

Friendship with God……….

 

One of the best ways to ensure a deepening friendship with God is to have a heart that wants to obey Him. When our hearts are pure, tender towards His leading, and eager to respond obediently, we are in a terrific position to experience God's friendship and hear His voice. God knows that we will not arrive at a place of perfection while we are on this Earth, but we can and should have perfect hearts towards Him, hearts that seek and crave to do what is right to please and glorify God. As you grow in your friendship with God, never forget that your relationship must be based on who He is and not on what He can do for you. Keep seeking His presence; keep seeking His face and just not his hand, because one of the hindrances to a vibrant, maturing friendship with God is allowing ourselves to focus on the benefits of friendship with God instead of focusing on Him as our friend. As human beings, we do not appreciate finding out that certain people want to be our friends because we have an ability to get them something they want; we feel valued when we know people have a right heart attitude towards us and that they want to be friends with us simply because of who we are and just because they enjoy having our relationship. The same principle applies with God. "This day the Lord God had commanded you to do these statues and ordinances. Therefore you shall keep and do them with all your heart and with all your being" (DEUTERONOMY 26:16).

[IT/ITES Christians] Love Decoded '10 :: Christmas Extravaganza by IT Professionals - You are cordially invited!

 

Dear Friend,

Greetings to you this day! I, on behalf of Christian IT friends in Hyderabad, would like to invite you for a gala evening on Saturday, December 11, to celebrate the spirit of Christmas. With this in mind, we have arranged for a couple of hours of entertainment (and goodies) only for you. Please ensure that you keep this Saturday evening free to come and join us (with your friends and family members), as we usher in the Christmas season.

Be prepared to croon with the choir team and a band of rocking musicians as they belt out familiar carols, feel your legs tap in tune to the soulful choreo amidst the glittering lights, be amazed by the glowing hand art brought to life by UV lights, and a wonderful message on Love.

 

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010
Time: 6.00 p.m. sharp
Venue: Hari Hara Kala Bhavan, Secunderabad

The theme my friend is 'Love Decoded'. Please come and experience love in its simplest form. We have spared no efforts and have put in tremendous energy to make this event a truly remarkable one for you.

I have attached an invite card for more details. Please do treat this as my personal invitation and grace the occasion. I will be waiting at the venue to welcome you and ensure that you have a blast J

--
Thanks & Regards,
PeterK. Sudeep

God doesn’t want us to just survive……….

God doesn't want us to just survive……….

 

Many people today are living in "survival mode." If they can just make it through the day, they've accomplished their goal. And, there are times when circumstances can seem overwhelming. There are seasons that are more difficult than others. But God doesn't want us to just survive, He wants us to thrive. He wants us to prosper in all things. One definition of the word "thrive" means "to realize a goal despite circumstances." That means you can prosper in all things no matter what is going on around you. You don't have to settle for an average year; you can have an extraordinary year. You may be planning on just getting by, but God is planning on abundance. He's planning on overflow. It's time to get into agreement with God. It's time to walk in His ways. It's time see your dreams come to pass. It's time to thrive because God has a plan for you to prosper in every area of your life!

God Speaks When We Worship

God Speaks When We Worship…………..

 

Worship creates an atmosphere in which God can speak to us. Worship is difficult to define. It is more about who God is rather than what He does for us. True worship comes from deep within us; it is precious and awesome and it is our attempt to verbalize how we feel about God. It is a powerful outpouring of our hearts toward the Lord and it represents a depth of love, gratitude, and devotion that we find difficult to put into words. Human language is not rich enough to describe everything that true worship is. In fact, worship is so personal and intimate that maybe we should not even attempt to limit or define it with words. Worship is much more than just singing songs. It is first and foremost a condition of heart and a state of mind. We can be worshiping passionately without singing a single note. Worship is born in our hearts; it fills our thoughts and then it is expressed through our mouths and through our bodies. If our hearts are filled with awe for God, we may want to sing, dance, clap, or lift up our hands in worship. We may also be reverently silent and still before God. We may desire to give offerings or offer other forms of outward expression of love for God. But any of these actions done without a right heart are simply formalism and meaningless to God. I encourage you to sincerely worship God today. Do it because you love Him, and don't be surprised if He speaks to you while you are worshiping Him. Your vision for the future so that I can move confidently into the abundant life You have for me. Amen

Always be thanking…………

Always be thanking…………

 

God promises to always lead us into victory! That means, no matter what you are facing, no matter what's going on in the world around you, no matter what anybody says, you should always be thanking God because victory is on the way! You don't have to wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to celebrate what God is going to do in your life. Put some action behind your faith. In the middle of that adversity or tough time, start making a list of who you're going to invite to your victory celebration. That means if you're in the hospital, start planning what you're going to do when you get out. If you lost some money when the stock market went down, start planning your coming-out-of-debt party. When things don't look good in the natural, remember, we serve a supernatural God. With God leading you into victory, you can always plan for increase. You can plan for restoration. You can plan for a comeback that will make you stronger and better than you ever were before! Heavenly Father, I give You thanks and praise today for the promise of victory. Give me Your vision for the future so that I can move confidently into the abundant life You have for me. Amen

A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING………..

A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING………..

 

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness": Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have enabled do establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for the great and various favors which He has been please to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand; at the city of New York, The 3rd day of October AD 1789, George Washington, First President of USA (1789-1797)

Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it………

Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it………..

 

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective? Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling… And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it!!! After reading this email you really felt touched and you liked the story, I suggest you share it. Remember, this email could change someone's life. Enjoy your day with a heart of gratitude.

Fwd: Prayer Request

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Santosham <santoshamk@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Subject: Prayer Request
To: "PeterK.Sudeep Patchala ......." <peterkamalsudeep@gmail.com>


Dear brother in Christ,

Praise the Lord,

My friend(sunila's) father suffering with fever. This fever is more dangerous than Dengue. Not yet discover medicines also.
But Our God is More powerful than that virus. Please pray for him and his family.
He is in Care hospital in MICU. Please pass this prayer request to your prayer team.

 Thank you.

--
Thanks & Regards,
PeterK. Sudeep

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed......

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed……….

 

The farmer went out into his field with a big, flat basket of seeds and scattered handfuls of them as he walked up and down the field. It was a windy day and some of the seeds were blown outside the field, because it didn't have a hedge around it. They fell on the road and birds swooped down and ate them all up. Some other seeds fell on the stony path around the field. They started to put down roots, but not very long ones, because of all the little pebbles in the way. When the hot sun came up, the seedlings were scorched and shriveled because they had no water in their little roots. Some other seeds fell into a thorny, weedy patch in the corner of the field. These grew too, but the weeds and thorns grew faster and tool all the water from the plants. The weeds got taller and the plants died for want of sunlight. But the seeds that fell on the rich earth that had been dug and made ready for them grew tall and strong. Soon they were a whole field of wheat, ready to be harvested and ground into flour to make delicious bread and cakes. The seed is the message of God's love and His word. When people hear the message, but pay no attention to it, it is like the seeds that fell on the road and were eaten by birds before they could grow. Other people hear about God's love and seem to understand, but if they don't really believe it in their hearts, they are like the stony ground where the plant can't put down good roots. And the ones who hear the message, but forget it because they are too busy worrying about their problems or trying to make money, are like the patch of thorny ground where weeds choke the plants. But the people who hear the message and believe it and act on it, by loving other people- they are the ones who are like a field full of wheat, and their goodness shows. (Matthew 13:1-23)

Promise being fulfilled.........

Promise being fulfilled………….

 

The car you drive has a large windshield, but only a relatively small rear view mirror. The implication is obvious: What happened in your past is not nearly as important as what is in your future. Where you are going is much more important than where you've been. If you stay focused on the past, you're liable to miss numerous excellent opportunities ahead. Don't let disappointment become the central theme of your life. Quit mourning over something you can't change. God wants to give you a new beginning, but you have to let go of the old before you'll ever see the new. Let that door close behind you and step through the door in front of you. Maybe you've allowed other people to convince you that you're never going to rise higher, that you will never see your dreams come to pass. Don't believe them. When Caleb was a young man, he and Joshua were part of an exploratory spy mission to determine the strength of the enemy before God's people moved into the land that God had promised them. Of the twelve spies, only Caleb and Joshua presented a positive report to Moses. They were all too willing to settle for the second best, to dwell for the rest of their lives right where they were. Unfortunately, that group of negative thinkers never did make it into the Promised Land. They spent the next forty years spinning their wheels and wandering around aimlessly in a desert.  By then Caleb was 85 years old, but he hadn't given up on the dream God had placed in his heart. He told Joshua that he was still as strong as he was when the promise first came to him. Caleb went back to the same place and asked god for that mountain to live on. The mountain he claimed had five giants living on it. Surely, he could have found a place less fortified, more accessible, or more easily occupied. Although it is forty years later, he believed until he has seen that promise being fulfilled. That's the kind of attitude we need to have. We give up too easily. No, keep pressing forward, and keep believing. Keep yourself stirred up. You've got the gifts, the talents and the dreams. Don't allow complacency to keep you from seeing god's promises fulfilled in your life.

Good and perfect gifts in store for you………….

Good and perfect gifts in store for you………….

 

God has so many good and perfect gifts in store for you. Not only does He offer eternal life through His Son, Jesus, but the Bible is filled with His generous and abundant promises in this life. He wants to bless you with provision and supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. He wants to pour out His abundant favor on you and cause everything you touch to prosper. He wants to bless you with spiritual gifts and make you strong in your inner man. He wants you to enjoy your job and be proud of your work each day. These are all gifts from God. Every good gift from God is meant to draw us closer to Him. Often times, people have an idea about God based on past experiences. But today, I encourage you to let go of old mindsets and see God according to His Word. He is good and faithful, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! Seek Him today and experience the life of blessing He has in store for you!

CHARTING MY COURSE………..

CHARTING MY COURSE………..

 

In a hectic world full of confusion, it is easy to feel as if you are going around in a revolving door, but not quite sure where you're going or how to get there. As your day winds down, you may find your mind still racing with responsibilities and problems, reeling with thoughts of today's business and tomorrow's necessities. You may tell yourself, "I've got to figure this out. I've got to find a way. I've got to..." Stop! Let the Lord chart your course! It's not, "What I've got to do, but how will the Lord lead me through this?" He has the only perfect plan to chart your course past confusion. As David put it: Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word, I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map – and your commands are my chart and guide" (Psalm 119:18, 19, TLB). Open your eyes to His wonderful plans for peace in place of confusion, planned direction in place of dead-ends. He alone is your Chart and Guide. Check the "map" of His Word regularly to keep your charted course. Daily path finding through your Bible eliminates the frustration of trying to find your own way. You can truly rest when, having checked your course through God's Word, you set your sight on His perfect path.

Are you in a hard place today………?

Are you in a hard place today………?

 

One day, a friend came to me, crying desperately, saying that her present situation was more than she could endure. She had been put in a hard place and wanted an immediate way of escape. Are you in a hard place today? Are you asking yourself, as my friend did, what possible glory God could derive from such a devastating experience? Let me encourage you with the answer I gave my friend. I know it was a word from the Lord because it set her free and gave her the peace she was lacking. I encourage you to use these words as a key to healing in your own hard place. I told my friend, "Just because it's a hard place, don't be so sure that God didn't allow you there for a purpose. You cannot see God's whole plan now, but be sure that He has a beautiful purpose to unfold. You may not know what He is preparing you for, but you dare not miss it." Think about how dark a mine is – as dark as the hard place you are now in—yet, it has the capacity to produce the most brilliant of gems. Just like the mining process, our hardest trials can produce our dearest treasures." We have to thank God, that if mountain was plain we couldn't climb so far.

The Thread Mill……..

The Thread Mill……..

 

As you face what should be a good rest is your mind racing instead, thinking of adding still more responsibilities tomorrow to your already overburdened workload? If you have entered into a "workaholic" pattern...running on a treadmill of projects...it will sooner or later catch up to you. Your mind will cease to function rationally, hindering progress and fruitful results. If eventually your body is worn to its limits by the incessant work cycle, physical and emotional collapse is inevitable, and spiritually you will dry up so that God seems distant and unrelated to your frenzied life. There is an old saying, "When the devil can't make you bad, he makes you busy!" If he can't render you inactive, he destroys your effectiveness through overwork. Step into the rhythm of God's will. Do what He wants you to do when He wants you to do it! Ask God to still your mind and spirit and make you an open channel for His redirection of your priorities. Examine your efforts and objectives. Have they been yours or God's? Are you driving yourself or is the Holy Spirit leading you gently into those things He would have you do? "In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths; (Proverbs 3:6 AMP). Be open to God's will today. Seek His guidance and He will clearly show you what His plans are and give you contentment, making each day complete in Him.

 

Wait on the Lord…..…..

Wait on the Lord…..…..

 

Those that wait upon the Lord look to Him in sincerity and humility for wisdom and strength, and then patiently await His guidance. Strength is expended in service for the Master but there are always new supplies of grace and vitality available from Him who knows no weariness. One of the most magnificent sights of the wild is an eagle soaring in the sky, higher and higher, with seemingly little effort and it knows when the storm is approaching long before it breaks. It will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, it is soaring above it...... The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rides on the winds that bring the storm......"Similarly, the child of God who draws his strength from above is enabled to go ever onward and upward, always reaching new heights of achievement. But those who wait on the LORD, Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

The Obstacle in our Path…………….

The Obstacle in our Path…………….

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Meaning behind the trade mark of gramophone…………

Meaning behind the trade mark of gramophone…………

 

The trade mark on a gramophone record produced by his Master's Voice Gramophone Company depicts a dog sitting before an outmoded gramophone, enraptured by the voice reproduced by it. A great musician who composed songs and sang then himself had a dog as his constant companion. When he suddenly died one day, the dog, unable to hear the master's voice, languished in grief and would not eat any food for days together. No one could coax the dog to shake off its sorrow and eat. At last someone took a record of one of the departed musician's songs and played it on the gramophone. At once the dog came running and listened with rapt attention to its master's voice. It shook its tail to express its joy, This made the Gramophone Company adopt the emblem now so well known all over the world. When you pass through pains and perils, unable to hear the voice of God, and deprived of his guidance, you become very much dejected. Be not dismayed! The Lord speaks to you in a still small voice to let you know that He is still with you. He knows the pressures you had to pass through, but He will make use of you. You will hear Him speak so in the depths of your hearts. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

A soft answer turns away wrath……….

A soft answer turns away wrath……….

 

Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "a soft answer turns away wrath." While it's true that a humble response to wrath will normally cause it to subside, it's equally true that some people will never be pacified. Because of long term bitterness and resentment, the tide of their wrath runs too high. The only thing we can do-and the thing we must always do-is to be meek and lowly in the face of their anger and leave the consequences with God. This doesn't mean we must stay in an abusive situation, for no one has the right to mistreat another human being. But it does mean we can by God's grace respond calmly to another's anger. Paul stated the matter this way: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). We must be peacemakers even if others refuse to be. Obedience is our job; the rest we leave to God. We want a word that always works, an easy solution, a quick fix. But some things in this broken world can't be fixed no matter what we do, so we must rely on God's grace to deal with them from day to day. Calm, quiet words may not always turn away another's wrath. You may be grieved because they go unheeded, but you can never go wrong with a soft answer.

 

God will get us where we need to be………..

God will get us where we need to be………..

 

Too many people today are living negative and discouraged because they don't like where they are in life. But in order to see change and see God open up new doors, the key is to bloom right where you're planted. Instead of waiting things for change and fighting against everything that comes your way, stay in faith and simply be all that God has created you to be right where you are. We all have times and situations where we're not ideally where we would like to be, but Psalm 37 says that our steps are ordered by the Lord. That means as long as we stay in faith, God will get us where we need to be. By blooming where you are planted, you'll not only live your life happy and enjoy your life more, but you're sowing a seed for God to take you where He wants you to go.

 

Tail of Happiness………

Tail of Happiness………

 

Once there was this kitten that was chasing its tail. It just chased it and chased. An older wiser cat came along and he watched this kitten. The cat watched the kitten for a long time. Then he asked the kitten, "Kitten, why do you chase your tail?" The kitten replied, "Because I will find happiness in my tail." The old cat watched for a time longer then he said, "I, too, use to chase my tail because I thought I would find happiness there. But I realized that I didn't need to chase my tail for wherever I went it seemed to follow." And the old cat got up and walked away with his tail whishing behind. If we let outer events influence our happiness, we become their slaves. We lose our freedom. We let our happiness be determined by outer forces. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives. What is happiness? It is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. Which God already placed in our heart, we don't need to run for it.

 

The Atheist and the Bear…………

The Atheist and the Bear…………

 

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals, he said to himself. As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him. At that instant the atheist cried out: 'Oh my God!...' Time stopped, The bear froze, The forest was silent. It was then that a bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying: You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident.  Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer? The atheist looked directly into the light. It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian? Very well, said the voice. The light went out, and the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke: Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful, Amen.

Funeral of a Dead Church…………

Funeral of a Dead Church…………

 

A new pastor in Topeka, Kansas, USA, spent the first four days making personal visits to each of his prospective congregation inviting them to come to his inaugural services. The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon.  Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the 'funeral'.  In front of the pulpit they saw a closed coffin which was covered in flowers. After the priest had delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church. Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a 'dead church', all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each 'mourner' peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.  In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.

 

Lighthouse.........

Lighthouse……..

 

Along the sea-coast of most lands there can be seen some very useful buildings, built upon rocks or lofty hills near the shore. Some of these are called lighthouses, and others beacons. The first are chiefly intended to guide ships into harbor, or to point out the course they should steer; the latter are to warn of rocks and sands, on which vessels may be wrecked. Such buildings may have been seen by only a few of our young readers, but there are other kinds of "lighthouses" and "beacons" with which they may become more familiar, and they are found in God's Word, the Bible. The Bible is a "lighthouse" to guide us in the right way that leads us to a blessed life on earth and to everlasting life in Heaven. The Bible is also a "beacon" to warn us so that we may avoid becoming shipwrecked. These "lighthouses" and "beacons" in the Bible are not built of brick and stone, but of the clear instructions and commands of God and the examples we have in the actions and conduct of people who lived many years ago. As we look at these short sketches of young people in the Bible and observe their behavior, may the Holy Spirit teach us to watch and pray that we may be guided safely over the voyage of life, live lives that are pleasing to the Lord, and may be saved from dangers more fatal than pointed rocks and hidden sands.

In God we Trust.......

In God we Trust……..

 

Several years ago, a friend and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. Arlene was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the water-way, and cars costing more than her house. The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely. As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. Arlene causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some valuable. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? "Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words, "United States of America." No, not that. Read further, "One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And I trust in Him…"

 

God will forgive you.........

God will forgive you……….

 

A group of talented students presented skits to display how Biblical events would get modified if they happened today. One skit was about the forgiving of the sinful woman caught committing adultery and brought before Jesus {John 8: 1-11}. A violent crowd was shown to chase the woman. She fell at the feet of Jesus. The angry men shouted that as she was caught in the sinful act, the law demands that she should be stoned to death. The leaders sought the view of Jesus in the matter. As depicted in the Gospel, Jesus calmly replied, "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her" {John 8: 7}. Immediately all the men screamed violently and threw stones at the woman. Some of the stones missed her and hit Jesus and wounded him. Then the curtain came down. It was a vivid depiction of a deadly defect of modern man- No one will admit that he is a sinner. Mark Twain once remarked, "We are all like the moon. We all have a dark side we want no one else to see!" Jesus advised, "Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you" {Luke 6: 37}. Jesus asked, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye?" {Luke 6: 41}.

Pray, Aim High & Stay Focused.........

Pray, Aim High & Stay Focused………..

 

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild "Tom" turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining. A voice spoke to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused." However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'Pray, Aim high and Stay focused." So, the man decided to listen to God's voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a deer and a turkey to eat for his family. The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.  Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.  Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, "the past." Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear. Do not look to man for your blessings, but look to the doors that only He has prepared in advance for you in your favor. Wait, be still and patient, keep God first and everything else will follow.

Father's call for you ..........

Father's call for you...............  

 

You see, enjoying a steady, uninterrupted stream of blessings has an interesting effect on most people: it distorts our view of the Father, often leaving us to assume He exists for us. We ask God for healing, for success, for financial security. We ask Him to bless our family and our relationships. We ask, ask and ask. And the truth is, most of the time we aren't really talking to the Lord at all. Instead, we've replaced Him with some sort of cosmic errand boy--we tell Him what we want and then send Him off to get it for us. In all of this, who is actually at the center of our prayers? It certainly isn't almighty God, our eternal Savior and Creator of the universe! No, instead we find ourselves at the center of these prayers. Therefore, the end result is the subtle belief that God exists for our benefit. This distortion breaks God's heart and leads us far away from truly knowing Him for who He really is. The antidote for this self-centered idolatry is brokenness. When God says "No," when He takes away instead of adding more, when He divinely manages what we have, how much we have, and how long we have it, He is helping us keep our eyes on Him. Do not despise these moments. Instead, recognize them as the voice of your Father calling you back into His loving arms. 

 

September 11, 2008. Seven years later, families continue to heal from the loss of their loved ones. Seven years later, our country continues to defend us from those who wish to cause us harm. Seven years later, a nation comes together to remember all who fell and all who continue to fight for our freedom. In honor of the lives lost that horrific day, we pause, to remember and to pray. Wherever you happen to be as you read this, take a moment to lift up in prayer all those affected by these tragic events. Seven years later, let us all remember to never forget.

The 57 Cents That Made History..................

 

The 57 Cents That Made History..................

 

 Friends this is a true story, this story made me to cry and increased my burden to take the love of Jesus to the ends. A little girl sobbing stood near a small church. She was sobbing because she was been turned away from the church as the church was too small to accommodate many. "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor apartment building and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribble in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school." For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for a 57 cent payment. Church members made large subscriptions. Checks came from everywhere. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 - a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, PA. look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside at Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind Pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds."

God's Patience.............

 

  God's Patience.............

 

1 Timothy 1:12-16 If God were impatient, we would all experience immediate wrath for sin. Imagine living in constant fear of doing something wrong! Fortunately for mankind, His patience is great. One reason that the Lord shows mercy is because He knows we have a fallen nature. Just as a toddler has to learn obedience, God's children also must learn to walk in His ways. He takes pleasure in watching us do what is right; therefore, He allows us time and room for mistakes. Paul appreciated God's patience. His life demonstrated that because the Father is slow to anger, unbelievers have a much greater opportunity for salvation (1 Tim. 1:16). In Romans 2:4, the apostle affirms that our heavenly Father's kindness and mercy lead to repentance. But in the following verse, he warns those with stubborn hearts that they will experience judgment and consequence. In other words, the warning is that God's patience will at some point run out if someone continuously sins against Him. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel repeatedly experienced this painful truth. The people turned away from the Lord and did evil in His sight by worshiping idols. God patiently tolerated their waywardness so that they would return to Him, but eventually, He withdrew His protection until they'd cry out and return to Him.  Is there sin in your life that you haven't confessed? Be thankful that God has been slow to anger. And be wise: do not test the limits of His patience. 

Lord is asking us today..................

 

Lord is asking us today..................

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Jesus asked this man "Do you want to be made well?" Of course he did! Wouldn't you? Why did Jesus ask a question like this when its answer was so clearly obvious? It seems the Lord wanted to hear him verbalize his need. In the biography of George Mueller, a strong man of God who established orphanages throughout England in the 1800's and raised the kids up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, this amazing Saint relied upon God for every single need that he faced without making any financial appeals. He laid before the Lord every aspect of these orphanages. He prayed for the locations, the buildings, the furniture to fill them, the workers to run them, and everything else he could think of. When the first orphanage was ready, Mueller realized one major thing was lacking -- orphans!! He forgot to ask the Lord to provide the orphans! Sometimes the obvious things just smack us in the face, don't they? On several occassions, I've found myself in this very position! Silly me -- I forgot to ask! Friend, the Lord is asking us today, "Do you want to be made well?" Whether it be physical healing, spiritual, emotional or financial healing, no thing is too great or too small for our Lord! Perhaps we've just forgotten to ask Him!

The Important Things In Life...............

The Important Things In Life...............
 
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2″ in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "Yes." "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your Church, your Ministry, your family, your partner, your health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter - like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pray everyday to God, give thanks for what He has done, Love every one and Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house and give a dinner. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

Things Aren't Always What They Seem.........

Things Aren't Always What They Seem...............

This is an imaginary story, One day two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.  Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.  When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied..."Things aren't always what they seem". The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die." "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem." Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith in God, just trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not realize it until much later. God Loves You.

Meaning of Psalms 23...............

Meaning of Psalms 23...............

 

A Sunday School teacher asked her children if anyone could quote the entire 23rd Psalm. A golden-haired, four-and-a-half-year-old girl was among those who raised their hands. A bit skeptical, the teacher asked if she could really quote the entire psalm. The little girl came to the front of the room, faced the class, made a perky little bow, and said, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want" She bowed again and went and sat down. That may well be the greatest interpretation of the 23rd Psalm ever heard. King David, himself a former shepherd, begins this Psalm with, "The Lord is my shepherd," immediately putting himself as a sheep in the care of Jesus Christ (who is the same being as the Lord of the Old Testament-see John 1:1-3, 14 and Heb. 1:2). This analogy of Christ as a shepherd and His chosen ones as sheep, is reinforced in several scriptures, especially in John 10, John 21:15-17 and Hebrews 13:20. The shepherd is the provider and protector of his flock. The sheep are helpless without him. Similarly, human existence is but a sinful, carnal experience without God in our lives (John 5:30; Rom. 8:6-11). Continuing with, "I shall not want," David indicates here that as a sheep in Christ's care, he was confident that he would lack nothing. This sentiment is repeated in Psalms 34:9-10, and clearly indicates David's understanding in regards to putting God and God's way first in his life (see Matthew 6:25-34). He goes on to write, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters." Both the "green pastures" and "still waters" indicate a blessed abundance, further illustrating the benefits of a God-led life. Friends that little girl's words are true, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want............"

Faith to Move Mountains................

Faith to Move Mountains................

 

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokeys built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too." The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly." The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week! 

Praise

 

 * Tune into God’s enriching Presence: God inhabits the Praise of His
People. He is seated on the throne of our praise.

   * Activate God’s Power: Praise is that slender nerve that moves
God’s mighty hand. Consider the King Jehoshaphat’s battle, how the
Lord had delivered him through Praise and Worship.

   * Profit more from your trials: Praise can turn Trials into
Triumphs. Praise will help us identify that ‘Distressing circumstances
are God’s blessings in disguise’. Praise so that you’re faith
Strengthens and quality of endurance is produced in you. Praise is a
catalyst that speeds up God’s maturing process in your life.

   * Help you experience Christ ‘as’ your life: Any born again
Christian is “dead to sin, but alive to Christ”. Death does not
necessarily means being annihilated but being separated. It means our
innermost being is separated from sin, it is no longer our nature and
we no longer need to let it be our master. Our sin springs from our
old sinful tendencies that are no longer our true identity.

   * Demonstrate God’s reality in a Secular & Materialistic society:
Refer Romans 11:33-34. Secularism means God and his will has no part
in our lives.

   * Overcome Satan and His Crafty Strategies: Even the highly
Educated have turned to Spiritism, to the occult and Satan worship. He
gets us preoccupied with him in ways that seem to be strategic to our
spiritual warfare. It’s a serious mistake to underestimate Satan’s
power, but a tragedy to overestimate it. Any Praise thwarts Satan.
Make your praise more powerful by coupling it with God’s word, which
is a double-edged sword.

   * Bring Glory & Pleasure to God: This is something no one but you
on this earth or in heaven can give: “the love and adoration of your
Heart”. Sometimes people try to attach praise unto an indifferent or
self willed life, hoping for an emotional lift or special visible
Rewards. And sometimes, even a disobedient Christian can get into a
Mood of worship or experience high while listening to Praise music CDs
And cassettes. After all, pagans worshiping false gods also experience
Times of ecstasy. But neither a disobedient Christian nor the pagan
honor the true Living God. So how can their praise be a joy to God?

Worship is more than emotional turn on. It includes offering ourselves
to God, to be His servants, to do His will – nothing more, nothing
less, nothing else. It means we radically change our goals. We chose
basic life goals that are centered in Cod: to know Him better, to love
Him with all our being, to do His will at any cost, to Glorify Him and
to please Him.

“O Lord Jesus, my beloved, may I be a joy to thee”. Out of such
Surrender & worship flows the kind of Praise that fully honors and
Glorifies and delights God

“It is not what we eat, but what we digest that makes us strong;
Not what we gain, but what we save that make us rich;
Not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;
And not what we profess, but what we practice that makes us Christians.”

The One Who Is in us Is mightier................

The One Who Is in us Is mightier................

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage started his bus, and drove off along the route. There was no problem for the first few stops, few people got in. few got off, and things went generally well, at the next stop, however, a big hunk got in. six feet height, body built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back. The driver was five feet three, thin and basically meek....Naturally, He didn't argue with big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened. Big John got on again, said "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down. And the next day, and the one after that, and so forth, this irritated Bus driver, who started losing his patients over the way Big John was taking advantage of his size. Finally he could not bare, He signed for body building program, Karate, Judo and all marshal arts. By the end of summer, he had become quite strong; So on the next Monday, when Big John got in the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" the driver stood up, glared back and screamed, WHY? With a surprised look, Big John replied, "Big John has a Bus pass." Friends, this story tells how we will be deceived by outer appearance. Bible says Satan is roaring like a lion to disturb His children. Never under estimate your self thinking to be weak. Because the same Bible says, that,  The one with in us is mightier than the one who is in the world.  So we are stronger because He abides in us. 

An Atheist.............

An Atheist.............

A preacher and an atheistic barber were once walking through the city slums. Said the barber to the preacher: "This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. If God was so kind as you say, He would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He would not allow these poor bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things."

The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Said the minister: "You must not be a very good barber because you wouldn't permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and shave." Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man's condition? I can't help it that he is like that. He has never come in my shop; I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman!"

Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don't blame God for allowing the people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved."

Don't Be Afraid………..

Don't Be Afraid………..

Here we are, afraid of losing what we have all the time, holding on to it so tight that not a soul can touch it. We think by hiding it from the world, it's hidden and it's ours. Nothing is. Nothing ever will be. For, nothing ever was, everything was in His hands Who created this universe. If you think there is anything that you have, is blessing from God, be it money, a house, a job. Here we are, so insecure that we are afraid of re-starting our lives, so we just carry on trying to sort out the current mess. The thought that we should give it all up and just start all over - with nothing - might cross our minds some time, sure, but we get scared and we push away anything that scares us. There is nothing I can ever achieve or gain that I cannot lose, in a matter of seconds. You have never gained enough to not be able to lose it all, in just a few minutes. What you think is yours, was never yours and will never be yours. Whatever you make here, you leave here. You came naked and you're going to go back naked. So what are you afraid of? In God's eyes, Love is never absent. In Gods heart forgiveness is never impossible. In Gods embrace, no one is ever alone or forgotten. God Bless you, Have a good day.

LET GO !!!

Let go...     Genesis 21:10-11  "Wherefore she said unto Abraham,  "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman  shall not be heir  with my son, even with Isaac." And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son." It must have been very painful for Abraham, when God commanded him, to send away Hagar and Ishmael away. The above verse says, 'And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight!'. Yet, Abraham obeyed God ! He did not delay. He did not postpone it for the next day. He did not argue with God. He just obeyed. I guess he bid goodbye to Hagar and Ishmael with tears in his eyes. No wonder, God called Abraham His friend! We need to salute this awesome man Abraham for his obedience to God! If God is of paramount importance in your life, then you would let everything else go, to keep Him close to your heart. Friend, it was indeed painful to leave the plush office cabin of the multinational bank where I worked and walk into the busy highways of Chennai and travel the bumpy roads of the villages and work in the mission field; nevertheless my passion for God was higher than everything else in this world. After many years of making that commitment, my passion for Him has increased bountifully and not reduced one bit. If we need God's blessing in our life, then we need to unconditionally obey God and purge sins away from our life. There comes a point in our lives when we must deal with the failures of yesterday. We cannot continue as if nothing has happened, as if no wrong has been done, as if we have not erred from God's plan. We need to acknowledge our sins and rectify our life according to the Word of God, not according to our assumptions (mark this carefully friends. God needs a change in our life. Are you hearing me please? If you have been entangled into a wrong relationship, walk out of it. The Bible tells us that when a person gets saved, he turns away from the world. If a bartender gets saved he gives up bartending, he doesn't become a Christian bartender. If a prostitute gets saved he/she gives up prostitution. You cannot be a child of God, hanging on to the old sins. When a man who was working in the movie field got saved, I encouraged him to change his profession, it was a major decision, though. However, he did struggle, he did suffer, but he completely walked out of it. Praise God! Too many Christians want to walk with sin and still be a Christian?  It does not work that way my friend. You can't walk with God and the devil. You can't drink beer and live for God. You can't watch dirty TV programs and still proclaim to be His child. You can't copy the ways of the world and live for God. You cannot serve two masters! WE MUST BE SO CONSUMED AND COMMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD THAT WE ARE WILLING TO LAY ASIDE ALL OUR LIKES, DISLIKES AND WISHES, SO THAT HIS WILL CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.