Preparing our hearts to share the Joy.. Part 2

 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”Luke 2:10‭-‬12

*The first time Jesus came, a star marked His arrival; the next time He comes, the whole Heaven will roll up like a scroll, and all the stars will fall out of the sky, and He Himself will light it.
The first time He came, wise men and shepherds brought Him gifts; the next time He comes, He will bring gifts, rewards for His own.

The first time He came there was no room for Him; the next time He comes the whole world won’t be able to contain His glory.

The first time He came, a few attended His arrival – some shepherds and some wise men; the next time He comes, every eye shall see Him.

The first time He came as a baby; soon He comes as sovereign King and Lord.

In Daniel 4:37 He’s called the King of heaven.

In Matthew 2:2 He’s called the King of theJews.

In John 1:49 He’s called the King of Israel

In 1 Timothy 1:17 He’s called the King of the ages.

In Psalm 24:7 He’s called the King of glory.

In Revelation 15:3 He’s called the King of the saints

And in Revelation 19 Jesus is called King of kings and Lord of lords.

And so His kingdom is a superior kingdom to any other. Listen, this is no helpless infant, this is the sovereign Ruler of the universe.

Selected.. Grace to you

The story of cracked pot

 

*A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

""We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[b] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 nlt

*story... Selected

 *One small word of counsel on prayer:

Healthy prayer necessitates frequent experiences of the common, earthy ordinary life. 

Like walks, and talks, and good conversations. 

Like work in the yard and talks with neighbours and washing windows. 

Like loving our spouse and playing with our kids and working with our colleagues. 

To be spiritually fit to scale the Himalayas of the spirit we need regular exercise in the hills and valleys of ordinary life.. 

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. I Peter 3:7 

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23‭-‬24 

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12 

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25 

*Richard foster

⭐⭐⭐Preparing our hearts to share the joy ⭐⭐⭐

 

*Christmas is not just a time to decorate your house or to spend time with loved ones, to open the long awaited presents. 

Christmas is a time to remember that salvation doesn't come from within but it comes from above. 

To remember that infinitely  better than celebration of Christmas,... It is the miracle of Emmanuel.. 

To remember that God was not and is not untouched by the pain and suffering of this world.. 

To remember that there is no grace without the cross and no cross without the manger. 

To remember Jesus doesn't want just to remember what He did.. But to join Him in what He is doing. 

So this year let the lights reminds you of the Light of the world who came in to this dark world for us. 

Let the gifts remind you of the greatest gift of all. 

And this year let your heart be like Bethlehem to receive the King.. or to rejoice with the King. 

And to share this great joy and good news with your friends, colleagues, neighbours, relatives.......... 

🙏Heavenly Father, 

Let me prepare my heart to share this great news and joy with others in the coming weeks. Help me. 

In Jesus Name. Amen

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

*selected

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalms 147:3‭-‬5

 

*God knows the temperature of every star, the composition of every planet, the size of every galaxy, and the course of every comet. 

He knows the shape of each snow flake and the design of every sea shell. He understands the mysteries of depths below and the heights above. He knows what lies above the galaxies and beyond the grave. 

His wisdom is as high as heavens, as deep as the oceans, as broad as the cosmos, as long as the eternity. 

God has instant access to every fact of reality and to every factor of every decision. 

His intelligence is limitless, His brilliance boundless, His perception is unfailing and unerring. 

He neither panics nor puzzles over the problems of His creation, for His thoughts  are not our thoughts. 

Jesus knows all about you.. Every ancestor in your family tree, every strand in your DNA, every quirk in your personality, every bump and bruise in your childhood, and every trail, tragedy, hurt, and heart ache you have ever encountered or ever will. He numbers both your steps and the very hairs of your head. He sees every rejection and failure. 

He rejoices in every victory and records all your faithful deeds.... 

Jesus loves you!!!!! 

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

Psalms 139:13‭-‬18 

*selected.... Robert J Morgan

His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; ..Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ Matthew 25:23(a)

After forty years of faithful service to the Lord as a missionary to Africa, Henry Morrison and his wife were returning to New York.  As the ship neared the dock, Henry said to his wife, “Look at that crowd.  They haven't forgotten about us”.  However, unknown to Henry, the ship also carried President Teddy Roosevelt, returning from a big game hunting trip in Africa.  Roosevelt stepped from the boat, with great fanfare, as people  were cheering, flags were waving,  bands were playing, and reporters waiting for his comment, Henry and his wife slowly walked away unnoticed.  They hailed a cab, which took them to the one bedroom apartment which had been provided by the mission board.

Over the next few weeks, Henry tried, but failed to put the incident behind him.  He said to his wife, “This is all wrong.  This man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody throws a big party.  We give our lives in faithful service to God for all these many years, but no one seems to care. 

His wife then said,   You need to tell this to the Lord and get this settled now.”

Henry Morrison then went to his bedroom, got down on his knees and  began pouring out his heart to the Lord. 

After about ten minutes of fervent prayer, Henry returned to the living room with a peaceful look on his face.  His wife said “It looks like you've resolved the matter.  What happened?”

Henry replied, “The Lord settled it for me.  I told Him how bitter I was that the President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one even met us as we returned home.  When I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But Henry, you are not home yet!'”

Selected*

 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”Mark 4:35‭-‬41 

Why storms?? 

💦Storms are coming not to destroy us but to better us. ( character) 

💦Storms are God's microphone to arouse us. 

💦We are not insulated from storm, we are educated through storm. 

💧Storms doesn't come to punish us but to polish us. 

💧Jesus is with us in the storm. 

💧Christian faith is strong in the valley . 

🌊Jesus calmed 2 storms. 

🌬One in the sea and other in the hearts of disciples. 

🌧When Jesus said "Peace" Be still"

🧎The waters and the wind obeyed and surrendered before their Creator. 

Praise the Lord.. Let us sing.... 

🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵

Hide me now

Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest
Find rest, my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust

*selected

In His Time

 

*Andrew Murray was suffering from a weak back, the lingering result of an injury he had sustained a few years earlier when he was thrown from a capsizing cart while ministering in Natal, South Africa. While resting that Lord’s Day morning, Murray penned the following thoughts for his own encouragement:

In Time of Trouble Say:

First, He brought me here; it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last, In His good time He can bring me out again – how and when He knows.

Let me say I am here,

            (1) By God’s appointment.                 

  (2) In his keeping.

            (3) Under His training.          

    (4) For His time.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.Ecclesiastes 3:11 

*selected

 

*I was riding a subway on Sunday morning in New York. People were sitting quietly, reading papers, or resting with eyes closed. It was a peaceful scene. Then a man and his children entered the subway car. The man sat next to me and closed his eyes, apparently oblivious to his children, who were yelling, throwing things, even grabbing people’s papers.

I couldn’t believe he could be so insensitive. Eventually, with what I felt was unusual patience, I turned and said, “Sir, your children are disturbing people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?”

The man lifted his gaze as if he saw the situation for the first time. “Oh, you’re right,” he said softly, “I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”

Suddenly, I saw things differently. And because I saw differently, I felt differently. I behaved differently. My irritation vanished. I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior. My heart filled with compassion. “Your wife just died? Oh, I’m so sorry. Can you tell me about it? What can I do to help?” Everything changed in an instant.

******Stop judging based on the superficial. First you must embrace the standards of mercy and truth.” .John 7:24

 
🙏Heavenly Father, forgive me..i have judged many seeing outwardly.Give me grace and strength to love and understand others.
In Jesus' Name... Amen 🙏

*

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People...Stephen Covey