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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy 2012! :)



Happy New Year, every1 :)

So the year is coming to an end and the new one is almost an hour away. Talking about "endings", how many of you saw the movie 2012 and think that the world is going to end? This is what has been told in the Gospel of Matthew.

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1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for allthese things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24, New King James Version)
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So lets not be concerned about the time the world comes to an end. Instead let us all do the best we can, to believe in Jesus, our saviour and love Him whole-heartedly and lead a righteouss life.


Lets all thank Jesus for His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness, without which we have no life.
Also, lets thank Him for being with us and for all His Blessings, for all these wonderful years of our lives.
Jesus, we beg You to be with us at the centre of our life and help us everyday like You always have.
We beg you to forgive us for our sins, by Your Great Glory.
Please help us overcome temptations, worldly desires and anything else that tends to separate us from Your Love. Lord, we pray to you, be with us and protect us this and all our years to come and help us become better and more righteous human beings, in short true Christians. Lord, please come into our hearts, take control of us and make us perfect. O Lord, do what is best for us, as you always have, and praise the Name of the Father through us. May we be able to serve You and Glorify Your Name, with all our heart.  Lord, please give us your Gift, The Holy Spirit and guide us along the right paths all our lives. Glory Be Yours Forever. Amen


Our Father Which Art in Heaven
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever.

Amen.

Put Christ Back in New Year's Resolutions


 

 

This year we will see store-aisle magazines offering advice on making and keeping New Year's resolutions to lose weight, find a mate, or invent a new you, but the early church celebrated the new year with fasting and prayer.

 

Later, in the sixth century, Christians celebrated the Feast of the Circumcision, which commemorated Jesus' circumcision.

 

New Year's Day, as we know it on January 1, was only adopted in 1752.

 

 At that time, Puritans eschewed New Year's celebrations. Rather, they encouraged their children to meditate on the year past and the one to come. And one Puritan in particular took to making resolutions. Resolutions, and a determined ability to keep them, fashioned the character of the leading pastor and promoter of America's First Great Awakening.

 

And, according to his biographer George Marsden, his revivalism helped to shape America as an independent country.

 

The Resolution-Maker

 

 

Jonathan Edwards made resolutions throughout his life, but it's a list he made after graduating from Yale that has earned the awe of admirers for the past three centuries.

 

 "Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same."

 

Nothing was so trivial that Edwards couldn't work to improve it.

 

 "Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking."

 

His constant sharpening of his character, introspection, and honesty enabled Edwards to become one of America's most influential theologians. "He remains a looming presence in the American heritage," Marsden writes.

 

 

 "For a century after his participation in the great revivals of the 1730s and 1740s, he exerted an immense influence on American theology and church life. He and his works were the fountainhead of a movement that sought to shape the new nation according to the principles of Calvinist revivalism."

 

 Nearly 150 years after his death, Mark Twain bothered to call him "a resplendent intellect gone mad." Like him or not, Edwards has been a force to be reckoned with in American religion.

 

More than simply the preacher who stirred emotions in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards held a vision of a loving, sovereign God.

Edwards did all this, writes Marsden in his biography, without ever writing what he hoped would be his magnum opus, A History of the Work of Redemption.

 

 As a full-time pastor of the church in Northampton, Massachusetts, and the frontier missionary church in Stockbridge, his resolutions brought about the habits that led to his amazing productivity as a theologian and pastor.

 

"Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."

 

 

The 70 Resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made:

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

 

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His Grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake.

 

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

 

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

 

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavouring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

 

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

 

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

 

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

 

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

 

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

 

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

 

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

 

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

 

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

 

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

 

13. Resolved, to be endeavouring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

 

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

 

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

 

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

 

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

 

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

 

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

 

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

 

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

 

22. Resolved, to endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigour, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

 

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

 

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

 

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

 

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

 

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

 

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

 

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

 

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

 

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honour, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

 

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

 

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

 

34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

 

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

 

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

 

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

 

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

 

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

 

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

 

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

 

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

 

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

 

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

 

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

 

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

 

47. Resolved, to endeavour to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

 

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

 

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

 

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

 

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

 

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

 

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

 

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

 

55. Resolved, to endeavour to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

 

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

 

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

 

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

 

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

 

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

 

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

 

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

 

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14 and July '3 1723.

 

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

 

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

 

66. Resolved, that I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

 

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

 

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

 

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

 

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723


Monday, December 26, 2011

The Day After Christmas - 7 Reminders - Ps. Chadwick Samuel


 

1.       God is not distant He is near us

 

 

2.      God is all PowerfulHe does Supernatural things in your life

 

 

3.      God Knows everything - He shatters every deceptive plan of the devil against us

 

 

4.      God is timeless/EternalHe fulfils the longing/desires of your heart

 

 

5.      God's grace is sufficient for you - John 1:14-16

 

 

6.      God is our Father - John 1:12,13

 

 

7.      God has got work to accomplish and he wants you to do that work - Luke 2:49

 

 

Ps. Chadwick Samuel




Sunday, December 25, 2011


Merry Christmas to you and your family :)
Do have a look at the post below.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Christmas Letter From Jesus...



Beloved;

   Well, as you know, it's time for my birthday again.

 Last year they had a real big party for me and it seems like they will again this year. After all, they've been shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there have been announcements and advertisements almost every day about how soon it's coming!
  

They really do go overboard about it, but it's nice to know that at least on one day of the year some people are thinking about me a little.

 You know, it's been many years now since they first started celebrating my birthday.

 Back then they seemed to realize and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children. Just the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of it all.

 Like last year, for example.

 When my birthday came around they threw a big party but can you believe it, I wasn't invited!



Imagine! The guest of honour, and they forgot all about me!

 Here they had begun preparing for the festivities two months in advance but when the big day came I was left out in the cold!

   Well, it happened so many times in recent years I wasn't even surprised.

 Even though I wasn't invited I thought I'd just quietly slip in anyway.

So I came in and stood off to the side. Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand time, when all of the sudden, in came this fellow in a bright red suit wearing a phony white

beard and shouting "Ho Ho Ho!"



 Everyone cheered, all the children came running over to him, excitedly yelling Santa!" 

You would have thought that he was the guest of honour and the whole holiday was in his honour! Then he began telling them the most ridiculous stories you've ever heard ... 

Finally I had to leave, walked out of the door, but no one even noticed that I had gone.


I'm planning of holding my own party!

 How about that?

It's going to be the biggest, most fantastic feast, you could possibly imagine! I'm not saying the date yet, but I'm sending out invitations now anyway because I know you'll want to come.

There's going to be room for everyone who wants to come! I'll reserve you a seat of honour (Matthew 8:11) So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready I'm going to spring it as a big surprise and a lot of people are going to be left out in the cold because they didn't answer my invitation!

Let me know right away if you'd like to come and I'll reserve you a place and write your name in large golden letters in my BIG GUEST BOOK!!

Much Love,
JESUS




Do check out these past posts related to Christmas:
http://kiranmj.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-christmas.html




Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Don't Be Afraid of Failure..


 

'A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again...' Proverbs 24:16 NKJV

 

 

Until you overcome the fear of failure, you'll be immobilised at the prospect of taking a risk. The important thing to remember when you fail is not to quit.

 

 History shows that failure can actually become a bridge to success.

 

 

 In school, Napoleon was forty-second in a class of forty-three, yet he went on to build an army that conquered much of the world.

 

 

 George Washington lost two-thirds of his military battles, yet against overwhelming odds he won the Revolutionary War and changed American history.

 

 

Albert Einstein was such a slow learner that it was suggested he switch studies from physics to some other topic, yet he's considered the father of the atomic age. When you recall these names you don't remember their failures but their contributions to the world.

 

 Only when you consider your failure to be final, are you finally a failure.

 

Failure is not an event, only an opinion, and as long as it's not your opinion you can come back and succeed. 'A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.'

 

In his first inaugural address Franklin Roosevelt told the nation,

 

 

'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.'

 

Failure is not fatal; you can begin again. But the fear of failure could prove fatal to your goals by keeping you from trying again. After cataloguing every possible scenario that could come against us, such as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword,

 

Paul writes: 'Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.' (Romans 8:37 NKJV)

 

 So the word for you today is-don't be afraid of failure.