Compassionate Blessings!!

Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave. ( 1 kings 8:56)

Someday we will understand that God has a reason behind every no. He gives us through the course of our lives. Yet even in this life, He always makes it up to us. When God’s people are worried and concerned that their prayers are not being answered, how often we have seen Him working to answer them in far greater way! Occasionally we catch a glimpse of this, but the complete revelation of it will not be seen until later.

If God says yes to our prayers, dear heart,
And the sunlight is golden, the sky is blue,
While the smooth roads beckons to me and you,
And songbirds are singing as on we go,
Pausing to pick the flowers at our feet,
Stopping to drink of the streams that we meet,
Happy, more happy, our journey will grow,
If God says yes to our prayer, dear heart.

If God says no to or prayer, dear heart,
And the clouds hang heavy and dull and gray;
If the rough rocks hinder and block the way,
While the sharp winds pierce us and sting with cold;
Yet, dear, there is home at the journey’s end,
And these are the trials the Father does send
To draw us as sheep to His Heavenly fold,
If God says no to our prayer, dear heart.

If only we had faith not to rush into things but to “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”(Ps 37:7)- waiting for His full explanation that will not be revealed until Jesus Christ comes again! When has God ever taken anything from a person without restoring it many times over? Yet what are we to think if He does not immediately restore what has been taken? Is today His only day to work? Does He have any concerns beyond this little world of ours/ can He still work beyond our death, or does the door of the grave open on nothing but infinite darkness and eternal silence?

Even if we continue out thinking to this life, it is true that God never touches the heart with a trial without intending to bestow a greater gift or compassionate blessing. The person who knows how to wait has grown to an exceptional degree in God’s grace.

When the frosts are in the valley,
And the mountaintops are gray,
And the choicest blooms are blighted,
And the blossoms die away,
A loving Father whispers,
“This all comes from my hand”;
Blessed are you if you trust
When you cannot understand.
If, after years of toiling,
Your wealth should fly away
And leave your hands all empty,
And your hair is turning gray,
Remember then your Father
Owns all the se and land;
Blessed are you if you trust
When you cannot understand.

I am not alone...

So often I felt, a stillness that was gripping around,

At the edge of life I was so often found!

For I willed myself for a fight,

Yet for so long this tunnel was devoid of light!!

Day upon day, as the sun went down,

Deep into my inner self, I let myself drown!

Into a horizon where thoughts of mine,

Played in the loneliness of my mind!!

From that far-fetched horizon,

From this barren season!

I wish I could rise,

I wish there is an answer to my cries!!

I wandered, and stumbled,

My pride crushed, hurting & humbled!

Defeated, and all at loss,

Finally, I found myself at the cross!!

Then I lifted my eyes and there I see,

Someone had been through all this much before me!

I needn’t have taken this entire grind,

For the one hung there, was loving & kind!!

For redemption on my own, I did everything I can,

But all I needed was to have found the son of man!

For all my mistakes & flaws,

He had already given Himself to the cross!

I just knelt and said a prayer for a moment

And there escaped all reasons to lament!!

For I found hope, and a reason

I found meaning to this mortal season!!

From that moment, when I become His

Life has changed into everything bliss

Now I know that I am not alone...

For He loves me, and I am all His own!!

Am I willing to let him go???

The cricket grounds and the milling crowds,

The Coffee Days and the ever so languid ways!

We met so often, and we were friends so thick...

Through good & bad, we'd always stick!!

We walked through the festivities & fairs,

Telling each other "Who cares"!

We ate lunch off each other’s plate,

Got bumped off college for being late!!

We roamed by night, in the lonely street,

And also by the mid-day heat!

Such was the blessing of a friend,

I'd always love him to the world's end!!

Yet when it comes to the judgment day,

My friend & I might be going a different way!

For I realize I was a big failure,

When it came to introducing my friend to my savior!!

I knew the Lord on the cross,

But this to my friend I never put across!

Its not easy and wont happen in a day,

So I’ll go down on my knees and begin to pray!!

Am I willing to let him go?

This dearest friend, am I willing to lose?

Then what stops me from sharing the good news??

The Lord's Most Awesome Creation!!

As the sun beats down its might,

I squint into the horizon

Its brilliance so awesome,

And radiance blinds my sight!!

As the rains continue to batter

I gaze out of my window,

And watch the rain drops,

Condense into a pool of water!!

In winter, the blast of cold,

Leave the hills frozen,

Breathtaking & majestic,

In words it could never be told!!

In all this how can you not see?

That for all wonders of seasons & days,

The Lords most awesome creation,

Remains the dust thats You & Me!!

The God Standard!!

And she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.

Genesis 21:10, 11

The Bible says that our God is a jealous God and that He does not share His glory with anyone, what it also illustrates amply is that our God is an uncompromising God – be it standards, expectations or fulfilling His Word.

In our complicated and complex lives, compromise is probably something none of us can ever escape, being able to ‘accommodate’ be ‘flexible’ are highly commendable virtues, and yet sometimes they don’t cut any ice with the uncompromising nature of our Lord. The circumstances could be any, the cost of following His path could be any, the difficulty in not compromising could be colossal and yet for nothing in the world, or outside it, would our God go back on His standards.

The above passage is a great example of such an uncompromising nature of God. God had promised Abraham a son, and yet Abraham (with Sarah’s advice) devised his own methods to fulfill God’s promise. Clearly, it went outside of God’s plan! God had his own plan of blessing Abraham with a son… and then fulfilling his promise of making Abraham’s descendants a Great Nation.

By resorting to his own ways, Abraham clearly put a spanner in God’s work. God wanted to give Abraham one child, who would take all his blessing; yet Abraham now ensured that he had two sons – both vying for Abraham’s inheritance.

Our human way of looking at would be to say, “now, what can be done… both of them are sons of Abraham, its but logical or fair that each get a share of his father’s inheritance” … And yet it is not how our God looks at it, He clearly had a plan and He is not compromising on it. He wants to bless Abraham and his descendants – but only in the way He has designed… not with the ‘surprises’ bought in by Abraham.

If Abraham wants the blessing then he had to “Get rid of the slave woman & son”, no doubt the child was Abraham’s own… and he clearly is distressed by such a thought (v. 11) and yet there is no compromise when it comes to God’s standards.

Be it work, friends, relatives, habits, studies… anything… when something doesn’t confirm to God’s standards He wants you to simply get rid of them. Easy or hard… distressing or displeasing, to be partakers in God’s abundant blessing it is simply imperative that we comply. And what happens when we comply is so amply clear from the blessed life that Abraham had since then.

Momentarily, he was distressed… but when he confirmed himself to God’s standards he came to be called ‘God’s Best Friend’... there was no count to the blessings in his life, and the momentary pain/distress never again is mentioned with his story! Centuries & millenniums later... we still fondly remember him as 'Father Abraham' all for the reason that he chose to gave up on what did not confirm to the standards of his Father !!

He Came, He Died, He Conquered!!

When He saw me in tears,
When He heard me cry!
Then He choose to give up heaven,
And on the cross He chose to die!!

For He understood my heartache,
And had seen my swelling sorrow!
For He knew of all my fears,
About that unknown tomorrow!!

So He traded all the trouble,
And took all my pain!
He stood by me through thunders,
Through the darkest clound & rain!!

For He came into this world,
And "I" was all He wanted to seek!
Great and mightly He was,
Yet for me, He chose to be meek!!

Then how could I forget all of it,
And Let His sacrifice in vain!
'Cos after Death came the third day,
When my victory was complete, As He rose again!!

The Glory Of The Cross

The Glory of the Cross is beyond description. The cross is the pivot as well as the centre of New Testament. The death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the centrality of Christianity.

Here is a question to ponder. Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas for money, not Pilate for fear not the Jews for envy, but the Father, for LOVE.

God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Remember always one central truth. That is, Jesus came into the world and died and rose again to save mankind from sin (matthew 1:12).

The passion and death of Christ demands our surrender to Jesus Christ. That is why Paul responded rightly when he declared "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Its apt to conclude this thought with the portion of an immortal hymn that is ever fresh and fragrant.

"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to your Cross I cling,
Naked, come to you for dress
Helpless, look to you for grace,
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour or I die.
Rock of ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee.............."

Practice Makes Perfect

"GO TO THE ant." Tammerlane used to relate to his friends an anecdote of his early life. "I once was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a ruined building, where i sat alone many hours." he said. "Desiring to divert my mind from my hopeless condition, I fixed my eyes on an ant that was carrying a grain of corn larger than itself up a high wall.I numbered the efforts it made to accomplish this object. The grain fell sixty-nine times to the ground; but the insect persevered, and the seventieth time it reached the top! This sight gave me courage at the moment, and I never forgot the lesson."

Rubenstein, the great musician, once said, "If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notices it." It is the old doctrine, "Practice makes man perfect." We must continue believing, continue praying, continue doing His will. Suppose along any line of art, one should cease practicing- we know what the result would be. If we could only use the same quality of common sense in our religion that we use in our everyday life, we should go on to perfection.

The motto of David Livingstone was in these words, "I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose." By unfaltering persistence and faith in God he conquered.

"Silently sat the artist alone,
Carving a Christ from the ivory bone;
Little by little, with toil and pain
He won his way through the sightless grain,
That held and yet hid the thing he sought,
Till the work stood up like a growing thought

Purpose Behind Darkness

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Matt 10:27

Our Lord is constantly taking us into the dark in order to tell us something. It may be the darkness of a lonely and desolate life, in which some illness has cut us off from the light and the activity of life; or the darkness of some crushing sorrow and disappointment.

It is there He tells us His secret- great and wonderful, eternal and infinite. He causes our eyes, blinded by the glare of things on earth, to behold the heavenly constellations. And our ears suddenly detect even the whisper of His voice, which has been so often drowned out by the turmoil of earth's loud cries.

Yet these revelations always come with a corresponding responsibility: "What I tell you.....speak in the daylight...proclaim from the roofs." We are not to linger in the darkness or stay in the closet. Soon we will be summoned to take our position in the turmoil and the storms of life. And when that moment comes, we are to speak and proclaim what we have learned.

This gives new meaning to suffering, the saddest part of which s often the apparent feeling of uselessness it causes. We tend to think, "How useless I am! What am I doing that is making a difference for others? Why is the 'expensive perfume'(John 12:3) of my soul being wasted?" These are the desperate cries of the suffer, but God has a purpose in all of it. He takes His children to higher levels of fellowship so they may here Him speaking" face to face, as a man speaks with his friend"(Exodus 33:11), and then deliver the message to those at the foot of the mountain. Were the forty days Moses spent on the mountain wasted? What about the time Elijah spent at Mount Horeb or the years Paul spent in Arabia?

There is no shortcut to life of faith, which is an absolute necessity for a holy and victorious life. We must have periods of lonely meditation and fellowship with God. Our souls must have times of fellowship with Him on the mountain and experience valleys of quiet rest in the shadow of great rock. We must spend some nights beneath the stars, when darknes has covered the things of earth, silenced the noise of human life, and expanded our view, revealing the infinite and the eternal. All these are as absolutely essential as food is for our bodies.

In the way alone can the sense of God's presence becoome the unwavering possession of our souls, enabling us to continually say, as the psalmist once wrote, "You are near, O Lord" Psalms 119:151.

Some hearts, like evening promises, open more beautifully in the shadows of life.

Watch For God!!!!

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me. Habakkuk 2:1

Without watchful expectation on our part, what is in waiting on God for help? There will be no help without it. If we ever fail to receive strenght and protection from Him, it is because we have not been looking for it. Heavenly help is often offered yet goes right past us. We miss it because we are not standing in the tower, carefully watching the horizon for evidence of its approach, and then are unready to throw the gates of our heart open so it may enter. The person who has no expectations and therfore fails to be on the alert will receive little help. Watch for God in the events of your life.

There is an old saying: "They who watch for the providence of God will never lack the providence of God to watch for." And we could turn the saying around as well and say, "They who never watch for providence of God will never have the providence of God to watch for." Unless you put the water jars out when it rains, you will never collect the water.

We need to be more businesslike and use common sense with God in claiming His promise. If a man were to go to the bank several times a day, lay his check at the teller's window, and then pick it up and leave without cashing it, it would not be long befor the bank would have him ordered from the premises.

People who got to the bank have a purpose in mind. They present their check, recieve their cash, and then leave, having transacted real business. They do not lay their check on the counter, discuss the beauty of the signature, and point out the lovely design on it. No, they want to receive money for their check and will not be satisfied without it. These are the people who are always welcome at the bank , Unlike those who simply waste the teller's time.

Unfortunately, a great many people also play at praying. They do not expect God to give them an answer, so they simply squander their prayer time. Our heavenly Father desires us to transact real business with Him in our prayer.

Your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18

All Things Work Together For Good

How many people are like birds with clipped wings! Life holds them enchained by some handicap. They feel they can never rise, and the temptation comes to settle down to despair or lassitude. But the spirit need not be earthbound. Its range is not restricted or its possibilities limited by physical handicap. Though he could not hear, Beethoven gave the world some of its finest music; Milton's blindness did not affect the noble range of his soul's vision. History has many instances of those who overcame handicaps because they lived in the spirit. Their souls were touched by an eternal flame, and any defect of body could not dim the light that was in them.

Sir Walter Scott is a brilliant example of grace and grit. He overcame lameness and misfortune, and instead of being crushed in spirit and defeated, he won out.

Charles P. Steinmetz, who rivaled Thomas A. Edison in his discoveries and inventions in the field of electrical engineering, was greatly deformed. He did most of his work half standing, half leaning upon a stool. However, he did not allow his handicap to embitter or discourage him. He knew he would have to fight his way. There was no personal popularity, no pleasant social contacts to speed him along. He tortured his brain into headaches and his eyes into burning balls of pain. Time after time he was defeated and undone, but Steinmetz kept climbing until he became the greatest electrical wizard of his time.

The march of progress is the conquering of impossibilities. The mountain that cannot be climed may be tunneled

Lean Upon......

The fact of our salvation does not depend upon our feelings. They are the least reliable of things to rest upon, they are treacherous and not to be trusted. As surely as we rest upon these frauds-our feeling-the Lord will see fit to withdraw them, in order that we may learn to rest upon Him. Therefore stay your faith upon Christ, not upon your most hallowed feelings, but upon Christ Himself and His written promises. Whenever you are in doubt, perplexed, and unhappy, go at once to the Lord and His unfailing Word, and God's truth will disperse any mists of darkness which surround your soul.

Let us learn to lean more upon the fact and less upon our apprehensions of it. We are to walk by faith and not by feelings.

Believe! and the feeling
may come or may go,
Believe in the Word, that
was written to show
That all who believe their
salvation may know;
Believe and keep right on
believing."

By believing, we do not make anything true that was not true before. We simply bring ourselves into accord with what is and has always been the truth. There are some who say that is true for us which finds us, or works in our case. But that only is true for us, when it finds us or works for us, which was true already in itself. There is an order, a divine order..... true, whatever we may think or deny, find or miss. Faith does not create this order. It realizes it. It is the loyal and loving acceptance of it. What we think and do is only a tardy response to the thought of God, and to what He has ever doing for us.

Practice The Presence Of God

What a warning lesson we have in the life of David who had slain Goliath but was nearly slain himself long after by a famous giant, and had to be rescued from the peril and shame by his men! Years of court life had gradually sapped his early vigour and simplicity, and when the "evil day" came, he was not able "to stand".

Are you in danger? Tell your Lord. Are you tempted? Tell Him. Did you slip by the way and grieve Him ? Tell Him. Never wait for the evening hour for confession and forgiveness. Pardon waits for your confession; make it immediately, wherever you are, in the train, in the office, on the street, amid the busy rush of the busy day, express your need in prayer. Practice the presence of God and speak to Him under stress and strain at every point whenever you feel you are burdened or in need.

I cannot snap my own chains or slay my own enemies. Thou knowest temptation, for Thou wast tempted. Thou knowest how to succour me in my hour of conflict. Thou canst save me from sinning,and save me when I have sinned. It is promised in Thy very name that Thou wilt do this, and I pray Thee let me this day verify the prophecy. Save me unto holiness of life, that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me abundantly!

"When temptation assails you, when the enemy pours in upon your soul, then be as the bird and seek the heights." "Flee as a bird to your mountain."

Who knows a mountain? One who has trod its cloud-swept summit alone with God!

The Confident Hope

Over the years, each time we have seen new attacks upon the name of Christ. I have drawn much comfort from an essay by the noted English writer F. W. Boreham. It is beautifully titled "The Candle and the Bird". Boreham makes the comment that God's presence is more analogous to a bird than it is to a candle. When a candle is extinguished, the light goes out. But when a bird is driven away, it only leaves to sing on another bough.

Even as England was becoming barren of a godly influence, the Moravians were raised up in Germany. From that movement missionaries were sent to the ends of the globe. But the Moravian movement began to wane. Had the light been extinguished?? No, the bird was singing on a different bough. Later in the century it was William Carey who set foot in India on the very day that the cross was being burned in France. While Volraire and hostile philosophers had done their work and Europe was threatening slaughter against gospel, William Carey, with a Bible in one hand and the annals of Moravian Mission in the other, was going to touch the heart of India. And as Scotland saw its heros fade, suddenly the voice of Charles Haddon Spurgeon rang out from London to thousands at home and abroad.

No, the light is never extinguished. As a bird, it has sung its song from different boughs. I am convinced that as dark as it may seem to us, there are strains of a melody beginning. The Lord of history may well be tuning His instruments as never before. Let us not look at the dark side. The bird is singing its song. But the melody must first be sung in each of our hearts. The philosopher may debate. The skeptic may scoff. Experience may be deceptive. But the Word of God abides forever, and that Word has shone upon the face of our Lord Jesus Christ.

....while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light,
In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
But westward, look, the land is bright!!

What If…. ?????

God did not say: I love you

God did not say: I forgive you

God did not show his mercy on you

God says I’m busy

God did not say: "I WILL GIVE YOU REST". (MATTHEW 11:28-20)



God did not say: "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU." (HEBREWS 13:5)



God did not say: "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT." (2 CORIN 12:9 & PSALM 91:15)



God did not say: "I WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS." (PHIL 4:19)





Well, it’s hard to think, our life would have been very miserable otherwise.



Did you respond to this wonderful calling of His? If you were ignoring this call all this while or never heard it. My dear today is the day…answer his call



Rev 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Changed

I presume everybody has known saints whose lives were just radiant. Joy beamed out of their eyes; joy bubbled over their lips; joy seemed to fairly run from their fingertips. You could not come in contact with them without having a new light come into your life. They were like electric batteries charged with joy.

If you look into the eyes of such radiantly happy person- not those people who are sometimes on the mountain top, and sometimes in the valley, but those who are always radiantly happy- you will find that everyone is a man or woman who spends a great deal of time alone with God in prayer. God is the source of all joy, and if we come into contact with Him, His infinite joy comes into our lives.

Would you like to be a radiant Christian? You may be! Spend time in prayer. You cannot be a radiant Christian in anyother way. Why is it that prayer in the name of Christ makes one radiantly happy? It is because prayer makes God real. The gladdest thing upon earth is to have a real God! I would rather give up anything I have in the world, or anything I ever may have, than give up my faith in God! You cannot have vital faith in God if you give all your time to the world and to secular affairs, to reading the newspaper and to reading literature, no matter how good it is. Unless you take time for fellowship with God, you cannot have real God. If you do take time for prayer you will have real, living God, and if you have a living God you will have a radiant life.

Of all the lights you carry in your face,
Joy will reach the farthest out to sea.

My Speech Shall Distil As The Dew....

There is a beauty of language, just as there is a beauty of face. There is harmony of words, Just as there is harmony of sky and stars, green foliage, and crystal waters. There is a delicacy of speech, just as there is a delicacy of tints in the masterpiece on canvas, in the shimmer of light on the dewdrop, in the semi-transparent petal of the woodland flower.

Beautiful nature is the robe of God, woven on the loom of His everlasting word.

The beautiful word, placed in the depths of mind, beautifies the language of life. Kind words, firm words, tender words, righteous words, loving words, draw on these elements of God, bringing them to bloom in human life, as the wick draws the oil and produces light.

The beautiful word makes beautiful faces, beautiful manners, beautiful lives.

WATCH YOUR WORDS
Keep watch on your words, my darlings,
For words are wonderful things;
They are sweet, like the bees' fresh honey,
Like the bees, they have terrible stings.

They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,
And brighten a lonely life;
They can cut, in the strife of anger,
Like an open, two edged knife.

May peace guard your lives, and ever
From the time of your early youth,
May the words that you daily utter
Be the words of beautiful truth.

Select your words as you would choose flowers for a friend. Be a model in the art of fine speech.
"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Ps 141:3)
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strngth, and my redeemer." (Ps 19:14)

Neither Give Place To Devil

We are to leave a vacant place for the devil. He is always on the lookout for the empty moment, the unoccupied circumstance, in which he can obtain a foothold and begin his nefariuos work. Our only safety is to fill everything with holy purpose and achievement; to fill it so full of God that there is no room left for the foe.

When we delay the performance of a duty we are giving place to the devil. When we say to the Lord, in answer to His command, "Suffer me first to...." we are offering the unfilled place to the devil. He loves the delays of Christian, their dilatoriness, their reluctance, their postponements and adjournments, because in the vacant hours he builds his own abode. If my brother has aught against me and I delay the rectification of the wrong, the wrong is aggravated and embittered, for the devil has used the delay to extend his evil dominion.

When we do our duty half heartedly we offer the other half as a place for the devil. He loves the half hearted, for they always provide him a home. They offer only a room or two to the Lord, and he takes the rest for himself. So that even our partial consecrations give him a foothold and he uses it to extend his boundaries. A maimed discipleship always offers chances to the devil, and he leaps at the smallest chance. Give him an inch, he will begin his work as though he had a mile, and a mile he will soon have! Give him a empty port, and soon he will have a country. Only let him land, and he will never rest till his invasion is complete.

Break up, oh, break up the font, my God, and stir the soul of me,
As I have seen Thee loose Thy winds and stir the mighty sea.
When calm is settling over my life, and listlessly i strive,
Tear loose the bonds the bind me, Lord, and shake my soul alive.

He Is Altogether Lovely

What a glorious fact it is that there is one life that can be held up before the eyes of humanity as a perfect pattern! There were lips that never spoke unkindness, that never uttered an untruth; there were eyes that never looked aught but love and purity and bliss; there were arms that never closed against wretchedness or penitence; there was a bosom which never throbbed with sin, nor ever was excited by unholy impulse; there was a Man free from all undue selfishness, and whose life was spent in going about doing good.

There was One who loved all mankind, and who loved them more than Himself, and who gave Himself to die that they might live; there was One who went into the gates of death, that the gates of death might never hold us in; there was One who lay in the grave, with its dampness, its coldness, its chill, and its horror, and taught humanity how it might ascend above the grave; there was One who, though He walked on earth, had His conversation in heaven, who took away the curtain that hid immortality from the view, and presented to us the Father God in all His glory and in all His love.

Such an One is the standard held up in the Church of Christ. The Church rallies round the Cross and gathers around Jesus; and it is because He is so attractive, and lovely, and glorious, that they are coming from the ends of the earth to see the salvation of God.

Majestic sweetness sits enthroned
Upon the Savior's brow;
His head with radiant glories crowned,
His lips with grace o'erflow.
Since from His bounty I receive
Such proofs of love divine,
Had I thousand hearts to give,
Lord, they should all be Thine.

The Confessions Of Clay

Until Your Wounded Foot found me in dirt
Unwanted and unliked, wayside I laid and fret
Scorned and trampled by guilt and shame
Lost in solitude with humiliated name

Your touch, your care and your grace
And the loving gaze, I saw on your glowing face
I don't merit this marvelous love, in silence, I weep
Oh! You've pulled me out from such deep

I was, then, raw, rugged and shapeless
To offer, I had in me, nothing priceless
You carried me, yet, to your refining room
From the chasms of separation, I am now Home

So tearful, so demanding, Your refining wheel
From the dross of my dreams and desires of soul
Fire of Cross to bear in every step forward
Cleansed to be used for you, my eternal reward

You are my designer, the transfomer of my past
You pursue the forgotten and seek the weak and lost
I will be the vessel that ever carries your glory
Letting the world see your abundant grace in my story.

Cultivating Christian Character

We live in a post-modern world. The greatest need of the hour is the availability of men of character. Universities and colleges focus on knowledge and the development of skills. Children and youth who focus only on knowledge and developing skills will not be prepared for a fulfilling life as adults.

Life demands more than knowledge and skill. Athletes must respect others or they will be ejected from the game. Business professionals must operate ethically or they may be imprisoned. Parents must model good values or their children may bring them shame. In addition to knowledge and skill they need to cultivate good character.

What is character? Character is the array of chosen values on which as person's moral or ethical actions and reactions are based. Good character helps a person resist destructive influences, and burning temptations.

Good character inspires a person to build lasting and stabilizing relationship.

The Bible says "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; all things have become new". But we know, even after rebirth, we are not free from anger, jealousy, covetousness, lust of the flesh, lust of eye and pride of life and the like. It was easier for the Israelites to get out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of them! To develop a distaste for the Egyptian onions and garlic was not easy (Num 11:5) They had to struggle. So also in Christian life we don't grow from boyhood to adulthood over night. Having tasted the mercy of God and the milk of His Word, we must take conscious and consistent effort to develop a dislike for all malice(1 Peter 2:1-3). Let us long for Christ like character. It is good to sing the following chorus as the day breaks everyday:

Change my heart O, God
Make it ever true
Change my heart O, God
May I be like you
You are the potter
I am the clay
Mould me and make me
This is what I pray....

'Behold I Will Do New Thing'

God is our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. Once He created heaven and earth, animals, plants, trees and finally He created man and woman. Remember our God is ever active. Though He created the whole universe in seven days, He takes several years to make a man whole. He breaks, melts, moulds, shapes and makes us walk in the newness of life. We are the clay and He is the potter. Allow Him to mould us into His image. In the Bible there is a beautiful picture of a new day in our life. "My beloved spoke, and said to me "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes gives us a good smell, rise up, my love, my fair one and come away! O my dove, in the cliffs of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voices; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his folk among the lilies. Until the day breaks and the shadow flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether(Song of Solomon 2:10-17).

Renewal of life is not available in a supermarket, beauty parlour not even in a university. The answer is always very simple. Newness of life is recieved through new birth from above, baptism in the water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit. In the words of Watchman Nee, the famous Chinese Christian leader "Sit, stand and walk" is the secret of a renewed life. Take time to sit with the Master Jesus Christ, stand against all tactics of the enemy Satan and the work, walk with God.

Prayer: Father, God, I yield myself to you, I beseech you to do a new thing in my life.

God's Deadly Sience !!

For a believer in Christ the relationship with God is a living relationship because it is a relationship with the living God. This living relationship is possible because God and the worshipper are always in the talking terms. The worshipper talks to God in worship, prayer and meditation. And God responds in various ways: sometimes by giving them great joy with his presence, sometimes by answering prayers and sometimes by endowing them with with the "peace that transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:4) in order to pass through the difficult patches in their life.

NOW READ ON........

God's word creates! that's what we learn from the first chapter of Genesis. Peter summarizes the whole thing in just one verse: "But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water" (2Peter 3:5)

God speaks because he is the living God. He speaks to guide his people, to tell what is going to happen, etc. False God's cannot speak or reveal themselves to their followers because they are dead. Psalms 115 describes what is dead gods like:
"But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses but cannot smell; they have hands but cannot feel, have feet but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. (Psalms 115:4-8)."

However, there are times when this relationship turns to a monologue. At times we don't hear God speaking to us. The psalmist in Psalms 28 is going through that experience and he expresses his fear in verse 1: "If you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit(meaning: grave)." Many times we don't care when we haven't heard from God! However, a person like this psalmist cannot afford to live without hearing God's voice daily. I wish I had this longing for the voice of God and dependence on a living and speaking God.

The Glorious Coming

One day, In the Evening....
The cows in the fields were grazing quietly,
Playing around too, but attentively,
Every creature on earth were hurrying,
Their ears positioned as if alert, waiting....
Is It Today?

Doctors went around treating their patients,
Busy world manufacturing tech-chip students,
Geologists, scientists, around the earth running,
But His Chosen had their prepared hearts daily saying....
Is It Today?


Apparently.....



The clouds began to part, brilliant light braking through,
Mighty mountains shudder, water flow stilled,
Trees bend, the whole universe suddenly getting quieter, then,
A sudden cry of a newborn leaf was heard....
Is It He?

The creation began to shake and tremble,
For it knows its Holy Creator well,
Skies break, seas roar, earth tears, the core begins to melt,
Confusion turns its head and screams.......
Is It He?


Suddenly.....



Lightening flashes and thunder shouts, "Holy!!"
Angels in rows cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy!!"
Wordly eyes strain to see, its ears keen; they're shocked and awe,
But His Chosen smile a knowing smile, for they know,
It Is He!

Pillars holding the earth snap in fear, at the cry of the Angels,
"He is Power! Wealth! Wisdom and
Strength, Honour, Glory and Praise to Him!!"
Living Book opens, Graves break, Holy martyrs sing,
It Is He!


Behold....



The eyes of Flaming Fire blazed as He looked,
Reflecting the white snow like hair,
Seven lighted torches burning before the Holy Throne,
Peals of Thunder broke as He opened His mouth,
Calling his Chosen....
"Come, It Is I,
Alpha and Omega!!"



Dear friends are you ready? There is no time left. Jesus is coming soon.....
Lets gather the huge harvest for the Kingdom of God.... till we hear him
tarry not: Dont miss his call.

What If......? What If......? What If .............??

What if.....?
God couldn't take the time to Bless us today
because we could not take time to thank Him yesterday.....

What if.....?
God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because
we didn't follow Him today.....

What if....?
God didn't walk with us today because we failed
to recognize it as His day.....

What if......?
We never saw another flower bloom because we
grumbled when God sent the rain.......

What if......?
God stopped loving and caring for us because we
failed to love and care others........

What if......?
God took away the Bible tomorrow, Because we
would not read it today......

What if.....?
God took away His message because we failed to
listen to His message......

What if....?
God met our needs the way we give Him our
lives.......

What if.....?
God didn't send His only begotten Son because He
wanted us to prepare to pay the price of sin....

What if.....?
God answered our prayers the way we answer His
call to service.....

What if.....?
The door to the church was closed because we did
not open the door of our hearts.....

What if.....?
God would not hear us today because we would
not listen to Him yesterday.....

What if.....?
We failed to pass this message on.......

Dying To Live, Sorry I am Too Busy

The success of life lies in how much one learns from the events in history and from the mistakes of those who trod the face of the earth before we did. But history repeats itself.

The ability to learn from our failures seems to be vanishing.

The turmoil and tension prevailing in the individual, the family and the society at large is a pointer to this fact. Everybody is dying to live and we are too busy that we do not have the time to think of our actions, failures and triumphs.

No one has the time to appreciate neither the stars nor the ocean. The daily walk to the office may be through garden but there is no appreciation of the flowers. We are so busy that we can never think of appreciating neither our neighbors nor childrens around. Yet we find time to criticize!!

This mad rush to succeed is taking away even the magic of childhood. The kids are overburdened and pushed to the limits so much so that they get tired of it. We are trying to churn out super kides in the process we dress them in adulthood while they are still kids. We have the best intentions, of course. We want children to be happy; we equate happiness with success. And we fervently believe that success won't come unless we give the child a head start-a jump on the competition as it was.

"Why are we so keen to mould children into successful adult, instead of treasuring their genuineness and carefree innocence?"

Teenage and Youth bereft of innocence leads to trying short cuts and programs to acheive fame and success. The Youths have completely missed the mark in defining happiness. Who is responsible?

Filling we with programs and schedules is just activity and carries no gain.

It is either too late or never that one realizes the fact that peace lies within the mind and that it is not based on the extent of riches, beauty or of education that one possesses. If we are too busy to attend church, too busy to read our Bibles, too busy to minister to the needs of those around us. In our lives we are simply too busy!! To be busy is not a sin, to be too busy can be.

The danger in being too busy lies in not allowing quality time for God, or family, our neighbors, and ourselves. If our lives are such that we push God and our loved ones aside, or that we refuse to help others because we simply can't find the time. we need to re-evaluate our schedules.

It is never too late to understand that the meaning of life is in knowing Jesus.


To know Him requires time and passion.


Slow down and think about it.

Are you too busy???

Change My Heart Oh God !!!

Developing Christian Character should be the goal of our llife. Every genuine servant of Christ will be happy whenever someone says I want to be like Christ. One trait that made Jesus different from others is humility. There are very few things asa beautiful as humility. It is one of the most important character traits we can have. Humility is the opposite of pride and arrogance.


Humility is defined as being submissive, not proud or arrogant. It also means to be respectful and meek and to have a modest opinion of one self. Paul said that we are to show true humility to all men (Titus 3:2)


We are instructed: "Do nothing out of our selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than you (Phil 2:3). God wants us to seek humility and righteousness. To be humble is to recognize the truth about our own inadequaces and shortcomings and the truth about His perfect will for our lives. God has strong warnings for the proud and great comfort for the humble. God said, "I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible (Isa 13:11)". This is the one I esteem, he who is humble and contrite in spirit and tremble at my word (Isa 66:2)


The ultimate example of humility was Jesus. Jesus did the most humble act of all time when he suffered the humiliation of the Cross. Jesus' entire life was one of humility as He took the form of a servant. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart (Matt 11:29)". Ephesians 4:2 tells to follow Jesus' example and be completely humble and gentle

Letter from Heavenly Father

My child, I tell you, My arms are lonely for you. I am weeping: for I have
so much to give unto you! Why will you not receive it? I long for you to
know the depths of My love.


Even My blood has been shed for you! How much more can I tell you of
My love? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends” (John 15:13).


Do you think this is a longing to get? Rather, it is a longing to give. Do you
think that I have any lack? Rather, you have a very great lacking in your
heart, one that only I can fill - one that I long to fill. You say that I am your Savior you confess the name of Jesus Christ, and you do well yet why is it that do you not seek Me with all your heart?


“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
-Colossians 3:2-3


Will you use Me only for your gain? I love you more than you can possibly
imagine, and I delight to give you My salvation - yet why do you purpose
in your heart to use Me only for your own gain?


Beloved, you called to Me and asked for mercy, and without fail I answered
you, and I imparted unto you My salvation. Yet soon thereafter, you turned
your face from Me, continuing in your old ways, and looking to your old
loves. Why have you dealt so treacherously with Me when I have been so
faithful to you? Do you not know that I can and will give you so much more
than all others?1 I want only to give. I want only to bless. Yet when I come
Your adulteries sting Me, and your cheatings are as bitterness to Me. In My
embrace, I will only love, and only heal, and only bless - yet you only turn
from Me. Your sayings are continually, “forgive me,” and “I am sorry.” Yet
you turn to Me only half-heartedly.2 You are a faker., for you do not love
Me as you ought.


Truly, even those things which you call “good” are vile to Me, so long as
they steal away your love from Me. Oh My love! I am jealous over you with
a burning and fiery jealousy! Have I not bought you with a very great
price? I have purchased you with My very own blood!4 Why then do you
give your love to another? Why will you not trust Me with all your heart?


I am your ever-faithful, ever-true, ever-patient, and ever-merciful Father


“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people,
which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own
thoughts;” -Isaiah 65:2


I bring only freedom. I am only salvation. I am light, and in Me
is no darkness at all.


I long to give you My love. I long to bless. I long to comfort you. I long to take
away your deep sorrows. Yet how can I if you refuse Me? I offer you My
heart, yet you refuse even My hand.
Truly, your heart is a special and dear throne to Me, and yet you cast Me
down and out with your own selfishness, and with the ones you love. You
cast Me out, and fill your beautiful temple with abominable and repulsive
things. You cast down your very Creator


My rebellious yet ever-beloved child, how I still love you! How My heart
still pulses for you! Would it not be much more pleasant to return unto Me
in all faithfulness? Return to Me, and I will heal you. Return, and turn to Me with your whole
heart, and do not cling to your old ways, nor to your old loves. I will give
to you all that you will ever need, even more: your cup shall run over.


Compiled by:
Sandhya Mani

Watchman What A bout The Night

The world is being overtaken by the night which is full of malicious things. We, as believers tend to stumble during this period. But God the Almighty expects us to be like "Watchman". Watchman is a person, who in the right perceptive guards in the city from destruction, theft or robbery and other immoral things. If he falls asleep, the city falls into havoc. Do you want such a thing to befall in our city? The redeemed one of the Lord have to stand steadfast during this blackened night and not being lost in ones way to the eternal abode.

The Believer as "Watchman" should:
- Put on the full armour of God to withstand the schemes of the Devil
- Watch and pray lest you be trapped in the net of this world
- Intercede for the unrighteous generation to gaurd your territory from immorality
- Withstand all the variations in the spiritual atmosphere
- Be a light to the stumbling ones.

The night is nearly over; the day is fast approaching. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light (Romans 13:12). Our Lord Jesus, the son of righteousness will soon appear and the rewards are in his hands. Let us be eligible to receive those rewards and not be ashamed of in his presence. Will our hands be empty on the day? Morning is near, let each of us carry out our responsibility as a "Watchman" and be prepared to receive our wages from our master.

Look To The Man Of Nazareth

Teachers are the precious gifts of God. In fact they were role models to their students. Now a days the standard of teachers have come down. In order to boost the morale of the community of teachers in India, we celebrate the birthday of late President of India Dr. Radhakrishnan as teachers day(Sept. 5).

Once Paul Sudhakar as a student asked Dr. Radhakrishnan, "who is the greatest teacher whom I can follow in my days to come?" Though he himself was not a Christian he replied, "Jesus Christ is the eternal teacher for any man to follow". Later Paul Sudhakar, an orthodox Hindu became an ardent believer and a famous evangelist in the last century.

1979 was declared as international year for children by the United Nations Organisation. It has chosen a solgan for the same year. It reads "look to the man of Nazareth". At the age of 12 Jesus went to the synagogue and learned from priests and scribes. A good teacher will always be a good student. The priest and the scribes were amazed by the wisdom of Jesus. There is no generation gap in the process of learning. We learn from the learned and the elders. We can learn from children and also of the youth. "There are a few things on earth as beautiful as a university" (John F Kennedy)

Nevertheless the Oxford, the Cambridge even the Harvard may fail to impart instructions to modern students to lead a righteous life. The foot of Jesus Christ is the best and reliable university available at all times. Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher whom we can follow. As we follow him as Saviour and Lord we can be like Him.

Don't Give Up............

One day i decided to quit.....
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality..... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer suprised me.....
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light, I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. he said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant....But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
Iwill never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said
"The bamboo had different purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
'As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
Tell the problem how Great the Lord is!!!

Christ Is All And In All

Christ divided History into two: AD and BC making History become "His Story". Whether one realizes or not everyone is associated with AD or BC directly. To get a passport or to register a child in school, an acceptable date of birth must always have "In the Year of Our Lord". No contract, no transaction no cheques not even a letter put in mail box is valid without a stamped date thereby acknowledging "the year of our Lord" and His lordship over very action that takes place in universe. Apart from Jesus the Universe remains a riddle and History an engima and the Bible a dead latter- Why? Jesus said "All authority has been given to me on heaven and on earth" Matthew 28:12. All things were made through Him and without Him

nothing was made that was made.- John 1:3

To the inner circle of His people, Christ is everything. Those who know Him best love him most. Those who make a clean break with sin and the world for His sake find Him in all. Christ is everything to us in our relationship with God. The natural man may scorn when he hears the gospel of Salvation through the substitutionary work of Christ Jesus on the cross. Those who know Him have proved that there is real salvation to be foound only in Him.

He is our constant Companion, Counselor, Confidant, Our indewlling sympathizer, Sustainer, Sanctifier, Satisfier, Our never failing refuge in every crisis, disappointment and trial. He is our secret source of strength and cheerfulness for day to day hum-drum routine and testings. He guides us and guards us. He shares our life with us through sunshine and shade, lining every cloud of sorrow with heavenly gold and painting a rainbow of reassurance over every stormy sky. through our pilgrim way He is a "friend that sticketh closer than a brother" with glorious love surpassing that of Jonathan for David. And, oh He is so much more than what we can ever outwardly express. As the text says,"Christ is all. He is both divine and human, He is both loving and Almighty and his power which upholds the Universe, yes Christ is All. People of the world still cry "Away with Him" But heaven says "One died for All".

Use Or Lose!!

"For whosoever hath, to him shall be given..... but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even he hath: matt 13:12.

What we will not use, we thereby lose. That is a fundamental principle of all life. "The real joy of life" says our great Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru,"is to work for a great purpose, to understand it and put all the strength and energy of an integrated personality into it. Therein you will experience the full joy of achievement."

How invariably the above law works in the natural realm! We cover one of our eyes for six months, and it is seriously weakened. We keep a fractured arm in a sling for eight weeks, and it becomes thinner, weaker and slower. Ascetic men, who have held an arm upright for weeks, months, years until it has become atrophied and gangrenous simply through disuse. There is a white wish in certain American waters which for centuries now has lived nearly a thousand feet below the surface, and although it is found to have eye-organs it is quite blind.

The same law operates even in the mechanical world, as any motorist or mechanist knows. Every where this principle is stamped upon life and things "use or lose".

To bury our talent is not preservation, but mortification. The above law is applicable to spiritual realm also. Man has dual nature, physical and spiritual. To sustain his body, man has to consume 128 cubic feet oxygen for a day. If he does not use oxygen he will lose his phyiscal life. For eternal life man has to lay hold on Jesus Christ. Laying hold is metaphor of faith. We are to "lay hold" upon Jesus Christ as a man lays hold on suddenly discovered treasure; aor as man dying of thrist lays hold upon the flask of water which his rescuers bring; or as the drowning man lays hold upon the life-line; or as the ivy lays hold upon the rocks or timbers.

We are to "lay hold" upon Him by laying hold of His promises in the Gospel; "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" if you miss it you will lose it. To lay hold on eternal life is in reality laying hold on Christ Himself, for He is eternal life. That is why it is written "He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the son of God hath not the life".

Triumphal Procession

Asia is a continent of festivals. It is said that Nepal has got the largest number of festivals. There will be atleast one festival within a fortnight. Do festivals give us lasting joy? The joy of the festival lasts for a day. At the end of the festival, joy ends and gloom and even despair set in.

We live in a world of endless pain. God can convert our world into endless joy in Holy Spirit. God has done a unique work on the cross of Calvary. The death of Jesus Christ is not a defeat but victory. Though Judas, pilot, roman soliders, Jews and even the whole humanity is responsible for his death, it was ordained by God

The Bible says, "in this way God took away Satan's power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ's triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away(Colossians 2:15) the famous hymn writer sings,
"I'll never know how much it costs
To see my sins upon the cross...."

Today, man is between Christ and Satan. Even if you possess the whole world, without Christ you are part of the world of endless pain. With Christ in your heart you will experience his triumph at the cross as part of your life. "But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."(2Cor 2:14)

Return To The Word Of God

John F Kennedy, the American President of the 1960's said once, "There are few things on the earth as beautiful as a university." Martin Luther, the morning star of Reformation boldly said about 400 years ago, "The school and college where the Word of God is not taught will become gates of hell." It is a thrill to see Cambridge and Oxford in England. Most of the Colleges under these universities are named after some of the Biblical saints like St. John, St. James, St. Mary and so on. Most of the colleges were attached to Chapel or a Church. Along with the best secular education sacred scriptures were provided by the college chaplains. Today the focus has been changed. The moral dimension is missing.

Though we live in a age of knowledge and information, the ethical and moral foundation are shaking. Everyman is sin stained and modern societies sex saturated in the world. The whole world is heading towards a catastrophe. Is there any hope for man? The answer is yes. If a man is willing to follow the ways of God as revealed in the Word of God, he or she is sure to reach the destination. The greatest possibility of man is to become a child of God(John1:12) The greatest knowledge of man is to know the Bible and the greatest acheivement of man is to obey the Word of God. It is apt to remember the words of Saint Augustine of Hipo,"man is created for God, and he is restless until he rests in Jesus Christ."

All God Asks For Is You!!!

Verily, verily I say unto you........the works that I do shall he do also; and great works than these shall he do; because i go unto my Father."(John 14:12)

GOD DOES not ask for personlities; persons will do. That is, God does not ask for exceptional people. But He needs them, and can do no great things without them. Then why does he ask for persons when He wants personalities? Because the power of Pentecost turns persons into personalities. By the Holy Spirit's indwelling the most ordinary can become extraordinary. All God asks for is you; He will see to the rest.

Two famous men spoke to youths, The Honorable Winston Churchill says: "this is a time when the voice of Youth will be welcomed in the world." In what accents will that voice speak? Will it take the counsel of Feild Marshal Montgomery, who says: "Learn to build the framework of your life on a Christian foundation"?

Do we need to be reminded of what happens when the religious foundations- the CHRISTIAN foundation- are destroyed?

"Mourn not for the vanquished ages
With their great historic men,
Who dealt in history's pages
And live in the poet's pen,
For the grandest days are before us,
And the world is yet to see
The noblest work of this whole earth
Is the men and women that are to be."

"The tools to him that can use them!"

You are God's opputunity in your day. He has waited for ages for a person just like yOu. if you refuse Him, then God loses His oppurtunity which He sought through you, and He will never have another, for there will never be another person on EARTH JUST LIKE YOU.

Bring to God your gift, my brother,
He'll not need to call another,
You will do;
He will add His blessing to it,
And the two of you will do it,
GOD AND YOU.

.....Arise, Let Us Go Hence.

WHEN NATURE plants oak in the forest, she does not say, "Be a lichen, a small ground-creeping thing!" She says, "Grow! Become a tall, strong, mountain tree!" When we hold a baby in our arms we do not say, "My child, be good for nothing." Neither does God say, "Be nothing; do nothing! Just exist as humbly and meekly as you can!" He says, "Quit you like men!"

Each of us is born for a sceptre and a crown. It gives a strange new thrill to life to realize we may long earnestly for high things, and work for them, if our inmost desire is not for self, but for God

"We need not live on the marsh and in the mists. The slopes and ridges invite us!"

Teach me the faith of the mountains, serene and sublime,
The deep-rooted joy of just living one day at a time;
Leaving the pretty possessions the vally-folk buy
For the glory of glad wind-swept spaces where earth meets the sky.

Teach me the faith of the mountains, their strength to endure,
The breadth and depth of their vision, unswerving and sure,
Counting the dawn and the starlight as parts of one whole
Wrought by the Spirit Eternal, within his control.

Help us to live a mountain-top life!

Show Forth His Salvation Day To Day

"THIS IS THE day that the Lord hath made." It is the Lord's gift. But for His goodness and mercy we should not have seen Today. His goodness is new upon us every morning.

But why should God give us Today? He given us so many; rarely have we given one back to him. He gave us Today that we might honor and serve Him better than one day we hitherto accepted from His hand.

How strangely wonderful would it be if but a single day could be fully given back to God by us; if on arising in the morning we would call upon Him: "Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning," and then through Today in all things be guided by His voice, trust Him, love Him, obey Him.

If from youth a man accepts Today as God's gift and lives it by His grace, he exalts the name of God and brings strength to his nation.

TO YOUTH

Here is your armor: the sheild of glorius youth
The keen spurs of the mind, the sword of vision.
Go forth and find the Holy Grail of Truth,
Unmindful of the multitude's derision.

Today is yours, and yours the confidence
Of garnered knowledge and our past mistakes:
Subdue the hosts of ignorance and pretense:
Bring back the only cup our thristing slakes.

You shall erase the scars of this dark hour,
The lines of hunger and the wounds of pain;
Yours the great spirit that must rise to power
And give a lost world peace and faith again


When God says "now" let no man say "tomorrow."
Today is better than tomorrow

Wish I...

Wish I had more talent, then I could do so much more for God.

Wish I had more money, then I could give so much more to God.

Wish I had more time at my disposal, then I would do lots for God.

Wish I was smart, talkative and outgoing, then I would reach out to people better for God.

Wish I was as good as my friend, then I would be better in everything that I do for God, Others and Myself.


This is how we think don't we! We always have some negative questions that keep coming to our minds, which hinder us from being our best and being what God wants us to be.

Have we been doing things to the fullest of our potential or have we been complaining and whining about things we do not possess and things we do not have?

God has made all of mankind, unique and has blessed everyone with unique abilities, yet we fail to understand the ability that we possess. We always look at what we don't have and put a lid on what we actually have or end up ignoring it.

Someone said "God looks at your availability", so are we available to him?

This brings to my mind the story of the little boy who brought the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to Jesus. It is common sense that it was far less than what is required to feed a big crowd of 5000 people, but then he gave that into the Hands of the Miracle Maker who blessed it and gave it to the disciples.

when the disciples finished serving to the crowd, (mind you it was a huge crowd) there was food left over, which was collected in 12 baskets.

Isn't that amazing?

That is what happens when You and I, submit into God's hands, You become a blessing to many, just the way, the little boy was.

Then why is it that we still have those doubts in our minds? Why are those Ifs and Buts in our minds always? Why do we keep wishing for something we do not have?

Let's learn from the little boy and discern in our hearts to use whatever we have to lift the name of Jesus and to glorify His Holy Name. So, no matter how little we have or how limited we are in terms of talent and resources, let us learn to use whatever we have for the Glory of God.

Commit yourself into His Hands, He knows best on how to use you and further increase you.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Yours' in Christ,
Blesson

Did you take your spiritual vitamins today???

Remember to Take Your Spiritual Vitamins Every Day!
(NIV Version)

Anxious? Take Vitamin A...

"All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Blue? Take Vitamin B...

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (Psalm 103:1)

Crushed? Take Vitamin C...

"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Depressed? Take Vitamin D...

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:8)

Empty? Take Vitamin E...

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name." (Psalm 100:4)

Fearful? Take Vitamin F...

"Fear not, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God." (Isaiah 41:10)

Greedy? Take Vitamin G...

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put unto your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." (Luke 6:38)

Hesitant? Take Vitamin H...

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Isaiah 52:7)

Insecure? Take Vitamin I...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Jittery? Take Vitamin J...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Know nothing? Take Vitamin K...

"Know this that the Lord is God, it is He that made us and not we ourselves. (Psalm 100:3)

Lonely? Take Vitamin L...

"Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

Mortgaged? Take Vitamin M...

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Nervous? Take Vitamin N...

"Never, no never will I leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Overwhelmed? Take Vitamin O...

"Overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

Perplexed or puzzled? Take Vitamin P... "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

Quitting? Take Vitamin Q...

"Quit you like men and women, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Restless? Take Vitamin R...

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." (Psalm 37:7)

Scared? Take Vitamin S...

"Stay with me, and do not be afraid; for the one who seeks my life seeks your life; you will be safe with me." (1 Samuel 22:23)

Tired? Take Vitamin T...

"Those who wait for 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)

Uncertain? Take Vitamin U...

"Understand that I am (the Lord). Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me." (Isaiah 43:10)

Vain? Take Vitamin V...

"Vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:16)

Wondering what to do? Take Vitamin W...

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

Exhausted? Take Vitamin X...

"Exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7)

Yearning for hope? Take Vitamin Y...

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

Zapped? Take Vitamin Z...

"Zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:14)


Be Blessed and Stay Blessed...

ONE SENTENCE SERMONS...

* Be Fishers of Men.... You catch 'em, He'll clean 'em.

* A family altar can alter a family.

* A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

* Don't put a question mark where God put a PERIOD!

* Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

* Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord!

* Forbidden fruits create many jams.

* Give God what's right, not what's left!

* Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.

* God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

* God grades on the cross, not the curve.

* God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts."

* God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

* Having truth decay? Brush up on your Bible!

* He who angers you, controls you!

* He who is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

* He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!

* Kindness is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

* Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity.

* Never give the devil a ride! He will always want to drive!

* Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.

* Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

* "Pray" is a four letter word that you can say anywhere.

* Prayer - Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!

* The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

* This Church is "Prayer Conditioned!"

* To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

* WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning!

* Watch your step carefully! Everyone else does!

* We don't change the message; the message changes us.

* We set the sail; God makes the wind.

* We're too blessed to be depressed.

* Wisdom has two parts: 1) Having a lot to say. 2) Not saying it.


Be Blessed and Stay Blessed...

I’m Trying, But…

I’m trying, but…
what I want to do,
I don’t do enough of,
and what I don’t want to do,
I do too much of.
I know the rules for a Christian life,
according to the Bible,
and I’m trying; I really am, but…
heaven and eternity seem so far away,
and the rampantly materialistic world
presses in so close
from every direction, every side,
that I get distracted.
Focus, focus, focus!
I need to focus, laser-like
on a simple, God-centered life.
Do I really need
to make that frivolous purchase,
instead of giving the money
to someone who needs it
so much more than I do?
Can I watch that TV show,
read that book, listen to that song
that contains (and promotes!)
even a little bit
of what the Bible forbids,
without being corrupted?
Do I do enough
to love and help and encourage others?
Pride always hovers,
eagerly waiting
to subdue and conquer humility,
so I think too much of myself.
I know the rules;
the Bible makes everything clear.
Forgive me, Lord;
I’m trying, but…

Romans 7:15
Matthew 6:19
Matthew 22:39
Philippians 4:8

By Joanna Fuchs

Help Me Forgive

When rage and fury overwhelm my heart,
It’s time to look to God’s own Holy Word.
I search the Bible for His good advice;
My will to His commands must be deferred.

In Romans God reveals His love for me;
In all things God works only for my good;
He gives me blessings I can’t understand;
I’d be peaceful if I’d do the things I should.

Jesus forgave so much; why then can’t I?
I want to mold my life after His own.
I pray, I try, but my sinful nature wins;
Lord, help me, I can’t do this thing alone.

In Colossians, I read about the peace of Christ;
Oh, how I long to feel it in my heart.
All I have to do is to forgive,
But Lord, it seems I don’t know where to start.

I need to walk a mile in the other’s shoes;
They’re doing what they think they have to do.
I know some problems are blessings in disguise,
But Lord, sometimes I feel so doggone blue.

Ephesians says "forgive as the Lord forgave you;
Get rid of anger and every form of malice."
I’d love to just let go and release it all,
But upon my heart is a wound that’s become a callus.

I’ll keep praying, trying, Lord, no matter what;
I’m determined to let go and relinquish blame;
Some day, I’ll say, and be truly sincere:
"I forgive it all in Jesus’ precious name."

(Romans 8:28, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:31)

By Joanna Fuchs

Renewal Is A Never Ending Process

Renewal is a never ending process. As the whole of nature teaches us we are to be renewed every day. Plants shed leaves, animals their skin, hair falls off and cells are renewed. It is a continuous activity. Waste is disposed and minerals and essentials are accumulated. In the same manner we are to shed our failures and look unto the future riding on the wings of mercy of the Lord. If at all we look back it must be to thank God for how He carried us through the year and year after year. Forget the failures. Use the successes as springboards to dive into joy.

The process of renewal and recommitment is progressive. It begins with the decision-standing up. This in turn leads to a walk which turns into a run. Further renewals and wings begin to sprout. Now you are soaring with wings as eagles. Look forward and upward. If nothing else you are still alive and so can be renewed. Stand up and get moving.

The commitments of New Year must not stop. We may have not stuck to some last year or any for that matter but this is a new year. His compassions are new every morning for he knows that we cannot live with those of yesteryears. Stand up and decide to do it this year. After all the accounts have been settled and the balance sheet will only summarize it in one word....GRACE

Beautiful Inside, Outwardly Who Cares!

Living in a society which gives lot of importance to how we look, dress up, get along with people and relate to them, you are required to be "beautiful". This is why we pay so much attention in making ourselves look so good, wearing the best clothes irrespective of the price tag (irrespective of the gender), wear expensive jewellery and make up (in case of girls) and swanky bikes, cars and lots of other goodies, which will need lots of space to mention (in case of boys) so much so that we can go to any extent to look "good".

Every compliment only worsens things for us as we tend to try harder to look better. A question arises in my mind however, Do we really work so hard to look so good inwardly? Do we really make sure that the inner man is "beautiful"(read pure and clean)as well?

If we can work so hard on our outward appearance, how much more should we work on bettering and improving our inner man!

How can that happen until and unless you and i submit ourselves in the Hands of God according to His Will. No matter how you look, God looks at your heart, so if you think you are not good enough, then change your thinking, if you think that you are ugly, then change your view, because God created the best possible YOU!.

So, shouldn't we quit thinking about our outward appearances and looks and focus on a more important aspect which is to nurture our inner man into holiness and purity which is the will of God for us.

In a world that focuses all its attention on the way you are outwardly, shouldn't we be the ones who take a stand and be beautiful inside?

So, what would your decision be my dear friend?

As the title says "Beautiful Inside, Outwardly Who Cares!", I hope, that is our attitude for now and till we are here on planet mad-land!

God loves you, He cares for you, you are significant to Him.

In His eyes, you are the most beautiful creation...never forget that!

Be Blessed and stay Blessed!

yours in Christ,
Blesson.

Joint heirs of God

[We are] heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him.Romans 8:17

Every chain of slavery and sin breaks when god adopts us has his children. That’s what happens to us when God adopts us into His family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him” (Rom. 8:17). The gospel does not say, “Come to Jesus and live happily ever after.” God’s syllabus for His children’s education includes training through hardships.

Ben-Hur’s years of enduring hardship as a Roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his “friend-turned-enemy” in a chariot race.As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur’s victory, so are they vital to victory in the Christian’s war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God’s way to prepare us for greater service for His glory.

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend though it be blood—to spend and spare not
So send I you to taste of Calvary.

We conquer by continuing.

sandhya mani