The Grace To Handle It...

'He gives more grace.' James 4:6 NKJV

 

Nancy and Ed Huizinga were at church rehearsing for the Christmas programme when their home burned down.

It wasn't their first tragedy that year.

 Three months earlier when a friend, a widow with two children, died of cancer, the Huizingas took her kids to live with them as part of the family. So when their house was destroyed it wasn't just their home they lost, it was home to two children who'd already lost their parents.

The following week as they sifted through the ashes they found a slip of paper that survived the fire.

On it they read these words:

 'Contentment: Realising God has already provided everything we need for our present happiness.'

God gives you 'more Grace' when you walk through fiery trials.

Charles Swindoll says:

 'Our whole perspective changes when we catch a glimpse of the purpose of Christ. Take that away, and it's nothing more than a bitter, terrible experience.

 Suffering comes in many forms, but His grace is always there to carry us beyond it.

I've endured a sufficient number of trials to say without hesitation that only Christ's perspective can replace resentment with rejoicing. Jesus is the central piece of suffering's puzzle. If we fit Him into place, the rest begins to make sense.'

 Donna VanLiere writes:

 'When life blindsides us...abuse, foreclosure, disease, divorce, death, job loss or financial collapse brings us to our knees...grace says there's more love after infidelity, more joy after the diagnosis, and more life after financial ruin...grace is real...an indomitable gift with power to change your life. But it does come with one condition-like any gift, you have to hold out your hand and accept it.'

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What Paul Prayed For...

What Paul Prayed For

'...we have not stopped praying for you...' Colossians 1:9

When it came to those he loved, notice what Paul prayed for:

1)   That they would understand the will of God.

'Asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.' Rome was not an easy place to be a Christian, yet Paul wrote: 'Everyone has heard about your obedience...' (Romans 16:19 NIV).

Obedience to God's will should be your number one priority.

 When your name is mentioned, no one should have any doubt as to the level of your commitment to Jesus.

2)  That their lives would be pleasing to God.

'That you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way...' (Colossians 1:10 NIV).

When you stand before God to be rewarded you won't hear the words 'well said' or 'well planned' but, '..."Well done, good and faithful servant..."' (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

3)  That they would prosper in the work God had given them. '

...bearing fruit in every good work...' (Colossians 1:10 NIV).

Nothing brings joy to the heart of a parent like seeing their child succeed. And God feels the same way about you.

4)  That they would persevere by drawing on His strength.

'Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance...' (Colossians 1:11 NIV). Like a light bulb, you depend on power from another source. So unless you stay connected to God you'll be spiritually weak.

5)  That they would praise God.

'Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints...' (Colossians 1:12 NIV).

In other words, live with an attitude of gratitude and a heart of praise.

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Cartoons

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The Size Of Your Heart...

The Size Of Your Heart

"Spread love everywhere you go - first of all in your own house.  

Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbour.

 Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  

Be the living expression of God's kindness;

kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, and kindness in your warm greeting."

~Mother Teresa~


"A pessimist is someone who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks."
~Michael Levine~

"One's best success comes after their greatest disappointments."
~Henry Ward Beecher~


"The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual.  For it is in the solitary mind and soul of the individual that the battle between good and evil is waged and ultimately won or lost."
~M. Scott Peck~


"Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.  The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray."
~Lord Byron~

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life:  It goes on."
~Robert Frost~

    It isn't the size of your house as such that matters so much at  all.

    It's the gentle hand and its loving touch that make it great or small.

    The friends who come and the hour they who out of your house depart, Will judge it not by the style you show but rather by the size of your heart.

    It isn't the size of your head so much; it isn't the wealth you found.

    That will make you happy; it's how you touch the lives that are all around.

    For making money is not hard; to live life well is an art; How people love you, how they regard, is all in the size of your heart.

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Valentines Day (post from last year)

Read 1 Corinthians 13 and John 3:16

See http://www.poemsource.com/Christian-valentine-poems.html for some amazing Christian Valentine Poems by Joanna Fuchs

And its that time again when people go crazy trying to express their "love" for the ones in their lives.I ask you, why do you need a special day to express ur love? Coming to the more important point, we should realise that no one loves us like God does (John 3:16). He has been there with us since our creation, at every step of our lives, helping us out. Thus, we should give Him more priority and love than anything/anyone else in our lives.

May Jesus Bless u all...

Kiran

Just a little Sin...

Just a little Sin

Many parents are hard pressed to explain to their kids why some movies, music, books, and magazines are not acceptable material for them -- to see, listen to, or read.

One parent came up with an original idea that is hard to refute.

The father listened to all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie.

 It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. Even church members said it was great. It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex -- they don't really show it.

The language is pretty good -- the Lord's name is only used in vain three times in the whole movie.

The teens did admit there was a scene where a building and a bunch of people were blown up, but the violence was just the normal stuff. It wasn't anything really bad. Even if there was "just a little" stuff wrong, the special effects were fabulous and the plot was action packed.

However, even with all the justifications the teens made for the movie, the father still wouldn't give in.

He just said, "No!"

A little later on that evening the father asked his kids if they would like some brownies he baked -- knowing they loved brownies? He said that he'd taken the family's favorite recipe and added "just a little" something extra.

The children asked what it was?

The father calmly said that he had added "just a little" dog poop.

 However, he quickly assured them, it was "just a little" bit. All the other ingredients were gourmet quality and he had taken great care to bake the brownies at the precise temperature for the exact time.

 He was sure the brownies would be superb.

Even with their father's assurance that the brownies were of almost perfect quality, the teens would not take any. The father acted surprised. After all, it was "just a little" small part that was causing them to reject the brownies.

He said he was certain they would hardly notice "just a little" bit of dog pooh he had put in the brownies.

 Still the teens held firm, and would not try the brownies.

The father then explained to his children how the movie they wanted to see with "just a little" bit of bad stuff in it was just like the brownies.

Satan tries to enter our minds and our lives by deceiving us into believing that "just a little" bit of evil won't matter.

The truth is "just a little" bit of poop makes the difference between a great treat and something disgusting, which is totally unacceptable.

The father went on to explain that even though the movie industry would have us believe most of today's movies, with "just a little" bit of bad stuff, are acceptable for adults and kids, they are not.

Now, when this father's children want to see something that is of questionable material, the father merely asks them if they want some of his special dog poop brownies? That closes the subject.

Put the movie you or your kids really want to see to the ultimate test.

 Would you be comfortable taking Jesus with you?

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The Christian Home..

The Christian Home

The importance of the home cannot easily be overstated.

It is the great world-fountain of health or disease, of medicine or poison.

It is God's best workshop or the devils best forge.

It is a supreme factor in the salvation or ruination of our race.

It is a determining factor in the solution of many problems.

As is the home, so will be the church, the state, and the nation.

By weakening the pillars of the home in the "interest" of the state, ancient Greece sealed its own doom.

Because of corruption in the families, the boasted civilization of Rome could not endure.

And today the threads of destiny of our own nation are being silently woven within the narrow confines of our family circles.

Upon the walls of every institution which fails to include in its reckoning the home, no matter how glowing its prospects may seem, no matter how sumptuous and hilarious its feasting may be there is traced by secret hand the writing:

"Thou hast been weighed in the balance and found wanting."

In the home where the Gospel of Jesus Christ lives and reigns there will be a true parenthood.

A greater and holier work can scarcely be imagined than to build a home, to correctly rear a family, to root and ground one's own in the truth, and to send them out as living epistles to glorify their God and serve their fellowmen..

A neighbour once asked a mother, "Do you do any literary work?"

"Yes," she replied, "I am writing two books."

"What are their titles?"

"John and Mary," she answered.

"My business is to write upon the hearts and minds of my children the lessons they will never forget." 

 

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Mehdi Dibaj - "A Christian Is Chosen by Jesus Christ "

 "A Christian Is Chosen by Jesus Christ "

Mehdi Dibaj

Iran ,1994

 

 

"Men choose a religion, but a Christian is chosen by Jesus Christ.

 

To be a Christian means to belong to Christ. Jesus asked me to renounce even my life, to follow Him faithfully, not to fear the world even if my body must perish.

 

 I prefer to know that God, the Almighty, is with me, even if it means that the whole world is against me.

 

"I am in God's hands. For 45 years I have walked with the God of miracles, and His goodness is for me a shadow that protects me in His love. "The God of Daniel, who protected his friends, protected me during my nine years in prison, and all torments changed to my good, so that I have the fullness of love and gratitude.

 

"Of all the prophets, Jesus alone was resurrected from the dead, and He remains our living Mediator forever.

 

 I gave my life into His hands. For me, life is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is the privilege of getting to be with Him."

 

Pastor Mehdi Dibaj of Iran was on trial for his life, and these words were the defence he gave in court.

 

 An upper-class Muslim, he and his family had converted to Christianity. He had dared to translate Christian radio programs and books into the Farsi language. He was arrested in 1985 and accused of apostasy, denying the Muslim faith.

 

For this, he faced the death penalty.

 

In Iran, social and political pressure is sometimes used to force Christians to recant their new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Some are even tortured. Dibaj was imprisoned alone for

two years in a cramped hole with no room to stretch his legs.

 

 While he was in prison, his wife, Azizeh, left Dibaj and was forced to marry a Muslim.

 

When Dibaj steadfastly refused to deny his faith, the court condemned him to death. But after one month he was set free because of international attention that had been brought

to his case. Soon after this, however, he was found dead in a park. It is believed by some that Islamic leaders had called for his execution.

 

Despite losing their father, his four children remain faithful to Jesus Christ. As he faced the court that would sentence him to death, Pastor Dibaj said,

 

 "I prefer to know that God, the Almighty, is with me, even if it means that the whole world is against me."

 

He had learned the secret of being able to stand alone among men —standing with God.

 

Pray for radio programs that preach the Gospel to Muslims. Pray for safety for all those involved. Pray for the listeners, that the Word of God will penetrate their darkness and bring them to new life in Jesus Christ.

 

 

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True Love

Jacob was a cheater,

Peter had a temper,

 David had an affair,

 Noah got drunk,

 Jonah ran away from God ,

Paul was a murderer,

Gideon was insecure,

Miriam was gossiper,

  Martha was a nerve wreck,

 Thomas was a doubter,

  Sarah was impatient,

 Elijah was depressed,

Moses stuttered,

Zacchaeus was short,

Abraham was old  and

  Lazarus was dead.

God does not call the qualified, He  qualifies the called.