Is Your God Dead?

A renowned Gospel preacher from Europe met with some awful problems in his ministry and was weighed down by despair. Days passed, but he had no upturn. Though his wife tried to console him and instill hope, it was in vain. One day, surprisingly, his wife appeared to Him in black clothes. It is the custom of European countries that people wear such dresses on the demise of somebody or for some funeral functions. So then, the husband asked with awe, 'who is dead?' "God! Who else?"

He was really surprised and did not understand what she was telling. So he asked her again… "Tell me, who is dead?" In serious tone, she replied with the same answer, "That God, whom you preach, is dead!"

Suddenly standing up from his seat, he shouted, 'Are you mad?' "I am not mad… You only preach that God is Almighty, all powerful and He will turn everything into good. Yet, you are in despair. If that God is alive, would He not intervene in your problems and solve it? If that God, who turns everything for good, is alive, would He not turn your failures into success? Then, is it not unfair that you're gloomy over your problems? I think you should worry this much, only when your God dies!"

He felt ashamed of his lack of faith hearing those words from his wife. Suddenly he fell on his knees and in loud voice, started praying the Apostle's creed… "I believe in God, the Father Almighty…" Relieved from his despair within a few minutes, he was filled with courage and strength.

Many times we think that our problems lead us to despair. Diseases, financial constraints, family problems, isolation… these troubles have no power to lead us to despair. But many times we loose hope in front of these difficulties. What could be the reason? Our look turns from God to the problems. When we always gaze at our problems, they become larger and our God becomes smaller. If we are not able to see the almighty God, the problems will start conquering us. Let us pray: Lord, I proclaim that you are the creator and owner of this universe. Nothing is impossible to You. I submit all my problems and worries in your hands.

For we walk by faith, not by sight

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises.

Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, a Great Spirit (God!) is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him. MORAL: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Road way to peaceful life

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played.

Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The King chose the second picture. Do you know why? "Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.

Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace." John 16:33 (NLT) "I have told you all this so that you may have 'peace' in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Burned Biscuits

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school... I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" Life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burned biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." God Bless You.

Mercy is empowering

Isn't it good to know that no matter what happened yesterday, no matter what you said, no matter what you did, God's mercy is new for you today? Mercy is empowering. It frees us to make the right choices and live in a way that is pleasing to God. We have to always remember that God is not condemning us. Romans tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. God wants to love us and equip us to overcome in this life.

Do you need new mercy today? Receive it by faith. You don't have to beg God to forgive you. He forgives you the first time you ask, but it's up to you to receive that forgiveness. Open your heart today and receive His mercy. Let Him wash over you with His peace and joy. Then choose to extend that mercy to others. Remember, you are God's representative in the earth. As you show His love and character to others, He'll pour out His blessing upon you and use you in ways you never dreamed! Heavenly Father, today I choose to receive Your mercy and forgiveness. Thank You for cleansing me of all unrighteousness. Thank you for making me new.

God surprises

Occasionally God surprises us by letting us find out how He used some word we spoke or action that we took years ago and perhaps forgot all about. About a century ago Stephen Grellat was led one day to go out to a heavily forested area of America to preach. It was a strong inward compulsion of the Holy Spirit. When he arrived at the loggers' camp, he found they had moved to another location, and their shanties were deserted. However, he was so sure he was sent by God that he went into an empty shanty and preached to the bare walls the sermon God had placed upon his heart. He then returned to his home, He could never understand why God would send him to preach to an empty shanty.

Many years later, as he walked across a bridge, a man grasped his arm, "I found you at last," the man said. "I think you are mistaken," said Mr. Grellat. "No, didn't you preach in an empty shanty in the woods years ago?" "Yes," Mr. Grellat admitted, "but no one was there." "I was the foreman in charge of the loggers," the stranger explained. "We had moved to a new location, before long I realized I'd left one of my tools behind. I returned to get it and heard a voice in one of the shanties; I peered through a crack between the logs and saw you.

You never saw me, but I listened to the rest of the sermon, God touched my heart that day and I became so convicted of my sins, that after some time I purchased a Bible, repented of my sins, and became a Christian, then I began to win my men to Christ. Your sermon has led over a thousand people to Christ, and three of them have gone on to become missionaries!"

King David – Hero of faith

But David said to Saul, "… Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NIV).

There are times when the trials, tests, and tribulations of life can seem too overwhelming for us to maintain our spiritual confidence. As we are hard-pressed on every side, we might even wonder how we can hold on to our confidence in the Lord at all. But as the Lord said to me during one particularly difficult trial, "Like David, remember the lions and the bears."

You never fail me, Lord. You never let me down. Help me to remember the lions and the bears of my own life, Father, that I may obey You in working out my own salvation and build up my confident trust in You again. In this world are many trials, tests, and tribulation, but You have overcome the world, Lord. No weapon formed against me shall prosper because greater are You in me then he who is in the world. Thank you, Abba, for guiding my eyes away from the problems and steering them once again to focus on Your promises, in Jesus' name, amen. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.

Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35, 36 NLT)

What Are You Dreaming About?

The agricultural school dean was interviewing a young man. "Why have you chosen this career?" he asked. "I dream of making a million dollars in farming, like my father," replied the young man. The dean was impressed. "Your father made a million dollars in farming?" "No," the student said. "But he always dreamed of it."

All right, that was corny. But at least this student has a dream, even if it is only a dream about money. I prefer the story of a man who was discussing with his wife a trip he wanted to take to Alaska. He told her he'd always dreamed of such an adventure. He wanted to travel deep into the wilderness. He wanted to rough it. He talked about how exciting it would be to stay in a log cabin without electricity, to hunt caribou and drive a dog team instead of a car.

"If we decided to live there permanently, away from civilization, what would you miss the most?" he asked his partner. She replied, "You." His dream; not hers. A better dream might include her. This is a time of year we often examine our dreams and goals. I've found a couple of questions helpful when I consider which dreams to chase and which to leave alone. First, does my dream have deep meaning? Or put another way; is it significant and important enough to commit my time and energy toward? What will it ultimately mean if I accomplish this thing I think I want? Probably the pursuit of prosperity alone will not bring the kind of meaning you desire at a deeper level.

The second question is similar. Does my dream spring from the best that is within me? Does it come from a place of love or altruism? Will my life and the lives of those I love be better for it? My best dreams include those I love. What are you dreaming about?

Permanently transformed…………..

Permanently transformed…………..

 

Most people have things in their lives that they want to change — old habits, addictions or something they want to overcome. The world offers so many "solutions" to improve your life; but really, the only way we are truly changed, the only way to be permanently transformed is by renewing your mind with the Word of God. The scripture tells us that we shouldn't follow the pattern of the world. What is the pattern of the world? It's the constant striving to do more, be more and have more that only leads to weariness, emptiness and frustration. That's not what God intends! Instead, focus your thoughts on the Word of God because when you make the Word your number one focus, something supernatural takes place. Only you can control the doorway to your mind. Nobody can do this for you. You choose what you meditate on and what you set before your eyes. I encourage you to stay on the offensive and diligently guard your mind and heart because when you do things God's way, you get God's results — life, peace and joy! "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will" Romans 12:2.

I Understand Your Pain...!

I Understand Your Pain……….

 

His lips were cracked, throat so dry, he couldn't swallow, and voice so hoarse that he could scarcely speak. He is thirsty. Why doesn't he do something about it? Did he not cause jugs of water to be jugs of wine? Didn't he, with one word, banish the rain and calm the waves? Doesn't the Scripture say that he "turned the desert into pools" (Ps. 107:35) and "the hard rock into springs" (Ps. 114:8). Didn't God say, "I will pour water on him who is thirsty" (Isa. 44:3)? If so, why did Jesus endure thirst on the cross? He didn't have to suffer thirst. Before the nail was pounded, a drink was offered. Because the wine was mixed with myrrh that contains sedative properties to numb the senses, he refused the drink. He refused to be stupefied by the drugs, opting to feel the full force of his suffering. Why did he endure all these feelings? Because he knew you would feel them too. He knew you would be weary, disturbed, and angry. He knew you'd be sleepy, grief-stricken, and hungry. He knew you'd face pain. If not the pain of the body, the pain of the soul, He knew you'd face thirst. If not a thirst for water, at least a thirst for truth, Because he understands, we can come to him. Suppose you were discouraged at your financial state. Would you go to the son of billionaire for guidance? Probably not, He would not understand. He's likely never been where you are. But, Jesus has been where you are and can relate to how you feel. And if his life on earth doesn't convince you, his death on the cross should. Our Lord does not patronize us or scoff at our needs. he responds "generously to all without finding fault"(James 1:5). So all who struggle, just listen to his invitation: "You can trust me."

Father's Blessings

Father's Blessings............

 

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.  Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.  Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him.  He had not seen him since that graduation day.  Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and gave all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.  He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.  With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.  And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.  It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL. There are often situations and times, when we forget to hug our parents, kiss and tell them that we love you, Most of us would agree that we assume our parents are their only to  provider family needs. From the time, when we worship our beloved pops for all that he knew and all that he could, we move on to become a rebellious teenager, when we make it a point to argue about everything and anything that they advises us. This Father's Day, show your Dad that how much you love and respect him and how much you care for him. Bible tells us in Exodus 20:12; Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  Let's start doing from today and live a happy and long life.

True happiness………

True happiness………….

 

Happiness does not mean living without pain or hurt—not at all. True happiness is learning how to live one day at a time, in spite of sorrow and pain. It is learning how to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what has happened in the past. You may feel rejected and abandoned. Your faith may be weak and you think you mare down for the count. Sorrow, tears, pain, and emptiness may swallow you up at times, but God is still on the throne. He is still God! Convince yourself that you will survive. You will come out of it and, live or die, you belong to the Lord. Life does go on and it will surprise you how much you can bear with God's help. You cannot help yourself or stop the pain, but our blessed Lord will come to you. He will place his loving hand under you and lift you up to sit again in heavenly places. He will deliver you from the fear of dying and he will reveal his endless love for you. Look up! Encourage yourself in the Lord. When the fog surrounds you and you can't see any way out of your dilemma, lie back in the arms of Jesus and simply trust him. He has to do it all! He wants your faith and your confidence. He wants you to cry aloud, "Jesus loves me! He is with me! He will not fail me! He is working it all out, right now! I will not be cast down! I will not be defeated! I will not be a victim of Satan! I will not lose my mind or my direction. God is on my side! I love him and he loves me!" The bottom line is faith. And faith rests on this one absolute: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…" (Isaiah 54:17).