Clap or Slap.............?

Clap or Slap……….?

 

There was once a dog that used to run up quietly behind people and bite their heels. Fed up of the numerous complaints, the owner tied a bell around the dog's neck so that the sound of the bell would alert people whenever the dog came near them. The dog felt the bell was a reward of some sort and became extremely conceited, turning up his nose whenever he met other dogs on the street. One day a hound brought him down to earth with some plain speaking and when the dog learnt why the bell had been put around his neck he slunk away in shame. Sometimes what appears to be a clap on the back is actually a slap on the face. Friends so many times we think that the sinful life which we are living is acceptable and rewarded by God, No it hurts Him very badly. If you want to rewarded turn back from sin and surrender your life to God.

 

I am so hurt

"I am So Hurt " is devotional written by Dr. Larry Ollison, A few days ago I was driving down the highway with the top down in the Blue Flame, which is the name I lovingly gave to my blue Corvette, and I was really feeling cool. I turned on the radio to the oldies station in order to hear a song that actually had a melody. A commercial was just ending and the first words of the song from the fifties were "I am so hurt." The song continued to explain why the person was hurt and kept returning to the theme and the chorus " I am so hurt." Something came up inside of me and made me want to reach into the radio, grab the singer and say, "Get over it!" Then the Holy Spirit began to teach me. When we say, "I am so hurt" and we rehearse the problem that caused us to be hurt and continue to state, I am so hurt," we will continue to be hurt. Jesus said in Mark chapter 11 that we have what we say. Our confession should not be, "I am so hurt." Our confession should be "I have been delivered from hurt by the blood of Jesus." A major problem in the church today is people living their lives with hidden hurts inside. These hurts are sealed up in nice little bags that cause us to look okay in public. However, when we open this baggage to our friends, it stinks! Have you ever stopped to think that most people don't want to hear about your hurts? Yes, there are problems in our lives that can hurt us, but they can only hurt us if we receive the hurt. John 10:10 says that the thief is a destroyer. He wants to destroy you. He is relentless and he shows no mercy. If he can't destroy you with attacks from the outside, then he will attempt to destroy you from the inside. He does this by bringing hurts and offenses your way and tempting you to bring them inside. You can stop this cycle by not receiving them into yourself. The choice is yours. Will you rehearse the hurt or will you confess the victory? What you say is what you'll get. Instead of saying, "I am so hurt;" say" I am set free!"

Take a step to speak out the truth............

Take a step to speak out the truth………..

 

A woman stands before judge and jury, places one hand on the Bible and the other in the air, and makes a pledge. For the next few minutes, with God as her helper, she will "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." She is a witness. Her job is not to expand upon nor dilute the truth. Her job is to tell the truth. Leave it to the legal counsel to interpret. Leave it to the jury to resolve. Leave it to the judge to apply. But the witness, The witness speaks the truth. Let her do more or less and she taints the outcome. But let her do that - let her tell the truth- and justice has a chance. The Christian, too, is a witness. We, too, make a pledge. Like the witness in court, we are called to tell the truth. The bench may be absent and the judge unseen, but the Bible is present, the watching world is the jury, and we are the primary witnesses. We are subpoenaed by no less than Jesus himself: "You will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). And like witnesses in a court, we are called to testify, to tell what we have seen and heard. And we are to speak truthfully. Our task is not to whitewash nor bloat the truth, but to exactly speak out as it is. There is, however, one difference between the witness in court and the witness for Christ. The witness in court eventually steps down from the witness chair, but the witness for Christ never does. For the Christian, deception is never an option. It wasn't an option for Jesus. So, we should take a step to speak out the truth and be witnesses for Christ.

Never underestimate your own efforts

Never underestimate your own efforts………

 

A man was walking down a deserted Mexican beach at sunset. As he walked along he began to see another man in the distance. As he grew nearer he noticed that the local native kept leaning down, picking something up, and throwing it out into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things out into the ocean. As our friend approached even closer he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had washed up onto the beach, and one at a time, he was throwing them back into the ocean. The first man was puzzled. He approached the man and said, "Good Evening Friend, I was wondering what are you doing?" And he replied, "I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, its low tide right now and all these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If I don't throw them back into the sea, they will die from the lack of oxygen." "I understand," my friend replied "but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach and you couldn't possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many and don't you realize that this is happening on hundreds of beaches up and down this coast ... can't you see that that you can't possibly make a difference? The local native smiled, bent down, picked up yet another starfish ... and as he threw it back out into the sea, he replied, "It made a difference to that one!" You may feel like you cannot make a difference in the world today, but you CAN make a difference in one life at a time. Never underestimate your own efforts. You too could make a difference. Don't ask what the world could do for you; seek what you could do to the world.

Old man changed the young man's life........

Old man changed the young man's life………

 

A wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all. "Now pull out that one," said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. "Now take this one out," said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. "I – It's impossible," said the boy, panting with the effort. "So it is with bad habits," said the sage. "When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted." The session with the old man changed the boy's life. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1: 8-10.

Unfolding of a Rose………

Unfolding of a Rose………

 

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals, With these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers, Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die. If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God's design, Then how can I think I have wisdom, To unfold this life of mine? So I will trust in Him for His leading, Each moment of every day. I will look to Him for His guidance, Each step of the pilgrim way. The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows. I will trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose.

Friendship

 

 

 

Meaning of Psalm 23.....

Meaning of Psalm 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 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."

Feel good about how God made you...............

Feel good about how God made you...........

The other day, a man spoke to a young woman in the lobby of Church, and by all outward appearances, she seemed to be happy and on the top of the world. On the inside, however, she had a war going on. She didn't like herself. She thought she was unattractive. She thought she was overweight. She had a long list of things she felt were wrong with her. As the man talked with her, he discovered that her father had always put her down. The sad thing is, this young lady in her late twenties had gone through two marriages, and now she was about to end her third marriage. The man told her, "You've got the wrong recording playing on your internal CD player. You're constantly telling yourself, 'I'm unattractive and unlovable. You were not created to live that way. God created you to feel good about yourself. If you cannot get along with yourself, you'll never be able to get along with other people. You need to get peace with who you are." Perhaps, like the young woman , the root cause was something that happened way back in your life. Maybe, like many people, you don't know how to turn it off. You think it is normal to go around feeling bad about yourself. You may not have gotten everything that you should have from your parents or the people who raised you, but always remember this: It's not how we start that counts; it's how we finish. Tell yourself every day, "I am the apple of God's eye. I'm how we finish. I'm His most prized possession. I am crowned with glory and honor. I am valuable. I am attractive. I have a bright future in front of me." Understand that the negative voices always seem to cry out the loudest. As long as you stay focused on the negative , you will have a way on the inside. Replace the negative recordings with new, positive, uplifting messages. Start thinking the right thoughts about yourself. Feel good about how God made you, and who you are today.

Change your environment..........

Change your environment……….

 

Consider an oak tree. If you plant it in a pot, its growth will be limited. Once its roots fill that pot, it can grow no further. The problem is not with the tree; it is with the environment. It is stifling growth. Perhaps you have bigger things in your heart than your present environment can facilitate. That's why God will stir you out of a comfortable situation. When you go through persecution and rejection, it's not always because somebody has it in for you. Sometimes, that's God's way of directing you into his perfect will. He's trying to get you to stretch to the next level. He knows you're not going to go without a push, so he'll make it uncomfortable for you to stay where you are currently. The mistake we make at times is getting negative and sour; we focus on what didn't work out. When we do that, we inhibit the opening of new doors. There are people who have experienced rejection in their personnel relationships. They put all those years into it and now they're hurt, dejected, going around defeated and not expecting anything good. Unfortunately, sometimes it is unavoidable just because somebody rejected you or walked out of your life and left you hurt, that doesn't mean that you should retreat and settle where you are. That rejection did not change what God put on the inside of you. It doesn't mean that you cannot yet be happy. When one door closes, if you will keep the right attitude, God will open another door. But you have to do your part and keep pressing forward.

Clean hands and a pure heart

Psalm 24:3-5 places a strong emphasis upon us having clean hands and a pure heart—the words “clean hands” puts the focus on our relationship with others; the words “a pure heart” puts the focus on our relationship with God. Our hands will be clean as we allow God to work through us, and our hearts will be pure as we allow God to work within us:

*Clean hands will impact our actions; a pure heart will impact our attitudes.
*Clean hands will be seen by others; a pure heart will be seen by God.
*Clean hands will do right things; a pure heart will do them for the right reasons.
*Clean hands are our actions; a pure heart is our motivation.
*Clean hands are what we do; a pure heart is why we do it.
*Clean hands express our care; a pure heart expresses our character.

It is God’s grace and holiness that will form us into the kind of people He desires us to be. He wants us to do good things for the right reasons. He wants us to be reaching out to others while glorifying Him. Having clean hands and a pure heart will influence our lives, our homes, our relationships, and our businesses.
In the business world “clean hands” and a “pure heart” must both work together. If we have “clean hands” but not a “pure heart” we will do things that outwardly may look good and seem good to people, but are unacceptable to God. When Jesus spoke about the inward condition of the Scribes and Pharisees, He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything impure.” Matthew 23:27 AMP

We must be careful in business never to try and use God to advance our own agenda or personal career path, but to allow God to use us to advance His agenda. He can do this when our hands are clean and our hearts are pure before Him.

Psalm 24 goes on to remind us that there are other things that will be different about business people that are dedicated to God and operating for His glory. Falsehood and deceit will not be found in their offices, in their conference rooms, in their documents, in their phone conversations, or in their business calls. How wonderful it is to find business people with pure hearts, clean hands, and honest dealings with others—how good it is, how right it is, how rare it is, how blessed it will be!

 

Jealousy is like a cancer (Proverbs 14: 30)………

Jealousy is like a cancer (Proverbs 14: 30)………

 

Two beautiful fishes lived in a river. They used to boast about their beauty and were envious of each other. Often they quarreled with each other, each one claiming to be more beautiful than the other. One day while quarrelling as usual, they found a crocodile close to them and silently watching them. They did not know that it was patiently awaiting its prey. Assuming that it was appreciating their beauty, they sought its mediation to resolve their long-time dispute. "Which one of us is more beautiful, uncle?" they asked the crocodile. The crooked crocodile stared at the pair and said, "Both of you are beautiful. I will test it in detail and judge." So saying, it made a sudden movement and snatched them with its powerful jaws. While swallowing them gladly, it finalized the judgment: "You are equally pretty and equally tasty too!" "Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer" {Proverbs 14: 30}.  "Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil" {James 3: 16}. "Whoever does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE" {1 John 4:8}. "Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. Be like new-born babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved" {1 Peter 2:1-2}.

God is a changer

*God is a changer*

 

 

 

God is a changer.
He changes darkness into Light...
Bondage into Liberty...
Ashes into Beauty...
Conflict into Peace...
He has changed death to Life!

 

 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...

to give unto them beauty for ashes,

the oil of joy for mourning,

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...

Isaiah 61:1,3 KJV

loads turned to wings

Loads turned to wings…………..

 

An old legend and an imaginary story relates that; long ago God had a great many burdens which He wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so He asked the animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on. Finally the birds came to God and said, "If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we'll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we would like to help." So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seems to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens. When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings which enabled them to fly to the sky and the tree tops. They had learned how to carry their burdens, and their loads had become wings to carry them nearer to God. Burdens we carry for others may become wings of the spirit, to lift us into happiness such as we have never known.

Why doesn't God answer………?

Why doesn't God answer………?

 

The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I have begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?" The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply -- something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice. . . The gentle whisper, Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

Prudent Partner Pick by Duke Jayaraj

 

“No girl liked me!”
“I couldn’t marry because no girl liked me!”  quipped India’s former Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee (reported in The Week magazine). For many young guys or girls today, that is not the problem. On the contrary there are far too many wanting to marry them and they are confused as to which one they should say, “I do” to! “Whom will I marry?”  “With whom will I walk down the aisle?”  “Who’ll be the pop/mom for my babies?” “With whom will I wake up for the rest of my life?” Those questions cross young people’s minds constantly. Sure, young people’s mind muse over such queries, time and again. Choosing the person you will marry is in my opinion the most important decision apart from your decision to follow Christ. And what is more – it is a decision that should be kept for your entire life. You can change your computer printer but not your life partner (I Cor 7:11)! Sure you must put a lot of thought before you choose the person to whom you will say in the church before beaming onlookers, “For better or worse, till death do us part, I will love you with every beat in my heart!” (As one popular singer put it. Words for the song found at www.tsrocks.com on 9 March 2007). What follows is the Scriptural base for choosing a life mate. Partners won’t be dropped from the heavens! The Scripture tells us that we must “find” a wife (Prov 18:22). There is no “finding” without “searching”! This piece will help you be scriptural in your spouse search. This article will aid you to be biblical in your partner pursuit! Here are eight words you need to keep in mind as you do that:

1. Choose a partner who worships the same GOD as you do!

Mouse and Dog – can they be friends!
That is to say that as a believer you must marry only a believer.  No debates. No questions. Listen to Paul’s words in this regard in contemporary English: “Don’t become partners with those who reject God…Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil?” (II Cor 6:14,15).  Kurt De Haan puts it eloquently: “Oil and water do not mix. A mouse and a dog would not make the best of friends. A person with a paralysing fear of heights would not be a wise choice as a climbing partner to scale Mount Everest…A huskie and a dachshund would not work well together as sledge dogs in the Alaskan wilderness. A follower of Christ would not make a good marriage with a non-believer” (as found in www.rbc.org on 9 March 2007). Though it is sad to state, some young people have no qualms about marrying unbelievers. They argue that they will convert their partners after the wedding. Well. Well. Well. If you think you are wiser than Solomon you can think of attempting something so foolhardy. The “brainiest” man’s brains were brainwashed by the heathen women he married (Neh 13:26)! Yes, Solomon’s was. Some of the women he married were so ungodly that they were forbidden to live even in the palace (II Chron 8:11). Soon, he started worshipping idols the way his pagan wives did. King Ahab sold God’s nation Israel to his Baal-worshipping wife, Jezebel. You see the woman you take with you to bed will most assuredly influence your “head”! In cross-faith marriages, most often than not, the children will have a confusion about whose faith to follow – mom’s or dad’s.  We read of a man born to an Israelite mother (who could be taken to be a believer) and an Egyptian father (who could be taken to be an unbeliever) who blasphemed the Lord (Lev 24:10-12).

2. Choose a partner who has the same GOAL as you do!

Mr. and Mrs. Lot – we have lots like them!
Mr. Lot wanted to escape the carnal city of Sodom and Gommorah. But his wife didn’t think that was a cool idea. That is why she looked back as they were rushing out of the city. Guess what happened? She turned into a pillar of salt. And their marriage froze. Now take a good look at Mr. and Mrs. Noah. Both were united in their goal of escaping the judgment-flood by entering the Ark! The gift of prophecy brought both Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah together. He, a great prophet himself, calls his wife “prophetess” in Isaiah 8:3, did you notice? The priest of Judah, Jehoiada and his wife were united in their goal of safeguarding the God-chosen dynasty of King David. While Jehoiada led the revolt of his nation against the evil queen Athaliah who was out to destroy all the descendants of King David, his wife Jehosheba hid the last survivour of David’s family – Joash – in a bedroom, with a nurse (II Chron 22:11/II Chron 23). Prophet Amos has a question for you: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (3:3). Nope. Marriage is much more than a mere walk down the Church aisle. Instead it is a lifelong walk together with your partner, correct? It is a till-death life stroll together, right?

UBS Vs UBS
Truckloads of youths who committed their lives to join a missionary organisation fulltime have got sidetracked. The reason? They have married partners who haven’t shown even a slight inclination for missions. If your dream is to work for the IEM (the missions agency) while your partner is going gaga about getting a job with IBM (the computer company) you are in for trouble, buddy! You may want to join UBS as a couple after marriage and your spouse too wants to join UBS. “Wow! What a wonderful unity!” you may well think. between the couple. Wait. The UBS you meant was Union Bible Seminary at Pune and the UBS your spouse meant was Union Bank of Switzerland, in Hyderabad! I imagine that Prophetess Huldah married Shallum, the keeper of the Temple robe, because both their jobs involved and revolved around the Temple (II Chron 34:22). A high priest’s wife must be a girl from his clan, we read (Lev 21:13-15). In other words, he must marry a person “with ministry blood” flowing through her veins! The reason I decided to marry Evan, my wife, is not tough to guess: she had decided to be involved in ministry even as a Class Ten student of Santhosa Vidhyalaya, Dohnavur, South India, something I wanted to be since my Class Eight!

3. Choose a partner who belongs to the same GALAXY that you do, at least!

Count the cost of crossing cultures
There is nothing unbiblical about marrying a person from another culture, country or continent. There is nothing marred about marrying even believers from Planet Mars (if there are!). Both Moses and Joseph married girls who were not from their culture. Obviously these girls were believers. Zipporah, the girl Moses married, may have been Egyptian, but she was educated – in the ways of Yahweh. She had great faith in the Abrahamic covenant, which was sealed by the rite of circumcision. It was she – not Moses, mind you – who circumcised their son – a deed that shows that though she was an “outsider” she was out and out for Yahweh (Ex 4:25)! But young people must be warned not to go overboard here. When two persons born to different sets of parents, who have lived under different roofs and cultures, come together to be bonded by marriage, there will invariably be some adjustment problems. Certainly! But after only having counted the cost of such adjustments and alignments I would advise you to step into cross-cultural marriages. Jesus said that before we build a building, we better sit down and count the cost! And remember that marriage and family life is a building according to the Psalmist who mouthed, “Unless the Lord builds the house….” (Psa 127:1 NKJV).  Again, saying ‘no’ to one proposal after another purely on the basis of caste considerations, is deplorable, to say the least! In Christ’s family “there is no longer Jew nor Greek…for you are all Christians – you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28)!

4. Choose a partner who seems GORGEOUS to you!

Beauty which tape can’t measure
Wanting to marry a “beautiful” or “handsome” person is quite normal. If an unmarried Israelite soldier discovered a beautiful prisoner of war he could marry her – this was one of 613 Laws that God gave Israel through Moses, can you believe it? The Bible specifically records that the wives of each of the three Old Testament Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – were particularly pretty. The modern implication of Genesis 29:17 is that Rachel, the wife of Jacob, would have given Priyanka Chopra (a former Miss World from India) a run for her money by her stunning gorgeousness! You probably never noticed this: Prophet Ezekiel’s pet name for his wife was “the delight of my eyes!” (Check out Ezek 24:16!). So what is the lesson? Marry a person who looks beautiful to you for “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!”. But wait a second! Do not make beauty the conclusive factor in the finalizing of your life partner. Samson did. He saw a Philistine woman – obviously beautiful –  in Timnah and wanted her to be his wife, instantly (Jud 14:2). This wife of Samson cheated on him (Jud 14:17). For the “sons of God” who married the “daughters of men” beauty seemed to be the only issue (Gen 6:1-2). God’s judgment on this lust came swiftly (Gen 6:3). Remember that beauty is fleeting (Prov 31:10). Charm that tape can’t measure – character that is – must be the deciding factor when it comes to life partner choice. Not too many girls wanted to marry this plain-looking doctor who was a missionary to the lepers of Orissa. “We’ll catch leprosy!” they perhaps thought. But not Gladys. When she married Graham Staines no one told her that her husband would be one of the greatest names in World Mission History! See what you stand to gain if you looked beyond the looks! Oh how many young people miss a girl with the character of a Mother Teresa because they are only looking for the charm of a Bipasha (the actress)!

5. The partner you choose must be in the same GRADE more or less as you are!

Engineer Vs Engine Driver
Moses, a shepherd, married a shepherd girl. Jacob did the very same thing. But what about Abigail? This intelligent and beautiful woman married an absolute fool and her married life was far from cool (See I Sam 25)! If a sharp-witted engineer marries a dull-headed engine driver, he is asking for trouble! If an high-IQ pilot is planning to spend the rest of his life with a low-IQ potter then we better check if his IQ is really high! You see marriage is not about having sex all the time! But it is all about communication. It is all about talking with your partner. It is all about connecting with your mate. And for this to transpire, both of you should more or less be in the same IQ level – same grade! A prudent man will ask the Lord for a “prudent” wife (Prov 19:14).

6. Choose a partner without being all-eyes on the GRANT he or she can give you!

Catherine Zeta Jones’s catch
The other day I read that Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones signed an agreement that ensured she would get a sizable chunk of Michael Douglas’ massive 150 million pound fortune, even before marrying him, in case their marriage broke because Douglas being unfaithful to her (learnt from news.bbc.co.uk on 9 March 2007)! Not only Catherine Zeta Jones but many young people marry with an eye on the several “m”s’ their partners may have: money, muscles, mobike and mobile. Cherry Walia’s stated, “Now all that matters (when it comes to the choice of a life-partner for Indian youth) is facts (cheque books) and figures (looks)” (quoted by Samar Halarnkar in India Today, 15 February 1999). This crass commercialization of “holy” matrimony is appalling, pal! Many believer girls of today would resent the way their parents “sold” them to their husbands the way Jacob’s wives did (Gen. 31:15). Sure, a couple needs money to set up a new home. In that case the attitude that both the newlyweds should have should be: “I bring what I have and you bring what you have. Contentedly, let’s begin our life together!” Recall the verse in Hebrews  “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have…” (Heb 13:5). Incidentally that verse comes immediately after a marriage-verse that goes “Marriage is honorable among all…” (Heb 13:4)!

7. Before you finalise the candidate you want to marry, seek GUIDANCE!

When even Godly parents go wrong
Samson and Esau threw away sound parental advice that in-effect was, “Do not marry an idol-worshipping pagan girl!” And their marriages were far from happy. Isaac was in compliance with his dad’s idea that their trusted servant should travel 400 miles to get a Yahweh-worshipping girl for him. The girl he married was a solace to him when his mom passed away. At the same time one must be careful not to merely nod his/her head to a marriage proposal which even godly parents may suggest. One of the most godly kings that ruled Judah, a man known for his desire to know the will of God, King Jehoshaphat arranged  his son Jehoram’s marriage to the daughter of his contemporary king in Israel. That marriage ruined his son’s life (II Chron 18:1/21:6). The girl Jehoshaphat’s son married was none other than Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who was out to kill all the surviving members of David’s family – the family handpicked by God to rule Israel forever (II Chron 21:5/22:2). Your spiritual leader – your pastor or Christian leader you respect – may be a good person to get guidance regarding marriage. Pastor Paul was quite involved in the marriage matters of his church (See I Corinthians 7/ Romans 7).

8. If a person you are cool with claims to love you, look for a GUARANTEE!

Playing the “Hard-to-get” game!
By the word ‘guarantee’ here I mean commitment. Too many girls (or guys) go head over heels when a guy (or a girl) comes and proposes marriage to them. They do not stop to check whether the boy shows evidence of his commitment to marry her. They do not cease to say to the concerned, “Don’t love me for fun, girl. Let me be the one, girl!” (as Boyzone group so eloquently put it - song lyrics as found in www.tsrocks.com on 9 March 07).  David’s love for Saul’s daughter was a love locked in commitment. Or else would he have killed 200 Philistine soldiers when his father-in-law wanted him to kill just 100 to marry his daughter (I Sam 18:25,27)?! Boaz’s affection for Ruth was quite deep. When the person who was supposed to marry her backed out, he stuck his neck out to marry her! Play the “hard-to-get” game – instead of saying “yes” to the first proposal you get at marriageable age – to sift the pure from the phony.  Take time to gauge the love of the commitment-shy chap swearing love to you  - see if he merely wants a weekend or a wife! Someone has smartly and correctly said, “Marry in haste and repent at leisure!”

If you follow the above steps, you can be assured that the partner you pick is God’s will for you. Keep these Bible principles in mind when your parents bring a marriage proposal for you and you can be certain that you will not miss out on God’s will for you! Don’t keep on postponing your life partner choice looking for the “perfect” partner! There isn’t one!

 

 

Love your neighbor as yourself……….

Love your neighbor as yourself……….

 

A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, and there is a mouse trap in the house." The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house." "I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?" So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mouse trap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk. Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

I belong to JESUS

 

 

Days will come by when people will be ashamed to say that they are Christians.

In today's world the most ridiculed and abused word is "Jesus" in so called Christian countries.

Because the devil has succeeded in bringing the confusion among them.

Isn't it a great challenge when the whole world is looking, you are not ashamed a bit to prove

that you BELONG TO JESUS for what He IS and for what He has done for us. 

Stand up for Jesus when ever you get an opportunity in your life for it is worth than anything else.

 

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith

 

 

 

Image: Kaka, FIFA World player of the year 2007, famously fell to his knees at the end of the 2007 Champions League Final revealing an 'I belong to Jesus' message. It came after his sublime performance helped AC Milan to a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Athens.

 

Let’s learn from potatoes………….

Let's learn from potatoes………….

A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates. So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had two potatoes; some three, while some up to five potatoes. Then, the teacher told the children to carry the potatoes with them in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the washroom) for one week. Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell that came out from the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having five potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After one week, the children were relieved, because the game has finally ended.... The teacher asked, "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through while carrying the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went. Then, the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said, "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what it is to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???" Summary of the story: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart, so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to have! True love is not loving a perfect person, but loving an imperfect person perfectly!!

Birthright in Christ

 

 

·         We plead for victory when Christ is in us as more-than-conquering life.

·         We beg for Holy Spirit as through He were not already indwelling us, as though He were not yearning for our consent to fill and control us and produce His fruit in our lives.

·         We pray for spiritual & emotional resources as though they were extra bonuses.

·         We forget that they are part of our “ birthright in Christ.”

Hope in the midst of Storm………….!

Hope in the midst of Storm………….!

 

I remember a true incident that took place during World War II when the German soldiers were preparing to attack the city of Holland. There lived an old lady with her only son in Holland. This lady had great faith in God from her very young age and looked unto God alone for everything she needed. She also taught her son to trust in God. One day she heard on the radio that the German soldiers are all set to attack the city that night and destroy it. The son, trembled with fear, asked her mom how God would let such a thing happen to someone who trusted in Him. Their house was at the entrance of the city and there was no way for them to escape the destruction. The mother, still strong in her faith, knelt down on her knees and prayed. She assured her son that God will protect them. That night, they heard great explosions outside the house. They also heard the soldiers marching outside entering each home and destroying it. To their surprise, not one soldier entered their house. They sat awake until dawn and by early morning German soldiers passed Holland. Then they went out to see why the soldiers surpassed their house without causing them any harm. Ah!! What a great scene to see, their home was completely covered with snow throughout the night. God had covered them with His protection throughout the night so that the soldiers could not see their house. That's how God works in a wonderful way, above our thoughts, To protect those who love Him and those who trust in Him….

Save your riches in Heaven

Save your riches in heaven……….

 

Alexander the Great, of Macedonia, was one of the greatest conquerors in human history. He established a vast empire spread over Asia and Africa and reached even the borders of India during his final conquest. At his deathbed, he instructed his close associates to leave his hands hanging free on either side of the coffin during his royal funeral process. That was to teach the world that he could carry nothing with him on his final journey. We fail to realize this truth till we reach the last moments in life. We waste a major share of our time, health and energy to amass fame, wealth and glory. Money may fetch us a bed, but not sleep; a car, but not safety; food, but not appetite; education, but not wisdom; medicines, but not health, a house but not a home; a violin, but not music. "Provide for yourselves purses that don't wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them and no moth can destroy them {Luke 12:33}.

anyone hears My voice and opens the door....

 

 

Someone’s call may be a blessing or even a curse for us; it actually depends on who is calling. Here is a wonderful example of a blessed call that brought healing, life and rejoicing..this was truly something to be happy about, something that would bring good cheer.

 

“Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”
And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

 

Mark 10:48-52

 

Dear ones, the calling of Jesus our Lord is so very important and so very blessed, however did we hear it, and if so..did we respond?

 

We have the Bible printed in almost every language found in this earth, we have churches all around us, we have people preaching the Word of God everywhere however did we hear the call of God?

 

Often we are like deaf people amongst a roaring crowd; we close our ears and hearts to the call of the Lord, to the will of the Lord. And what do we benefit with this? We do not at all, rather we lose, and we lose our peace & healing which the Lord wants to give us.

 

This is what the Lord says to us….

 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

 

Revelation 3:20

 

Yes Saints!!! The Lord is waiting for us to respond, so He can come into our lives with His healing and mighty blessings.

 

Let’s hear, respond and be blessed.

 

 

 

"Break my heart for what breaks Yours"

 “Break my heart for what breaks Yours”, the lyrics of the famous song Hosanna made me wonder what things really break God’s heart. Sometimes, we grieve or hang our harps on the grief tree for something selfish and petty that is often related to our own pride or family. Here’s a glimpse at what breaks God’s heart.

 

1. When people think and imagine evil all the time. In the days of Noah God people thought evil, imagined evil—from morning to night. The story isn’t very different today. Paul grieves over the many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. 2 Corinthians 12.20

God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. Genesis 6:5

2. When there are no shepherds; esus looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. He saw that people were so confused and aimless - they were, like sheep with no shepherd. Do we fall on our knees praying for more shepherds, and get to work like Jesus did? "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!" Matthew 9:35. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd.

At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them. Mark 6:32

3. He grieves with those who grieve: Jesus grieves when we experience a deep loss, and when we are left with no human help. Jesus was at a Funeral Procession, there was a large crowd and a widow’s only son was being carried out for burial.

When Jesus saw her, his heart broke Luke 7:11

4. When we turn our back on Him. We grieve the Holy Spirit. Saul was a king who once followed the Lord, but turned from him. Israel often turned away from God because of Idolatory. Isreal often returned to Idolatory.

But they turned on him; they grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned on them, became their enemy and fought them. Isaiah 63:10. It broke God’s heart. He walked off and left Shiloh empty, abandoned the shrine where he had met with Israel. Psalm 78:56. "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. 1 Samuel 15:11

5. He grieves over calamities and destruction. God relents concerning calamity and grieves over disasters. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." 2 Samuel 24:16. Jeremiah 42:10

'If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you.

When my heart breaks, may it be a reflection of God’s heart and an expression of His grief.

Who are you?

 

Knowing who we are and desiring always and working towards what we should be and not being a hypocrite is what the Lord God desires from us.

 

A Pharisee and a teacher of the law were blessed duties assigned by the Lord; however they who filled the positions positioned themselves as God and acted wickedly against God and His people. They knew they were corrupt, however they always portrayed to be self righteous thus displeasing the Lord God.

 

An honest witness is always acceptable in the Lord’s presence as John the Baptist was….

 

“And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
He said: “I am
      ‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
      “ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.””

John 1:21-23

 

John the Baptist knew who he was and did not try to misrepresent himself or to be as the crowd wanted him to be..his desire was to be what the Lord wanted him to be and he was so clear in his mission, he clearly knew the will of God in his life…

How about us? Do we know who we are and what the Lord want us to be? Or do we just fit in the image or life the crowd wants us to be in? Are we walking in the will of God always?

Dear Ones!!! The Lord has set a perfect and unique target for each one us, let’s know it and let’s try to achieve it with the Lord’s help and providence.

Let the face of God shine upon us.

People of God are blessed through God and thus they always have the best,

for the source of all their blessings is 'The best'..'The Lord God'.

 

"God be merciful to us and bless us,
         And cause His face to shine upon us."

 

Psalm 67:1

 

In the history of Israel, whenever the people of God were connected to God in prayer, God's favor was upon His people and they were always victorious.

 

It is in and through God that we always have our being.

 

It is said that in one of the civil wars in America, a woman approached Abraham Lincoln and said ."Mr. President, please do not worry, for God is on our side." to which Abraham Lincoln replied "I know God is with me, yet I am more concerned whether in all my doings am I on God's side."

 

God's providence and faithfulness is always there, yet we need to check ourselves always...

 

Our blessed Lord says this to us.....

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

John 15:5 

 

We need to abide in Him to be fruitful, we need His face to shine upon us to be blessed and that can only happen when we stay connected to Him, always living in His perfect will and always being on God's side in all we do.