Today's Message: DELIGHT IN SPEAKING GOD’S WORD

Praise the Lord!!!

“ ... Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack ... you.” (Acts 18:9,10)

John Gibson Paton was a Scottish missionary who first settled in the island of Tanna in New Hebrides Islands off South Pacific, along with his wife Mary. The natives of this particular island were cannibals. But, the couple took up the Great Commission as their life-challenge. One night these hostile natives surrounded their house, with an ultimate aim of burning out the Patons and killing them, probably to eat them. Paton and his wife did not know what to do and they fervently prayed during that night that God would deliver them. When daylight came and they looked out, they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. On that day, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them one year back. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no other men were present with them on that day -- but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station! O, that is how the Lord of hosts saves His children who is doing His mission work! He sends His angels to surround them and protect them from the evil attackers. Amen.

Dear friends, Paul was in the city of Corinth to do the Great Commission of the Lord. Of course there were many who opposed him. Paul was not afraid of the threatening. One day God spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, ...” (Acts 18:9) Paul was encouraged and continued to do the Gospel work there for more than one and a half years. Halleluiah! When we do His work, there may be many who would like to stop us. But, as the Lord was with Paton and Mary, and with Paul, He is also with us. He will protect us and will enable us to work for Him. In Corinth many believed and baptized. In New Hebrides many believed and baptized. Even now, wherever you and I are doing His ministry with His anointing, with His grace many will believe and be baptized.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as you have called me, an unworthy servant, to proclaim the Gospel and fulfill my part in the Great commission, I request you to fill me with your Spirit. Help me to keep on speaking, fearing nothing, for you are with me to protect me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today's Message: GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE FOR US IN THIS

Praise the Lord!

“... While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven as a Christmas gift. Here’s how he recalls the experience. They were excited that now they too could be a part of the “instant generation”. When Dad unpacked the microwave oven and plugged it in, literally within seconds, the microwave oven transformed both Dad and Mom into frowns! Even after reading the directions for use, they could not make it work. Two days later, my mother confessed to her friend her inability to get that microwave oven even to boil water. “To get this thing to work” she exclaimed, “I really don’t need better directions. I just needed my son to come along with the gift.” When God gave the gift of salvation to us, He did not send a booklet of complicated instructions for us to figure out, but He sent His very own Son! God could have sent an angel to this world to teach and preach about salvation. But He sent His own Son in human form. Jesus was born of flesh, lived as a Man in this world. He participated in sufferings and joys of humans and finally gave up His life to save us. Halleluiah.

I John 4:9 says, “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” Love originates in God’s character. Love always takes the initiative to give. God showed His love for us. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This is genuine love. What is that love like? It is distinguished by two characters found in I John 4:9,10. Firstly it meets the spiritual need and secondly, it initiates rather than responds. By sending His Son Jesus to the world God the Father provided a way out for us to escape eternal condemnation and He did this out of His love for us even though we were sinners. So dear friends, let us accept Jesus and His gift of salvation as well.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for your gift of salvation which you sent to me through your very own Son Jesus. Because you loved me so much and wanted me to be saved from eternal fire, you took the initiative. Let me not neglect this costly gift. Amen.

Today's Message: LET CHRIST BE OUR FOCUS, NOTHING ELSE!

Praise the Lord!

" Christ Jesus , who gave Himself as a ransom f or all ...” (I Timothy 2:6)

In one of the books I studied recently, the incident that happened at the time of Cyrus, King of Persia was quoted. Cyrus after a famous victory, took prisoner a noble prince, along with his wife and children. When they were brought into Cyrus’ presence, he said to the prince, "What will you give me to set you at liberty?" The prince replied, "I will give you half that I possess." Cyrus exclaimed, "And what will you give me if I release your children?" The prince answered, "I will give you all that I possess." Cyrus questioned him still further, saying, "But what will you give me if I set your wife at liberty?" Now the wife of the prince was very good and beautiful, and her husband fondly loved her; and looking upon her, he replied, "If you will restore my wife to liberty I will lay down my life." Cyrus, won by the true nobility of the sacrifice offered by that devoted man, immediately set them at liberty without any recompense whatever. That evening, when the prince and his wife were rejoicing together over their freedom, he said, "Did you not think Cyrus a very handsome man?" His wife replied, "I did not notice him sufficiently well to tell." The prince exclaimed, "Why, where were your eyes?" She said, "I had eyes only for him who said he would lay down his life for me.”

Dear friends, we may marvel at the genuine and the uncompromising love the prince had for his dear wife, but greater is the love the Lord Jesus has for every one of us. He is the eternal Bridegroom of our soul. He laid down His life for us though we are unworthy. We had been unfaithful to Him in many ways, yet He did not abandon us. He has broken the chains of our sins and has delivered us from the prison of spiritual death. Are we faithful to Him? Are our eyes focused only on Him? Or do we get attracted by the world and its vanities and run behind them? Let us never be disloyal to our Beloved Lord who redeemed us by His precious blood.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, How great is your love for me! I am not worthy to receive your mercy and kindness, yet you gave your own life to redeem me. Let my eyes be always focused on you. Let me love you always. Let me not run behind worldly vanities, for you are my eternal Bridegroom. Amen.

              

Today's Message: DO YOU LOVE TO TELL THE GOSPEL?

Praise the Lord!

"Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, ..." (II Timothy 1:8)

Leighton Ford in his book “Good News is for sharing” writes of certain phrases said by those who were afraid of sharing the Gospel. He writes: “In preparing for this book, I have talked to a lot of people, and the fear issue comes up front again and again. What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to me: - "I am afraid I might do more harm than good." - "I don't know what to say." "I may seem bigoted." - "I may invade someone's privacy." - "I am afraid I might fail." - "I am afraid I might be a hypocrite." Even today, if we ask ourselves or some of our other Christian friends, we may get such answers! Leighton further writes, “Perhaps the most common fear, however, is that of being rejected. A survey was given to those attending training sessions for the Billy Graham crusade in Detroit. One question asked, "What is your greatest hindrance to witnessing?" Nine percent said they were too busy to remember it. Twenty-eight percent felt the lack of real information to share. None said they didn't really care. Twelve percent said their own lives were not speaking as they should. But by far the largest group were the 51 percent whose biggest problem was the fear of how the other person would react!” None of us like to be rejected or ridiculed.

Paul the apostle was not afraid of telling the Gospel. Many of those who heard the Good News preached by him might not have accepted Jesus as their Savior, yet he did not stop doing it. In fact he just loved to tell it! In 2 Corinthians 12:15 he says, “So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.” So let us not worry about the result. If we truly love the Lord and if we have the burden for lost souls then we will not mind whether people reject us or they ridicule us or even persecute us. The love of Christ will compel us to keep proclaiming the Good News. So let us speak out for the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, because you loved me and saved me from going to hell , how can I keep quiet without proclaiming this Good News? Take away all fears from me. Empower me with your Holy Spirit so that I will testify your love to everyone whether they listen or not. Amen.

Today's Message: REJOICE WHEN YOU ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE FAITH!

Praise the Lord!!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)

When a person admits his sin, cries out to God for mercy, he is pardoned by grace through the cross, and then goes on to live a life as a follower of Jesus Christ. But now he becomes an enemy of the world. He faces opposition. Jesus said that the result of His ministry would be contention and division. First, opposition comes from a person's own family. In Matthew 10:34-36, He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be members of his own household". Many families are divided and parents are separated from children because of their faith in Jesus. Why? Because the one who is filled with Holy Spirit manifests righteousness before his unrighteous family members. Secondly, opposition would come from the society. Sometimes there will be persecution even to the point of shedding blood. In I Peter 4:12- 13, Peter said, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ", and in verse 14, he said, "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed". Rev. John Schmidt wrote, "When somebody is persecuted for Christ, they don't have halos around them. We don't look at them and say, "O how blessed they are!" When people are actually being persecuted they look desperate. But Jesus looks at them and says, "Congratulations, my beloved, because heaven belongs to you and you will have a reward".

Dear friends, let us not become weary when people insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of our faith in Christ. But, by the power of the Holy Spirit let us endure all sufferings patiently.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, give me the strength to face the insults, ridicule and persecutions boldly. Let me never renounce my faith in you nor deny Jesus when I face opposition, but let me rejoice that I will receive a great welcome in heaven by you and all the angels. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: LET US BE PEACEMAKERS

Praise the Lord!!

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Peacemaking is not running away from the problem. It is not pretending that the problem doesn't exist. It is not passivity. It does not mean that we should give up our identity. It is not appeasement - always giving in and letting the other people have their own way. It is taking all efforts to bring peace and harmony among people. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Happy are the peacemakers". (WNT) He did not say, "Happy are the peace lovers" because everyone loves peace or "Happy are the peaceable" - those who never get disturbed by anything. He said, "Happy are those who make peace - who actively seek to resolve conflict". We have to be peacemakers because firstly, unresolved conflicts block our fellowship with God. We cannot have a close fellowship with God and hate others at the same time. Rick Warren writes, "When you are out of fellowship with people - horizontal - you are out of fellowship vertically". Secondly, if we harbor enmity in our hearts, God will not answer our prayers. Matthew 5 says reconciliation is a prerequisite for worship. When we go to the altar of God to present our offering and remember somebody has something against us, we should first go, make peace with that person, and then go back to the Lord's presence. Jesus said that it is only we, who should take the initiative. It doesn't matter if we are the offended or the offender, it is always our move first. Let kind and gracious words come from our mouth. Let us not condemn the other person or criticize them. Instead let us say things that build them up, not put them down. "Be a bridge builder- not a bridge tearer", writes Rick Warren. The hallmark of a Christian ought to be our ability to get along with other people. Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone".

Dear friends, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation of peacemaking. Let us do it and make it known to the world that we are the children of the living God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me seek to resolve conflicts between two persons. But before that let me be at peace with others and with you. Let me forgive everyone and not hold grudges against anyone. Let me reveal to the world that I am the child of the Lord of Peace. In Jesus name. Amen.

     

BE BLESSED

Praise the Lord!!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

                                                                                                                                                    

Happiness is not found when one searches for it. An author writes, "One of the chief sources of unhappiness is the pursuit of happiness". We rearrange our schedules to go somewhere we like. We change our behavior to impress someone we love. We do what we can to obtain something we long for. But in all these we will never find true happiness. Jesus tells us the way to happiness. In Matthew 5:6 He said that happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. The world hungers for many things. Some people have an appetite to make bundles of money. They want to earn "good money" to buy villas, luxurious cars and live happily "ever after". Some have an appetite for security. They put their trust in people and jobs. Some are driven by sexual appetites. Some have appetite for intellectual acceptance. But sadly, many of these appetites end in unhappiness and emptiness. Jesus wants us to hunger for righteousness. The Greek word for righteousness here describes the character as being right with God. So, to be hungry for righteousness is to be hungry for God and to conform to His will in our lives. Our real hunger should be for a relationship with God. We should have a strong desire to be right with God; a strong desire to be rid of sin which separates us from God; a strong desire to be holy. We should have a longing to have the fruit of the Spirit in our every action. We should have a passion to be like Lord Jesus Himself. Note that Jesus did not say, "Blessed are the religious"- not those who just go to church and read the Bible. The Pharisees were religious, but Jesus condemned them because their hunger was to be right and not righteous.

Dear friends, do we hunger and thirst for righteousness or do we hunger or thirst only for a tremendous religious experience? We need to get ourselves out of the way and make righteousness our goal. Then surely we will be filled and saturated by God's righteousness.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me not run searching for happiness. Let me instead hunger for righteousness, to have right relationship with you and to hate sin. Let me have the desire to become more like Jesus. As I seek you fill me with your righteousness till I am saturated by it. Amen.

Today's Message: MEEKNESS IS NOT SPINELESSNESS

Praise the Lord!!

Today's Message which i read...

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Meek means gentle, mild, soft, not weakness but power under control. Barnes writes, "Meekness produces peace. It is proof of true greatness of soul. It comes from a heart too great to be moved by little insults". But the term meekness, nowadays carries with it an idea of spinelessness. It paints the picture of a submissive and ineffective creature. But originally the word meek in Greek "praus" is one of the great Greek ethical words. Moses was the greatest leader and the greatest law giver the world has ever seen. Numbers 12:3 says, "Now Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth". But Moses was not a spineless creature. He could be blazingly angry but he was a man whose anger was on the leash, only to be released at the right time. This is what meekness is -"A man who gives himself into the complete control of God gains meekness", writes Barclay. Meekness is patience. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of rights nor cowardice. In Biblical times, everyone assumed when the Messiah came, He would be strong, forceful and powerful. The Pharisees probably expected a leader with supernatural power. The Sadducees probably expected an eloquent politician, one who can bring a great deliverance to the Jews. So when Jesus came as meek, lowly and humble, they could not accept Him. In their minds, they refused to consider Him as the Messiah. They hardly believed that Jesus would deliver the Jews from the powerful Romans especially after His crucifixion because their Scriptures had taught them that anyone who hung on a tree was cursed by God. (Deut. 21:23) They were of the opinion that great causes were fought by the proud and not the humble. How ignorant they were! Jesus was the very model of meekness. He bore everything patiently. No man endured more patiently than He.

Dear friends, let us be meek. Then we will not only gladly enter the kingdom of heaven, but also inherit the land, the heavenly Canaan. May the Lord help us to gain meekness.

PRAYER:  Almighty God, when people insult me, talk ill of me, let me not become impatient and quarrelsome or press my rights. But let me be meek, patient and gentle. Let me not harbor malice but let me remind myself of Romans 12:19, that you will repay my opponents. Amen

Today's Message: GODLY SORROW IS GOOD

Praise the Lord!!

One of my favourite message about god which i read....

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

Mourning is not a pleasant thing. It is usually associated with pain, loss, discomfort or disappointment. People mourn for various reasons - lost opportunity to earn money or to get something, loss of physical possessions, lost youth, vitality, loss of loved ones and so on. Mourning definitely is not desired by anyone. But in Matthew 5:4 Jesus says, "Happy are those who mourn". Isn't there a contradiction in this statement? Mourning is negative whereas happy is positive. It doesn't even sound right; it doesn't make sense! But there is a meaning in what Jesus said. He did not mean everyone who mourns about everything are happy. In other words, He did not talk of people who mourned about their physical condition or material loss. He meant those people who mourn over their sins and feel sorry for their sins, not those who just became sorrowful over being caught while making mistakes, but truly feeling sorrow over their sin. In II Corinthians 7:10, we read of this sorrow - "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldy sorrow brings death". Sin hurts us because of its deadly nature. It hurts our relationships with other people and with God. So we need to be genuinely sorry for our sins. Andy Warren says, "Sin is lethal and needs to be marked with skull and crossbones. It poisons people and it destroys relationships".

Dear friends, sin is never something to be taken lightly. Jesus said in Matthew 4:17,"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near". We have to renounce our old sinful ways and take a new turn in our life. We should turn our backs to sin and walk in the path that leads to the cross of Jesus. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our iniquities. So let us confess all our sins to Jesus and plead for His mercy to be forgiven. This godly sorrow thus truly brings us salvation and comfort. We cannot receive definitely God's blessings - the joy and peace until we mourn for our sins. Amen.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, I lament and mourn when I face loss of material things. But more than these, let me truly feel sad when I sin against you. Let me confess my sins to you and experience the joy of salvation and your comfort which no one else can give me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENTS

Praise the Lord!!

"Not everyone who says to me , ‘Lord, Lord, ’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father . " (Matthew 7:21)

The Bible tells of certain spiritual requirements needed by us to enter into the kingdom of God. Do we have these? Firstly, in Matthew 5:20, Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees liked to display their spirituality. Everything they did was done for men to see. But Jesus warned us that our righteousness should not be like this. He insisted that we should have inward righteousness - humility, love, compassion and so on. Secondly, we should have a child-like spirit. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Little children are innocent, they do not hold grudges against anyone, even those who harm them, they are humble and they trust others wholeheartedly. Jesus told that we need to have such child-like simplicity to enter God's Kingdom. Thirdly, when talking to Nicodemus in John 3:5, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Though all human beings have experienced natural birth on earth, if they expect to go to heaven, they must experience a supernatural spiritual birth from above. What is this?

Warren Wiersbe writes, “To be born of water is to be born physically, but to be born again means to be born of the Spirit. Just as there are two “parents” for physical birth, so there are two “parents” for spiritual birth - the Spirit of God (John 3:5) and the Word of God. (James 1:18). The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and when the sinner believes, imparts the life of God.” Fourthly, we need to repent from our sinful ways. In Luke 13:3 Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish”, and in John 8:24 He says, “If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” Only Jesus saves us from eternal death. Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me from eternal death through your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to meet all the spiritual requirements to enter heaven. Let me have inward righteousness and a child-like spirit. Holy Spirit, strengthen me each moment to live in holiness. Amen.

Today's Message: ARE YOU CLOSE TO JESUS?

Praise the Lord!!

"Oh, for the days ... when God's intimate friendship blessed my house." (Job 29:4)

Tom Eliff said, "Intimacy with Christ is a major issue in the life of every believer. No man of God is in so perilous a position as the man who has lost his place of intimacy with Christ". In Luke 10 we read the familiar story of Martha and Mary which vividly speaks of the issue of intimacy with Christ. According to Eliff, from this story we can draw three principles of intimacy with Christ - posture, proximity and preference. A reverent physical posture definitely indicates a reverent spiritual posture. How Mary was seated before Jesus reflected her reverence for Him. Luke 10:39 says that she was at Jesus' feet listening to what He said. Secondly she was very close to Jesus. "She was as close to Jesus as a woman of discretion could be to a man", said Eliff. Next was Mary's preference. She preferred to listen to the Word of God rather than to work in the kitchen. Eliff recalled the time he was working with his grandfather in his workshop. Once, his grandfather asked Eliff to bring a tool. Since he was unfamiliar with it and was searching for it, his grandfather told him to never mind and used a screwdriver instead. Then he said to Eliff, "Son, I didn't use this screwdriver because it was the best tool for the job. I used it because it was close to my hand. There are a lot of men out there who are perfectly equipped to do incredible things for God, but God will never use them because it is the handy tool that gets used the most. So remember to be available to the Lord always". Eliff said, "I learnt a great spiritual truth from my grandfather that day".

Dear friends, how is our relationship with Jesus? If we do not walk intimately with our Lord, we cannot expect His blessing or protection. We will easily be influenced by the world and its temptation and we will leave our spiritual conscience and may be even our calling. So let us be careful to sit at His feet every day, read His Word, listen to what He says and always be available to Him that we will be used by Him the most.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me yearn to have an intimate fellowship with you. Let me sit at your feet and enjoy your sweet presence every day. Let me not think "of doing" something for you without first "being" and listening to what you say. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: CONSECRATION MUST PRECEDE CONQUEST

Praise the Lord!!

"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, .." (Jeremiah 4:4)

Under Joshua's leadership and by miraculous intervention of God, the Israelites crossed the Jordan and camped at Gilgal. On hearing this, the morale of the people of Canaan utterly collapsed. They had already heard two terrifying news of how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea when the Israelites came out of Egypt and how they defeated the two powerful Amorite kings Sihon and Og at the east of Jordan. (Joshua 2:10) Now they heard of how Lord Jehovah dried up the waters of Jordan river so that they could cross over into their land, Canaan. (Joshua 5:1) Fear gripped their hearts. At this point, the military leaders of Israel might have thought that it was the best time to strike a paralyzing blow on the Canaanites and to bring down their strongholds. But this was not God's plan. He is never in a hurry though His children often are. From God's point of view, Israel was not yet ready to fight on Canaan's soil. There was some unfinished business and it was spiritual- Consecration must precede conquest. Before God would lead Israel into the Canaan, He wanted to consecrate them. So the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again". Joshua obeyed the Lord, even though it must have been difficult for him as a military commander to incapacitate his entire army in that hostile environment. Why was circumcision so important? Because it was a covenant of the Lord, a contract guaranteeing the everlasting continuation of Abraham's seed and their everlasting possession of the Lord! All the men of Israel were circumcised before they left Egypt, but they all died in the wilderness and hence their sons born during the wilderness wanderings were not circumcised. Therefore God insisted that this sacred rite should be performed before the new generation entered the Promised Land.

Dear friends, before we venture to defeat the enemy, and before we take possession of the land, let us be careful to renew our covenant with the Lord. Then surely the victory will be ours.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as I grow in spiritual journey, let me pause at Gilgal and take time to circumcise my heart before I enter into Canaan. Let me renew my covenant with you. Cleanse me by the blood of Jesus and grant me victory over the devil in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Message: TRUSTING GOD’S TIMINGS

Praise the Lord!!

“ Be patient, ... See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop ... ”. (James 5:7)

A man once planted some carrot seeds in his garden for the first time in his life. He was so excited about the prospect of seeing carrots in his garden. He went out each morning and dug up the soil expecting to see some early progress toward a harvest. At first that novice gardener was angry because the carrot seeds did not produce carrots as it had been advertised. When he asked other seasoned gardeners about the failure of his crop, he quickly learned that his own impatience had killed the seeds before they could germinate and take root. He had learned his first lesson about “due season”

Dear friends, are you frustrated because you do not see God moving in your life right now? Have you been digging up your seeds with the tool of impatience? Remember, God knows what you need even before you ask Him. In Isaiah 46:10, the Lord said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please”. The Lord sees the end from the beginning. He sees the whole picture long before we realize we are in the picture. And He will make things come to pass exactly at the right time. All we have to do is to trust Him and wait. In Philippians 4:19, He has promised that He will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. But He does not instantly provide them; neither does He give us excessively nor in lump sum amounts. He is more interested in building up our character than in merely providing us all that we need. He does bless us but it is only on His terms, on His timetable and for His purposes. Joel Osteen writes, “If you trust God then you will know that He often works most when you see it and feel it the least. Trust will affect and transform every part of your relationships with God.” So live your life without worrying, letting God do things in His own way.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, let me not by my impatience spoil your work in my life. You know the end from the beginning and you make things come to pass in due seasons. So let me not worry but trust you to do things in your own way. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT

Praise the Lord!!

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share”. (I Timothy 6:18)

A honey distributor once packaged honey in a glass bottle, shaped like baby bear. Grandma used to buy the honey packed in the uniquely shaped bottle and once she used up the contents she would not throw the container, but used it as a penny jar since it was too pretty. Whenever grandma received a penny in change, she would drop it in the bear shaped bottle in her kitchen shelf. Her grandchildren loved to count the pennies collected in the “penny bear”. They would pour the coins on the table and make neat stack of pennies. Then they would write the date and total amount of pennies on a small slip of paper and tuck it into the penny bear’s lid. Whenever the penny bear was full, grandma took it to the bank and deposited the pennies in her savings account. The empty penny bear reappeared in the kitchen shelf and the process continued year after year. Time came for her eldest granddaughter Melitta to enter into college for her higher studies. Melitta’s parents could not afford to send her to college because they were poor. When Melitta told this to grandma, she went into the kitchen and after a while she came out with the empty penny bear and handed it over to Melitta. Inside it Melitta found a cheque for the total cost of her books, for her first year college. She was delighted. Because of grandma’s penny saving habit, Melitta had the privilege of continuing her education in the college. From that day onwards, she too cultivated the penny saving habit.

Dear friends, one penny is not worth much. But one penny multiplied can feed a hungry family, provide shelter to a homeless person or help a child through college. It can even help a missionary to share God’s Word in the remote places of our country. So let us keep saving them and whenever there is any need, let us give them generously and cheerfully.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, let me develop the habit of saving. And whenever I find my “penny-bear” or “piggy-bank” becoming full, let me generously give it to the needy. Through my savings, let the Word of God be spread and the hunger of the poor be satisfied. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: RUN TO GOD'S OUTSTRETCHED ARMS NOW

Praise the Lord!!

"All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, ..." (Isaiah 65:2)

This is a beautiful verse that denotes the longing of God’s heart. The Lord says that He is spreading His hands. What does that mean? The outstretched hands are hands of mercy, hands of compassion and hands of pity. God's hands are gracious hands, waiting hands, ready hands, longing to welcome the returning sinner! A day consists of morning, noon and night - all twenty-four hours. Spreading out the hands all the day denotes that the Lord is persistent in showing His love to the sinner. This represents God's ceaseless and unfailing readiness to welcome and save. To what kind of people is God showing such grace and love? - To an obstinate people! They were rebellious against God, against His laws, His love and His holiness. Ever since the Old Testament days, the Lord's patience is continually tested because of the stubbornness of people. In Numbers 14:11, the Lord asked Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt?” In Psalm 4:2, the Lord asked with pain, "How long will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?” What leads to rebellion? The world, the flesh and Satan. One does not have to show blatant hostility towards God by preaching anti-God theory in order to be rebellious. One can totally ignore God, totally discard Him out of one's life in order to be rebellious. Time given to business, pleasure, hobbies and other interests are perfectly legitimate. However, when they occupy the majority of our time and exclude us to even think about God then it leads to rebellion. We begin to ignore God's blessings, His grace and all the privileges we have received from Him.

Dear friends, let us be cautioned. We live in the period of grace. But a day will come when we have to face God's judgement. Before that let us repent and return to God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, your hands are spread all day long inviting me to come to you. But instead of running to you for comfort, sometimes I run towards the world to satisfy my passions. Forgive me Lord, I feel sorry for my rebelliousness. Forgive me and accept me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: THE UNSHAKEABLE FAITH OF NOAH

Praise the Lord!!

"Noah did everything just as God commanded him". (Genesis 6:22)

Noah was a great man of faith. His father Lamech named him Noah saying, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed" (Genesis 5:29). Noah lived in an extremely corrupt age when men had become so universally depraved that the Lord had determined to destroy the race. In the midst of this moral darkness Noah's life was radiant with righteousness. He walked with God and he was blameless among the people of his time (Genesis 6:9). One day the Lord revealed to Noah that He was going to send a great flood on the earth that would destroy all mankind. Then God gave Noah a strange and an apparently impossible task from human stand point - to build an immense boat to preserve the lives of his own family as well as certain species of the animal kingdom. Just imagine how difficult it would have been to Noah to do what God has commanded him! He was surrounded by a mass of godless unbelievers who, attracted by curiosity would come to see his work and every now and then would mock him for doing such a "foolish act". No doubt Noah became a laughing-stock. Yet, year after year, unmindful of people's criticisms and ridicules Noah maintained his faith and continued his task of building the ark. He did everything just as God commanded him (Genesis 6:22, 7:5). Thompson writes, "Considering his surroundings, the magnitude of the work he was called on to perform and the many years spent in hard labor, Noah stands among all the workers of the Bible unsurpassed, if not equaled in persistent faith".

Dear friends, God has called us to live a blameless life among this crooked and depraved generation. He has commissioned us to do His work and He wants us to obey him in every aspect. We may be ridiculed, humiliated or criticized; but let none of them shake our faith. Let us be steadfast and go ahead to fulfil His purpose in our lives.

PRAYER: Father, Noah stood alone for you among the evil people of his time. He was strong in his faith that you will do what you promised - that you will bring down the rain and destroy the mankind. Let me also have such unshakeable faith in you till the end. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: FERVENT, PERSISTENT PRAYER

Praise the Lord!!

"... I will not let you go unless you bless me". (Genesis 32:26)

The Old Testament speaks much about outward, physical blessings from God, and the New Testament tells us of the more important, invisible spiritual blessings that we have in Jesus Christ. Both kinds of blessings are far more important than most of us can imagine. What can we do to receive these blessings from the Lord? "The most obvious instruction from the Lord is that we are to ask in prayer for an outpouring of God's favor", writes Jim Cymbala. In I Chronicles we read of Jabez. What made him stand out in his generation? It was his prayer! Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” Please notice the emphatic words, "Jabez cried out". It was not just a prayer coming from his lips but from the depth of his heart. What was the outcome? God granted his request! Halleluiah! Jabez's prayer reminds us of another person in the Bible - Jacob who had a personal encounter with the Lord one night! In that moment of solitude, Jacob wrestled with God crying, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26), and The Bible tells, "Then He (The Lord) blessed him”. (vs:29) It is very rare to see these kind of passionate desperate prayers these days. People all over the world feel that fervent, heartfelt prayer is not necessary today. They say that, since God is love, we just have to ask Him once politely, what we need and everything will turn out fine. How easily people are misguided! Let us take the example of our Lord Jesus. "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death". (Hebrews 5:7) If Jesus Himself prayed so, then why should we restrict ourselves from pouring out our hearts to the Lord in prayer?

Dear friends, surely seeking God with our whole heart is the right kind of prayer that secures not just answers, but the blessings of the Lord that we all need.

PRAYER: Almighty God, let me not deceive myself that praying prolonged prayers, agonizing in prayer and waiting upon the Lord in prayer are all old fashioned terms. Let me passionately and desperately long for your blessings while I pray. In Jesus  name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEARTS

Praise the Lord!!

“... Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord. ” (Isaiah 52:11)

When King Hezekiah took the throne of Judah, the nation was a moral and spiritual garbage, with idolatrous altars literally on every street corner. But King Hezekiah turned the entire scenario and led his people into a powerful national revival. After cleaning out the neglected and defiled temple of God, Hezekiah called the people for a national Passover celebration. It has been long since the people of God had observed this holy remembrance of God's deliverance. And so a very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. In the midst of celebration, the priests and Levites stopped what they were doing. II Chronicles 30:15-16 says, "They (the people) slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord. Then they took up their regular positions ..” Why did they do so? Because they were deeply aware of their own sin, their own compromise and their own failures and so they consecrated themselves to the Lord to get rid of their garbage. They realized they were not holy enough to handle the holy things of the Lord.

Dear friends, like these priests and Levites, we may have been entrusted with some spiritual responsibility - teaching, leading, preaching, counseling, organizing or administering God's work. We need to always remember that we are handling the very things of God - the holy God. We should never ever let our work for Him become careless or mechanical or self-serving. It is a solemn, even a dangerous mistake to handle the holy without clean hands. "Serving Christ is not fun and games, or just a little spiritual exercise. It requires a holy life", writes Ron Hutchcraft. So let us first purify ourselves from all uncleanness before we come to God’s presence.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you have given me a great spiritual responsibility of serving you. But I realize that I am not holy enough to minister to you. I see the dirt in my heart and I want to deal with it before I handle the holy. Cleanse me, I pray, with the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Message: WITH GOD I AM A HERO

Praise the Lord!!

“ He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. ” (Psalm 18:34)

Ten year old Bob lost the soccer game in the school team. “I can’t play again”, he cried to his mother. “I just can’t”. Susan tried to encourage her son, but she only made it worse by her counsel. That night during the story time, Susan came up with the story of David and Goliath - how the little lad David defeated the huge Philistine giant Goliath just with a small pebble. She wondered if through this story she would be able to give Bob the confidence to play the soccer game of which he was so afraid. “O Lord, I don’t know how to help him. Let him find the courage he needs to face this giant”, she prayed desperately. The next week, Susan and her husband left for the Holy Land, a trip that was planned long before. As they reached the rocky hills of Judea, the tour guide said, “You are now in the valley where David slew Goliath”. Susan’s heart was pounding. “David and Goliath?” “The Philistines camped over on that hill and the Israelites over here” pointed out the guide. “And you’ll find a brook still running between the two hills. Many speculate that it is the very brook where David took the stone that killed the giant.” Susan felt that God had planted an idea in her mind. She made her way to the brook, collected a few pebbles and put them in her handbag. A week later when they reached home, Susan took out the handful of stones and gave them to Bob. “What’s that for?” Bob asked. “I picked these from the brook where David might have picked these. I brought them all the way back just to remind you of a promise.” Bob, you are a lot like David. You have got a giant too - the giant of fear. You can face it like David did.” “What’s the promise?” Bob asked. “It is the same as David’s,” Susan explained. “God is with me and I can do it”. Bob’s eyes sparkled. He picked up his soccer ball, which was lying in a corner and off he went to the field. Indeed he did win the game!

Dear friends, are you facing the great giant of fear? When a defeated little boy, whom nobody wanted on the school team slew his fear with a promise “God is with me and I can do it”, why can’t we do it? Sure. No power on earth can destroy God’s promises.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, at times I have an irrational fear and feel helpless. I feel as if the giant of fear grows taller and my self-esteem shrinks. I tend to give way to a kind of despair. Like David I confess, since you are with me I will not be defeated. I am always a conqueror. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

              

Today's Message: GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS O LORD

Praise the Lord!!

“... Therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, ...”. (Lamentations 3:21-22)

Many of us are familiar with the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" that goes like this - "Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. All I have needed thy hands have provided, Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” It would be encouraging if we know that great promises of the Lord are embedded in the context of difficulties, tears, wars and sorrows. Jeremiah, the prophet who wrote the book of Lamentations, was deeply hurt by the fact that God had to discipline the people of Israel by sending them off to captivity in Babylon and that the captivity would last for seventy years. He cried to God in despair, "See, O Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within.” (Lamentations 1:20) He wondered whether there was any hope for his people. And indeed there was! Jeremiah proclaimed with confidence, "It is only because of the Lord's great love that we are not consumed. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” Then he worshipped the Lord saying, "Great is your faithfulness".

Dear friends, there are many parents who weep over their sons and daughters who have become rebellious and walked away from God and His people. Many children weep over their unbelieving parents and grandparents. Many of us weep over our neighbors and colleagues who have no relationship with Jesus. That hurts us deeply. "Is there any hope?” We cry in despair like Jeremiah. And indeed we do have hope because the Lord's love is so great that it does not allow the unsaved to perish. It changes the hearts and lives of our loved ones. Great is His faithfulness! So, let us live our life with courage and confidence. God's great faithfulness to us means that we are not consumed in our sin. It does not allow us to be destroyed. And so let us joyfully offer our life to be used by God to spread His love and truth to the perishing people.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, it is only because of your great love that I am not consumed by sin's power. I pray for all my loved ones who are not saved. Let your love change their hearts and lives. Use me Lord, to spread your love to these perishing souls. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's Message: BE WATCHFUL

Praise the Lord!!

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)

The second coming of our Lord Jesus is an important event that is certainly going to happen without any doubt. All signs regarding His coming are getting fulfilled. The time is drawing very near. So we need to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord when He comes. We should always be watchful and ready. In Matthew 24:44, the Lord said, "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him". In 25:13, Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour". Jesus Himself has said, "No one knows about the day or hour of the Lord's return, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36). The Lord's coming will be a sudden and a surprising event and that's why the Bible exhorts us to be always ready. We should not live in a careless manner convincing ourselves with the false notion that there is still more time for Jesus to return. In Matthew 25:1-13, we read of the parable of ten virgins. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. On what basis were they divided thus? All ten of them were having lamps in their hands. All their lamps were burning. All of them were waiting expectantly for the bridegroom. But there was a very important difference between them. The wise virgins had oil in their jars along with their lamps whereas the foolish ones did not. They thought that the oil in the lamps would be enough and would keep their lamps burning till the bridegroom came. But they were terribly mistaken. The bridegroom's arrival was delayed. He came only at midnight. Those virgins who had oil ready had their lamps burning bright, and they went in with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet. But the foolish virgins, the ones who did not have oil could not go because their lamps went out and they were left behind. They pleaded with the bridegroom to open the door for them, but he denied saying, "I don't know you".

Dear friends, let our lamps be filled with oil always. Let us be alert and ready to meet Jesus, our Bridegroom when He comes.

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, Your coming may be at any time - morning, noon or night. So let me be always ready to meet you when you come. Let it not take me by surprise and let me not lose the privilege of going with you to the wedding banquet. Amen.

GOD'S WILL

 "உம் சித்தம் செய்வதே எனது வாஞ்சை.. இயேசுவே உதவுமே..."

Whenever i listen to this song, I used to question myself...what would be god's will? and how can i feel him good... But today morning when i was reading bible, I read below verses, same song came into my mind..
God is always great ... He is not only answering our prayers, but also guiding us like a teacher.. a coach.. a mentor...taking us in right direct and right path.. Thank you lord.. We love you ... you grace and glory cant be explained in words..

I தெசலோனிக்கேயர் - 5

1 Thessaloninans -5

15. ஒருவனும் மற்றொருவன் செய்யும் தீமைக்குத் தீமைசெய்யாதபடி பாருங்கள்; உங்களுக்குள்ளும் மற்ற யாவருக்குள்ளும் எப்பொழுதும் நன்மைசெய்ய நாடுங்கள்.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16. எப்பொழுதும் சந்தோஷமாயிருங்கள்.
Rejoice evermore.

17. இடைவிடாமல் ஜெபம்பண்ணுங்கள்.
Pray without ceasing.

18. எல்லாவற்றிலேயும் ஸ்தோத்திரஞ்செய்யுங்கள்; அப்படிச் செய்வதே கிறிஸ்து இயேசுவுக்குள் உங்களைக்குறித்துத் தேவனுடைய சித்தமாயிருக்கிறது.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Today's Message: GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART

Praise the Lord!!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Psalm 103:2)

We, as children of the Living God have a reason to thank Him - He has demonstrated salvation in the cross of Christ and He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Bible points out that we should always abound with thanks to God for who He is and for all He has done. It is God who has allowed us to live in the goodness of the land. Deuteronomy 8:10 says,"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you". We must remember to give thanks for our dwelling place, occupation, the church family and physical family that we have been blessed with, including the status and gifts in our life. Here, Moses says that, all the goodness and blessings of life have come from God, whether we worked for them or not. And we are to acknowledge that God is our supply and so we should honor Him in all these blessings. But sometimes after we have received all of God's blessings we get puffed up with pride. We get so used to the blessed life that we assume this as our right. We entertain the thought that we will obtain this somehow, in some way. Deuteronomy 8:11 says, "Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God ...". This may occur as we go in our daily life without making any time for God. This is called drift - where people just let their relationship with God dissipate.

Dear friends, let us be careful. Let us take time to remember how God spared us from sin's penalty and power, and how He has brought us out from darkness to His marvelous light so that we would receive eternal life. He has lavished upon us His love so that we might be witnesses to those who are yet to receive His salvation. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude for all the unmerited favor God has bestowed upon us. Let us never hesitate to pour out our thanks to God for everything He has done, both big and small. Let us make it our aim to give thanks constantly and to honor God in our lifestyle. Then He will be pleased to bless us still more.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the greatest gift you have given me which is salvation. Thank you for all the spiritual and material blessing. Let me not take all these for granted and assume them as my right. Let me not become proud but acknowledge you humbly. Amen.

Today's Message: BARUCH - A MODEL TO FOLLOW

Praise the Lord!!

I Have received this message from some forward mailers, which impressed me.. Hence sharing this to touch your hearts..

“But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

Baruch was the son of Neriah. He was a devoted friend of Jeremiah, the prophet. He seems to have been of noble family according to Josephus. He was also a man of unusual acquirements. He might have risen to a high position and seemed conscious of this, but when Jeremiah influenced him saying, "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life". Baruch repressed his ambition, being content to be with the great prophet whose secretary and companion he became. Jeremiah dictated his prophesies to Baruch, who in turn wrote them and read them to people. (Jeremiah 36) King Jehoiakim was greatly angered at these prophesies and had Baruch arrested. He even burnt the scrolls written by Baruch. However, Baruch rewrote Jeremiah's prophecies. When Jerusalem was under siege, Baruch stood by his master. Jeremiah had such confidence on Baruch that when he purchased his ancestral property at Anathoth, he gave the deed of purchase to Baruch. According to Josephus, Baruch continued to stay with Jeremiah at Mizpah even after the fall of Jerusalem. Later, Baruch was accused of having unduly influenced Jeremiah when Jeremiah actually prophesied the Word of God to the people to remain in Judah. Chapter 43:2 says, "All the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ‘You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, “You must not go to Egypt to settle there". But Baruch, son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians". When Jeremiah was taken to Egypt, Baruch also went with him and thereafter the Bible does not say what happened to him. History says that he died in Egypt.

Dear friends, let the noble character of Baruch and the important part he played in the life and work of Jeremiah influence us to take a bold stand for the Lord, even if it means losing everything.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, though Baruch had all opportunities to rise up to a high position, he forsook all of them and dedicated his life to be a faithful attendant of Jeremiah. Lord, let me not resist your plan for me but let me be ready to obey your call, without counting the cost. Amen.

Praise Lord

Praise Lord!!!

Below given words are few quotes in bible where we have people praising Jesus!!!

Quote Of Guard

Mark : 15:39 - And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God

Quote of Priest – Nathanael

John : 1 : 49 - Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Quote of Martha 

John : 11 : 27 - She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

நூற்றுக்கு அதிபதி கூற்று 

மாற்கு : 15 : 39 - அவருக்கு எதிரே நின்ற நூற்றுக்கு அதிபதி அவர் இப்படிக் கூப்பிட்டு ஜீவனை விட்டதைக்கண்டபோது: மெய்யாகவே இந்த மனுஷன் தேவனுடைய குமாரன் என்றான்.

நாத்தான்வேல் கூற்று  

யோவான் : 1: 49 -  அதற்கு நாத்தான்வேல்: ரபீ, நீர் தேவனுடைய குமாரன், நீர் இஸ்ரவேலின் ராஜா என்றான்.

மார்த்தாள் கூற்று 

யோவான் : 11 : 27 - அதற்கு அவள்: ஆம், ஆண்டவரே, நீர் உலகத்தில் வருகிறவரான தேவகுமாரனாகிய கிறிஸ்து என்று நான் விசுவாசிக்கிறேன் என்றாள்.

Today's Prayer : Heavenly Father, let me not rigidly follow the human commands and teachings which are destined to perish. Let me love you and give you full control of my life. Let my life be pleasing to you in every way, so that by my witnessing life I will draw people to you. Amen.