WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Flashy Cars, MP3 Players, Plasma TVs, Camera Mobiles, Digital Cameras…the list goes on; today almost everything is Digital! There has been a major paradigm shift from analog to digital!! The good old tape recorder and the like are becoming a thing of the past.
It’s a fast life, we claim…email has replaced snail mail and everything is quick! The internet makes life easy, it’s a world out there….with everything available online!!
With such fast development and change, what else has changed? Where are we heading?
Even with all these changes and advances, you would agree with me, that how much ever easy life has become, it has also become proportionately tough.
- We find people not able to find time for actually ‘living’.
- We find people highly stressed out.
- We come across people finding it difficult to balance life and work.
My personal computer – a Pentium II – hardly had any anti-virus software some years back…but today along with the high speed P4’s, humongous hard disk sizes and voluminous RAMs; I also need to have updated anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall and OS software updates; to keep my system protected and kicking alive!! This is just an example of how we are caught in the grip of cyber crime and terrorism in spite of current technological advancements.
So, in spite of technological changes ‘for good’, we do still have problems to cope up with, in our daily life. Now, with all these pressures, has our outlook toward God changed?
- Has our God changed?
- Do we spend the same time with God?
- Are we online with Him?
The process of getting connected with Him….has not changed and will not change!!!
He is always ready to hear us and answer us and take us ahead. But do we really count on Him or do we count on technology?
Dear friend, let God be your first and TOP most priority in life and all the digital stuff will follow you!!!
‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33)
The 3 Keys to keeping in charge of your life
In today’s world change is proceeding at an ever-quickening pace; jobs (and whole industries) seem to come and go at the drop of a hat. When those times come where you’re starting to look at the future with fear and worry, just keep three keys in mind. Some might call them affirmations; others may call them personal dedications. I call them “The 3 keys to keeping in charge of your life.”
Key Number 1: “I’m all I’ve got, but that’s enough.”
I know you’re not all you’ve got — you’ve got family, friends, co-workers, enemies, and the income tax people — all encouraging you to work. But sometimes, it starts to feel as if you’re doing it all alone. Some of us have extremely large challenges that are facing us — and yet no matter how large the challenge, you can address it a little bit at a time – as you have a faith in yourself and our Lord Jesus — the faith that you’re up to the challenge. The Lord Jesus explains in Matt 11:28, 29 that the Lord takes our burden and ensures that the burden we carry along with him is one that we can bear. “Praise God”. “You are not alone”
Key Number 2. “My future is in my control.”
“Sure,” you might say, “but what about disease, accidents, death, war, and tragedy?” Let’s get this straight right now. I do not believe that we can control every aspect of our future. I do believe we can control how we choose to view it, and utilize it. Bad things may happen in your future — but judging from my personal experience, some of the greatest growth in my life has come from the worst things that have happened to me. . If we never take on the challenges that life brings, we never manage to grow beyond those challenges. It’s this simple: things may happen, but the most important things will be when you’ve made them happen. “Yes” Jesus alone has the power to multiply 5 loaves & 2 fish to feed 5000 people but Hey!!!“Give him the 5 loaves & 2 fish that you have”
Key number 3: “Whatever the future brings, I’ll do all right.”
Troubles happen to everyone — but the people who grow from those troubles have one major difference: they believe everything happens for a reason, and that it serves them. The Bible says “All things happen to the good for those who love the Lord”. One way or the other, make a little promise to yourself, right here and now – that whatever comes your way in the future, you will grow from it. Will you be able to exercise control over everything in your life? Of course not – Things can happen that will derail your plans — and they will. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get back on track, get your speed back up, and make it to your destination — or an even better destination. Resolve now that no matter what happens, you’ll be all right. Once you’ve made that resolve, you’ve eliminated most worry about the future.
Whether this message shakes you up a bit or not understand something very powerful. You are in charge when the Lord is in charge.Praise the Lord. Amen.
God's System, it Works always
Isaiah 30:18 -Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!
Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt . It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban’s control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. So why isn’t God in a hurry?
In another context, Daniel 10:13 says as -But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia . He was in struggle and waited with faith and uncounted that experience.
God called each of these servants to accomplish a certain task in His Kingdom, yet He was in no hurry to bring their mission into fulfillment. First, He accomplished what He wanted in them. Praise God. God is always in first place in their life. HE must be. We need to bring a habit of putting HIM in the center of life and allowing HIM to execute all the things in our life.
The Lord owns a system which has got marvelous things to observe. The system operates in HIS own time. The system yields the result with no fail. The system operates in success mode always. The system expects the individual to do our part and rest to believe on HIM- The system will not do the magic by itself as we can clearly see that HIS purpose and plan is always different from the world.
Any System will have three components:-
>> Inputs – We need to our part too.
>> Process – transformation to get mature in HIM. This is the part we need to focus much. To change ourselves in HIM, into HIS ways, for HIS glory, by HIS grace.
>> Outcome – fulfillment of mission.
The same is holds good for the God’s System too- HE will set the stage for us. HE allows us difficult moments. HE Shows paths and ways to make use of it/ to escape from it- The only prerequisite is we need to be in sink with GOD to understand those situations and circumstances to make use of it. If we sail in HIS path by understanding the God’s leading and presence- the journey will be very much enrichment in all ways- That is the journey everyone wanted and God too expects. We often fail to experience that journey, because of pride, lust, selfish thoughts, prayer less life, immersed in unnecessary thoughts. Let us examine and remove what is not required and retain what is needed at this hour?! Let us do self analysis and keep HIM in our first priority- This is the secret to bring more Glory to HIM- HIS system works in us!
If God is for us, who can be against us. God says that I am putting my right hand on you and stand besides you- that means HE Stands in our left side and watches our every moment whether we are getting success in the system where HE put us to get victory- HE is the Lord of Victory. Amen.
Psalm 109:31 – For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul-
We are often more focused on outcome than the process that He is accomplishing in our lives each day. When we experience His presence daily, one day we wake up and realize that God has done something special in and through our lives. However, the accomplishment is no longer what excites us. Instead, what excites us to knowing Him. Through those times, we become more acquainted with His love, grace, and power in our lives. When this happens, we are no longer focused on the outcome because the outcome is a result of our walk with Him. It is not the goal of our walk, but the by-product. Hence, when Joseph came to power in Egypt , he probably couldn’t have cared less. He had come to a place of complete surrender so that he was not anxious about tomorrow or his circumstances.
This is the lesson for us. We must wait for God’s timing and embrace wherever we are in the process. When we find contentment in that place, we begin to experience God in ways we never thought possible.
Tired of doing Good?
How many times have you prayerfully invited your friend, colleague or neighbor to a Gospel programme? Countless times?
How many times has she/he responded and come to the Gospel meeting? Never did come? Came only once and then avoids you or speaks ill of you?
Do not worry! Cheer up! Let us see what happens beneath the covers…
The ball starts rolling once a sincere attempt is made to share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the needy. The work has begun. Results may not be evident immediately; but the Holy Spirit of God is at work from the inside.
What happens when you use a hammer initially on a rock?It seems to only cause pain in your hand but stays intact.However, as you repeat the hammering, cracks begin to appear and finally the rock is shattered.
Even so, God is at work along with you as you prayerfully reach out to the needy and oppressed. He will confirm His word with His works.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:20)
He does not want anyone to perish. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
So take heart and keep up the good work. Do not be discouraged. The rock will be shattered by your consistent attempts in the Holy Ghost!
…let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Gal.6:9)
Is not My word like a fire? says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jer.23:29)
BLOOD
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son.
The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.
As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: “My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”
The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!