Getting ahead in this world

The only real secret to getting ahead in this world is to put the Word of God first place in your daily life.
The Bible is not just a textbook, a storybook, or a history book.
It's a handbook for living.
It's the wisdom of Almighty God written down so that you can apply it to your everyday circumstances.
Invest your time in the Word first and that investment will soon be paying off in every area of your life.

Proverbs 4:7-8
For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.... Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

(0058) 28 February 2007

Fate and destiny

Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators. Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot pass. Universal knowledge is for God alone.
Why, then, torture yourselves with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate, and human responsibility?
These deep and dark truths you are no more able to comprehend than to find out the depth which buried beneath. Will you ever be able to hold the sun in your fist, and hold the universe in your palm?
Let us not strive to understand the infinite, but spend your strength in love.
What you cannot gain by intellect you can possess by affection.
You cannot penetrate the heart of the sea, but you can enjoy the healthful breezes which sweep over its bosom, and you can sail over its blue waves with propitious winds.

Job 38 : 16
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?

(0059) 1 March 2007

Surrender

Surrender

Surrender your will. When that is done, all is done.

The great crisis in life is the surrender of the will. God never crushes a man's will into surrender, He never beseeches him, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him. That battle never needs to be re-fought.

Surrender for Deliverance.
"Come unto Me and I will give you rest."
It is after we have begun to experience what salvation means that we surrender our wills to Jesus for rest. Whatever is perplexing heart or mind is a call to the will - "Come unto Me." It is a voluntary coming.

Surrender for Devotion.
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself."
The surrender here is of my self to Jesus, my self with His rest at the heart of it.
"If you would be My disciple, give up your right to yourself to Me." Then the remainder of the life is nothing but the manifestation of this surrender. When once the surrender has taken place we never need "suppose" anything. We do not need to care what our circumstances are, Jesus is amply sufficient.

Surrender for Death.
John 21:18-19. ". . . someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
Have you learned what it means to be bound for death? Beware of a surrender which you make to God in an ecstasy; you are apt to take it back again. It is a question of being united with Jesus in His death until nothing ever appeals to you that did not appeal to Him.
After surrender - what? The whole of the life after surrender is an aspiration for unbroken communion with God.

John 17:4
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

(0057) 27 February 2007

Hostility = stress ?

Researchers have discovered that hostility produces stress that causes ulcers, tension headaches, and a host of other ills.

Did you know that walking in love is good for your health.
It's true! Medical science has proven it.
Now when you think of hostility, you may think of the type of anger you feel when something serious happens. But according to the experts, that kind of thing isn't what causes the worst problems.

It's the little things:
when someone ruins your favorite outfit, for example.
Or
when the cook puts gravy on your noodles after you've told him not to.

Sound familiar?

Just think how much stress you could avoid by being quick to forgive, by living your life according to 1 Corinthians 13 and not counting up the evils done to you. Imagine physical and emotional benefits of living like that!

Remember:
It doesn't take a medical miracle to turn your life around.
All it takes is a decision to yield to the force of love. Do it today!

1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it--pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

(0056) 26 February 2007

Grace

What is Grace ???

Grace is not about excuses for our sins. It is about a deep-seated thanksgiving for pardon. It is a life-changing commitment to say "No!" to all that is evil, corrupt, and wicked no matter how attractive or how persistent they may be in our culture.

Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

(0055) 25 February 2007

Imagination versus inspiration

Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly.

You cannot think a spiritual confusion clear, you have to obey it clear.
In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you can't.
If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter, bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ with regard to it and everything will become as clear as daylight. The reasoning capacity comes afterwards, but we never see along that line, we see like children; when we try to be wise we see nothing (Matthew 11:25).

The tiniest thing we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is quite sufficient to account for spiritual muddle, and all the thinking we like to spend on it will never make it clear. Spiritual muddle is only made plain by obedience. Immediately we obey, we discern. This is humiliating, because when we are muddled we know the reason is in the temper of our mind. When the natural power of vision is devoted to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the power of knowing God's will and the whole life is kept in simplicity.

2 Corinthians 11:3
The simplicity that is in Christ.

(0054) 24 February 2007

Languages of nature

Think of the majestic order of the universe and its obedience to unchanging law.

The language of

order,
beauty,
perfection and intelligence

speaks of the existence of God

There is

(a) certainty and regularity of the seasons
(b) precision of the movements of the sun, the moon and the stars
(c) regular coming of the night and day
(d) balance between man’s consumption of life-giving oxygen and its production by the plant-life of the earth

Psalm 19 : 1-3
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

(0053) 23 February 2007

Happiness

The secret of happiness is

not to do what you like to do but to learn to like what you have to do.

Happiness is not found by seeking. It is not an end in itself

Pots of gold are never found at the end of the rainbow. Gold is mined from the ground or panned laboriously from a stream.

The Pharisees were not happy. They were nervous, tensed and frustrated. They were full of resentments, bitterness, prejudices and hatred. The reason was that they had lost sight of God’s idea of the pure in heart. The Pharisees thought that as long as they kept the letter of the law that was enough. But God looks deeper that the outside actions. He searches and ponders the heart. He looks to the motives, thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Timothy 5 : 22
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure

(0052) 22 February 2007

Heart

The heart pumps blood and it is the central and vital organ of the body. It is also used metaphorically when we speak of affections and feelings. The Bible speaks of heart as the well-spring of life. Hence, it is also used closely with ‘life’. When you are asked to give your heart, it does not mean to cut out our actual hearts. It means that we are to give lives, our all.

When we come to Christ, we give our intellectual assent with our minds and we also believe in our hearts – means that the will, the emotion, and the intellect are surrendered.

Romans 10 : 9
That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

(0051) 21 February 2007

Selfish lifestyle

Self-centeredness is the basic cause of much of our distress in life. Our loves, our interests and our energies are too often focused upon ourselves. Many of us live selfishly.

Matthew 19 : 21
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

Here in this verse, Jesus wants us to be released from selfishness and its destructive effect on our personality and life.

John 3 : 30
He must become greater; I must become less.

(0050) 20 February 2007

How to be rich

There are two ways of being rich – have a lot or want very little

The latter way is the easiest for most of us. Many people make themselves miserable by wanting more than they can ever have. They can never get enough of the insatiable desire for more, better and newer things.

We need not learn how to get more but how to get along with what we have got, and get on with the business of really living.

Luke 12 : 15
Then he said to them, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions

(0049) 18 February 2007

Be truthful

The purity of our conduct comes from truthfulness. We should be truthful in our representation of ourselves. We should avoid hypocrisy. We should be truthful in speaking of our past achievements. A lie is anything that opposes the naked truth !!

Psalm 51 : 6
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

(0048) 17 February 2007

Lonely

Loneliness is no respecter of persons
It invades the palace as well as the humble hut.

Loneliness causes many

to turn to drinking
to lose their sanity
to commit suicide

Moses was not alone in the Midian Desert when God came to comfort him and call him to a wider ministry
Elijah was not alone at the cave when God came near and spoke to him
Paul and Silas were not alone in the Philippian jail

Deuteronomy 3 : 16
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

(0047) 16 February 2007

Victory over our tongues

Victory over our tongues

The tongue - this instrument of speech can be used destructively or employed constructively

Tongues are used to slander, to gripe, to scold, to nag, to quarrel
Tongues are used to bless and to praise

Most of our problems could be solved if men could get victory over their tongues.


Suppose there were
no anger, no vulgarity, no lying, no grumbling, no complaining
no dirty stories, no unjust criticism

It would have been a different world !!!!


Before we speak, we should ask ourselves
Is it true ?
Is it kind ?

James 1 : 26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 4 : 7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

(0046) 15 February 2007

Confused and bewildered

There are thousands of people who admit and confess that they are unhappy.

Economic security, recreation, pleasure and a good community in which to live have not brought about peace and happiness that man expected. The reason is that man was created in the image of God and cannot find complete rest, happiness, joy and peace until he comes back to God

God made man. Man was shaped in His own image. Man was made in the likeness and image of the Creator. God has a purpose in making man. His primary purpose was that man would have fellowship with Him. If man does not have fellowship with God, he is lost, confused and puzzled. Since man does not find his place, he has a sense of not fitting.

1 John 1 : 3
….. our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ

Abraham Lincoln once said
I am sorry for the man who can’t feel the whip when it is laid on the other man’s back.

Nowadays we could hardly be described as conducive to a sensitiveness of the needs of others. We have developed a cover of sophistication and hardness. Many of us are calloused and indifferent toward mankind’s poverty and sickness.

The truth is :
We must experience a rebirth, to become sensitive to the needs of others Unless our hearts are conditioned by the Holy Spirit to receive and reflect the warmth of God’s compassion, we cannot love our fellowmen as we ought.

1 John 2 : 10
Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

(0045) 14 February 2007

The hardest possession to give up

It is money. Money represents your time, your energy, your talents, your total personality converted into currency. We hold to our money tenaciously yet it is uncertain in value and we cannot bring it with us when we die

Money making is essential in daily living but it is apt to degenerate into money-loving and then the deceitfulness of riches enters and spoils our spiritual life.

It is not wrong for men to possess riches. But money cannot buy happiness, true pleasure and true peace of heart. Money certainly cannot buy you entrance into the Kingdom of God.

Money is a hindrance to these things.

Worldliness cannot be confined to a particular rank, walk or circumstance of life. It is actually a spirit, an atmosphere, an influence seeping into the whole life and human society, and it needs to be guarded against constantly and strenuously.

The Bible teaches us that we are stewards of our earnings for a little while. The Word teaches us to give a portion of our earnings as tithe. We are to take the tithe as a standard but to go beyond the tithe is an indication of our gratefulness to God’s gifts to us. Apart from sorrow and trouble, God gives us blessings and enjoyments. Even our capacity to love comes from God.

1 John 3 : 17
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Luke 12 : 42
The Lord answered, Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

(0044) 13 February 2007

Victorious living

Is there any secret formula for victorious living?
If there is any phrase that could describe it, it could be surrender and devotion.

Nothing can take the place of a daily devotional life with God. Your quiet time, your prayer time, the time you spend reading the Bible, is absolutely essential for a happy Christian life. You cannot be a happier, more dynamic and powerful person apart from a daily walk with God. It will make the difference

(a) between success and failure in your spiritual life.
(b) between being helped and helping others.
(c) in your habits, in your prayer life, in your Bible reading, in your giving, in your testimony and in your active life in church.



Psalm 63 : 1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

(0040)

Fear

Many people are living in fear.

afraid of going insane,
afraid of committing suicide
afraid of being alone
afraid of heart disease
afraid of cancer
afraid of disaster
afraid of death
afraid of poverty
afraid of family disruption
afraid of war
afraid of famine and
afraid of the future.


We have learnt that in times of trouble, temptation, trial, bereavement and crisis, God has brought courage to the hearts of those who love Him. The Bible is filled with assurances of God’s help and comfort.

It is true that evil men are not the only ones to be feared. We fear a good God. Even though He is merciful and full of compassion, His awesome holiness makes all other kinds of fear look mild by comparison.

Fear is a powerful, paralyzing emotion. It can made grown men seem like frightened children. God not only understands this, but He is also very patient with us as He develops in us the faith that overcomes fear.

When in fear, go to the Scriptures with full assurance that God is going to deliver the person who puts his trust and confidence in God.
We can look into the future with promise, hope and joy, and without fear, discouragement or despondency.
The Lord can use our fears to develop our faith. If we are learning to trust in His care and goodness, our fears will bring assurance that He is always there (Hebrew 13 : 5)


(0039)

Lying

Lying can be so easy.
It often seems like the best way to avoid a sticky problem or to protect ourselves from the results of other bad choices.
Lying always backfires.

Proverbs 13 : 5
The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace

(0038)

Love

Long hidden resentment finally comes to the surface as pretenses drop away.

Home that are not built on love are destined to crumble and fall

Love is a binding force that holds a family together. True love contains an element of spiritual mystery. It has loyalty, reverence and understanding. Love calls for a tremendous responsibility on all members of a family.

True love never fails

It loves despite personality defects, physical blemishes and mental quirks. It is deep, abiding and eternal. It brings a sense of security into the home.

Whether in marriage or in our relationship with fellow mankind, resentment and separation are to sure to surface if love is insincere. Instead of presenting a ‘look of love’, let us take seriously the challenge to ‘let love be without hypocrisy’ (Romans 12 : 9)

A happy Christian home is where love is practiced.

1 Corinthians 13 : 8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

(0037)

What is life ?

A famous musician knows that suffering comes before glory and fame. He knows the hours, days, and months of constant practice and self-sacrifice that precede the final performance that may be only one hour or just for a couple of minutes.

The student knows that years of study, hardship and self-renunciation preceded the proud day of graduation and honours.


Our life has its beginning in suffering.
Life’s span is marked by pain and tragedy and our lives end in death.

Anyone who expects to escape the pangs of sufferings and disappointment simply has no knowledge of the Bible, of history or life.

Life is a glorious opportunity if it is used to condition us for eternity. If we fail in this, though we may succeed in everything else, our life will have been a failure.

God made man different from the other creatures. God made man in His own image, a living soul. The Bible teaches that life does not end when the body dies. The earthly existence is terminated but the soul lives on forever.

Titus 1 : 22
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

(0043) 12 February 2007

What is peace ?

What is peace ?


Peace is - To be able to sleep in the storm.
Peace is - The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest
Peace is - To be relaxed, and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments and perplexities of life.

Psalm 39 : 7
But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

(0042) 10 Feb 2007

Prayer

Is prayer that important ??

We are to pray in times of difficulties
so that we may not become faithless and unbelieving prosperity
so that we may not become boastful and proud danger
so that we may not become fearful and
doubting security so that we may not become self-sufficient


Sinners pray for forgiveness
Christians pray for an outpouring of God’s spirit upon a willful, evil, unrepentant world
Parents pray for grace and mercy for their families
Children pray for their needs, for guidance and wisdom

Happy is the man who knows the secret of coming to God in daily prayer. Absolute dependency and absolute surrender are the conditions of being His child to receive those things that lend themselves to happiness. Man does not come to know God through works. Man comes to know God by faith, through grace, which comes as a gift of God through Christ.

Psalm 146 : 5
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God

(0041) 09 Feb 2007

My daily life

A Christian life is a lifestyle that builds on past lessons and decisions, but it also depends on our dedication day by day. It is a life of daily commitment. We cannot live off yesterday’s successes, last week’s prayers, or the Bible stories we heard when we were young.

Each new day is both a challenge and an opportunity. Our faith will be challenged, and we can use that challenge as an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God.. As each day unfolds, we must pause and remind ourselves that this is a day dedicated to God, that it is to be used for His glory, and that it is beast lived with a continual recollection of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

(0036)

Angry - good or bad

To be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way, is not easy !!!!

If anger is mingled with malice, it becomes sinful. If it is associated with a holy disposition, it is safe and good.

Becoming angry with someone because of personal resentment or envy is sinful.
Anger, aroused by injustice or evil, and accompanied by a sincere desire to see God’s will performed, is both healthy and effective.


Ephesians 4 : 26-27
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

(0035)

Change

Everyday we read in the advertisements of the growing search for stress relief through spas, massage, pills ….. We also read of reports of cheating, and other vicious crimes that make the news everyday

No matter what the problem, our initial response is to treat the symptoms rather than the cause.

Religious activity is no substitute for an obedient heart. With God’s help and a willingness to change, we can get rid of the root problems, not just the symptoms.

What goes through the minds of people whose lives are torn apart by a tragedy like murder ?
What keeps them going when a cherished loved one has been killed ?

Anytime someone wrongs us, let us search for the godly response. Praying for that person is perhaps the best medicine for a wounded heart.

Read about God’s people during the days of Isaiah. They went through the motions of worship and could not understand why God ignored their religious efforts. But while they were fasting, they were also exploiting their workers and fighting among themselves. Isaiah condemned their hypocrisy and told them they needed to change. - Isaiah 58 : 3-4

Read about Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33 : 1-20. During his reign as king of Judah, Manasseh sacrificed his own children to idols, ruthlessly killed people, and practiced all kinds of evil. But after he repented and began to worship God, his conduct was radically changed. Manasseh’s life illustrates the truth that what we believe deep within us has a profound effect on our behaviour.

(0034)

Getting into trouble

When our tongue is out of work – not being used for constructive and useful purposes – we are more likely to get in trouble with it. We find it so easy to say the kinds of things that are disrespectful, slanderous, cruel, or immoral.

Proverbs 21 : 23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

(0033)