Thy Will Be Done

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Thy Will Be Done

 

When he was in eighth grade, all Chuck Swindoll wanted for Christmas was a new basketball. His father, who worked in a machine shop, had made him an iron hoop for a basket. Chuck practiced until he could sink nine out of ten free throws, and he worked hard on a two-hand set throw. Then one November evening, his old tattered basket-ball burst. With six weeks to go before Christmas, he dropped numerous hints and did his chores with renewed energy, even volunteering to wax the kitchen floor! Sure enough, a brightly wrapped box appeared under the Christmas tree – the right shape, the right sound when shaken, and with Chuck's name written on it. He could hardly wait.

 

On Christmas Day, he tore at the wrapping only to discover a world globe inside it. It had no bounce to it. Disappointed at the time, Chuck has reflected back on this experience: "My mother's vision eclipsed my fantasy and became my reality. I still enjoy watching basketball but what really excites me is the idea of sharing our Savior with people in places like Singapore and Moscow, Delhi and Montreal."

 

What are your dreams? What dreams are you instilling in your dear ones? Are they God's dreams? Don't ask God what you think is good: ask Him for what He thinks is good for you. After this manner therefore pray ye… Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10.

 

Time for a Change

Time for a Change

 

Skier Jean-Claude Killy was ready to do whatever it took – no matter how hard the work – to be the best when he made the French national team in the early 60's. But after months of grueling practice, he recognized that his competitors were putting in just as much effort in the same kind of training. It was then he decided to step further and find different ways to ski faster rather than just working harder. He started testing every part of his racing techniques such as altering the accepted leg positions and using poles in unorthodox ways. Soon, his experiments resulted in an explosive new style that cut his racing times dramatically.

 

Within a few years, Killy won virtually every major skiing trophy and 3 gold medals in the 1968 Winter Olympics. Killy learnt an important lesson in creativity: Innovations don't require genius – just a willingness to question the norms and try something different. It's been said that one reason people eventually stop growing and learning is when they become less willing to risk failure by trying new ideas or experiences. Change can be difficult and uncomfortable. But if our ambitions are only to avoid the discomforts of life, we could soon find we have very little life at all.

 

God wants us to have the most joyful, fulfilling life possible, and sometimes that requires stepping out into the unknown. Is there a new idea you've been hesitant to pursue? You'll never know until you try. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1(NASB)

The Value of Disaster

The Value of Disaster

 

For 10 years Thomas Edison attempted to invent a storage battery. His efforts greatly strained his finances, then in December 1914, nearly brought him to ruin when a spontaneous combustion broke out in his film room. Within minutes all the packing compounds, celluloid fluid for records and film, and other flammable goods were ablaze. Though fire departments came from eight surrounding towns, the intense heat and low water pressure made attempts to douse the flames futile. Everything was destroyed. While the damage exceeded $2 million the concrete buildings thought to be fireproof, were insured for barely a tenth of the amount.

 

The inventor's 24-year old son Charles searched frantically for his father, afraid that his spirit would be broken. Charles finally found him, calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, white hair blowing in the wind. "My heart ached for him," said Charles. "He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, "Charles where's your mother?" When I told him I didn't know, he said, "Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as his lives." The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is a great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew." Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver the first phonograph."

 

With each new day, we have the opportunity to start again, to start fresh – no matter what our circumstances. Let the Lord show you how to salvage hope from debris. You never know what joys are ahead. We also glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. Romans 5:3 NKJV

You Are What You Think You Are

You Are What You Think You Are

 

Lou Holtz, famous football coach at Notre Dame, is a man known for winning – winning seasons, a lifetime winning record, a winning attitude. Holtz admits, however, that he didn't always have a winning attitude. Holtz's first job as a head coach was at the College of William and Mary. Upon reviewing the schedule his team faced, Holtz concluded that he didn't think his team could even be competitive. He was right. Week after week, his team lost. By the second year, Holtz felt he could field a competitive team, but he didn't believe the team could beat its powerhouse opponents. Again, the team did as expected – it never list a game more than six points, but it consistently lost to the "big" schools when winning mattered most to fans and recruits. Finally, Holtz realized what was happening. He concluded that confidence was the one factor that was making the difference. When the team played expecting to lose, it did. He made a life-changing decision: Expect the best from yourself and others, and then you won't be surprised when you get it.

 

What are you expecting from yourself? Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right. As he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

You Are What You Think You Are

You Are What You Think You Are

 

Lou Holtz, famous football coach at Notre Dame, is a man known for winning – winning seasons, a lifetime winning record, a winning attitude. Holtz admits, however, that he didn't always have a winning attitude. Holtz's first job as a head coach was at the College of William and Mary. Upon reviewing the schedule his team faced, Holtz concluded that he didn't think his team could even be competitive. He was right. Week after week, his team lost. By the second year, Holtz felt he could field a competitive team, but he didn't believe the team could beat its powerhouse opponents. Again, the team did as expected – it never list a game more than six points, but it consistently lost to the "big" schools when winning mattered most to fans and recruits. Finally, Holtz realized what was happening. He concluded that confidence was the one factor that was making the difference. When the team played expecting to lose, it did. He made a life-changing decision: Expect the best from yourself and others, and then you won't be surprised when you get it.

 

What are you expecting from yourself? Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right. As he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

A Hint of Eternity

A Hint of Eternity

 

Eternity is a difficult concept for us to grasp. In human terms, it seems a matter of time – or more accurately, timelessness. But eternity is more than a measure of time. Things said to be "eternal" have a quality of permanence. The benefits of eternity are not found solely in the hereafter; they provide an incredible sense of satisfaction in this life as well. Daniel Webster, one of America's most famous statesmen, once said: "If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work on immortal souls and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love for our fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten all eternity." 

 

In building your life, build with God toward everlasting life. Build your life to the glory of God and invest in your eternity. We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary but what is unseen in eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

 

Happy Resurrection Day

Happy Resurrection Day

 

Easter is more than a holiday; more than a symbolic celebration in honor of spring; more than bunnies and colored eggs and chocolate.  Easter is a message; a strong, clear, loud message from an All-Powerful and Loving God to a hopeless, lost, and dying generation of man.  Easter is actually about the greatest miracle that has ever occurred in the history of mankind, a documented, historical, miraculous fact. JESUS WAS DEAD… AND NOW, HE LIVES!  Easter is actually all about the power of the love of God; Easter is all about the power of RESURRECTION; HIS RESURRECTION POWER... TOWARD'S YOU.

 

Easter is all about that RESURRECTION POWER OF GOD, STILL AVAILALE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TODAY!  The same power that raised Jesus up and out from the 'deadest' kind of death is even more available to us now, simply for the asking! So never go just by what you think you know, what seems certain according to what you see with your natural eyes, or hear with your natural ears!  Never give up what is precious to you as dead and buried.  Make sure you get the full truth of the picture from the Word of God.  May Lord bless you on this auspicious day of Easter, and May it be a new beginning of greater prosperity, success and happiness. Wish you a Happy Resurrection Day!

Aashcharya Karudu - [Rojantha]

The Most Beautiful Flower

The Most Beautiful Flower

 

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read. Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree, Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn-not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose And declared with overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

 

The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need." But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it midair without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind. I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun As I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see.

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree, How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see. The problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, And appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose. And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

Story of Marble Statue and Marble Tile

Story of Marble Statue and Marble Tile

 

There was this museum laid with beautiful marble tiles, with a huge marble statue displayed in the middle of the lobby. Many people came from all over the world just to admire this beautiful marble statue. One night, the marble tiles started talking to the marble statue.

 

Marble tile: "Marble statue, it's just not fair, it's just not fair! Why does everybody from all over the world come all the way here just to step on me while admiring you? Not fair!"

 

Marble statue: "My dear friend, marble tile. Do you still remember that we were actually from the same cave?"

 

Marble tile: "Yeah! That's why I feel it is even more unfair. We were born from the same cave and yet we receive different treatment now. Not fair!" he cried again.

 

Marble statue: "Then, do you still remember the day when the designer tried to work on you, but you resisted the tools?"

 

Marble tile: "Yes, of course I remember. I hate that guy! How could he use those tools on me, it hurt so badly?"

 

Marble statue: "That's right! He couldn't work on you at all as you resisted being worked on."

 

Marble tile: "So???"

 

Marble statue: "When he decided to give up on you and start working on me instead, I knew at once that I would be something different after his efforts. I did not resist his tools; instead I bore all the painful tools he used on me."

 

Marble tile: "Mmmmmm......."

 

Marble statue: "My friend, there is a price to everything in life. Since you decided to give up half way, you can't blame anybody who steps on you now." Isaiah 64:8; And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.