⭐⭐⭐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

 

The year was 1916 and Nelson had just graduated from medical school in his native Virginia. Later that year, he and his bride of six months arrived in China. At the age of twenty-two, he became a surgeon at Love and Mercy Hospital, the only hospital in an area of at least two million Chinese residents. 

Nelson, together with his family, lived in the area for twenty-four more years, running the hospital, performing surgeries, and sharing the good news with thousands of people. Nelson Bell later became known as “The Bell Who Is Lover of the Chinese People.” His daughter Ruth was to later marry the evangelist Billy Graham.

Although Nelson was a brilliant surgeon and Bible teacher, it wasn’t his skills that drew many to Jesus; it was his character and the way he lived out the gospel.

Dr. Bell believed that spiritual gifts were more important than any other talent. Under glass on his desk, he placed a note where he had listed the fruits of the Spirit: “Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, and Self-Control” and daily tried to exude these gifts among those he served.
 

From a rural American childhood to an international ministry, Dr. Lemuel Nelson Bell was used by God to touch thousands of lives.

 

So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross,  Till my trophies at  last I lay down;  I will cling to the old rugged Cross,  And exchange it some day  for a crown.   *George Bennard was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873. He was the writer "The Old Rugged Cross.” It is arguably the most beloved hymn of all time. After coming to Christ during a Salvation Army meeting, Bennard and his wife became active in the Methodist Church. It is said that he wrote “The Old Rugged Cross” in response to some ridicule he had received. The source or topic of the ridicule isn’t clear, but his response is found in the lyrics of the hymn. His answer was to cling to the cross. He is reported to have said that, for him, “Christ and the Cross were inseparable.” Perhaps it is best that we do not know the specific reason Bennard was ridiculed. Who among us has not faced criticism or torment of some kind? We can relate to his situation without knowing the details — maybe even more so because we do not know the details. We can then apply his answer to anything we encounter.

The answer is always to cling to the Cross. Have you ever been mocked for your faith? Cling to the Cross. Have you ever been misunderstood? Cling to the Cross. Have you endured hardship and heartache? Cling, sweet friend, to the Cross.   Don’t be afraid to bear its shame and reproach because, one day, you’ll exchange it for a crown. Lord, help me to always be true to the Cross. ***selected

 

Twelve year old Jacob Smith stoop stop an 11,000 feet mountain in big sky. (2019) 

On a chilly morning  in Montana Jacob became the first legally blind skier to complete the legendary run. 

What is the secret? 

His father Nathan on every run speaks to his son over a two way radio and when Nathan tells his son to make a turn or to move in a new direction Jacob obeys instantly. 

One interviewer asked Jacob how much he trust his dad? He said I mean enough to turn right when he tells me to " Turn right "

*we also don't know the paths ahead. There's a good news, our father tells us what to do .. Just  obey our heavenly Father's voice ".

We are not alone because we have got the Almighty God who created the mountains in the first place and He is telling us, what to do and if you believe that God is in your heart and whispering to your ears-

You won't go to bed and not be able to sleep because of what will happen tmrw.. 

Because you'll know tomorrow when you get up and to start to go down/up the mountain. 

God is with you. And he will tell you what to do...The Word of God says.... 

🎵🎵Trust and obey. 

There is no other way to be happy in Jesus. 

But to trust and obey..... 

Hallelujah!! 

*selected... Turning point

 

അവൻ അവനോടുകൂടെ പോയി, വലിയ പുരുഷാരവും പിൻചെന്നു അവനെ തിക്കിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. പന്ത്രണ്ട് സംവത്സരമായിട്ട് രക്തസ്രവമുള്ള ഒരു സ്ത്രീ അവിടെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അവൾ പല വൈദ്യന്മാരാലുള്ള ചികിത്സകൊണ്ട് വളരെയധികം സഹിച്ചു തനിക്കുള്ളതൊക്കെയും ചെലവഴിച്ചിട്ടും ഒട്ടും ഭേദം വരാതെ ഏറ്റവും പരവശയായി തീർന്നിരുന്നു.

മർക്കൊ. 5:24‭-‬26

ഒരു  "സ്ത്രീ" ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുവെന്ന് . മാർക്കോസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷത്തിൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

പേരൊന്നും പറഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല. അവൾ ഏകാന്തയും അശുദ്ധയും നിരസിക്കപ്പെട്ടവളുമായിരുന്നു, അവൾ ദൈവത്താൽ ശപിക്കപ്പെട്ടവളാണെന്ന് ആളുകൾ കരുതി.

അവൾ ആധുനിക കാലത്താണ് ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നതെങ്കിൽ, അവളുടെ ബാങ്ക് ബാലൻസ് ഒരു എടിഎം മെഷീനിൽ ഇങ്ങനെ പ്രദർശിപ്പിക്കും:

 "ബാലൻസ്... 0.00"

അവളുടെ ചികിൽസയ്ക്കായാണ് അവളുടെ സാമ്പത്തികം മുഴുവൻ ചെലവഴിച്ചത്. അവൾ കഠിനമായ വേദനയിലൂടെ കടന്നുപോയി.

അവൾ യേശുവിനെക്കുറിച്ച് കേട്ടതേയുള്ളു. തന്റെ അവസാന പ്രതീക്ഷയായി അവൾ യേശുവിനെ കരുതി.

അവൾ 'അവന്റെ പുറകെ' വരുന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

അവളുടെ മനസ്സിൽ രണ്ടു വിരുദ്ധ സ്വരങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായേക്കാം.

 "ഒന്നും മാറാൻ പോകുന്നില്ല" 

"വിശ്വാസം മാത്രം"

കൃപയുടെ മഹത്തായ നിമിഷത്തിൽ അവൾ യേശുവിന്റെ വസ്ത്രത്തിന്റെ അറ്റത്ത് സ്പർശിച്ചു, തൽക്ഷണം അവൾ പൂർണ്ണമായും സുഖപ്പെട്ടു ...

അവൾക്ക് ശാരീരിക സൗഖ്യം മാത്രമല്ല ആന്തരിക സൗഖ്യവും മനസ്സമാധാനവും ലഭിച്ചു.

**നിങ്ങളും ഇതേ അവസ്ഥയിലൂടെയാണോ കടന്നു പോകുന്നത്? വിഷാദം, രോഗം, വേദന,കുടുംബപ്രശ്‌നങ്ങൾ, ഏകാന്തത,.... കൂടാതെ വർഷങ്ങളോളം പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾക്കുള്ള ഉത്തരത്തിനായി കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നു...

ഇത് നിങ്ങളുടെ ദിവസമാണ്...

നിങ്ങൾ ദൈവത്തിന് വിലപ്പെട്ടവരാണ് !!!

യേശുവിന്റെ അടുക്കൽ വരിക.. അവനെ സ്പർശിക്കുക... അവനിൽ നിന്ന് നിങ്ങളുടെ രോഗശാന്തി സ്വീകരിക്കുക... ഇപ്പോൾ യേശുവിന്റെ നാമത്തിൽ..

 

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, Mark 5:24‭-‬25 

Mark writes that there was a certain "woman". No name is mentioned. She was lonely, unclean, rejected and people thought she was cursed by God. 

If she lived in modern times, her bank balance would be displayed on an ATM machine as:

 " Balance... 0.00" 

She spent her whole finances on her treatment. She was going through intense pain. 

She just heard about Jesus. And she thought of Jesus as her last hope. 

She was coming 'behind Him'. 

May be there were two contrary voices in her mind. "Nothing will going to change" And "only believe"

In a glorious moment of grace she touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed completely instantaneously... 

She not only received physical healing but also inner healing and peace of mind. 

**Are you going through same situation? Depression, illness, pain, family problems, loneliness,.... And waiting for answer to prayers  for several years... 

This is your day...

you are precious to God!!! 

Come to Jesus.. Touch him... Receive your healing from Him... Right now in Jesus name.. 

**1986,July , Joseph, the Masai Warrior who showed up at Amsterdam, (Conference)from his tribe. One day Joseph, who was walking along one of these hot, dirty, African roads, met someone who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him. And then and there he accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The power of the Spirit began transforming his life and he was filled with such excitement and joy that the first thing he wanted to do was return to his own village and there share the good news to the members of his own local tribe.

Joseph began going from door to door telling everyone he met about the Cross. Suffering. And the salvation that it offered, expecting to see their faces light up the way his had. And to his amazement the villagers not only didn’t care, they became violent. The men of the village seized him, held him to the ground, while the women beat him with strands of barbed wire. He was dragged from the village and left to die alone in the bush. Joseph somehow managed to crawl to a water hole, and there after days of passing in and out of consciousness, found the strength to get up. He wondered about the hostile reception that he had recieved from people he had know all his life. He decided he must have said something wrong, or left something out from the story of Jesus. After rehearsing the message that he gave at first, he decided to go back and share this message again.

Joseph limped into the circle of huts and began to proclaim Jesus. “He died for you so that you might find forgiveness and come to know the living God,” he pleaded. Again he was grabbed by the men of the village and held while the women beat him, reopening wounds that had just begun to heal. Once more they dragged him unconscious from the village and left him to die. To have survived the first beating was truly remarkable. To live through the second was a miracle.

Again days later Joseph awoke in the wilderness. Bruised. Scarred. Determined to go back. He returned to the small village and this time they attacked him before he had the chance to open his mouth. As they flogged him for the third and possibly the last time, he again spoke to them, “Jesus Christ the Lord.”

Before he passed out the last thing he saw was the women who were beating him began to weep. This time he awoke in his own bed. The ones who had so severely beaten him, were now trying to save his life. And nurse him back to health. And the entire village came to Christ.

Colossians 1:24 – Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,… 

**selected

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36‭-‬37

 

*There is a  story about a guy who was walking down the street one day when he fell in a hole, and the walls are so steep that he can't get out.

 A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey, can you help me"? The doctor writes a prescription and throws it down in the hole, and then he walks on. 

Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts, "I'm down in this hole. Can you help me out"? And the priest writes a prayer and throws it down into the hole and moves on.

And then a friend, a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe, it's me. Can ya help me out"? And the friend jumps in the hole. And our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both in the hole". And the friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out". That's what a friend does. A friend jumps into the hole with you, doesn't he? ..... 

My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too. Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:1‭-‬2 

*selected

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

 

Mr. Sam Rayburn was Speaker of the United States House of Representatives longer than any other man in history. There's a story about him that reveals the kind of man that he really was. 

The teenage daughter of a friend of his died suddenly one night, and early the next morning, the man heard a knock on his door. When he opened it, there was Mr. Rayburn standing outside. The Speaker said, "I just came by to see what I could do to help". The father replied, in his deep grief,

 "I don't think there's anything you can do, Mr. Speaker. We are making all the arrangements". "Well," Mr. Rayburn said, "have you had your coffee this morning"? And the man replied that they hadn't taken time for breakfast, so Mr. Rayburn said that he could at least make coffee for them. 

While he was working in the kitchen, the man came in and said, "Mr. Speaker, I thought you were supposed to have breakfast at the White House this morning".

 "Well, I was," Mr. Rayburn said, "but I called the president and told him I had a friend who was in trouble, and I couldn't come....!!! 

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.Galatians 6:2 

*The great gift of service is that it also helps the one who serves. Once when traveling in Tibet, I(Sadhu Sunder Singh) was crossing a high mountain pass with my Tibetan guide. The weather had suddenly turned bitterly cold, and my companion and I feared that we might not make it to the next village — still several miles away — before succumbing to the frost.

"Suddenly, we stumbled upon a man who had slipped from the path and was lying in the snow. Looking more closely, I discovered that the man was still alive, though barely. 'Come,' I said to my companion, 'help me try to bring this unfortunate man to safety.' But my companion was upset and frightened for his life. He answered: 'If we try to carry that man, none of us will ever reach the village. We will all freeze. Our only hope is to go on as quickly as possible, and that is what I intend to do. You will come with me if you value your life.' Without another word and without looking back, he set off down the path.

"I could not bring myself to abandon the helpless traveler while life remained in him, so I lifted him on my back and threw my blanket around us both as best I could. Slowly and painstakingly, I picked my way along the steep, slippery path with my heavy load. Soon it began to snow, and I could make out the way forward only with great difficulty.

"How we made it, I do not know. But just as daylight was beginning to fade, the snow cleared and I could see houses a few hundred yards ahead. Near me, on the ground, I saw the frozen body of my guide. Nearly within shouting distance of the village, he had succumbed to the cold and died, while the unfortunate traveler and I made it to safety. The exertion of carrying him and the contact of our bodies had created enough heat to save us both. This is the way of service. 

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

*selected

 

*In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: No Reserves.

Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: No Retreats.

Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with gentiles, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words No Regrets.

Was William Borden’s seemingly untimely death a waste of human life? Absolutely not. Thousands of people have read his story and have been encouraged in their heavenly call to harvest..... 

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.John 12:24

....selected....Our Daily Bread, December 31, 1988

 Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it.

Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase the beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred. “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed. “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”

The Christian has no right to keep the good news to himself. He must share it. 

At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach His message about the secret of Christ.Colossians 4:3 (a) 

Source: Our Daily Bread, February, 4, 1994

Stars and Sorrows

 

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

What a surprising conjunction is found in this, twin attribute of God. Active compassion in the small circles of human experience and unmeasured power in the great realms of creation!!

 
Here is God manifesting Himself in both the remotest and the nearest things of which we have any knowledge- the universal and the personal.

 
Psalmist is pointing to and underlying relationship between stars and sorrows.- one that unerringly points to the overruling care of God. If we can understand this truth as we should, it will direct our hearts into the safe anchor of His love as nothing else could do.. .
*J. Stuart holden

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.Isaiah 40:26 

 
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29‭-‬31

🎵🎵

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

But as for me, I will look to the Lord. Micah 7:7(a)

 

Several years ago while visiting certain of the Northern European countries, it was necessary for me to cross the North Sea in a large ocean liner. During the first days of voyage we sped along calm seas, but suddenly were overtaken by a frightening tempest. The waves were like great mountains, and we were lifted up to their heights.

The great ship rocked and rolled, creaked and groaned. The faces of the passengers were blanched white with fear. Even the little ones clung to their mothers, sensing the nearness of danger... the very air was surcharged by an ominous foreboding of impending destruction.

 
When it seemed that surely the ship had endured to the very limit, a man appeared on the scene. There was no trace of anxiety or concern on his face. His presence radiated calmness, rest and peace. With a voice full of gentleness he assured us "all is well" and our fears disappeared.

 
Who was that man? The Captain. He had taken that vessel through many a long voyage, plowed rough seas, met terrible storms, and had always arrived safely in to port...
What we have to fear?... Is not our Captain on board? With Christ in the vessel we smile at the  storm.
Yes, one whose faith is continually stimulated by the upward look gives no ground to the attempted encroachment of despair.
No matter how great the trouble or how dark the outlook, a quick lifting  of the heart to God in a moment of actual faith in Him completely alter any situation and turn the darkness of midnight in to glorious sunrise.. ...
Mrs. Charles E cowman

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.Isaiah 40:28 

🎵🎵

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

*"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.".... Selected...     

These days many are going through depression, loneliness and living with a life with no purpose. Jesus is our Hope and life... 

Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

Th

   

Be thankful. Col 3:15

 

 One of the greatest problems we face today in the world is human trafficking. Mexico is infamous for this. The inner wounds of such a human trafficked person is very deep. The heart of such a person will be full of hatred, revenge, hopelessness and bitterness. Some become sick because of mental trauma. Those terrible memories will continue to haunt them even after several years. What a pitiful state!

Joseph was a person who was subjected to a human trafficking where he was sold as a slave. This was by the hands of his own brothers!! He lost everything. Subsequently he had to suffer several years of imprisonment for a crime which he hadn’t committed. Those who promised to help him remembered him not.

Years went by. Now, right before his eyes are those brothers who had sold him off as a slave…

He can take anything our from his stash(store) of memories. He could take revenge… However, Joseph brought out the file of thankfulness from the heart’s stash and thanked God.

 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:4,5

Joseph who was filled with gratitude towards God and towards others, cried bitterly like a child… He longed to see his father.

…

We have so many files in the stash of memories.

You know that very well.

At this time, close all those files. Open the file of gratitude towards God and men and say to the Lord… Thank you Lord…

Only thankfulness!

To God…

And to all…

@@(Through the grills of a  prison window two men looked out; one saw the dust of the ground, while the other saw the stars of the sky…quote)

🎵🎵🎵🎵

I come before You today

And there's just one thing that I want to say

Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

For all You've given to me
For all the blessings that I cannot see
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

With a grateful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstretched arm
I will bless Your name

Thank you, Lord
I just wanna thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
I just wanna thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

For all You've done in my life
You took my darkness and gave me Your light
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

You took my sin and my shame
You took my sickness and healed all my pain
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

നന്ദിയുള്ളവരായും ഇരിപ്പിൻ. കൊലൊ. 3:15

ഇന്ന് ലോകം നേരിടുന്ന പ്രധാന പ്രശ്നങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ് മനുഷ്യക്കടത്ത്  ( human trafficking). മെക്സികോ ഇതിൽ കുപ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.ഇത്തരത്തിൽ അടിമയായി വിൽക്കപ്പെട്ട ,നാടു കടത്തപ്പെട്ട ഒരു വ്യക്തിയുടെ ആന്തരിക മുറിവുകൾ ആഴമേറിയതാണ് .ഹൃദയം വിദ്വേഷം, പക, നിരാശ, കയ്പ്, കൊണ്ട് നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കും. ചിലർ മാനസിക സംഘർഷം കൊണ്ട് രോഗികളാകും.എത്ര വർഷം കഴിഞ്ഞാലും ഓർമ്മകൾ ഇവരെ വേട്ടയാടിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കും. എത്ര ദയനീയമായ അവസ്ഥ.

ഇപ്രകാരം അടിമയായി വിൽക്കപ്പെട്ട മനുഷ്യക്കടത്തിന് വിധേയമായ ഒരാളായിരുന്നു ജോസഫ് .അതും സ്വന്ത സഹോദരൻമാരാൽ !! അവന് എല്ലാം നഷ്ടമായി .തുടർന്ന് താൻ ചെയ്യാത്ത കുറ്റത്തിന് അനേക വർഷങ്ങൾ തടവുശിക്ഷ അനുഭവിച്ചു. സഹായം വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്തവർ തന്നെ മറന്നു...

വർഷങ്ങൾ കടന്നു പോയി. തന്നെ വിറ്റു കളഞ്ഞ സഹോദരന്മാർ തൻ്റെ കൺമുൻപിൽ.....

ഓർമ്മകളുടെ ചെപ്പിൽ നിന്ന് ഏതു വേണമെങ്കിലും പുറത്തെടുക്കാം.. പകരം വീട്ടാം ..... എന്നാൽ ജോസഫ് നന്ദിയുടെ ചെപ്പ് ഹൃദയത്തിൻ്റെ ഷെൽഫിൽ നിന്നെടുത്ത് ദൈവത്തിന് നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞു.

യോസേഫ് സഹോദരന്മാരോടു: ഇങ്ങോട്ടു അടുത്തുവരുവിൻ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു; അവർ അടുത്തുചെന്നപ്പോൾ അവൻ പറഞ്ഞതു; നിങ്ങൾ മിസ്രയീമിലേക്കു വിറ്റുകളഞ്ഞ നിങ്ങളുടെ സഹോദരൻ യോസേഫ് ആകുന്നു ഞാൻ. എന്നെ ഇവിടെ വിറ്റതുകൊണ്ടു നിങ്ങൾ വ്യസനിക്കേണ്ടാ, വിഷാദിക്കയും വേണ്ടാ; ജീവരക്ഷക്കായി ദൈവം എന്നെ നിങ്ങൾക്കു മുമ്പെ അയച്ചതാകുന്നു. ഉല്പത്തി 45:4‭-‬5 

ദൈവത്തോടും മറ്റുള്ളവരോടും നന്ദിയാൽ നിറയപ്പെട്ട ജോസഫ് ഒരു കൊച്ചു കുട്ടിയെ പ്പോലെ ഉറക്കെ കരഞ്ഞു .. തൻ്റെ പിതാവിനെ നേരിൽ കാണുവാൻ അവൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു.

....

നമ്മുടെ മനസ്സിൻ്റെ ഷെൽഫിൽ ഓർമ്മകളുടെ അനേകം ഫയലുകളുണ്ട്.

നിങ്ങൾക്ക് അത് വ്യക്തമായി അറിയാം.

ഈ നിമിഷം മറ്റ് എല്ലാ ഫയലുകളും എന്നേക്കുമായി ക്ലോസ് ചെയ്യുക ... ദൈവത്തോടും മറ്റുള്ളവരോടുമുള്ള നന്ദിയുടെ ചെപ്പ് തുറന്നു കൊണ്ട് കർത്താവിനോട് പറയുക.... നന്ദി നാഥാ ...💧💧

നന്ദി  മാത്രം!

ദൈവത്തോട്...

എല്ലാവരോടും ......

@#(തടവറയുടെ അഴികൾക്ക് ഇടയിലൂടെ രണ്ട് പേർ പുറത്തേക്ക് നോക്കി; ഒരുവൻ നിലത്തെ    പൊടി കണ്ടു, മറ്റേയാൾ ആകാശത്തിലെ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളെ കണ്ടു ....)

🎵🎵🎵🎵

നന്ദി നന്ദി എൻ ദൈവമേ

നന്ദി എൻ യേശുപരാ

എണ്ണമില്ലാതുള്ള നൻമകൾക്കും

അൽഭുതമാർന്ന നിൻ സ്നേഹത്തിനും;- നന്ദി…

പാപത്താൽ മുറിവേറ്റ എന്നെ നിന്‍റെ

പാണിയാൽ ചേർത്ത അണച്ചുവല്ലോ;- നന്ദി…

കൂരിരുൾ താഴ്വര അതിലുമെന്‍റെ

പാതയിൽ ദീപമായ് വന്നുവല്ലോ;- നന്ദി…

ജീവിത ശൂന്യതയിൻ നടുവിൽ

നിറവായ് അനുഗ്രഹം ചൊരിഞ്ഞുവല്ലോ;- നന്ദി…

 

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.Colossians 3:21

 
Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

**An Army dad who was deployed to Afghanistan made sure his daughter knew she was always on his mind by writing daily notes for each day that he expected to be gone.

Staff Sgt. Philip Gray wrote 270 messages to 7-year-old Rosie just before leaving Fort Drum, New York, on Oct. 7, 2019. Mom Kristen Gray said she gave her husband the idea.

"He wrote anything from, 'You are super girl' to 'Smiling makes everyone else smile,'" Kristen Gray told "Good Morning " "He was very big on feel-good words for her and girl power. He made sure to tell her how smart she was, and run fast in P.E. and things that would really make her happy."
Each morning, Kristen would slip one of Philip's notes into Rosie's lunchbox. Some of them included doodles like snowmen or pumpkins to represent holidays missed.

Philip ended up returning home Aug. 8, 2020 -- three days before Rosie's birthday.

"Now that I'm home ... she asks me, 'Dad are you going leave me and mom a note?'" Philip told " "I say 'Yes , I will leave you a note.'"

Kristen shared a video of Philip's homecoming as well as the notes on social media, which was viewed over 250,000 times.

"It's a very emotional time," Philip said. "I missed all the holidays. Thankfully, this time round was just under a year so I didn't have to miss birthdays as well."
"Stepping out of quarantine and getting to see the girl  that was the greatest thing," he added.****"

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? Luke 24:32

 

Renowned Christian writer F W Boreham was born and lived in a family of 9 children.

His mother constantly tried to nourish her children in the grace of God.

Once this mother and her 9 children set out in a train to see the famous Canterbury Cathedral in England.

Their relative Kitty had planned to come there at exactly 10AM and explain the history of the famous building, and many other stories to the kids.

However, Kitty did not turn up even after having waited for a long time. Boreham and his siblings came to hear eagerly, stories about the cathedral.

But now…

Suddenly one man over there knew their difficulty. He presented beautifully the history and the stories to the children making them understand them.

Starting with the incidents of the 6th century, wars, he explained even about each pillar in the Cathedral and the kids were diligently listening to them.

"Let us be fast! It’s time for the train to come...

Thank you, sir, so much."

The mother gave a word of heartfelt thanks to the stranger who shared the stores.

The stranger gave his visiting card to mother. She quickly  put the visiting card into her bag. At the correct time the train left. After a long time, the mother remembered…

Kitty didn’t come. If that stranger had not come at that time?…

Oh oh.. I forgot to even ask that gentleman’s name. How beautifully he explained all things to the kids…

Suddenly she remembered about the card.

She took the card he gave, out the bag during the journey and read his name.

Charles Dickens!

The greatest story writer living at that time!

Oh Oh.. I didn’t recognize him.

*** They didn’t recognize Jesus who was explaining everything on their 7 mile walk to Emmaus. It was the all-knowing Son of God who spoke to them as He walked with them.

Jesus who can give answers to all our questions is with us. The shepherd who speaks to us through His word.

However we don’t always recognize that voice.

Let us now tell the Lord.

'Speak, Lord

Thy servant heareth.'

അവൻ വഴിയിൽ നമ്മോടു സംസാരിച്ചു തിരുവെഴുത്തുകളെ തെളിയിക്കുമ്പോൾ നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയം നമ്മുടെ ഉള്ളിൽ കത്തിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നില്ലയോ എന്നു അവർ തമ്മിൽ പറഞ്ഞു. ലൂക്കൊസ് 24:32

 

പ്രശസ്ത ക്രിസ്തീയ എഴുത്തുകാരനായ F W ബോർഹാം 9 മക്കളുള്ള ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിലാണ് ജനിച്ചു വളർന്നത് .

ദൈവകൃപയിൽ മക്കളെ വളർത്തുവാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിൻ്റെ അമ്മ നിരന്തരം പരിശ്രമിച്ചു.

ഒരിക്കൽ ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടിലെ പ്രശസ്തമായ കാൻ്റർബറി കത്തീഡ്രൽ കാണുവാനായി അമ്മയും ഒൻപത് മക്കളും ട്രെയിനിൽ യാത്രയായി.

തൻ്റെ ബന്ധുവായ കിറ്റി കൃത്യം പത്തു മണിക്ക് വന്ന് പ്രശസ്തമായ കെട്ടിടത്തിൻ്റെ ചരിത്രം, അനേകം കഥകൾ എല്ലാം കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങൾക്ക് പറഞ്ഞു കൊടുക്കാം എന്ന്     പ്ലാൻ ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.

എന്നാൽ അനേകം സമയം കാത്തിരുന്നിട്ടും കിറ്റി വന്നില്ല. ബോർഹാമും തൻ്റെ സഹോദരങ്ങളും അക്ഷമരായി .കത്തീഡ്രലിൻ്റെ കഥകൾ കേൾക്കുവാൻ കൊതിച്ചാണ് വന്നത്.

ഇപ്പോൾ....

പെട്ടെന്ന് അവിടെ വന്ന ഒരാൾക്ക് ഇവരുടെ വിഷമാവസ്ഥ മനസ്സിലായി.അദ്ദേഹം കുട്ടികൾക്ക് ചരിത്രവും കഥകളും മനോഹരമായി പറഞ്ഞു മനസ്സിലാക്കി .

ആറാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിലെ സംഭവങ്ങൾ, യുദ്ധം, തുടങ്ങി കത്തീഡ്രലിൻ്റെ ഓരോ തൂണിനെക്കുറിച്ചു പോലും പറഞ്ഞ അപരിചിതനെ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങൾ വളരെ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. രണ്ടു മണിക്കൂർ കടന്നു പോയതറിഞ്ഞില്ല. എല്ലാവർക്കും വളരെ സന്തോഷമായി.

വേഗമാകട്ടെ! ട്രെയിൻ വരാൻ സമയമായി.. 

സാർ വളരെ നന്ദി. 

കഥ പറഞ്ഞ അപരിചിത നോട് അമ്മ ഒരു വാക്ക് ഹൃദയപൂർവ്വം നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞു.

അദ്ദേഹo തന്ന വിസിറ്റിംഗ് കാർഡ് വേഗത്തിൽ ബാഗിൽ വെച്ചു.കൃത്യസമയത്ത് ട്രെയിൻ പുറപ്പെട്ടു. കുറേ സമയം കഴിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ബോർഹാമിൻ്റെ അമ്മ ഓർത്തു...

കിറ്റി വന്നില്ല, ആ അപരിചിതിൻ സമയത്ത് വന്നില്ലായിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ ..

ഓ.. അദ്ദേഹത്തിൻ്റെ പേര് പോലും ചോദിക്കാൻ മറന്നു. എത്ര മനോഹരമായിട്ടാണ് അദ്ദേഹം കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങൾക്ക് എല്ലാം പറഞ്ഞു കൊടുത്തത്....

പെട്ടെന്ന് കാർഡിൻ്റെ കാര്യം ഓർമ്മ വന്നു.

ട്രെയിൻ യാത്രയിൽ ബാഗിൽ നിന്ന് അപരിചിതൻ തന്ന കാർഡ് എടുത്ത് പേര് വായിച്ചു.

ചാൾസ് ഡിക്കൻസ്  (Charles Dickens) 

അന്ന് ജീവിച്ചിരുന്നവരിൽ വെച്ച് ഏറ്റവും നല്ല കഥാകൃത്ത് '

ഓ.. ഞാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞില്ല.

***എമ്മാവുസിലേക്ക് 7 മൈൽ ദൂരം കൂടെ നടന്ന് എല്ലാം വിവരിച്ച യേശു കർത്താവിനെ അവർ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞില്ല. അന്ന് അവരോട് സംസാരിച്ചത് ഈ ഭൂമിയിലൂടെ സഞ്ചരിച്ച സർവ്വജ്ഞാനിയായ ദൈവപുത്രനായിരുന്നു

നമ്മുടെ എല്ലാ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്കും ഉള്ള ഉത്തരം നൽകുന്നവനായ ക്രിസ്തു യേശു നമ്മോട് കൂടെയുണ്ട്. തൻ്റെ വചനം നമുക്ക് നൽകി നമ്മോട് സംസാരിക്കുന്ന നല്ല ഇടയൻ.

പലപ്പോഴും നാം ആ ശബ്ദം തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നില്ല.

ഇന്ന് കർത്താവിനോട് പറയാം.

കർത്താവേ അരുളിച്ചെയ്യേണമേ

അടിയൻ കേൾക്കുന്നു.