WHAT I FEEL? - GOING FOR A SHORT BREAK

My dear young friends,

Previous week fully got high temperature and by God’s grace got well after 7 days. But yet feeling so tired physically and that is the reason why I failed to blog regularly. Got Christmas vacation for ten days and I feel that I need a short break to think about the goodness that God has done in this year and about the things that God is going to do in the coming year. As I always say I am not a great servant of God but I know God will continue to pour out His grace upon me to blog in the coming year also. Hope you are getting blessed through this blog. Keep praying for me and I will meet you again on 1^st January 2014. Till then going for much needed short break. God be with us and lead us. Merry Christmas wishes to you all. 

With Love and Prayers,

Pons

THE GOLD AND IVORY TABLECLOTH - AN INSPIRATIONAL (SAID TO BE)TRUE STORY WRITTEN BY REV. HOWARD SCHADE

At Christmas time men and women everywhere gather in their churches to wonder anew at the greatest miracle the world has ever known. But the story I like best to recall was not a miracle — not exactly. It happened to a pastor who was very young but his church was very old.

Once long ago it had flourished. Famous men had preached from its pulpit and prayed before its altar. Rich and poor alike had worshipped there and built it beautifully. Now the good days had passed from the section of town where it stood. But the pastor and his young wife believed in their run-down church. They felt that with paint, hammer, and faith they could get it in shape. Together they went to work.

However late in December a severe storm whipped through the river valley and the worst blow fell on the little church — a huge chunk of rain-soaked plaster fell out of the inside wall just behind the altar. Sorrowfully the pastor and his wife swept away the mess but they couldn't hide the ragged hole. The pastor looked at it and had to remind himself quickly, "Thy will be done!" But his wife wept, "Christmas is only two days away!"

That afternoon the dispirited couple attended an auction held for the benefit of a youth group. The auctioneer opened a box and shook out of its folds a handsome gold and ivory lace tablecloth. It was a magnificent item, nearly 15 feet long; but it, too, dated from a long vanished era. Who, today, had any use for such a thing?

There were a few halfhearted bids. Then the pastor was seized with what he thought was a great idea. He bid it in for $6.50. He carried the cloth back to the church and tacked it up on the wall behind the altar. It completely hid the hole! And the extraordinary beauty of its shimmering handwork cast a fine, holiday glow over the chancel. It was a great triumph. Happily he went back to preparing his Christmas sermon.

Just before noon on the day of Christmas Eve as the pastor was opening the church, he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop. "The bus won't be here for 40 minutes!" he called and invited her into the church to get warm. She told him that she had come from the city that morning to be interviewed for a job as governess to the children of one of the wealthy families in town but she had been turned down. A war refugee, her English was imperfect.

The woman sat down in a pew and chafed her hands and rested. After a while she dropped her head and prayed. She looked up as the pastor began to adjust the great gold and ivory cloth across the hole. She rose suddenly and walked up the steps of the chancel. She looked at the tablecloth. The pastor smiled and started to tell her about the storm damage but she didn't seem to listen. She took up a fold of the cloth and rubbed it between her fingers. "It is mine!" she said. "It is my banquet cloth!" She lifted up a corner and showed the surprised pastor that there were initials monogrammed on it. "My husband had the cloth made especially for me in Brussels! There could not be another like it."

For the next few minutes the woman and the pastor talked excitedly together. She explained that she was Viennese and that she and her husband had opposed the Nazis and decided to leave the country. They were advised to go separately. Her husband put her on a train for Switzerland. They planned that he would join her as soon as he could arrange to ship their household goods across the border. She never saw him again. Later she heard that he had died in a concentration camp. "I have always felt that it was my fault — to leave without him," she said. "Perhaps these years of wandering have been my punishment!" The pastor tried to comfort her and urged her to take the cloth with her. She refused. Then she went away.

As the church began to fill on Christmas Eve, it was clear that the cloth was going to be a great success. It had been skillfully designed to look its best by candlelight. After the service, the pastor stood at the doorway. Many people told him that the church looked beautiful. One gentle-faced middle-aged man — he was the local clock-and-watch repairman — looked rather puzzled. "It is strange," he said in his soft accent. "Many years ago my wife — God rest her — and I owned such a cloth. In our home in Vienna, my wife put it on the table" — and here he smiled — "only when the bishop came to dinner."

The pastor suddenly became very excited. He told the jeweler about the woman who had been in church earlier that day. The startled jeweler clutched the pastor's arm. "Can it be? Does she live?"

Together the two got in touch with the family who had interviewed her. Then in the pastor's car they started for the city. And as Christmas Day was born, this man and his wife who had been separated through so many saddened Yule tides were reunited.

To all who hear this story, the joyful purpose of the storm that had knocked a hole in the wall of the church was now quite clear. Of course, people said it was a miracle; but I think you will agree it was the season for it!

DO NOT BE AFRAID, YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD - MONTHLY BLESSING MSG BY BRO. MOHAN C LAZARUS (TAKEN FROM A SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE)

 

DO NOT CARRY BITTERNESS IN YOUR HEART FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YOU ARE OF

“But He turned and rebuked them and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.” – Luke 9:55

Once Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem and sent His messengers ahead of Him. They went to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for Him. But the people of that village were not willing to receive Jesus in that village. Why actually they reject Jesus? The answer was clearly given in the Bible in Luke 9:53, “But they did not receive Him because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.”

Two of the Jesus disciples saw this and asked Him to permit them to command fire to come down from Heaven to consume the entire villagers. They were so angry because of the rejection they faced. So they told like that. Hearing their words Jesus rebuked them and said to them that they do not know what manner of spirit they are of.

There were times in our lives we face rejection in certain places or with certain people. At that time we get angry and from the depth of our heart we wish to curse them for what they did in our lives. You might be going through a path like this. Today God is speaking to you.

Few months back I went to a clinic with my wife to check whether she was pregnant or not. My wife colleagues told her about that clinic and so we went there. We have no idea whether she was pregnant or not but she had few signs of pregnancy. So we thought that the doctors will do some test regarding that. My wife was looking forward to the pregnancy test very eagerly. The doctor asked her something and immediately without taking any test she told that my wife was not pregnant. As she told that in a harsh tone my wife felt so bad. She also rejected my wife’s plea to take a test and confirm it. Seeing her harsh behavior my wife started to cry badly.

I do not know what to do but on that night I strongly thought to curse that clinic. I want to pray to God asking Him not to bless that clinic. I was filled with bitterness and anger. As I thought of praying against that clinic, Jesus Christ spoke to me in a loving voice saying, “My dear son, don’t you know what kind of Spirit you have in you. I have given you My Holy Spirit to make you a blessing to others and not to curse any one. They have rejected you because it is not my will for you to go there for a check up.”

My heart was filled with a great peace when I heard God’s reply and then only the Bible passage that was given above came to my mind.

It is true that the doctor spoke in a harsh way but the actual truth is it was not God’s will for us to go there.

Even the Samaritan villagers rejected Jesus not because they didn't like Jesus but because Jesus had set His face to go to Jerusalem.

My dear young friends, someone whom you loved closely might have rejected you or some of your friends whom you have trusted might have rejected you or some people might not have accepted you in their life. Do not lose heart and do not get discouraged.

Throw away the bitterness that you carry in your heart. Jesus Christ has filled you with His Holy Spirit not to carry any bitterness against any one and not to curse any one. God has filled you with His Holy Spirit to bless others and to be a blessing to others.

It is not God’s will for you to be with the person whom you love or to be in the place which you like. Because of that you face rejection from them at times. Go to God’s feet when someone rejects you. When you go to Jesus Christ He will reveal you the reason and He will show you the way. Do not feel bad and do not carry bitterness upon those who reject you. Pray for them. God will bless you. 

THE THREE MENTAL BARRIERS TO HEARING GOD'S VOICE - A DEVOTIONAL BY RICK WARREN

“Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21 NLT)

We’ve all noticed that the quality of reception on a cell phone varies widely. The same is true with you. You must be positioned correctly in order to hear God speak.

Sometimes we never give God a chance to talk to us. We’ve made up our minds. We want to do what we want to do, not what God wants us to do. Our hearts are hardened, and we’re unwilling to listen.

When you have a closed mind, of course he’s not going to talk to you!

But if you really want to hear from God — and what believer doesn’t? — you have to understand what is keeping you from hearing from God. There are three mental barriers that keep your mind closed to God’s message.

1.      Pride. If you think you don’t need God in your life and want to handle things yourself, you’re probably not listening for God to speak. Pride keeps you from being open to the possibility that God might want to say something to you.

2.      Fear. A lot of people can’t hear God speak because they’re afraid to hear God speak. Maybe you think that hearing God’s voice makes you some kind of religious fanatic.

3.      Bitterness. When you hold on to hurt, resentment, or a grudge, then you’re not going to be able to hear God, because your heart is hardened. It has grown cold and made you defensive, even to God’s love.

Some of you have been hurt badly, whether it happened this week or years ago, and you’re still holding on to it. I want to tell you that you’ve got to let it go. Not for their sake, but for your sake. The resentment is killing you! Resentment is a self-inflicted wound that allows people from your past to continue to hurt you today. You need to let it go, not because they deserve forgiveness but because you need to get on with your life. You need to get rid of the bitterness, fear, and pride that keep you from hearing God’s voice and living out his purpose for your life.

James 1:21 says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (NLT).

“Humbly accept” means you let go of your pride and stop trying to figure it out on your own. This is the key to opening your mind and heart so that you can hear from the Lord.

This devotional ©2013 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

THE GREATEST - AUTHOR UNKNOWN (INSPIRATIONAL)

The highest aim in life - To know God and do His will!

The most enriching good habit - Complimenting others

The most destructive bad habit - Worry

The greatest joy - Giving

The greatest loss - Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work - Helping others

The ugliest personality trait - Selfishness

The ugliest look - A frown

The greatest "shot in the arm" - Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome - Fear

The most effective sleeping pill - Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease - Excuses

The surest way to limit God - Unbelief

The most powerful forces in life - Love

The most dangerous piranha - A gossiper

The Greatest Life-Giver - The Creator

The world’s most incredible computer - The brain

The worst thing to be without - Hope

The deadliest weapon - The tongue

The greatest asset - Faith

The most worthless emotion - Self-pity

The most beautiful attire - A SMILE!

The most prized possession - Self esteem

The most powerful channel of communication -  PRAYER

The most contagious spirit - Enthusiasm

The most urgent need - SALVATION

The greatest attribute of Jesus - Obedience

The GREATEST - GOD

DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR YOUR PRAYER IS HEARD

“…Do not be afraid… for your prayer is heard…” – Luke 1:13

Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. There were old and had no child. They might have prayed for that a lot. One day God sent His word through an angel to Zacharias and told him that his prayer was heard.

Soon Elizabeth conceived and God gave them a boy child who later becomes a prophet of God.  Elizabeth conveyed her feeling in Luke 1:25, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Elizabeth was disgraced among people because of her barrenness. God heard their prayers and dealt with her wonderfully and removed the disgrace from her life.

Even today you might be praying for some blessing for a long time and might have gone weary. Today Jesus Christ is promising you that your prayer was heard and He will bless you very soon.

In the year 2010 my mom got affected by cancer and we do not know what to do. At times we thought that she will die as we were filled with a great fear. We sat at God’s presence and prayed for her a lot. After much prayers God asked us to go for surgery and we took our mom to a big hospital for surgery. Graciously God heard our prayers and the surgery was successful. My mom went through several treatments after the surgery for nearly one year and God helped my mom and gave His strength so that she can bear the toughness of the treatment.

Finally in the year 2011 doctors checked my mom again and told that there were no signs of cancer in her body. Also doctors asked her to be cautious for next five years because they told that a cancer patient has a highest possibility for getting it again within five years.

My mother trusted in God and so she didn’t bothered about their statement. But few weeks ago she felt something strange in her body again. She felt that she got some problem again and so she went to a doctor for diagnosis. Doctor heard her patiently and asked her to take some tests to confirm whether it is cancer or nothing.

Once the doctor told like that a great fear gripped my mom’s heart. She doesn’t want to get the cancer again and so she prayed to God a lot with tears. She cried continuously for a week and then she took tests.

The day to meet the doctor arrived. On that day my mom woke up early in the morning and went to God’ presence. She had no words to pray but she cried. She told God to take her life if He wants but not to give cancer to her. She wept badly and then she went to the bus stand to board a bus to the clinic.

As she was walking towards a bus suddenly a cover page of a Christian magazine flew and fell in front of her feet. She looked into it and in the bold letters it was written, “Fear not, your prayers is heard.”

Immediately God spoke to her saying that her prayers were heard and the report will be normal. Hearing God’s word my mom’s heart was filled with God’s peace. As God’s said the report was normal and the doctor told that there was nothing to worry and most importantly there were no signs of cancer in my mom’s body. Lord who has done this miracle in our life will do the same in your life too.

My dear young friends, you might be also going through a toughest path in your life. You might have a huge debt and you might worry that your life will sink down because of that debt. You might be barren today or you might not have any blessings that you desired to have in your life.

Whatever be your problem, do not worry. God has seen your tears and He had heard your prayers. Soon God will do justice and He will bless you richly. You will bear a child soon. God will bless the works of your hands and surely your debts will be cleared. You will not die in your disease. Your family life will not come to an end. You will not be put to shame.

All the above blessings will surely happen in your life very soon because Jesus Christ has heard your prayers. He had seen your tears and He will bless you surely. You will glorify God very soon for the miracle He is going to perform in your life. God bless you. 

GOD'S PROMISE FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER-2013