Do they see Jesus in me?

A song by Joy Williams touched me and questioned my actions and attitudes recently...

Many of the things we think, feel and even do can be highly shameful - not what we would want others to see. But when we truly check ourselves, we realize that we need to be like HIM, not the world....He loved us first and even showed us His love 2000 years ago on the cross, the least we can do is share His love that is in us, with others.
A little helping hand to someone struggling on the road...(although I always end up failing on this one)control your thoughts, especially those that displease God...A smile...
There are many ways we can reflect His light. Moreover, James says that mere faith is 'dead faith'...faith has got to bring forth actions...if we are saved by faith shouldn't the result of such faith reflect in the way we walk our lives? However, we have to make sure that we don't stop with just 'outward actions'. The Bible tells us that 'man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart'...so how much more should we purify our heart?
In today's culture, it is increasingly hard to be and live a life of a true Christian...especially when unbelievers around you are aware that you are one; they expectantly look for 'Christ in you'! What is the kind of image we promote to them of Christ? If we say He loves us and hate a person...we certainly don't show His love to them...it will be obvious to those around, that you only 'talk the talk' but don't 'walk the walk'! Who would want to be impacted by Christ, when there is no difference?
We have to try our very best, asking God to help us and guide us to be different from the crowd; showing people a transformation, inside out! We've got to reflect His character in all that we do by becoming more like Him in every way possible. Easier said than done, I know, but anything is possible with the Creator of the universe, we gotta try. Let us together, show the world that Christ lives in us...lets be lighthouses to help guide in those in the storm towards our Living God!

Handling Criticism...

An e-mail I received from Agape Love Divine Ministries - a great lesson to remember... 

Once the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on a small island, He went to pick up some firewood and a poisonous snake bit him. The people thought he would die immediately. That’s what it feels like when somebody criticizes us, when somebody is talking behind your back, trying to put you in bad light; we can feel the sting of his or her words. I love what Paul did. One translation says, “He simply shook it off.” It was as though he was saying, “No big deal. I’m not going to let this thing bother me. It may be poisonous, it may look bad, but I know God is in control. I know God can take care of me.” Miraculously, the snake didn’t even harm Paul. Many people let negative words or other people’s opinions totally ruin their lives. They live to please other people and honestly think they can be happy by trying to keep everyone else happy. They don’t want anybody to say a negative word about them. That’s impossible. You have to accept the fact that not everybody is going to like you. Some people will find fault, no matter what you do. You can be there for them a thousand times in a row, but they will remind you repeatedly of that one time when you couldn’t show up. Life is too short to try to keep people happy. The Scripture says in Proverbs, “A gossiping, find faulting tongue is like a venomous snake.” A person’s words can poison your life. The longer you think about it, the more venom goes into you. If somebody is talking about you, don’t go home and call seven of your friends and ask, “What did you hear about me?” Just shake it off. Don’t spend all your time trying to win over your critics; just run your own race. Remember, most of the time, it’s not really about you. It’s about the fact that they haven’t dealt with that jealous, critical spirit on the inside. The best thing you can do is ignore the slingers. Do what God has put in your heart and trust Him to take care of the criticism.

Prayer Does Work Miracles...

A few days ago, a courier man spoke to my mum about his baby girl who was suffering from eczema on her face. He was truly upset as he told my mum the pain his baby went through regularly. My mum offered to pray for his child and encouraged him to do so too. Being a man who has never been to church, a totally new idea was introduced to him.
A week later, today, when he had to deliver something, as my mum was busy, he excitedly shouted, 'Prayer does work miracles you know! My little one's eczema has gone!' Before my mum could digest what he had said, he was gone. I was overjoyed to hear his story! What a great testimony! When we take the first step, in faith, in prayer - even if we've never known the Lord - God does the rest!
Praise God and please pray that this gentleman comes to know the Lord. And remember, 'Prayer does work miracles...!'

February 60sec CamBible: James 1:4-6

Heat that purifies...

Metals like Iron and Gold are found in the earth but with many impurities attached to them. To make these metals useful and look good we got to put them through a hot furnace. As the heat rises, the impurities vanish and we get a very useful, shiny, beautiful piece of metal...NOT a burnt one.
In life, God uses hot furnaces to purify us too! Paul clearly says that we aren't to be surprised to see trials in our life; a Christian life is filled with trials. When these trials come they bring us closer to God - God promises in Isaiah 43 that when we (not 'if' we) walk through the furnace, we WILL NOT be burnt! The heat cleanses the impurities and helps us shine brighter, for Him above.
In chemical reactions, the rate of reaction is faster when the temperature is higher due to faster movement of particles. Likewise, God rises in temperature to purify us quicker and trigger a movement towards holiness.
So next time you walk into a furnace, REMEMBER...you will come out purer, shine brighter and that it will NOT burn you!

Valentine's Day is really about……….?

Valentine's Day is one of our favorite holidays. Actually it is right behind Christmas. It is a day that we Celebrate our love for one another, and God's love for us. In our life’s Love has always been very special, and always will be. Many years ago I read a story about St. Valentine that really caught my attention. And I want to pass it on. In the Bible John 15: 13 reads "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" And that is just what St. Valentine did. St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested. Some write that he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages, but others say it was for helping Christians escape prison. During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods. While in prison Valentine continued to minister, He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still sharing love of God even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded. Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it. The Bible Says: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."(John 15:13) God showed us this love by coming in Christ to die for our sins. And St. Valentine demonstrated this love when he died for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's Day is really about. Sharing Jesus with others or witnessing is to be an overflow of love and expression from a life now in Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Source: An e-mail I received from Agape Love Divine Ministries

THREE MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUES

I thought I trusted Lord to help me through my test today in school... But although I got a good mark, it wasn't good enough! To begin with, I didn't mind but later it pricked me inside.

I think, at one moment I even started to build anger towards God for not giving me what I wanted! Frustration overcame me and tears began to flood my eyes... He then made it obvious to me that I was relying on my own might to get that 'good' mark! Pride and self-confidence blinded me from the truth that 'victory comes from the Lord'.

As humans, we love to lie to ourselves; I lied to myself that I trusted God fully when actually I was too proud about my own skills (which, in fact, are worth NOTHING!), to think I needed God's help. God is the wisdom bank and all we have to do is ask humbly to receive some!
God does unexpected things that may upset you sometimes, BUT not to harm you BUT to strengthen you, teach you where you're going wrong so that you don't make the same mistake again when it truly would matter.
Luckily, the test today was only a mock test, and I know that God has taught me an unforgettable lesson for the real exam!

What I learnt today, is very difficult for me follow, BUT I know that with His help, anything is possible!
 I have learnt the 3 MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUES: Humility, Trust(in God), Honesty.
Do you follow them?

THE AMAZING FIRST VERSE OF THE BIBLE - You MUST see this film!

A talent to be used - with humility and unity!

God has showered us with many gifts! From teaching about Him to even just showing kindness to those who might need it... Every gift is precious in tour Lord's eyes and we need to use it all together to 'tell the story of our Lord's stupendous gift'. Sometimes, our pride blinds us to feel that we can do it without others; it causes us to rely on our own judgement and feel BIG-headed!
In Romans:12, Paul uses the picture ONE body being made of various parts; each part needs the other! Likewise, all our gifts have got to work in unity; we need each other; together we will be able to share His prodigious love to those around us. Our gift has got to be used for His glory and must be planted in Him to be able to bring forth good fruit!
Have we noticed our gift: Have we put it to good use? Are we combining it with others', with humility?
Let us pray that God helps us live for Him in unity!

What PRIDE can do...

Pride, a five letter word

makes me shiver with tons of fear

if I ponder and grow the thought

it lengthens the gap We've got

That is what frightens me more

me, existing without You

if I have a life so sore

to a pit of fire I will go

With you oh Lord, I know

redemption waits on my door

please enter my heart oh Lord 

so I won't go where I'm heading to

Now with you my Father

new life is a certainty

salvation is tangible

so is a life with You for eternity

In my flesh I am sure to fall

but I know You'll pull me up

No matter what my come my way

I'll say with a certain voice

that You are my all in all

Our country needs God!

William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a member of the British Parliament said that his hope for Britain depended "not so much on her navies and armies, nor on the wisdom of her rulers, as on the persuasion that she still contains many who love and obey the gospel of Christ, that their prayers may prevail"

Many decades ago, the British empire was the most powerful in the world; the British were just flourishing! But why is their wealth, blessing and power diminishing? As time changes, people change...the once religious, Christian country although still Christian in its name isn't Christian in its nature; secularisation is spreading widely as many turn away from God to follow worldly pleasures. What Wilberforce said, is so true! The country used to prosper as she used to fear God, now she goes down hill as she fails to please God.

As I walk down the street what do I see: Celebrity worship(these celebrities do the craziest things); weekends drinking in the pub, rebuking street evangelists; Churches being turned into other religious worship places, pubs, cinemas and lodges. I see a lot more disturbing images too... Is this what God wants? Is this what God likes?

We see in the Bible that Israel also turned away from God, we all do as people! But they had people in authority who feared God and spoke God's word to them. They had people like Wilberforce who made Israel understand the root of her success and take away the pride that blinded their eyes from seeing God! Pride and self-righteousness is growing in our world, in our countries, but how do we tackle it? Do something to show people the root of their existence, the root of their success! People depend on intellect and their own selfish desires not on God - once that changes and a revival comes, we will be able to see God at work more and more.

Let us pray for people like Wilberforce to speak up in our country; lets pray that God will touch and soften the hard hearts of our loved ones - so that our nation might be able to serve God and glorify His name. Remember, when God did great things for Israel, nations around feared the Lord God of Israel!
Like Americans say,  let us also say , together, "God bless our world!"

How Do I Know What God's Will Is For My Life?

How Do I Know What God's Will Is For My Life? - Check it out!

Jesus - my best friend!

The hardest challenge as a Christian teen I find is to be a good friend(to non-Christians too) and try to be a good Christian at the same time...

At first I was oblivious to this and learnt the boundary the hard way... I used to indulge in all sorts of gossip and chit-chat with my friends, we used to do many things together. But the day came when I chose to follow God and repent of my sins .i.e I became a Christian. Suddenly, the appealing worldly pleasures seemed distant, I knew they were wrong and that I had to stop. When my friends continued to indulge in them, I tried to convince them to stop, but all in vain. I thought that I should give up but knew that they were hiding these from their parents. I had to seek guidance from a good Christian to help me give the correct advise - my mum. As you can imagine, when they found out I told my mum, they weren't happy at all and that was the end of the our friendship!

As a Christian, I learnt that you will not be able to please everyone, people are going to dislike you for your values and beliefs. But above all it is vital to please God and help your friends do the same. If you know they just ignore your advise or you don't know how to advise them, the best place to ask is a good Christian - a parent, a religious teacher a Christian friend .etc. Respect their advise, they've got more experience than you.

I am not perfect by any standards, none of us are but we have to try our best and ask God to strengthen us and help us be sincere. Although most of my present friends aren't Christians, they help me be steadfast in my values and respect my advise, views and choices. Anyway, it is better to have no friends than have the wrong kind who encourage you to fall rather than walk in the light.

Always remember, Jesus is the best friend you could ever have.