tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23492658976040303132024-03-12T17:45:19.573-07:00Gilgal CreationsFor Spiritual Growth and BlessingsMathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-56500055755999897932009-11-26T09:13:00.000-08:002009-11-26T09:16:22.754-08:00How poor we are!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.<br /><br />They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the<br />trip?'<br />'It was great, Dad.'<br />'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.<br />'Oh yeah,' said the son.<br />'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father<br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The son answered:<br />'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.<br />We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.<br />We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.<br />We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.<br />We buy our food, but they grow theirs.<br />We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'<br /><br />The boy's father was speechless.<br />Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'<br /><br />Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?<br /><br />Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!<br />'Life is too short and friends are too few.'</span></span></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-42420756754636251432009-11-17T01:56:00.000-08:002009-11-17T02:01:05.432-08:00When you Pray, Give God Your Worries "<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(255, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">“Give us today the food we need” (Matthew 6:11).</span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(255, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Once you have given God your love and your life, Jesus teaches you can give Him your worries by </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">asking God to</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">provide for your needs and then trusting that He will provide. </span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For instance, we can ask God to give us the food we need each day. Some translations say, “Give us this day our daily bread.”<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What is “daily bread”?</span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It’s the necessities of life—</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">our physical and material needs</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> that we’re always worrying about.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God wants you </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to ask Him to provide those things</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> so you don’t have to worry about them.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He’s promised to provide all your needs:</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> “My God shall</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">supply all of your needs”</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(Philippians 4:19 ).<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#ff6666;"><u style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What do you need today ?</span></span></u></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Energy to make it through the day? Finances? Wisdom?</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You have two alternatives: panic or pray.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Philippians 4:6 says: </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (NIV). <br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do you really believe this verse?</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God says you can pray about everything.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nothing is too great for God’s power.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nothing is too insignificant for his care.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anything worth worrying about is worth praying about. If we prayed as much as we worried, we’d have a lot less to worry about ! </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><u style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Give God your worries.</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />When you talk to God about your needs, </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you need to be specific. </span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When you pray generically—“God, bless me”—</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">how are you going to know if He answered it or not? </span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What’s a blessing? Sometimes blessings come in the form of problems.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#ff0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You’d better be careful when you pray, “God, bless me.”<br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Notice the Philippians verse also says, “By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.”</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When you pray, </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">be specific and do it with thanksgiving.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Psychologists say gratitude is the healthiest emotion you can have.</span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The more you develop an attitude of appreciation for God, your family, and other people, the healthier you are emotionally. </span></span></span></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0.67em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.67em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: block; color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You worship God through prayer </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">when you give Him your</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">love</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">praise</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">), </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your life</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">purpose</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">), and </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your worri</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#cc33cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">es </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(</span></span><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color:#33cc00;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">provision</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">)</span></span></span></span></span></h1></span>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-46638958012645014962009-11-01T06:27:00.000-08:002009-11-01T06:28:47.940-08:00Refiner's Fire !!!<div style="text-align: justify;"> Once a woman was puzzled and wondered what the <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1257085335_4">Bible verse</span> "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Mal.3:3) meant about the character and <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1257085335_5">nature of God</span>. She offered to find out the process of refining silver and called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.<br /><br />As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.<br />The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.<br /><br />The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"<br />He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."<br /><br />If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you and, no matter whatever you are going through now, you will be a better person in the end!<br /></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-79998260652492433832009-09-15T22:54:00.000-07:002009-09-15T23:01:34.538-07:00How God uses a cracked pot?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRNB4ocBM1tmOeHG4OJZ1rKqegDbwpKGAawSy0jLcx7fn4-TIYTIhmzKBCVg_AQh1HitgBj_hV244dHhzxz4xva4BbiQDoq5kz4eBw64c-qaJ8a0_B2Wm9yLS6shZYd21mnvtrNcVbdc/s1600-h/securedownload.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRNB4ocBM1tmOeHG4OJZ1rKqegDbwpKGAawSy0jLcx7fn4-TIYTIhmzKBCVg_AQh1HitgBj_hV244dHhzxz4xva4BbiQDoq5kz4eBw64c-qaJ8a0_B2Wm9yLS6shZYd21mnvtrNcVbdc/s320/securedownload.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381940591487467746" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, Perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I Planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life.</span></span></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-64849292285444611372009-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:002009-09-11T08:12:44.788-07:00Things happen for a reason<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">were ahead of schedule and just about finished.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">T hen he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">'Pastor,' she asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?' </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there.. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten theTablecloth. The</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria ... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full.. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid (One of my friends sent me this story - Mathew Palathunkal)</span></div></span></span>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-87831818004082555322009-09-09T08:26:00.001-07:002009-09-09T08:32:18.455-07:00The Good Shepherd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CnfBBDFe5a2aywpIXOesU6p2yc2HevYJhpC4ZIiLJxcVMbMoJoXhHbbB8nm2mB85KFPfC3QyyjFvoypJiYwZgt6UcbxtGd2TwA58hqMhM7Tz9ymHIB-vaJsRBkNHro8qf3vyLd59WcI/s1600-h/Rumunia_5806.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CnfBBDFe5a2aywpIXOesU6p2yc2HevYJhpC4ZIiLJxcVMbMoJoXhHbbB8nm2mB85KFPfC3QyyjFvoypJiYwZgt6UcbxtGd2TwA58hqMhM7Tz9ymHIB-vaJsRBkNHro8qf3vyLd59WcI/s320/Rumunia_5806.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379490680901378114" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">As with all of His statements, this is a concise, to the point, pronouncement by Jesus Christ. Yet, it embodies much more than the picture of a shepherd and his flock. To fully understand the scope of Jesus' word picture, it helps to understand the role of a shepherd and the nature of sheep.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A good shepherd did not envision his responsibility as just a job. Sheep, at the time of Jesus, were very valuable critters. They provided food and wool for clothing. The care and protection of the flock was the shepherd's life. Jesus points out in further biblical statements, that a good shepherd would give his life for his flock. The shepherd would lead his flock to pasture and water; tend to their wounds; guide them; calm them; keep them together; and, rescue them from pitfalls and briar patches. He was the sole provider of all that the flock needed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sheep are single minded, skittish, near-sighted, critters. They are one of the few creatures who, if let on their own, will totally destroy their pasture. They are easily terrified and prone to wandering off from the flock. They require constant attention. They will continually repeat wandering and getting into dangerous situations without ever learning to avoid them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The relationship between a shepherd and his flock is very unique. Jesus outlines part of this relationship in John 10. It was common, at various times, for shepherds to bring their flocks into community pens at night. Several flocks would be housed together. Yet, when it came time to separate the flocks all that was necessary was for the shepherd to call out to his sheep to lead them out of the pen. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." </div><div style="text-align: justify;">(John 10:3-4)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The flock depends on the shepherd for all that it needs. David, who was a shepherd, before being a king, was familiar with the relationship between a shepherd and his flock. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">"THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." </div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Psalm 23:1-4) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The shepherd kept the flock together by calling wandering individuals back to the fold and, when necessary, brought hard- headed sheep back by gentle application of his staff. Should one of the sheep manage to get separated, and lost, the shepherd would actively seek that lost sheep until it was found. If necessary, he would risk his own life to save that sheep from any dangerous situation that it got itself into. Should a predator attack the flock the shepherd would willingly give his life to protect his sheep. The bond between the shepherd and the flock is very similar to that of a father and his family. Another facet of this relationship is that the shepherd picks the sheep; it is not the sheep, which pick the shepherd.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jesus used many similes in describing the relationship between His people and Himself. All are pretty basic representations of the bond, which exists between God and His children. Yet, all entail a depth of meaning far greater than the word pictures they generate. Each, although being comprised of several verses, could fill volumes with what is actually being said. Each clearly expresses the love of God for His children.</div></span></span>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-41121228434280656792009-09-07T21:59:00.000-07:002009-09-07T22:02:41.927-07:00Welcome to AllA man took his dog to the veterinarian and asked him to cut his tail off completely.<div>"I don't like to do that," said the vet. "And why completely?"</div><div>"Well," said the dog owner, "my mother-in-law is coming to visit us, and I don't want anything in the house to suggest that she is welcome."</div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-84528075013476986222009-09-06T11:46:00.001-07:002009-09-06T12:11:44.569-07:00IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2TaL-6WCGmqhoxcH-utRsTMPbxl7BqJTin9IJXbeIpI3Qu5RURb3eGDblt8SdvFpRa5keNwUxT1Ocq9ST3paOQJ2bBL1n5-hhOf6gHyDBjChKOtmOizpIS-oK_GsEo3Dbg2pcJrayt8/s1600-h/calm+sea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2TaL-6WCGmqhoxcH-utRsTMPbxl7BqJTin9IJXbeIpI3Qu5RURb3eGDblt8SdvFpRa5keNwUxT1Ocq9ST3paOQJ2bBL1n5-hhOf6gHyDBjChKOtmOizpIS-oK_GsEo3Dbg2pcJrayt8/s320/calm+sea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378432986761145794" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It must have been with quivering hands and tear-filled eyes that Horatio Spafford, an acquaintance of D. L. Moody, read the telegram from his wife. The telegram contained only 2 words. It reads, "Saved alone."</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mrs. Spafford and their 4 children had set sail from New York to France on the S.S.Ville Du Haure, one of the most luxurious ships afloat. On November 22, 1873, only a few days out of New York, the liner was rammed by an English sailing vessel. In 2 hours the luxury vessel sank.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">226 people drowned, including the 4 Spafford children. Previous to this </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">several traumatic events happened in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1871_Great_Chicago_Fire" title="1871 Great Chicago Fire" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">the great Chicago Fire</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> which ruined him financially (he had been a successful </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer" title="Lawyer" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">lawyer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">). </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At once, Mr. Spafford booked passage to join his wife in France. Notified by the captain when passing over the spot where the liner had gone down with his children abroad, Spafford found himself restless and unable to sleep.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And then, amidst his internal raging storm, as memories of his four daughters and grieving wife filled his soul, a loving Heavenly Father quieted His child's troubled heart.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As Spafford sat in his cabin and felt the gentle roll of the ship, he penned these immortal words:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">When peace like a river attendeth my way,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">When sorrows like sea billows roll;</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">It is well, it is well with my soul</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">It is well, with my soul,</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 224); line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">It is well, with my soul,<br />It is well, it is well, with my soul.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,<br />Let this blest assurance control,<br />That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,<br />And hath shed His own blood for my soul.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!<br />My sin, not in part but the whole,<br />Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,<br />Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:<br />If Jordan above me shall roll,<br />No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,<br />Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,<br />The sky, not the grave, is our goal;<br />Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!<br />Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,<br />The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;<br />The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,<br />Even so, it is well with my soul.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When reunited with his wife several weeks later, Spafford remarked, "I have not lost my children. We are only separated for a little time."</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Music was later added to Spafford's poem by his friend Philip Bliss, and "It is well with my soul" was born. It has encouraged millions of God's children during the storms of life for more than 135 years.</span></span></p></span></div></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-22388188072834666672009-09-05T09:29:00.000-07:002009-09-05T11:02:04.510-07:00The Magnificent Defeat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zz4xdWtPYniADQseO-4RzG2HKT2DbER41rThkuHN0xGShDgu5-jprMS4gPkluTR47O87gBVieSoeUtGLv3HtD3Ji6CuXxA4IXwzEDBaY-PzAFr19sftPdfdCBe90xf7f6swsxkI7rQo/s1600-h/Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zz4xdWtPYniADQseO-4RzG2HKT2DbER41rThkuHN0xGShDgu5-jprMS4gPkluTR47O87gBVieSoeUtGLv3HtD3Ji6CuXxA4IXwzEDBaY-PzAFr19sftPdfdCBe90xf7f6swsxkI7rQo/s320/Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378045116879837186" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jacob has been running!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For nearly 20 years! From his brother from whom he deceitfully purchased the fortunes of the first-born. From his father whom he shamelessly deceived. And running away from unknown fears and judgement. At last from Laban his father-in-law.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But he had to face what he run from. Now he is face to face with his brother Esau. Earlier he faced his father-in-law. But somehow brushed aside his allegations and saved himself. But this time he is not going to escape easily. God planned that encounter with Esau. No, He planned that encounter with HIMSELF!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In his book </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Magnificent Defeat</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Frederich Buechner paints a vivid picture of that encounter.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Out of the deep of the night a stranger leaps. He hurls himself at Jacob, and they fall to the ground, their bodies lashing through the darkness. It is terrible enough not to see the attacker's face, and his strength is more terrible still, the strength of more than a man. All the night through they struggle in silence until just before morning when it looks as though a miracle might happen. Jacob is winning. The stranger cries out to be set free before the sun rises. Then, suddenly, all is reversed.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He merely touches the hollow of Jacob's thigh, and in a moment Jacob is lying there crippled and helpless. The sense we have, which Jacob must have had, that the whole battle was from the beginning fated to end this way, that the stranger had simply held back until now, letting Jacon exert all his strength and almost win so that when he was defeated, he would know that he was truly defeated; so that he would know that not all the shrewdness, will, brute force that he could muster were enough to get this. Jacob will not release his grip, only now it is a grip not of violence but of need, like the grip of a drowning man.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The darkness has faded just enough so that for the first time he can dimly see his opponent's face. And what he sees is something more terrible than the face of death- the face of love. It is vast and strong, half ruined with suffering and fierce with joy, the face a man flees down all the darkness of his days until at last he cries out, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me!" Not a blessing that he can have now by the strength of his cunning or the force of his will, but a blessing that he can have only as a gift.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (Frederich Buechner, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Magnificent Defeat, </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">San Farncisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1966, pp.17-18).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jacob was stopped by the encounter. He learned to walk! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">F</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">irst he was limping because of his hip. Then slowly he regained his balance but not without failures at Shechem and other places. But He reconciled with his brother, father and above all with HIS GOD!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How about us? We need an encounter right now? Yes He is waiting at the bank of your Jabbock to face you. Are you ready?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-37936329567583051422009-09-04T20:11:00.000-07:002009-09-04T20:21:44.636-07:00Laugh, if not smile pleaseAn older man never attended church. One day the church got on fire, and there with everyone else, was the old man throwing water. <div>After the fire fire had been extinguished, the minister said, "This is the first time I've seen you at church."<div><div>The old man replied, "And this is the first time I have ever seen this church on fire."</div><div><br /></div><div>****************************</div><div><br /></div><div>"How many members do you have in your church?" a friend of the pastor inquired.</div><div>"Three hundred," replied the Pastor.</div><div>"Are all of them active?"</div><div>"Yes," replied the pastor. "One hundred and seventy-five are working for me, and the other hundred and twenty-five are working against me."</div></div></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-28688433675503281452009-09-04T19:55:00.000-07:002009-09-04T19:56:37.860-07:00In the Nick of the time …!<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Albertus MT Lt'; ">Matthew 10:32 says: " Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven "</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Albertus MT Lt""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Albertus MT Lt"">Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts .<br /><br />This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Albertus MT Lt""> The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready.'<br />His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?'<br />'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out.'<br />Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'<br />The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'<br /><br />Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.'<br />Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?'<br />His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son.' 'Thanks Dad!'<br /><br />And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract .<br /><br />After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.<br /><br />Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered.<br /><br />He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.<br /><br />Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!<br /><br />He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.<br /><br />Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said,'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that * JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU * and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE...'<br /><br />With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave..<br /><br />She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'<br /><br />Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?'<br /><br />Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.<br /><br />As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.<br /><br />So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'<br /><br />I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly...<br /><br />I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.<br /><br />When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you!<br /><br />The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU .' Then he gave me this<br />Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand.<br /><br />As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.<br /><br />You see-- -I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by<br />so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'<br /><br />There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated..<br /><br />He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.<br /><br />Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor for his son... Except for One.<br /><br />Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.<br /><br />Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!<br /><br />Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you. </span></p>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-24298680041371524572009-09-04T19:36:00.000-07:002009-09-04T19:39:38.486-07:00Please wait ... He is working for you<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">But how long?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />Most of us are not comfortable with waiting. We live in a world of speed. Everyone is hurrying to get what they long for and achieve higher goals. We will be uncomfortable and disappointed when we do not get them at the desired time. We want everything in our time, in our way, and for our satisfaction.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />But look to the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation we see people are waiting.<br />Abraham waited for 25 years to have a child … Jacob waited 21 years to get his reward … Joseph waited for 13 years to get out of the dungeon and get his dreams fulfilled … Moses waited 40 years (in the hot desert) to be used by God … David waited 13 years in caves, wilderness and even in a pit (Psalms 40) to be enthroned … Daniel waited… Peter waited in jail … Paul waited in jail … John waited in the island of Patmos … and they were lifted up by the Lord in due time (1 Peter 5:6).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />They did not rush God. They were gentle enough to wait for the Lord. Do you know that the Hebrew word for wait and hope are same? The word means ‘cord’ and the verb is ‘to bind’. When you wait for the Lord you are bound to God by a cord. Then you are seeing him always even when you wait for him. That is why David says, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Even when I wait for the Lord He is right before me and I look to His face with expectation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />So your waiting is not an act of vain expectation. You see Him, watch His every movement and waiting for His right time to act for you. While you are waiting you are “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” You leave your problems to him and he will bless you indeed.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Mathew Palathunkal</span></span></div>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2349265897604030313.post-83301864653729111782008-09-05T00:17:00.000-07:002009-09-05T08:46:07.565-07:00Contact Us<form method="post" action="http://kontactr.com/euser.php"><br /><input name="id" value="30245" type="hidden"><br /><table style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana;" border="0" cellpadding="10px"><br /><tbody><tr><br /><td align="right">Your Name : </td><br /><td><input name="sender_name" style="width: 250px;" type="text"></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td align="right">Your Email : </td><br /><td><input name="sender_email" style="width: 250px;" type="text"></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td align="right">Subject : </td><br /><td><input name="subject" style="width: 250px;" type="text"></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td align="right" valign="top">Message : </td><br /><td><textarea rows="10" cols="40" name="message" style="padding: 3px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana;"></textarea></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td align="right" valign="middle">Image (case-sensitive): </td><br /><td><img src="http://kontactr.com/captcha.php" /> <input name="captcha_code" style="padding: 3px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana;" type="text"></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td colspan="2" align="center"><input name="send" id="send" value="Send" style="font-size: 18px; width: 100px; letter-spacing: 5px;" type="submit"></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table><br /></form>Mathew Palathunakalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14170074419760926366noreply@blogger.com