Well read this before you decide...
Nearly one-third of multi-million pound lottery winners become bankrupt in just a few short years of their big win, according to research conducted in America.
Here's the Top Ten!
10. Vivian Nicholson – won £152,300, lost five husbands
Vivian Nicholson famously claimed she would “spend, spend, spend” after winning £152,300 (worth about £3 million in today’s money) when playing the Castleford football pools in 1961. Since then she has been widowed, married five times, suffered from a stroke and been treated for alcoholism, deported from Malta, became a Jehovah’s Witnesses, tried to commit suicide and spent time in a mental institution. She spent her winnings on Harrods dresses, luxury cars and holidays and was the subject of the West End production of her life, aptly called “Spend, Spend, Spend”, with Barbara Dickenson playing her role. She is now living on £87 a week pension.
9. Willie Hurt – won $3,100,000, lost everything
Willie Hurt won $3.1 million in Michigan in 1989 but two years later, he had wasted it on divorce and cocaine and was charged with murder. Before his win, he was a happily married family man with an active social life, yet soon lost contact with his wife and custody of his children due to the problems his windfall brought him.
8. Evelyn Adams – won $5,400,000, lost all but her caravan
Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice (in 1985 and 1986). The odds of this happening are 17 trillion to one, yet this “American dream” was not all “it’s cracked up to be”. Her “mistakes” included gambling away the $5.4 million fortune. She now lives in a trailer.
7. Shefik Tallmadge – won $6,700,00, lost his Ferrari
Shefik Tallmadge, of Arizona, used his last $5 to buy a lottery ticket, despite not expecting a pay-check for another fortnight. He won a cool $6.7 million. After 18 years of touring Asia and Africa, buying expensive cars and real estate, giving in to pleas for money and investing in businesses, which subsequently failed, he filed for bankruptcy in 2006.
6. Michael Carroll – won £9,700,000, lost everything but his reputation
Former bin man, Michael Carroll, won £9.7 million aged just 19 years old in 2002. The self-named “King of Chavs” immediately bought four homes in the UK, a holiday villa in Spain, two BMWs, two Mercedes, and a stake in Glasgow Rangers Football Club. After committing petty crimes including breaching his ASBO and cocaine-possession, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment in 2006 after he threatened teenagers with a baseball bat at a Christian Fellowship music event in Downham Market. He is now reported to be penniless once more.
5. Rhoda Toth – won $13,000,000, lost her disability claim
Rhoda Toth won $13 million in the Florida lottery in 1990. Her and her husband quickly spent the winnings and in 2006 were charged with tax evasion. They were living in poverty with electricity provided by a cord rigged to a car engine when arrested. While awaiting trial, her husband died forcing Rhoda to try avoiding jail-time by pretending to have multiple sclerosis. However, agents secretly taped her in order to prove that she did not need the crutches she had used in the courtroom. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay $1.1 million to the IRS.
4. William Post – won $16,200,000, lost his family
William "Bud" Post III won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988. Unfortunately, his loved ones turned on him, when a former girlfriend sued him for a share of the winnings, his brother was arrested for hiring a hit man to kill him and his other siblings bullied him into investing in a car business and restaurant, which then failed miserably. Post even spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector and within a year, he was $1 million in debt. He eventually declared bankruptcy and lived quietly on $450 a month and food stamps, claiming "I'm tired…Lotteries don't mean [anything] to me". He died on Jan 15 2006 of respiratory failure aged 66.
3. Janite Lee – won $18,000,000, lost her money but bought a seat in heaven
Janite Lee from Missouri won $18 million in 1993 but generously gave to charity and in 2001 filed for bankruptcy with only $700 left in two bank accounts. She also had a reading room at Washington University named after her and dined with world leaders including then President, Bill Clinton. Originally from South Korea, this single-mum of three worked in a wig-shop before her big win, giving it up to give generously to the Church and those in need.
2. Billie Bob Harrell – won $31,000,000, lost his life
Billie Bob Harrell won $31 million in 1997 though soon had an estranged wife and letters from pleading strangers to deal with. He gave freely to the church, charities, family and even a new, younger girlfriend. Yet the pressure was too much and Harrell’s body was discovered two years later with an autopsy confirming suicide. However, Harrell’s parents refuse to accept this and their grandchildren were left trying to figure out how to pay the estate taxes owed due to their father’s death and where the rest of the winnings have mysteriously gone...
1. Jake Whittacker – won $315,000,000, lost his car insurance
In 2002, Jake Whittacker won a $315 million power jackpot and started out with good intentions by donating money to several church-based charities and setting up a foundation that provided food and clothing to the West Virginian poor. However, his luck soon changed: he was arrested for drink driving, spent more than $100,000 in a strip-club, had $545,000 in cash stolen from his car and then another $200,000 stolen again. He became the subject of many lawsuits (most of which were settled out of court) which include being sued for gambling debts by Atlantic City casino. His granddaughter died of a drug overdose, funded by the $2,100 a week allowance he gave her.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Inheriting the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Times have been testing. For some the crisis is looming in the horizon and they have been struggling to stay afloat, others have given up and there are a few, who have got their breakthrough. But i want to encourage you, as men and women working in your secular jobs, with the following thoughts.
We always claim the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the adopted Israel but what is it in their lives that made them so prosperous?
1. Genesis 14:22,23 - Conduct your business with complete trust in God, so that no man can tell they made you rich. How does that translate to daily business dealings? Don't give commission to anyone to get any project or job. Don't compromise on truth and integrity to get work, Then God promises Abraham in Genesis 15:1 that He shall be his shield and great reward.
2. Genesis 26:18-28 - Be persistent in digging wellsprings of Life. All the prosperity and riches during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were measured mainly by the lifestock they possessed. What sustained this prosperity was the well of water they dug from which their livestock received nourishment to grow. Which is the well that we need to dig into to sustain our life today? John 4:10 says, Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water"!
We need to be persistent in digging into God's word and increasing our knowledge of who He is. In Hebrews, we learn that we should believe that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Isaac uncovered the wells his father had dug. We will have to go back into the scriptures handed over to us by our spiritual fathers and start uncovering the hidden mysteries of God. Isaac did not just uncover his Fathers wells, He dug new ones. Our success depends on us receiving fresh revelation for ourselves from God.
The passage also says that Isaac faced trouble from his neighbours when water was found. But he silently moves on and continues to dig. When we are out there whether in work or ministry, many will come against us and take away from us what we have laboured and worked hard for. But God honoured Isaac because he did not go to fight with them, but moved away and continued to do what he had started. It took a while but we see after some time, his persecutors comes in fear before him and asks him to make a covenant of peace with them because they realised how much ever they tried to rob things from Isaac, God was with him and they could never pull him down
3. Finally, in Genesis 30:31-43 - Be honest and claim by faith what is rightfully yours. Even if the devil tries to cheat you, he will not succeed. The branches that Jacob placed in the trough did not have supernatural power but we see that God honoured what he claimed by faith. When he placed the branches in the trough in front of the strong ones, he was claiming them for himself. It took some time and process. The goats did not mate and deliver the next day. From the time Jacob claims his prosperity, it took 5 months before he was able to possess or hold the result of his constant faith action. He did not stop after the first day, he kept going at it, because a goat does not give 20 offsprings at one time A goat can give birth to one kid or two at the most. So he had to keep going on claiming for a considerable season before he "came to own large flocks"
We always claim the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the adopted Israel but what is it in their lives that made them so prosperous?
1. Genesis 14:22,23 - Conduct your business with complete trust in God, so that no man can tell they made you rich. How does that translate to daily business dealings? Don't give commission to anyone to get any project or job. Don't compromise on truth and integrity to get work, Then God promises Abraham in Genesis 15:1 that He shall be his shield and great reward.
2. Genesis 26:18-28 - Be persistent in digging wellsprings of Life. All the prosperity and riches during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were measured mainly by the lifestock they possessed. What sustained this prosperity was the well of water they dug from which their livestock received nourishment to grow. Which is the well that we need to dig into to sustain our life today? John 4:10 says, Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water"!
We need to be persistent in digging into God's word and increasing our knowledge of who He is. In Hebrews, we learn that we should believe that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Isaac uncovered the wells his father had dug. We will have to go back into the scriptures handed over to us by our spiritual fathers and start uncovering the hidden mysteries of God. Isaac did not just uncover his Fathers wells, He dug new ones. Our success depends on us receiving fresh revelation for ourselves from God.
The passage also says that Isaac faced trouble from his neighbours when water was found. But he silently moves on and continues to dig. When we are out there whether in work or ministry, many will come against us and take away from us what we have laboured and worked hard for. But God honoured Isaac because he did not go to fight with them, but moved away and continued to do what he had started. It took a while but we see after some time, his persecutors comes in fear before him and asks him to make a covenant of peace with them because they realised how much ever they tried to rob things from Isaac, God was with him and they could never pull him down
3. Finally, in Genesis 30:31-43 - Be honest and claim by faith what is rightfully yours. Even if the devil tries to cheat you, he will not succeed. The branches that Jacob placed in the trough did not have supernatural power but we see that God honoured what he claimed by faith. When he placed the branches in the trough in front of the strong ones, he was claiming them for himself. It took some time and process. The goats did not mate and deliver the next day. From the time Jacob claims his prosperity, it took 5 months before he was able to possess or hold the result of his constant faith action. He did not stop after the first day, he kept going at it, because a goat does not give 20 offsprings at one time A goat can give birth to one kid or two at the most. So he had to keep going on claiming for a considerable season before he "came to own large flocks"
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
A Teaching on the Lord's Prayer
And so Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this manner:
Our Father in heaven,
When you pray, call on God according to your relationship with Him. If your relationship is far from God, then He is just God but as you know Him more closely, He becomes King, master and then as you love Him more, He adds you to His family and becomes your Father.
Hallowed be Your name.
Let your praise arise to Him. God is enthroned in our praises. He is worthy of all glory. Let your heart be filled with adoration and awe before His name.
Your kingdom come.
The Kingdom of God is anyplace where God rules as Sovereign King. So as we enter into prayer, let us ask for God’s Kingdom to be established in our midst, that our gathering will be a place where God rules in His glory
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Humble yourself to allow the Glory of God to come in your midst. As the Bible says in 2 Chronicles; If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. Then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins and heal their land. Our prayer should be about seeking and praying according to God’s will. This is why Paul teaches us in Corinthians that we should pray in the Spirit as we do not know God’s will on what we should pray for but the Spirit who knows the heart of God will guide us. Our model and example is Jesus and we see Him praying in the Garden of Gethsamane to the Father saying,”Not my will but Yours be done”!
Give us this day our daily bread.
The Lord understands that we have physical needs and not just the spiritual. So as we finish establishing our relationship with God, praising Him and humbling ourselves before His throne, we are now ready to petition him for our need. The bible teaches that our Lord knows all our needs, even before we say a asingle word. But God likes us to be vocal about our faith and trust in Him. Therefore, He asks the blind man whether he would like to see and the paralysed man, if he would like to be healed and Martha, if she believes her brother will come back to life. He knew that these are things they longed for but he needed to hear from them their words of faith and trust.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
This is big. Even as we have prayed so far, we are still in the outer court experience. Jesus teaches us that we should not come to pray unless we have forgiven our brother and sister. Before we can go into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, we need to receive forgiveness from God. This is the Holy place experience. At this place, instead of a physical sacrifice, we invoke the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Hebrews teaches us that we enter the presence of God in boldness because we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, .that takes our sins away and clothes us with righteousness.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This is the place of jubilation. This is where we enter into the Holy of Holies, in the very presence of God. Most of us think, this is where our prayer ends. But this is the beginning of a conversation with God. As you enter the Holy of Holies, God starts to speak and you begin to listen. The model prayer by Jesus is just the preparation or an introduction to a longer conversation with your Father in heaven and does not finish at Amen. We enter this place with a heart full of worship and adoration.
Friends, Jesus said when you pray, pray in this manner to his disciples who did not know how to pray and who had not received the Holy Spirit. But we, having the Holy Spirit as our counselor and guide to the truths of the scripture, are no longer bound to a specific format of prayer but are now led by the Spirit, in freedom, to a life of constant prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
When you pray, call on God according to your relationship with Him. If your relationship is far from God, then He is just God but as you know Him more closely, He becomes King, master and then as you love Him more, He adds you to His family and becomes your Father.
Hallowed be Your name.
Let your praise arise to Him. God is enthroned in our praises. He is worthy of all glory. Let your heart be filled with adoration and awe before His name.
Your kingdom come.
The Kingdom of God is anyplace where God rules as Sovereign King. So as we enter into prayer, let us ask for God’s Kingdom to be established in our midst, that our gathering will be a place where God rules in His glory
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Humble yourself to allow the Glory of God to come in your midst. As the Bible says in 2 Chronicles; If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. Then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins and heal their land. Our prayer should be about seeking and praying according to God’s will. This is why Paul teaches us in Corinthians that we should pray in the Spirit as we do not know God’s will on what we should pray for but the Spirit who knows the heart of God will guide us. Our model and example is Jesus and we see Him praying in the Garden of Gethsamane to the Father saying,”Not my will but Yours be done”!
Give us this day our daily bread.
The Lord understands that we have physical needs and not just the spiritual. So as we finish establishing our relationship with God, praising Him and humbling ourselves before His throne, we are now ready to petition him for our need. The bible teaches that our Lord knows all our needs, even before we say a asingle word. But God likes us to be vocal about our faith and trust in Him. Therefore, He asks the blind man whether he would like to see and the paralysed man, if he would like to be healed and Martha, if she believes her brother will come back to life. He knew that these are things they longed for but he needed to hear from them their words of faith and trust.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
This is big. Even as we have prayed so far, we are still in the outer court experience. Jesus teaches us that we should not come to pray unless we have forgiven our brother and sister. Before we can go into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, we need to receive forgiveness from God. This is the Holy place experience. At this place, instead of a physical sacrifice, we invoke the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Hebrews teaches us that we enter the presence of God in boldness because we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, .that takes our sins away and clothes us with righteousness.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This is the place of jubilation. This is where we enter into the Holy of Holies, in the very presence of God. Most of us think, this is where our prayer ends. But this is the beginning of a conversation with God. As you enter the Holy of Holies, God starts to speak and you begin to listen. The model prayer by Jesus is just the preparation or an introduction to a longer conversation with your Father in heaven and does not finish at Amen. We enter this place with a heart full of worship and adoration.
Friends, Jesus said when you pray, pray in this manner to his disciples who did not know how to pray and who had not received the Holy Spirit. But we, having the Holy Spirit as our counselor and guide to the truths of the scripture, are no longer bound to a specific format of prayer but are now led by the Spirit, in freedom, to a life of constant prayer.
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Laminin - The glue that holds our body cells together
This is a forward i received....
A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio....and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned....but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway.
He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is.....how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) ....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'
Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath.
And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!
It was because he started talking about laminin.
I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell.. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.
But now I do.
And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)....
Here is what the structure of laminin looks like... AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...
Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!!
Amazing. The glue that holds us together.... ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross.
He is before all things, and in Him all things HOLD TOGETHER. ' Colossians 1:15-17.
Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another.....by the cross.
You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!
" Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future."
A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio....and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned....but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway.
He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is.....how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) ....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'
Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath.
And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!
It was because he started talking about laminin.
I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them: 'Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell.. Without them, we would literally fall apart. And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE.
But now I do.
And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already)....
Here is what the structure of laminin looks like... AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see...
Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!!
Amazing. The glue that holds us together.... ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross.
He is before all things, and in Him all things HOLD TOGETHER. ' Colossians 1:15-17.
Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool.
Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another.....by the cross.
You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!
" Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future."
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Hymns for everyone!
Courtesy Samson Varghese!
Dentist's Hymn............................... Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn.......................There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn.......................... The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn............................Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn...........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn................ ......Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn..........................Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn.....................I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn...........................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn.....................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn.........................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn........... ..............I've Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn.......He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn...........................The Great Physician
AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:.
45mph.........................God Will Take Care of You
65mph.........................Nearer My God To Thee
85mph.........................This World Is Not My Home
95mph..........................Lord, I'm Coming Home
100mph........................Precious Memories
Hope that put a smile on your face!
Dentist's Hymn............................... Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn.......................There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn.......................... The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn............................Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn...........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn................ ......Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn..........................Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn.....................I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn...........................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn.....................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn.........................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn........... ..............I've Got a Mansion Just over the Hilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn.......He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn...........................The Great Physician
AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:.
45mph.........................God Will Take Care of You
65mph.........................Nearer My God To Thee
85mph.........................This World Is Not My Home
95mph..........................Lord, I'm Coming Home
100mph........................Precious Memories
Hope that put a smile on your face!
Shalom!
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
A poem by Pr. James Mathew
THOUGH I CAN’T REMEMBER…
Pr. James Mathew
I tried always to remember,
The things of life without number,
Dates and times, papers and folders,
Places to go with routes ad maps,
Faces to seek and plans to share.
Until one day I found it lost,
The things I sought and needed most.
As you lose things it’s needless to tell,
You lose courage and it isn’t well,
With places to reach and promises to keep.
I sat in wonder, as I did ponder,
Praying, ‘Lord, if I can’t remember’
Sleeping and awake, trying to make,
One-to-one matching, for ever watching,
The way seemed longer, and my steps shorter.
Then in my sleep, my soul did leap,
And prayed, Lord, I’ll be grateful though forgetful;
The core of my life, I wonder,
Runs well with things I can’t remember,
As the Lord is awake through my slumber.
SHALOM!
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Do you feel the warmth of God's embrace?
I have been spending a lot of time with Jadon, my older son, since the time Nehemiah arrived. By God's blessing, He sleeps with me without any tantrums, the incentive being that he can listen to music on my laptop as he sleeps. The other day we were sleeping and i got up to keep my laptop away. As i was looking, he had his eyes closed but he was turning about and reaching out with his hands to find me. He had suddenly realised that he could not feel me around. He was missing the warmth of my hug. As i came back and hugged him, he was restful again.
I was struck by this thought at that moment, that as i journey through life my comfort comes from the warmth of God's love towards me. Psalms 91 says, He will cover you with his feather and under His wings you will find refuge! When i sin and lose the consciousness of His presence, i repent not because i have been taught that confession is important but i repent because i long to feel the warmth of God's embrace again. I long for that rest and tranquility that He alone can give.
Because of the warmth of God's love, I am at peace knowing that he is in control and will protect me from my enemies. I also grow spiritually to become a child of God just as an egg when warmed by the hen brings out the chicks.
Today do you feel that warmth of God's embrace or are you shivering under the cold storms of the world? A hug is not overpowering hold. It is a gentle squeeze that assures you that He is near and watching over you.
He is willing to hug you are you willing to surrender to His love. For me to hug Jadon was more fulfilling than any salary raise or promotion. It is the same for God and that is why He was willing to send Jesus to die on the cross. Come, do not resist this love anymore!
I was struck by this thought at that moment, that as i journey through life my comfort comes from the warmth of God's love towards me. Psalms 91 says, He will cover you with his feather and under His wings you will find refuge! When i sin and lose the consciousness of His presence, i repent not because i have been taught that confession is important but i repent because i long to feel the warmth of God's embrace again. I long for that rest and tranquility that He alone can give.
Because of the warmth of God's love, I am at peace knowing that he is in control and will protect me from my enemies. I also grow spiritually to become a child of God just as an egg when warmed by the hen brings out the chicks.
Today do you feel that warmth of God's embrace or are you shivering under the cold storms of the world? A hug is not overpowering hold. It is a gentle squeeze that assures you that He is near and watching over you.
He is willing to hug you are you willing to surrender to His love. For me to hug Jadon was more fulfilling than any salary raise or promotion. It is the same for God and that is why He was willing to send Jesus to die on the cross. Come, do not resist this love anymore!
SHALOM!
Monday, 7 September 2009
The Lord's Prayer
(A forward from sister Alice)
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Rather cleverly done. This is in two parts, the prayer ( in normal font ) and GOD ( in bold font ) in response.
It is very, very good.
*****************************************************
Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But -- you called ME!
Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am.
What's on your mind?
But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
Kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?
It means, it means . . Good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control,
Of everything down here like you have up there.
We're kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
But, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money --
All on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying
For my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
It will have to start with the ones
Who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven't thought about it very much until now,
But I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we're getting somewhere.We 'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
And all of a sudden you break in
And remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember,
You called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( . . Pause .. )
Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?
I didn't -- mean it.
Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
And resentment isn't it?
Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.
No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right all right .
I forgive her.
There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know.
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy?
No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.
SHALOM!
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Don't hide that light in you!!!
It's been more than a month since my last post. My laptop has gone bust and so i've not had the chance to come and write as often as i've wanted to. In our fasting prayer yesterday, i heard an exhortation which touched me and i want to share it with you. I have to give the credit for this message to Uncle Varghese, a wonderful man of God who comes to church.
Uncle Varghese was talking from Matthew 5, where Jesus talks about being the salt and light of the earth. I had written once before on this topic, but this is a completely different revelation. It's amazing how God can reveal very different messages from within the same passage. That is why the Bible is living and powerful. Even after 2,000 years no one can boldly claim that they have understood or unravelled the complete message of this 66 book masterpiece by the Holy Spirit. I look forward to you all to share with me as well, if you receive any fresh revelation on any scripture. Bro. Abu from Shekinah has another revelation on the passage and i hope he will pass it to me so i can share it with you all.
In brief, this is what Uncle Varghese shared:
1. Matthew 5:15 - Do not hide your light under a Bowl. The bowl represents our livelihood. It is our business, careers, occupations, education and anything that ensures we have food on the table. Sometimes, we can be too pre occupied in our careers, that we forget that the real sustainer of our life is God. We suppress the light (God's word) entrusted to us for the sake of our career. We do not give the priority due to God's word. Let the world see it, don't let your worldly means of livelihood hide that light.
2. Luke 8:16 - Do not hide your light under the bed. This might be something familiar to all of us. How many times have we stopped going for fellowship, not spend time in prayer and meditation, not visited someone who was sick because we are tired? I am guilty of this many times. The bed represents bodily persuasion of hiding the light in the name of tiredness, sickness and pain. Paul teaches us that neither sickness, nor persecution could stop him from sharing about the love of Christ.
3. Luke 11:33 - Do not put off your light by living in sin. The passage says do not hide the light in the secret place. Those areas of our lives that no one knows, the closet with the many skeletons of our past. Do not cover up those areas but let the light of God's word shine in those areas and expose it so that we can deal with them and live a life of righteousness.
SHALOM!
Uncle Varghese was talking from Matthew 5, where Jesus talks about being the salt and light of the earth. I had written once before on this topic, but this is a completely different revelation. It's amazing how God can reveal very different messages from within the same passage. That is why the Bible is living and powerful. Even after 2,000 years no one can boldly claim that they have understood or unravelled the complete message of this 66 book masterpiece by the Holy Spirit. I look forward to you all to share with me as well, if you receive any fresh revelation on any scripture. Bro. Abu from Shekinah has another revelation on the passage and i hope he will pass it to me so i can share it with you all.
In brief, this is what Uncle Varghese shared:
1. Matthew 5:15 - Do not hide your light under a Bowl. The bowl represents our livelihood. It is our business, careers, occupations, education and anything that ensures we have food on the table. Sometimes, we can be too pre occupied in our careers, that we forget that the real sustainer of our life is God. We suppress the light (God's word) entrusted to us for the sake of our career. We do not give the priority due to God's word. Let the world see it, don't let your worldly means of livelihood hide that light.
2. Luke 8:16 - Do not hide your light under the bed. This might be something familiar to all of us. How many times have we stopped going for fellowship, not spend time in prayer and meditation, not visited someone who was sick because we are tired? I am guilty of this many times. The bed represents bodily persuasion of hiding the light in the name of tiredness, sickness and pain. Paul teaches us that neither sickness, nor persecution could stop him from sharing about the love of Christ.
3. Luke 11:33 - Do not put off your light by living in sin. The passage says do not hide the light in the secret place. Those areas of our lives that no one knows, the closet with the many skeletons of our past. Do not cover up those areas but let the light of God's word shine in those areas and expose it so that we can deal with them and live a life of righteousness.
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
The Teachings of Jesus: Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13 - 16 - Jesus teaches us 2 things - 1. Be a salt; 2. Be a light.
What does this mean? Let us look at both the elements: 1. Salt - used for many things, but i want to highlight just a few.
Salt is used to flavour - Life without Christ is flavourless. It does not give us joy to the fullness. There is a limit to how much joy we receive from our relationships, our achievements or our circumstances. But Jesus says, i have come to give you Life and Life to the FULLEST. Jesus says that the peace that i give you is not like the peace that the world gives. It does not depend on your circumstances. So Jesus says, that we should add flavour to those lives around us by adding value in their life. By knowing us have they become free? have they found comfort? have they found someone who truly cares for not just their life here in this world but also for their spiritual walk? have they found the truth? Do their interactions with us help them taste and see that the Lord is good?
Salt preserves - In Malachi 2:7 say that the lips of a priest must preserve knowledge and from his mouth men should seek instruction. Are we preserving the knowledge of who God is by sharing it to others around us?
Salt heals - Isaiah prophecies in Isaiah 61:1 that Christ has been sent to the world to bind up or heal the broken hearted. Christ dealt with compassion and had mercy. Do we?
2. Light - Again light has a lot of characteristics, highlighting a few:
Light dispels the darkness - Do we bring the word of God to people around us that it may dispel the darkness in their life, become the light that shows them the path and reveal the sin in their lives to bring about a repentence that leads to salvation?
Light brings warmth - And now these three will remain - Faith, Hope and Love. And the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Do people around us see and experience the Love of Christ through our life. Are we bringing the warmth of the experience closer to them?
Light heralds a new day - Have we been the ones who showed the way for people to have a transformation in their lives? Have we proclaimed the salvation that redeems from eternal death? Have we led them into a new break of day in their lives by leading them away from despair to the hope at the cross? Have we helped a fellow brother or sister understand and feel the Shepherds rod and staff that protects them in the valley of shadow of death and leads them to the mountain of Zion, the Holy city of God?
Be the salt, Be the light. How? By doing what is good. How do i know what is good? Each society has their own opinions on what is good and what is bad! Read the word - Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God; May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Let us a make a commitment today and ask the Lord for forgiveness for not adding life transforming value in the lives of those who interact with us. Let us move in line with God's voice to prove him strong and faithful through our lives that others might see and glorify God.
SHALOM!
What does this mean? Let us look at both the elements: 1. Salt - used for many things, but i want to highlight just a few.
Salt is used to flavour - Life without Christ is flavourless. It does not give us joy to the fullness. There is a limit to how much joy we receive from our relationships, our achievements or our circumstances. But Jesus says, i have come to give you Life and Life to the FULLEST. Jesus says that the peace that i give you is not like the peace that the world gives. It does not depend on your circumstances. So Jesus says, that we should add flavour to those lives around us by adding value in their life. By knowing us have they become free? have they found comfort? have they found someone who truly cares for not just their life here in this world but also for their spiritual walk? have they found the truth? Do their interactions with us help them taste and see that the Lord is good?
Salt preserves - In Malachi 2:7 say that the lips of a priest must preserve knowledge and from his mouth men should seek instruction. Are we preserving the knowledge of who God is by sharing it to others around us?
Salt heals - Isaiah prophecies in Isaiah 61:1 that Christ has been sent to the world to bind up or heal the broken hearted. Christ dealt with compassion and had mercy. Do we?
2. Light - Again light has a lot of characteristics, highlighting a few:
Light dispels the darkness - Do we bring the word of God to people around us that it may dispel the darkness in their life, become the light that shows them the path and reveal the sin in their lives to bring about a repentence that leads to salvation?
Light brings warmth - And now these three will remain - Faith, Hope and Love. And the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Do people around us see and experience the Love of Christ through our life. Are we bringing the warmth of the experience closer to them?
Light heralds a new day - Have we been the ones who showed the way for people to have a transformation in their lives? Have we proclaimed the salvation that redeems from eternal death? Have we led them into a new break of day in their lives by leading them away from despair to the hope at the cross? Have we helped a fellow brother or sister understand and feel the Shepherds rod and staff that protects them in the valley of shadow of death and leads them to the mountain of Zion, the Holy city of God?
Be the salt, Be the light. How? By doing what is good. How do i know what is good? Each society has their own opinions on what is good and what is bad! Read the word - Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God; May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Let us a make a commitment today and ask the Lord for forgiveness for not adding life transforming value in the lives of those who interact with us. Let us move in line with God's voice to prove him strong and faithful through our lives that others might see and glorify God.
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
The Kingdom of God
What is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is the place where God has absolute dominion.
Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Where is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is within our hearts
John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Luke 17:21 - Nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
The Kingdom of God is manifest on the earth
Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (manifestation of God’s authority & dominion)
What does the Kingdom of God mean to us?
The Kingdom is advancing from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth
Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
The Kingdom of God is our Hope
Revelation 21:2 - I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
How does one enter the Kingdom of God?
Righteous Living
Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
1Corinthians 6:9 – 10 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God
Understanding the will of God and doing it
Matthew 7:21- "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Implicit Trust in God and innocence in thought and deed
Matthew 18:3 - And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Be open to new revelation and the move of God
Matthew 21:32 -Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Be Born Again
John 3:3 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
John 3:5 - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Colossians 3:1-4 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Be transformed
1 Corinthians 15:50 - I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 Peter 1:23 - For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Endure the cross that you have to carry
Acts 14:22 - Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.(Paul & Barnabbas)
2 Thessalonians 1:4,5 - Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Love God
James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
What are your Responsibilities as part of the Kingdom?
Value the Kingdom
Matthew 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Bear the fruit of the Kingdom
Matthew 21:43 - "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
The Fruit of the Kingdom
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
The Kingdom calls for separation
Matthew 13:47-50 - Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Proclaim the Kingdom
Luke 9:60 - Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Be Steadfast in your work for the Kingdom
Luke 9:62 - Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Be Kingdom Carriers wherever we are positioned
Luke 17:21 - nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.
What are the rewards of the Kingdom of God?
Various Levels in the Kingdom
Matthew 5:19 - Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Provision by the Kingdom
Matthew 13:31, 32 - He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
Grace abounds from the Kingdom
Matthew 20 -The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.
The Kingdom of God is the place where God has absolute dominion.
Matthew 6:10 - Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Where is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is within our hearts
John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Luke 17:21 - Nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
The Kingdom of God is manifest on the earth
Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (manifestation of God’s authority & dominion)
What does the Kingdom of God mean to us?
The Kingdom is advancing from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth
Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
The Kingdom of God is our Hope
Revelation 21:2 - I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
How does one enter the Kingdom of God?
Righteous Living
Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
1Corinthians 6:9 – 10 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God
Understanding the will of God and doing it
Matthew 7:21- "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Implicit Trust in God and innocence in thought and deed
Matthew 18:3 - And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Be open to new revelation and the move of God
Matthew 21:32 -Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Be Born Again
John 3:3 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
John 3:5 - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Colossians 3:1-4 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Be transformed
1 Corinthians 15:50 - I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 Peter 1:23 - For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Endure the cross that you have to carry
Acts 14:22 - Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.(Paul & Barnabbas)
2 Thessalonians 1:4,5 - Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Love God
James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
What are your Responsibilities as part of the Kingdom?
Value the Kingdom
Matthew 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Bear the fruit of the Kingdom
Matthew 21:43 - "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
The Fruit of the Kingdom
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
The Kingdom calls for separation
Matthew 13:47-50 - Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Proclaim the Kingdom
Luke 9:60 - Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Be Steadfast in your work for the Kingdom
Luke 9:62 - Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Be Kingdom Carriers wherever we are positioned
Luke 17:21 - nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.
What are the rewards of the Kingdom of God?
Various Levels in the Kingdom
Matthew 5:19 - Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Provision by the Kingdom
Matthew 13:31, 32 - He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
Grace abounds from the Kingdom
Matthew 20 -The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.
SHALOM!
Monday, 13 July 2009
From Father to Son! Let's appreciate our parents today!
Dear son...
The day that you see me old and I am already not, have patience and try to understand me …
If I get dirty when eating… if I can not dress… have patience. Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you.
If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times… do not interrupt me… listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you get to sleep…
When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me.
When you see my ignorance on new technologies… give me the necessary time and not look at me with your mocking smile…I taught you how to do so many things… to eat good, to dress well… to confront life…
When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation… let me have the necessary time to remember… and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous…as the most important thing is not my conversation but surely to be with you and to have you listening to me…
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not.When my tired legs do not allow me walk...… give me your hand… the same way I did when you gave your first steps.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived.Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the best thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you..
You must not feel sad, angry or impotent for seeing me near you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you started living.Help me to walk… help me to end my way with love and patience. I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you son…
Your father
The day that you see me old and I am already not, have patience and try to understand me …
If I get dirty when eating… if I can not dress… have patience. Remember the hours I spent teaching it to you.
If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things thousand and one times… do not interrupt me… listen to me. When you were small, I had to read to you thousand and one times the same story until you get to sleep…
When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame me.
When you see my ignorance on new technologies… give me the necessary time and not look at me with your mocking smile…I taught you how to do so many things… to eat good, to dress well… to confront life…
When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation… let me have the necessary time to remember… and if I cannot do it, do not become nervous…as the most important thing is not my conversation but surely to be with you and to have you listening to me…
If ever I do not want to eat, do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not.When my tired legs do not allow me walk...… give me your hand… the same way I did when you gave your first steps.
Try to understand that my age is not lived but survived.Some day you will discover that, despite my mistakes, I always wanted the best thing for you and that I tried to prepare the way for you..
You must not feel sad, angry or impotent for seeing me near you. You must be next to me, try to understand me and to help me as I did it when you started living.Help me to walk… help me to end my way with love and patience. I will pay you by a smile and by the immense love I have had always for you.
I love you son…
Your father
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Perspective & Priority!
An interesting article from MSN! A lesson for all of us!
Close your eyes and imagine that in the course of your life, you'll go on to make and save lots of money, become famous, and turn smokin' hot. Will it make you happy? Most people probably think so, but new research suggests otherwise. A study to be published this June in the Journal of Research in Personality found that recent college graduates who reported making the most money, obtaining more public recognition, and liking the way they looked were also more anxious, and showed more depressive symptoms, than other postgraduates in the study. "Not only were they not feeling better than they were at the start of the study, they were actually feeling worse," says Edward Deci, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Rochester in New York.
The details: Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York studied 147 alumni during their second year after graduating from college. They used psychological surveys to learn about the young adults' feelings of satisfaction with life, self-esteem, anxiety, physical signs of stress, and their experience of positive and negative emotions. One year after graduation, and again 12 months later, researchers questioned the participants on values, asking them to rate how much they valued deep, enduring relationships and helping others improve their lives, versus being a wealthy person and achieving the look they've been after. The ones who reported making the most money, gaining recognition, and enjoying their images showed the most signs of anxiety and depression. The research was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of
Mental Health.
What it means: Why don't seemingly desirable goals like wealth and beauty pay off as expected? Perhaps because they distract people from more rewarding pursuits. "When you get too focused on the American dream—goals of being rich, famous, and beautiful—you start ignoring spending time in meaningful relationships, ignoring paying attention to yourself and growing as a human being, ignoring ways in which you could volunteer and give back to the community," explains Deci. Not that it's bad to be ambitious or to work hard to succeed. But this study implies that it's unrealistic to expect that kind of success to make you happy.
Here are some ways to find your own path to happiness:
Keep a perspective on beauty. Don't get too hung up on your appearance, because after all, beauty is pretty superficial, Deci says. And it may not be true that attractive people are more likely to get ahead. A study to be published this month in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that people with the highest intelligence scores earn more money during their lifetime, and report less financial strain, than people with high beauty scores.
Favor meaning over materialism. Trying to keep up with your friends or that cousin who seems to have everything going his way is a setup for disaster. "The important thing is being who you truly are. That you really accept yourself for who you are, and live your life accordingly in a full and meaningful way," says Deci. In his study, researchers found that those who had strong relationships (which requires accepting people for who they are, listening, and being there when they need you—not just when it's convenient) and volunteered in their community were happiest.
Schedule a sit-down with yourself. Know yourself deeply and fully, and explore aspects of yourself you've been afraid to pay attention to in the past. Knowing yourself helps you focus on things that are really important. Some people go to group therapy in their communities to speed up the process, but if you're determined enough, Deci says you can do this solo, too. "You've got to be ruthless. Ask something about yourself and come up with an immediate answer, but don't trust it for a minute. Ask if it's really so," he suggests. Question all your assumptions about what's important to you, and see if you can defend them. You may find that working 80-hour weeks to get a promotion is secondary to spending time with family and friends.
Shalom!
Close your eyes and imagine that in the course of your life, you'll go on to make and save lots of money, become famous, and turn smokin' hot. Will it make you happy? Most people probably think so, but new research suggests otherwise. A study to be published this June in the Journal of Research in Personality found that recent college graduates who reported making the most money, obtaining more public recognition, and liking the way they looked were also more anxious, and showed more depressive symptoms, than other postgraduates in the study. "Not only were they not feeling better than they were at the start of the study, they were actually feeling worse," says Edward Deci, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Rochester in New York.
The details: Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York studied 147 alumni during their second year after graduating from college. They used psychological surveys to learn about the young adults' feelings of satisfaction with life, self-esteem, anxiety, physical signs of stress, and their experience of positive and negative emotions. One year after graduation, and again 12 months later, researchers questioned the participants on values, asking them to rate how much they valued deep, enduring relationships and helping others improve their lives, versus being a wealthy person and achieving the look they've been after. The ones who reported making the most money, gaining recognition, and enjoying their images showed the most signs of anxiety and depression. The research was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of
Mental Health.
What it means: Why don't seemingly desirable goals like wealth and beauty pay off as expected? Perhaps because they distract people from more rewarding pursuits. "When you get too focused on the American dream—goals of being rich, famous, and beautiful—you start ignoring spending time in meaningful relationships, ignoring paying attention to yourself and growing as a human being, ignoring ways in which you could volunteer and give back to the community," explains Deci. Not that it's bad to be ambitious or to work hard to succeed. But this study implies that it's unrealistic to expect that kind of success to make you happy.
Here are some ways to find your own path to happiness:
Keep a perspective on beauty. Don't get too hung up on your appearance, because after all, beauty is pretty superficial, Deci says. And it may not be true that attractive people are more likely to get ahead. A study to be published this month in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that people with the highest intelligence scores earn more money during their lifetime, and report less financial strain, than people with high beauty scores.
Favor meaning over materialism. Trying to keep up with your friends or that cousin who seems to have everything going his way is a setup for disaster. "The important thing is being who you truly are. That you really accept yourself for who you are, and live your life accordingly in a full and meaningful way," says Deci. In his study, researchers found that those who had strong relationships (which requires accepting people for who they are, listening, and being there when they need you—not just when it's convenient) and volunteered in their community were happiest.
Schedule a sit-down with yourself. Know yourself deeply and fully, and explore aspects of yourself you've been afraid to pay attention to in the past. Knowing yourself helps you focus on things that are really important. Some people go to group therapy in their communities to speed up the process, but if you're determined enough, Deci says you can do this solo, too. "You've got to be ruthless. Ask something about yourself and come up with an immediate answer, but don't trust it for a minute. Ask if it's really so," he suggests. Question all your assumptions about what's important to you, and see if you can defend them. You may find that working 80-hour weeks to get a promotion is secondary to spending time with family and friends.
Shalom!
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Conflict!
Conflict is inevitable in any relationships. Between parents and children, husbands and wives, employees and employers, co workers. Where there is a relationship, there is bound to be a conflict. While relationship is about relating, conflict is about contradiction. Let me give you my definition of each:
Relationship - It is a ship where people who relate to one another come together. They come together after looking for those things that are in common.
Conflict - It is an affliction of contradiction where people cause mental or physical pain / stress by looking at those things that are contradictory.
The irony is that conflicts happen in the midst of a relationship. What comes first is the relation and only after a relation is formed there is a conflict. As long as there is no relation, there is no conflict. In other words, people who found things in common starts looking for things that contradict to afflict one another resulting in emotional, if not physical pain. Somewhere along the way in our relating to one another, we allow the devil to bring to our attention those things that are in contradiction. We allow ourselves to focus on these contradictions that as time passes the contradictions start to appear bigger than the commonalities. Slowly, but surely, we start sinking into an emotional roller coaster that ends up with someone jumping off the ship! Neither the one on the ship, nor the one who jumped is better off than the other because it requires both to come together to survive in the vast ocean of life!
The bible teaches us that the devil is the "accuser of the brethren". It does not only mean about the church and fellowship. The devil will also bring accusation against your parents, your wife, your children and your friends. Like i said, conflicts are bound to happen, but a Christian is one who will pick himself up and run again. As a Christian, we are overcomers. This means that things will come in our life that we will have to overcome. As a Christian, you will face temptation for sure, but you need to overcome. You will face persecution for sure, but you need to overcome. You will face conflicts for sure, but you need to overcome.
So how can we overcome conflicts? Here's the beauty. The Bible keeps focussing on one word when it comes to conflicts and relationships - RECONCILIATION. It's a powerful word! It's an word that demands action. Reconciliation is a proactive action.
Conciliate = To draw or bring together, Unite.
Reconcile = To unite AGAIN
To overcome conflict, we need to proactively look AGAIN for commonalities that will make the contradictions insignificant. The root cause of the conflict happened because we stopped looking for the commonalities and focussed on the contradictions. That is why in Matthew 5:23, Jesus says that when we come to offfer worship to God, first reconcile with your brother, even if it is he who has wronged you. If the relationship is not on the same faith level, you might be the only person making the effort to reconcile, but you need to persevere for God will then call you His sons and daughters, cause you to inherit the Kingdom of God and reward you greatly in heaven (Matthew 5:9-12).
Just to recap:
Relationship - The ship on which those with commonalities sail, in the ocean of life.
Conflict - The afflictions that arise due to allowing the contradictions to overshadow the commonalities among each other.
Reconciliation - The effort to conciliate again based on commonalities than crucify based on contradictions.
Lay the foundation of your life with Jesus, build with the bricks of relationships, remove the impurities of contradictions and cement with your commonalities and finally paint your life with love. Then the world will see and praise God for your beauty!
Shalom!
Relationship - It is a ship where people who relate to one another come together. They come together after looking for those things that are in common.
Conflict - It is an affliction of contradiction where people cause mental or physical pain / stress by looking at those things that are contradictory.
The irony is that conflicts happen in the midst of a relationship. What comes first is the relation and only after a relation is formed there is a conflict. As long as there is no relation, there is no conflict. In other words, people who found things in common starts looking for things that contradict to afflict one another resulting in emotional, if not physical pain. Somewhere along the way in our relating to one another, we allow the devil to bring to our attention those things that are in contradiction. We allow ourselves to focus on these contradictions that as time passes the contradictions start to appear bigger than the commonalities. Slowly, but surely, we start sinking into an emotional roller coaster that ends up with someone jumping off the ship! Neither the one on the ship, nor the one who jumped is better off than the other because it requires both to come together to survive in the vast ocean of life!
The bible teaches us that the devil is the "accuser of the brethren". It does not only mean about the church and fellowship. The devil will also bring accusation against your parents, your wife, your children and your friends. Like i said, conflicts are bound to happen, but a Christian is one who will pick himself up and run again. As a Christian, we are overcomers. This means that things will come in our life that we will have to overcome. As a Christian, you will face temptation for sure, but you need to overcome. You will face persecution for sure, but you need to overcome. You will face conflicts for sure, but you need to overcome.
So how can we overcome conflicts? Here's the beauty. The Bible keeps focussing on one word when it comes to conflicts and relationships - RECONCILIATION. It's a powerful word! It's an word that demands action. Reconciliation is a proactive action.
Conciliate = To draw or bring together, Unite.
Reconcile = To unite AGAIN
To overcome conflict, we need to proactively look AGAIN for commonalities that will make the contradictions insignificant. The root cause of the conflict happened because we stopped looking for the commonalities and focussed on the contradictions. That is why in Matthew 5:23, Jesus says that when we come to offfer worship to God, first reconcile with your brother, even if it is he who has wronged you. If the relationship is not on the same faith level, you might be the only person making the effort to reconcile, but you need to persevere for God will then call you His sons and daughters, cause you to inherit the Kingdom of God and reward you greatly in heaven (Matthew 5:9-12).
Just to recap:
Relationship - The ship on which those with commonalities sail, in the ocean of life.
Conflict - The afflictions that arise due to allowing the contradictions to overshadow the commonalities among each other.
Reconciliation - The effort to conciliate again based on commonalities than crucify based on contradictions.
Lay the foundation of your life with Jesus, build with the bricks of relationships, remove the impurities of contradictions and cement with your commonalities and finally paint your life with love. Then the world will see and praise God for your beauty!
Shalom!
Christian One Liners
Christian One-Liners - Got this as a forward!
Don't let your worries get the best of you;
Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
Until you try to sit in their pews.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Many folks want to serve God,But only as advisers.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
It is easier to preach ten sermons
Than it is to live one.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose,
But mosquitoes come close.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
When you get to your wit's end,
You'll find God lives there.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
People are funny;
they want the front of the bus,
Middle of the road,
And back of the church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Opportunity may knock once,
But temptation bangs on the front door forever.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Quit griping about your church;
If it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If a church wants a better pastor,
It only needs to pray for the one it has.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We're called to be witnesses,
not lawyers or judges.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until
he is dead. So why should you?
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some minds are like concrete
Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Peace starts with a smile.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
I don't know why some people change churches;
What difference does it make which one you stay home from?
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises'
Are just sitting on the premises.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Be ye fishers of men.
You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't put a question mark
where God put a period.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
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.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
He who angers you, controls you!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Prayer:
Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The task ahead of us is never asgreat as the Power behind us.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The Will of God never takes you to
where the Grace of God will not protect you.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We don't change the message,
The message changes us.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
You can tell how big a person is
By what it takes to discourage him.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Shalom!
Robin
Don't let your worries get the best of you;
Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
Until you try to sit in their pews.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Many folks want to serve God,But only as advisers.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
It is easier to preach ten sermons
Than it is to live one.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose,
But mosquitoes come close.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
When you get to your wit's end,
You'll find God lives there.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
People are funny;
they want the front of the bus,
Middle of the road,
And back of the church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Opportunity may knock once,
But temptation bangs on the front door forever.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Quit griping about your church;
If it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If a church wants a better pastor,
It only needs to pray for the one it has.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We're called to be witnesses,
not lawyers or judges.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until
he is dead. So why should you?
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some minds are like concrete
Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Peace starts with a smile.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
I don't know why some people change churches;
What difference does it make which one you stay home from?
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises'
Are just sitting on the premises.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Be ye fishers of men.
You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't put a question mark
where God put a period.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
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.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
He who angers you, controls you!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Prayer:
Don't give God instructions, just report for duty!
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The task ahead of us is never asgreat as the Power behind us.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The Will of God never takes you to
where the Grace of God will not protect you.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We don't change the message,
The message changes us.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
You can tell how big a person is
By what it takes to discourage him.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Shalom!
Robin
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Why Lord, Why?
Proverbs 19:3 - A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LordIt has amazed me how many people i have heard grumbling and complaining against God for situations that come in their lives. Why Lord, Why? is a question that is often asked in circumstances of less joy. There are terrorists attacks affecting all social strata of the society and people are questioning God as to why does He allow these things to happen.The proverb quoted holds the answer to the question. Man in his FOLLY (foolishness) has brought about pain into his own life and society. The solution is to turn away from folly and follow wisdom. Proverbs 8:35 says that if we seek wisdom, we shall receive life and favour from the Lord. The source of wisdom is the Lord Almighty (Proverbs 2:6). Job says the fear of the Lord is wisdom (Job 28:28). Look around today into the destruction and darkness in this world. You will notice that the underlying reason of most of the world's problem starts with a lack of fear of God. Man has begun to live for the moment and in satisfying his pleasures and desires gives the least considertion to fellow brothers and sisters placed in this world by God Almighty, the Father of all.Do you want to know how to fear God? Start walking with Him. Get to know Him. Love Him nd you will know what it is to fear the Lord. As we enjoy His grace and mercy, we cannot help but stand in awe of this loving father. He is simple and seeks simple things. All He says to you today is Love with everything you've got just the way He has demonstrated His love for us by making a way, through His son Jesus, to get close to Him. As we love him, He shall shower upon us "Every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). Alittle higher up the passage, we read that God gives wisdom to those who ask in abundant measure!Let us pray to God and ask Him today for His wisdom, for He has called us who are follish to confound those who are wise. They will be confounded not because we are the best counsellors or advisors but they are confounded because through God's wisdom operating in us, we demonstrate that we have a sure foundation that will stand though the thunder clpas or the lighting strikes or the storms rage around us. Our house shall not fall, our fire shall not die, our seeds shall sprout to produce in plenty and te oil shall not run dry. But there is rejoicing in the house of Israel amidst the travail in the land for Egypt as lost their firstborn, but Israel is waking up to the dawn of Freedom. Rejoice in the Lord my soul and rejoice forever more for the Lord is my hope, he's my fortress, he's my deliverer in Him will i trust!
Shalom!
Shalom!
Is I am that I am your King?
Recently I got the privilege of taking a substitute class at Junior Church. We started to meditate on the time that spanned exodus across judges and till Kings. This time period holds the story of 3 generations of Israelites and it amazes the way God works in their life and their response to God. The nation of Israel was formally formed while in slavery under the Egyptians. The forefathers enjoyed the luxuries of Egypt with the support of their brother Joseph. As the descendants increased, the bible says that Egypt receives a new Pharaoh who had no idea of Joseph and reigned over nearly 6 million people that had a different language and rituals than the Egyptians. Insecurity leads the Pharaoh to put the Hebrews under oppression. With that in the background, let’s look at the 3 generations of Israelites. The 1st generation are those who physically felt the heavy hand of an oppressing regime and cries out to the God of their forefathers (Exo 3:7-10). God raises Moses to bring them out and they become witnesses to the mighty judgment of God upon the Egyptians through the 10 plagues and the signs and wonders that follow as they leave Egypt – The parting of the red sea, the manna and quail, the bitter water turned sweet, the water from the rock and the provision of the ten commandments. They also walked in the presence of God who was a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. But still they chose to contend with God and grumble and murmur at silly things with absolutely no trust in Him. This forced God to destroy them in the wilderness without bringing them to the land that was promised to them. But God raised a 2nd generation who heard of His mighty hand of deliverance. To them He gave possession of the land. The 2nd Generation is the one that fought the most battles and emerged the most victorious. They trusted in God to bring down the walls of Jericho, to keep the sun still till they got their victory and to take up their inheritance in the promised land. But they had one fault. They forgot to train up their children in the ways of the Lord and His laws. They forgot to tell the next generation of the victories they had and how God led their fathers out of Egypt. Their relationship with God lasted as long as the leadership of Joshua and then we see it crumbling down in the book of Judges (Judges 2:10 – 18). Thus comes the 3rd generation, a people who followed not the commandments of God but followed the culture and traditions of the people around them. It is this generation that completely ceases to accept the Lordship of God over their nation and demands for a king thereby rejecting God (I Samuel 8:7-22). What a sad state of affairs! The very people whom God had called His own people and Holy nation and chosen generation (Exodus 19: 5-6) have now rejected His sovereignty over them.My idea of explaining this is not to remind us of what we have already learned in our Sunday school or bible classes, but to challenge ourselves and see if we fall in any of these generational categories – 1. The 1st Generation – Are we constantly complaining the moment we have hardship and treat God like a butler who has to answer the moment we want him to do something for us and then forget his kindness? Are we telling God we will serve Him only if He gives us what we want instead of accepting what He wants for our lives?2. The 2nd Generation – Are we a people who have received the fulfillment of God’s promises and have failed to lead our generation to Him that they might live in obedience to Him?3. The 3rd Generation – Are we a people who have rejected the sovereignty of God in our lives and been satisfied with pleasures that the world offers? Have we submitted ourselves to the rulers of the world system (Economical, Religious & Social)? I am not saying rebel against the world system but do you compromise your beliefs and principles to accommodate the standards laid down by the socio – economical environments?God was rejected once, but now He says “Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord”(Romans 10:9), and you will be His children and nation once again (IPeter2:9). Even as the world systems crumble and fail, nature groans in agony as the signs of the coming of our Lord becoming more evident, Let me encourage you my brothers and sisters, learn from the mistakes of the Israelites and commit ourselves to be a part of God’s Kingdom by accepting His Lordship over our lives and our household.
Shalom!
Shalom!
Are we noble?
Acts 17:11 – Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures everyday to see if what Paul said was true.There are two words that I would like to bring your attention to as you read this article. Eagerness: Keen or ardent in desire or feeling; impatiently longingExamine: To inspect or scrutinize carefullyHow is it that we approach the word of God in our daily lives? When we come for our services how do we approach the word of God? Are we thinking, Oh God, let that 15 or 20 minutes go quickly so that we can go home and sleep? Do we receive the word of God with an ardent desire instead of just plain desire? Do we come to hear God’s word with just a longing or with impatient longing?Do you inspect the word of God spoken from the pulpit and scrutinize carefully to see if it is in line with the written word of God? Do we go back and meditate on what has been spoken within the limited time available in a service and ask God to reveal more of what we have heard as we meditate on His word?Each word in the Bible has been inspired by the Holy Ghost and it is important for us to understand the intensity that the author is trying to reflect within the limitations of our language.Before I close, let me show you a few scriptures from the Bible and let us examine ourselves, if our lives reflect the same passion for the things of God. Let us take time and read the following passages:1. Acts 20:7-12 – Are we like Eutychus or are we like the people who gave up their sleep and sat all throughout the night just to hear God’s word?2. Matthew 22:29 – Do we know the scriptures that we might not err?3. Deuteronomy 17:9-11 – It is the job of the priests to teach the Law (the Word of God)4. 1 Peter 2:9 – Are you a priest? Can we then be satisfied by what we hear from the Pulpit alone?This article is not written for us to read and put away. This article is for us to examine our lives and answer each question sincerely and honestly for God sees our thoughts. If as a church we can commit ourselves to being passionate about the word of God, then we will not just see spiritual growth personally but we will also witness a growth in the body of Christ as you fulfill your calling as priests in the family of God. Then in God’s eyes we will be counted noble!
Shalom!
Shalom!
The Message from the Angels!
Its another wonderful Christmas day! As I sit at the coffee shop, I wonder if we truly understand the beauty of this day. So many of us are stuck in just doing things just because that was how it has been done and thus have lost the essence of the plot. I am amazed that we take so much of time to learn why we shouldn’t celebrate Christmas and ignore to celebrate the arrival of Christ into the world. We are caught up in fighting about the day rather than the event.But Christmas, whichever day it was, 2000 years ago hosted an event so magnificient and so unique that never has there been a night such as this ever again in the history of mankind. The Saviour of the world humbled himself and became human to live among us.The arrival of Jesus was announced ever since the fall of man by various prophets. But we are going to take a look at specific announcements preceding Christmas day and see what message do they hold for us. Matthew and Luke are the two gospel writers who chronicle the announcement of the birth of Christ. While Matthew focuses his attention on Joseph, Luke traces the events as it occurs to Mary. While Matthew records the lineage of Jesus through Joseph, Luke follows the trail along Mary’s family tree all the way back to King David and Adam, the first man. Therefore both the writers stick to the divine announcement of the birth of Christ from the perspective that was revealed to them. The chronological order of the announcements can be seen by studying the two books together.The first announcement of Christ’s birth (Luke 1:26 – 38) comes to Mary, when her relative Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant with John, the prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord Jesus. Mary is greeted by the Angel Gabriel who calls Mary highly favoured of the Lord. There is a wonderful message here. It was because Mary found favour with God that Jesus came into her life. The bible does not speak of Mary as an extraordinary individual to have deserved favour. In here, we see the evidence of God’s grace upon an ordinary individual. The same holds true for us. The bible teaches us that it was not we who first chose Him, but Christ chose us while we were still sinners, weak and foolish and poured out His favour on us that we would be able to receive Him into our lives. (John 15:16; Romans 5:8)And when Jesus comes into our life, He does not come to get a small corner but He comes to establish His throne. In other words, He comes to be our King and to rule over us. For when He comes into our life, we become the house of Jacob. We are the Israel of the new covenant. When Jesus comes into our life, (Luke 1:32 & 33)Luke 1:35 -37 further reveals the work of the Holy Spirit in the birthing process. The Holy Spirit will overshadow Mary and she shall give birth to Christ. In the new covenant, the Holy Spirit continues to does the same. The Holy Spirit overshadows or when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, there is a new birth experience that takes place where you are born of the Spirit. This is the born again experience where you are born out of the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5-8) Those who are thus born of the Spirit are the only ones who can claim to be the sons of God. (Romans 8:14-16) We also see that the sign that the angel gives Mary a reassurance that the message is true by telling her that her aging relative who was known as barren has now become fruitful. This is what Jesus does. He makes that which is barren fruitful. So if we have Jesus in us not only shall we be fruitful but those around us will start being fruitful. For this was what God desired for man during the time of creation – that man be fruitfulAnd to all these wonderful words, Mary demonstrates the acceptable response that God expects from us too – Let it be to me according to Your word. We see this response in all the great men that God has used right from our Lord Jesus who prays, “Not my will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) to Paul who desires that “no longer I who live but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The next person that the Angel appears to is Joseph. Joseph is in a quandary when he finds the woman he loves and is betrothed to is found with child. Normal reaction would be a lot of noise, public humiliation of a woman with child out of wedlock and for those times probably even death by stoning. But Joseph was a just man and, though he knew he would be supported by the society in his decision to ostracize Mary, decides to put the matter to rest without the fireworks. At this crossroad of decision making is where Joseph has a divine visitation. The angel of the Lord quells his fears and announces that the child shall save the world. The angel of the Lord instructs Joseph on the name by which the Child shall be addressed. The bible gives a lot of importance to names. For as a person is addressed, power is spoken to his life. We see that when God starts to do a new thing, He first starts addressing the person He uses with a name that will from then onwards become his identity and purpose. All throughout biblical history we read of Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Saul and other men of faith whose identities were changed by God and then again, there are people who came into this world with specific purposes for whom God reveals the names to their parents and the list includes Isaac, John, Jesus and so on. And so today as we bow to His Lordship and accept Him, He will change our names and will call us by His name (Acts 15:17)Finally, we see a group of shepherds experiencing the divine visitation to announce the birth of Christ. The message of the angels was simple and straight. I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” This is the message that we are to share with people as we witness – that they have a Savior and He is accessible to all. This was the sign that the baby would be a commoner. The Savior does not have political legacy or money power but the Savior would be one who would be able to identify with all people aving travelled through life as a human, He is now exalted at the right hand of God worthy of being the High Priest who can mediate on our behalf (Hebrews 2:17 & 18) The angels continue and burst into a heavenly song, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[Yes, when Jesus comes, He brings in the Kingdom where there is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). For He came to give us peace, the peace not as the world gives but peace from heaven which surpasseth all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I’d like to summarize my thoughts and bring it closer home. My friends, if you do not believe, I’d like to invite you to give your heart to Jesus and he shall bring the fragrance that’s been missing back into your life. He shall remove every uncertainly and fill you with hope, righteousness, peace and joy in such measure that the world cannot steal it from you.If you are a believer then it is time to consider how much have you allowed Jesus to work in you.Answer the following questions privately and see where your relationship with Christ is going. Is it going in the direction of the wise virgins, who waited, watched, slumbered but also paid the price to follow Jesus or are we walking like the foolish virgins who went through the motions of waiting, watching and slumber but when the tire hit the road realized that there was a cost, the lamps had to burn but there was no more oil?1. Do we still find favour with God in our lives?2. Has His throne been established in our lives?3. Are we born of the Spirit and do we continue to walk in the Spirit?4. Are we fruitful where God has placed us?5. When God speaks to us in various ways, what is our response to Him?6. What is our identity today? Are we called by God’s name or are we known by our wordly identities?7. When was the last time we met with our Savior? Are we running to Him or away from Him when the cares of the world haunt us?8. Finally, are we truly demonstrating the power of the Kingdom of God through our life that the world will see there’s no other name but the name of Jesus who is worthy of Glory, worthy of Honour and worthy of all power and praise.
Shalom!
Shalom!
Our Children - Our Talent
Psalms 127: 3 says, Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. If you were to receive a gift from a King, however small a kingdom, you will always cherish the gift. You will maybe buy a special casing to protect it from breaking or being damaged. You hold it in great esteem. You are proud of it. You put it in a place of great prominence within your house and if you have guests, you make it a point to show them the gift.The Word says that our children are the reward that the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Ruler of the Universe, our God himself has given our children to us. If that is the case, how much should we as parents esteem our child? They have been carefully formed by God (Psalms 139:13-16) and entrusted to us that we can look after them for him. They are the talents that have been given to all of us by God. Some of us think that the talent mentioned in Matthew 25 is only about spiritual gift or money. And we comfort ourselves by saying that we have none so God give me some. But how many of look at our children and say, “Lord, give me the grace to be faithful with this talent you have given to me and help me to guide him towards fulfilling his purpose in Your kingdom”? God forms each child with a calling and a purpose (Jer 1:5) and each child is born with unique gifts, nature, interests and skills that will help him achieve that calling and purpose. God expects us to guide our child to God to realize their potential. This can happen only if we are able to hear from God concerning the decisions we take for our children.Therefore, as it is written in the Word (Genesis 18:19), the Lord has blessed us to be parents to guide our children to Him. If we do so, when our Lord comes, we can give back these talents to Him boldly, as faithful stewards of His gift.
Shalom!
Shalom!
Dining with Jesus!
Revelation 3: 20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.This verse has three parts to it. The first part says, Behold I stand at the door and knock,The second part says, If any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to himThe third part says, And I will sup with him and he with meThe first part is mostly used at altar calls to call forth those who have not yet believed in the Lord to accept Him and be saved. The Bible puts a strong emphasis on a man’s heart. Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the man that defiles him but what comes out of a man that defiles him” (Matthew 15:11&18). Hence Jesus is interested in your heart because His task of making you clean, pure and holy can be accomplished only if He has your heart. Therefore, we must give every area of our heart to Jesus. Don’t limit the areas of His influence in your life. Because when He does something He likes to do a perfect job which He will not be able to accomplish if your commitment to Him is partial and limited. Jesus comes and waits knocking at the door of your heart. He knocks in different ways – sometimes it is when you are reading some Christian literature or the Bible, sometimes it is through a Christian leader or friend, sometimes it is through an event or circumstance in your life and sometimes it could be a dream or an audible voice. Whatever it may be, it will be heard and recognized by you. This is why the word knocking is used here. The “knocking” will be loud enough for you to hear and take note.Your response to the “knock” is the second part. It is here that people get separated into two groups. One group hears the “knock”, recognizes it and chooses to ignore while the other hears the “knock”, recognizes it and choose to open the door. The second part highlights the CHOICE we make in our heart and the corresponding ACTION. Every choice has an action. If you heard and chose to ignore that is an action. If you heard and opened the door, that again is an action in response. Therefore in the first phase, you heard the “knock” in your heart, in the second phase, you make a choice in your heart which determines your response.The moment you make the choice to respond by opening the door, you begin to whole heartedly surrender. This is the moment of salvation. The Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the One who knows the end from the beginning enters the house to begin his work of restoration, fruitfulness and multiplication in your life. He restores life to your spirit thereby bringing fruitfulness in your spiritual walk as a christian and multiplication for your physical existence as a human being.By the second phase, you have been saved and have become a Christian and now you are the church. And it is at this point that the Spirit writes to the church and introduces the third phase of dining with the Lord. The third phase is applicable only once you become a believer. One who has not undergone the salvation experience of hearing and opening cannot experience the dining!The dining experience talks about a deeper relationship with God. It is not just the Friday service, it is not just the Monday intercessory prayer but it is a constant hunger for the presence and the Word of God that the Spirit is revealing to the Church. A feast or a ready table in the Word of God shows the blessing and reward of God. Psalms 23 says, He shall prepare a TABLE before my enemies; Psalms 128 says, your children will be like olive shoots around your TABLE, behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord; The man who heard the “knock”, while on the cross next to Jesus, responded and Jesus said to him “Today you will be with me in paradise”. So it is not enough that we allow Jesus into our life and leave Him at the door, but we need to get into a deeper relationship with Him where we dine with Him daily. So many times christians are too busy in our schedules to feast with Him. We are happy with the snacks and the appetizers but never take the main course of the feast that Jesus has prepared for us. If we are existing only on the Word we received on Fridays, my friends we are heading toward spiritual anorexia. Size Zero is definitely not fashionable in the spiritual realm. So what are we to eat with Christ? We have to eat the Word of God. Jesus says, “For man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. So as we fellowship with God in the Spirit (Romans 8:16), He will speak into our life and the Word He speaks will become life in us (Hebrews 4:12) and strengthen us to fulfill our calling (2 Timothy 3:16 – 17).God desires us to also eat fresh food. This is a principle of God. He does not like us eating stale food. It will cause indigestion. The journey of the Israelites to Canaan is an example that reflects this desire of God. He provides the Israelites with manna from heaven and commands them to consume it daily and not store up for later. He wanted them to make the effort daily to pick up the manna (Exodus 16:19-21). He wants us to make an effort to dine with him daily and not rely on yesterday’s revelation to survive today. What was given yesterday was good for yesterday, for today we need to get out of our tent (busy schedules) and make the effort to sit down for a full meal to keep us going in this journey to our promised land.
SHALOM!
SHALOM!
What is your mind full of?
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.When God created man, He created him with a mind of his own. Our mind has the ability to accumulate information and use it in a manner appropriate for various situations and circumstances in our life. What we intake and store in our brain equips us for life. God does not regulate what we put in our minds and He leaves it completely to our choice. This is called FREE WILL. But very few people know how to use the FREE WILL effectively and thus end up using their minds as a garbage bin. The bible teaches us to look to God who is the source of wisdom for guidance. Since most people hold a narrow short term perspective on life that does not often go beyond eat, drink and be merry, they fill their hearts and minds with junk that is only useful within the finite boundaries of time. Hence a lot of people are confused because the clutter in their minds cannot be put together into any logical fashion to explain the reason for their existence. But Paul teaches in Colossians that we need to set our hearts on the things above and have an eternal perspective that we might be able to input data into our minds that will equip and prepare us not just for the life here but for life in eternity.It is important, therefore, that we know what exactly it is that we are feeding on in order to ensure we are not defiling ourselves. Our mind should be used as a treasure chest to hold the pearls (wisdom) of God and not the as the garbage bag for the world to dump into. The passage in Philippians tells us what exactly we need to fill our minds and our hearts with. It is the Word of God! For there is nothing more true, more honourable, more pure, lovely or commendable than God’s word.Like Paul instructs Timothy, as you read this make the commitment to shun profane and idle babblings that increases ungodliness and avoid foolish and ignorant disputes that generate strife and choose to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
SHALOM!
SHALOM!
Second Coming of Jesus!
Jesus promised His disciples He would come again. John 14:1-3, TLB. "Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in Me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with Me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there."The angels promised Jesus would come again. Acts 1:10-11, TLB. "It was not long afterwards that He rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after Him. As they were straining their eyes for another glimpse, suddenly two white-robed men were standing there among them, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as He went, He will return!'"How will Jesus come again? Luke 21:27, NIV. "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."How many will see Him when He comes? Revelation 1:7, NIV. "Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him."What will we see and hear when He comes? I Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."How visible is His coming to be? Matthew 24:27, NIV. "For as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man."What warning has Christ given so we won't be fooled about the second coming? Matthew 24:23-26, NIV. "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ! or 'There He is! do not believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There He is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here He is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it."Does anyone know the exact time of Christ's coming? Matthew 24:36, NIV. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."Knowing how human it is to procrastinate, what does Christ tell us to do? Matthew 24:42, NIV. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event? Luke 21:34-36, TLB. "Watch out! Don't let My sudden coming catch you unawares; don't let Me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world. Keep a constant watch."Why is Jesus second coming taking so long? II Peter 3:8-9, TLB. "But don't forget this, dear friends, that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord. He isn't really being slow about His promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But He is waiting, for the good reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and He is giving more time for sinners to repent."While we wait for Jesus, how should we live? Titus 2:11-14, NIV. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."What will the world be like when Jesus comes? Matthew 24:37-39, NIV. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."Will Christ's coming be a time of reward? Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 22:12, NIV. "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done."Why is Jesus coming back? Hebrews 9:28, TLB. "So also Christ died only once as an offering for the sins of many people; and He will come again, but not to deal again with our sins. This time He will come bringing salvation to all those who are eagerly and patiently waiting for Him."At Jesus' second coming, we will fully experience the reality of our salvation. , I Corinthians 1:7-8, TLB. "Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing His will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And He guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when He returns."
Shalom!
Shalom!
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