We all know the story of the greedy fox. Therefore, today, let me tell you something about greed.[Click this link to listen to the BPPS Podcast of this speech on YouTube.]
First of all, greed makes you blind to true love. When greed takes over; people become willing to tear apart blood relationships. Remember this is just for some material gain, wealth, money or inherited property. What a sad situation it is!
Secondly, greed makes us worship money and wealth. Dear friends, only God alone is worthy of our adoration, praise, and worship. But greed makes us forget that. And we start to bow down in front of greed.
Thirdly, greed can make you grab all you want; but at the end of the day you’ll be left with nothing. Remember, how Alexander the Great had the wisdom to ask his friends to put two holes in his coffin through which his empty hands could be put outside of it for all to see and think. He had conquered a large part of the world. But he was taking absolutely nothing with him when he died.
Finally, greed can make you a monster. Many angels at heart have become ruthless when they had allowed greed to take control of their lives. Values like love, compassion, mercy, and kindess disappear from the lives of those who are greedy.
Therefore my friends, stay away from greed. Let the story of the greedy fox remind you to stay away from greed. Let me conclude with the words of Jesus Christ: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”1
Thank you.
1Luke 12:15 Bible NIV 1984.
Featured image courtesy: Amanda Frank (Unsplash)
Attitudes influence our behaviour. It cements our character. And it can determine our ultimate destiny too. Therefore you need to learn to put off old attitudes and put on new attitudes.
Anything negative, anything dealing with darkness and evil, anything that is self-defeating, anything that is shameful; all come under old attitudes. But whatever is of the light, whatever is positive and creative, whatever builds you up and does not tear you down comes under the colourful umbrella of new attitudes.
Looking at life, we find negativity everywhere. No doubt, we are influenced by how those close to us look at life. Some of their old attitudes do create dents in our life and we too follow their thinking patterns and even the way they speak.
But life can be approached on another plane too. It is an invitation to rise up and fly high in the skies. Instead of the drag of negativity of old attitudes; you find lift in the positivity of new attitudes.
Without doubt, this freedom and joy of new living is God-initiated to those who choose to have it that way. But to continue in that attitude of positivity; you need to be watchful and you need to be in an attitude of constant improvement. If you neglect your part of the deal; if you become slack; if you become lazy; then like weeds overrunning a neglected garden; so will negative attitudes make a rush in. So be alert.
On the other hand, by welcoming change, by making efforts to conquer bad habits, by mingling with friends who demand that you be at your best; new attitudes do take hold of you. Then you can take off old attitudes; discard them, and put on new attitudes like you put on new clothes. It requires a renewing of the mind.
Yes, the mind is where the battlefied is. Your mind is often taken a prisoner in battle. And you think, speak, and do, what you don’t like. When you find that happening, intensify your efforts to seek after the good, the lovable, the excellent, and whatever spurs you on to have new attitudes that spell life, and joy and the radiance of shining light.
There is no success, no movement forward, no progress, no growth, and no development if you don’t try. So it is popularly said, “Try again and again until you succeed.” But the question is how should you try. Here are a few ways in which you can and should try.
First of all, you should try again and again with enthusiasm. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Don’t let anything discourage you. Interestingly, the word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek words “en” and “theos”; and it means “in God.” So when you are full of enthusiasm it will be like you are energized with the joy of God.
Secondly, you should try again and again with persistence. It simply means to keep on doing and keep on moving. Many give up after they try a few times. A last final try is built upon many earlier attempts; and all of them go into the making of success. As Former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge said: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.” He added that talent nor genius nor education can take the place of persistence. So persist.
Finally, you should try again and again with hope. There is much in this world that can cause despair. But as R. L. Stevenson said, “To travel hopefully is better thing than to arrive.” You should never give up hope. You should hope for a better tomorrow, always. You should hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. You should hope that love and truth will win over hate and lies. You should hope that your attempts will end in success. So journey in hope.
To conclude, think of what the motivational speaker Nick Vujicic said:
“I am gonna try again and again, because the moment I give up, is the moment I fail.”
Therefore try again and again with enthusiasm, persistence, and hope. Victory is near!
There is great power in belief, especially the belief, “I Can!” And there is great danger too in the belief that faith in “I Can” is a kind of a magic wand that can bring rabbits out of an empty hat. But still we need to look seriously at what Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 1
Now let us look at some of the fascinating lessons the small mustard seed size of faith offers us.
First of all, look at the contrast. The mustard seed is small. The mountain is big. Moving something huge like a mountain with something small the size of a mustard seed is improbable. Jesus was talking about you facing difficulties that look imposing like a mountain in your life. The key is not to look at the mountain but to look at what you have; even it be the size of a small mustard seed. Let that look be one of belief; one of faith; and with that stance of undoubting trust. Then mountains will move.
Secondly, look at faith itself. Faith as I said earlier is no magic wand. It cannot operate on its own. It needs an object. See, the point is, your faith can be as small as a mustard seed. That doesn’t matter. It can still move mountains if that faith, even when small and looking seemingly insignificant, is placed in God who is able to move mountains. So what Jesus meant is not us doing some magic; but what he meant us to understand is where or upon whom to place our belief on. Our faith should be in God himself.
Three, look to God who moves mountains. There will be plenty of mountains to be removed in the lives of each one of us. No doubt they will look threatening and impossible to overcome. Do you know why they are there? Do you know why God doesn’t take them out of our way? Surely there has to be a purpose! They are there to help us exercise our faith; to make us come out of struggling with the clouds of doubt to the sunshine of faith in God who is the God who makes the impossible, possible.
To conclude, let me spell out the mighty lessons of faith contained in this statement Jesus made. Jesus wanted us to know that faith, even when small like a mustard seed, can accomplish great things even when facing mountains of difficulty when that faith is in God for whom the impossible is always possible. Therefore, you too can say with St. Paul, “I can do everything through him [Jesus Christ] who gives me strength.”2
Therefore, do not look at your faith that is small like a mustard seed and feel insignificant and weak; but be made strong in faith by looking to God and expecting him to move the mountains for you. It is not the popular positive thinkingmantra, I can, but instead it is, “With God, I Can!
It is time once again for the flowers to bloom and the song of the birds to make music in our ears. Our hearts are again in spring time and we look forward to yet another year of friendship and laughter and healthy fun. As leader of the school, I wish to present before you a few thoughts on how to build healthy relationships.
At a time when relationships are crumbling everywhere; when relationships are characterized by what one can get and grab; when relationships are based more on money power and social status than on values like honesty, integrity and faithfulness; there is much to be said about building healthy relationships especially in our schools where boys and girls study together.
First and foremost, all healthy relationships are built on trust and mutual respect. Trust does not happen overnight. It is a sacred responsibility that is an outflow of good character. Trust once lost; it almost impossible to regain it. Therefore, guard it carefully. Respect each other and give each other the private space needed; not only physically but also emotionally too. Trust never crosses boundaries and does not trespass on the other’s personal space.
Secondly, all healthy relationships are built on encouragement and mutual support. When you encourage your friend to be his or her best; when you give a listening ear when your friend would like to share life’s burdens with you; when you rejoice at the academic and co-curricular achievements of your friend; and when you correct with honest intent so that your friend does not end up a loser by taking the wrong path; you are building a healthy relationship.
Finally, all healthy relationships have to be maintained. At a time when mobile phones and social media are relied upon to maintain relationships; do not mistake them for the reality of keeping in touch in flesh and blood. Lending a helping hand when needed; encouraging to hold on and not give in to life’s troubles; connecting and networking with others and speaking a good and timely word for your friend; all will go a long way in maintaining healthy relationships.
We do not live in isolation. And none of us can afford to be lonely. We have families; but we also need healthy relationships with our friends; with both boys and girls. When greed and selfishness and cut-throat competition have become the dominant and aggressive mindset of the 21st century; let us strive to be unselfish and pray for the best for our friends. In that way we can truly be the salt of the earth by building relationships that abound with life and joy.
At the World Athletic Championships Oregon 2022, the mascot, Legend the Bigfoot, photo bombed Sydney McLaughlin while holding a sign saying: “World records are my favorite food.” She had won with an incredible time of 50.68 seconds in the 400 metres hurdles which people have compared to the legendary Usain Bolt’s World record of 9.58 in the 100 metres. McLaughlin had earlier said during her Tokyo record-breaking olympic win in 2021 that: “What I have in Christ is far greater than what I have or don’t have in life.”
Having said that let me just sketch how records are born.
Records as favourite food don’t happen without hard work, sacrificing a lot, avoiding distractions,a coach’s help, and training till you think you can do no further.
Records as favourite food do happen when you focus on giving your best, aspiring to better your performance, and looking forward with eagerness to face the fiercest competitors you have in the field.
Records come and go, and you create a legacy by breaking records and making new ones. But when you see them in the perspective of eternity; such glories are for the moment and they will fade away with time. There are things that matter most and that is what Sydney McLaughline referred to; having a personal relationship with Jesus and knowing him as Saviour and Lord.
It makes sense when one sees life as a race and your goal is to finish well. For that matter, how many world record holders do you remember from former years? Very few; is it not? That’s all about earthly fame and glory. But earning praise from God at the end of your life’s race is to get a crown that will not perish, spoil or fade. So do not run aimlessly, but run so as to win the prize.
Featured image courtesy: Athletic Federation of India Tweet
Read also on Sydney’s struggles with fame and her triumph through her faith in God in this article in the Indian Express: Sydney McLaughlin and the Toxicity of Fame
Tailpiece: When 400m hurdles for the first time was introduced in the Olympics at Los Angeles in 1984, the Malayali P. T. Usha from Kerala, India, known also as the “Payyoli Express,” lost the bronze medal by 1/100th of a second. It was a race which all Indians remember for that heart-break. In that race the runner who came first was Nawal El Moutawakel from Morocco and she had won gold after clocking 55.42 in that race. 38 years later Sydney McLaughlin’s time is 4.74 seconds better.
What comes first to your mind when you think of God? This is no chicken first or egg first question. If you do an opinion poll, the results would surprise you. For what should come first might not be listed at all.
Probably the first answer would be God is love. True. The next could be that God is to be feared, held in awe. Right again. Then might come the thought that God is a judge. Of course many people fear God’s judgement but most people now live as if judgement will never come. Next one might say, God is good. So on the list will go on.
But what people neglect or do not know is that God’s primary attribute is that God is holy, holy, holy. He is light and in him is no darkness at all. He lives in unapproachable light and no one can see him and live. Whether it is chicken or egg first; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Then you might ask, how ever can we know God? Good question. God himself has answered that question. A holy God became human in Jesus Christ. There is God’s fullest image, imprint, or representation of God’s character in him. Those who have seen him and know him has seen and known God.
In Jesus, God’s holiness came to be with us in great compassion, in mercy, and in love. Therefore sinners found in him a Friend. With our own good deeds we cannot approach God. Therefore God came down to us in Jesus. He is the only bridge that connects us sinners to God who alone is holy and worthy of our highest praise, adoration, and worship!
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Featured image: Emiel Maters (Unsplash)
Thirst! That one thing on which a huge industry of bottled drinks from purified water to carbonated soft drinks thrive globally. Billions of dollars roll hands on thirst alone. But thirst also is one word which stands for an ocean of desires.
Let me suggest four types of thirst that motivates people:
One, thirst for personal glory. Right from getting the first rank in school to winning an olympic gold; from making money to wielding power; from being appreciated by friends to having many likes, fans, and followers on social media; most lives are characterized by thirst for personal glory.
Two, thirst for personal vengeance. Without doubt, many of us harbour resentments, hurts, jealousy, and the desire to see those who created trouble for us go down. We might not kill but we might make fun, slander, criticize, and gossip. Honestly, it is good to audit our hearts and open it up for a search to find what it contains.
Three, thirst for God. At some point in time, most people wonder about the meaning of life. When they find themselves in situations like in a desert experience, forsaken by others, they cry out to God. Jesus responded to this thirst by declaring: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”1
Fourthly, and finally, thirst for pleasure and entertainment. It can be mass entertainment, it can be solo in secret, it can be cruel, it can be fun, it can be hobbies or sports; life for many is defined and dominated by thirst for pleasure.
I have just mentioned four motivations of thirst in our human lives. But there are many more. Thirst continues in every human life. Yet no complete satisfaction comes in any human life until God is welcomed to meet your ocean of thirst with living water he alone can gift you with!
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Featured image: Johnny McClung (Unsplash) 1John 7:37
“Search me, O God, and know my heart,” is a prayer that should rise out of every sincere heart. There are several possibilities of this prayer.
One, there might be hidden sins in our hearts that only God’s penetrating search lights can reveal. It will give us a chance to confess and renounce them and find God’s mercy.
Two, there can be worries and anxieties in our heart which shows lack of trust in God, our Heavenly Father. When God’s search brings them out, it gives us a chance to ask God to give us grace to believe in his goodness and care towards us.
Therefore “Search me, O God, and know my heart,” is a prayer that requires honesty as well as courage. It demands a willingness to change and also take action. It also shows trust in God who knows all about us—all our innermost secrets, fears, worries and hopes.
So let us too pray in the words of the Psalmist David,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Victors, even when they have seasons of doubt, never yield to despair. Their attitude is not that of a defeatist one but one of a champion, a winner or a victor.
If at all you have a defeatist attitude here are three ways to change them to a victor’s attitude:
First of all, stop telling stories of doubt, negativity and hopelessness. They only feed the spirit of despair already filling your mind with darkness. Instead start to talk hope and possibilities and you will see closed doors open and light shine. That is a victors attitude in action.
Secondly, think on the big picture of your life. Do you wish a season of darkness to make you see your whole life as a failure? Surely not; isn’t it? So, look for ways you can leverage the lessons of your dark days to inspire and motivate you to achieve. You still can finish strong in spite of stumbling. That will take the sting out of your defeatist attitude and make you a victor.
Thirdly, if you have placed your trust and confidence in God, look at the One who stands by your side to fight for you. He is El Gibbor, Mighty God. 1So do not look at your smallness, do not look at circumstances that threaten to defeat you but look to God who is always Victor. Do not be satisfied with just a look but fix your eyes on him to the exclusion of all else. That will energize you with his mighty power to win over your defeatist attitude and be a victor.
So let me conclude. Stop telling negative stories. Look at the big picture and seek to finish strong. Fix your eyes on God who is your El Gibbor. With these steps you will pull down mighty strongholds of defeatist attitude in your life and put on a victor’s attitude.
The James Webb Space Telescope, no doubt an engineering marvel in itself, opened our eyes to the exciting world of stars and galaxies billions of light years away. So let me speak on what the stars tell.
First of all, the stars tell us that how wise and creative and Almighty God is! He simply created it all with his word.1 Moreover the Bible says he calls each of them by name 2 and because of his great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing.3
Secondly, stars tell us how small we are in the vast expanse of space. It also reminds us of our ignorance rather than our knowledge. Each new discovery is claimed to be giant leap. Yes, it surely is. But it also shows how small we truly are.
Thirdly, stars tell us that they obey the laws of heaven.4 They are under authority. Imagine if the gravitational forces started rebelling. What chaos would result! So each one of us should stand in awe at the majesty of God. The Bible says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”5
Finally, what is the meaning of shining like stars. Does not life offer us numerous examples of people using adversity to scale heights in life? Taking responsibility for your decisions and mistakes and failures in life requires moral courage and that will bring star-studded success in your life.
When people misunderstand you and question your good motives, what do you think you need the most? Perhaps a compassionate heart, an understanding touch, a word of comfort; isn’t it? But the question is, “Who will show me compassion?”
When all call you a failure, when your best work is criticized, when you in spite of all your prayers and efforts are unable to succeed in the eyes of others, and you feel like there is no one to stand by your side; the question still is, “Who will show me compassion?”
When hope flickers and despair creeps in, when you feel like you cannot live another day, when you ask “Why am I going through all this?” the question still is, “Who will show me compassion?’
But after passing through all these, is human compassion enough? Even if someone weeps with you, who is powerful enough to heal those deep wounds in your heart and mind?
Therefore consider God. He is full of compassion. He remembers that you are nothing but dust of the earth and shows compassion like a father shows compassion to his child. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. So look to him. Seek his face. He will show you compassion today.
He has seen your tears. He knows the pain of your broken heart. He feels your godly sorrow over your sins. Just run to him and his loving embrace. Yes, God will certainly show you compassion today.
***
Bible passages referred to: Psalm 103:13, 14; Lamentations 3:22, 23; Matthew 14:14, 20:34; Mark 6:34, 8:2–3.
You need not be a millionaire to make people happy. You can simply make a difference by saying a timely word.
Let your timely word come straight from the heart. In other words, let it be sincere. The words “Children are enjoying your class,” are simple and down to earth. But the happiness it can bring to a teacher’s heart is immense.
To say a timely word, you should learn to appreciate others. It is simply an expression of your genuine wish to see others do well and succeed. “You sounded very confident when you gave your speech today,” will boost the speaker’s confidence and esteem still further. Without doubt it will make him or her happy. And you need not be a millionaire to do so.
Finally, saying a timely word can be that ray of hope which can illumine the darkness in a person’s life. Often God uses people to say a few words that might give others much needed wisdom and guidance at that point in time. “Don’t get discouraged. Your failure today can turn out to a blessing in disguise,” is an example of your timely word becoming a blazing torch of hope to someone ready to give up.
Let me conclude. You can live a life of purpose by speaking a timely word. Speak straight from your heart, appreciate with sincere words, and be a tool in God’s hands to light up the hearts of others with happiness. And let me remind you once again that you need not be a millionaire to spread happiness all around, wherever you are!
Most of you will agree that your mind is at war almost always. There are battles happening every now and then. Some thoughts pop up when you see, hear, or touch something.
These thoughts in your mind can look and feel innocent and harmless at first instance. But without warning it can tear apart your soul, you heart, your mind, your emotions, and your entire being if you are not watchful.
There are three simple things you need to keep in mind to win the battles that rage in your mind. One, do not entertain wrong and evil thoughts like how you welcome and entertain guests at home. Two, run away from all sources of temptation. The longer you stay the weaker you become. Three, the determination to win is crucial, but more important is your dependence and trust in God to find victory.
Of course, having said all that, you should exhibit courage when you are torn apart in your mind by wrong thoughts. You might be tempted to give up when the struggles become intense. You might find an accuser’s script running in your mind saying you’re a failure because of your previous faults. But that is a lie. You have hope as long as you choose to have God help you.
The good news is that the battles in your mind can make you become strong and mature and having a good character. They can keep you humble and in an attitude of prayer. For God’s wisdom is always available to all who seek it to find help in winning the battles of their mind. So don’t quit the fight to win!
Is entertainment the religion of the 21st century Masses? Oh, yes! Everywhere people line up to be entertained. Be it sports, films, music bands, reality shows, politics, gaming, or even religious meetings, people love to be entertained.
No wonder people are fans of those who not only perform but also entertain. Without realising it, there is a kind of worship of heroes and heroines in all genres of popular entertainment. Therefore entertainment is a religion in itself.
These icons or celebrities of entertainment help sell tickets, build brands, promote causes, and influence popular opinion. They are active on social media too.
In fact, life for the masses revolve around their admiration for heroes and heroines. What is reflected here is a search for meaning, for belonging, and for role models. Not to mention social acceptance and a sense of identity. The religion of entertainment promises all those and delivers too.
But does it fall short of expectations? What might be missing in this pursuit of happiness is life on a higher plane. Entertainment can never satisfy beyond its immediate gratification. What then follows is a vacuum, an emptiness, a sense of craving and addiction for more entertainment.
Therefore entertainment cannot be an end in itself. Rightly viewed, it is a kind of substitution of deep longings to find meaning in life. For riches, fame, power, and success have not given men or women lasting satisfaction, ever! Neither has entertainment of any sort even if it be the best the world can offer!
So, what can possibly quench the thirst for entertainment. Perhaps one should ask, can God? If your thirst is real, then he can meet it with rivers of living water that will ultimately satisfy! But will the lights and music and cheer groups and the glitz and the glamour of entertainment—the religion of the 21st century masses—stop you from seeking further?
I am reading Chris Gayle, the Six Machine’s, autobiography.1 Something which I found compelling there, l wish to share:
“The strong mind is what allows you to score big runs and dismantle big attacks, not the perfect front elbow or the back-lift that points straight to second slip . . .
“The determination to deliver. Being ready to endure whatever it takes to get the job done. Using those barbs can spur you on. Then you will make it, no matter what they put in your way. Trus’ mi.” (Page 45).
Having played a lot of cricket in my school days, I understand the value of what this great player says. It is not just about doing things right; but it is more about the will to win, the will to endure, the will to go the extra mile, and never stopping until there is victory.
Having that burning desire to win is what differentiates a champion from an ordinary player and stamps his or her legacy with excellence. When the stage is big and the audience demanding and expecting the very best, champions raise the level of their game to extraordinary heights.
He also speaks about himself as a gladiator wearing a mask. And he also speaks many times about the truth that “You can’t live in the darkness. You must come into the light.”
That means there is no time for wallowing in the past failures and mistakes; there is no time to despair but only hope; and there is no looking back or feeling miserable over coming close to losing your wicket. There is no time for regrets. Only look forward to victory.
*** 1Chris Gayle | Six Machine | I Don’t Like Cricket . . . I Love It | Chris Gayle with Tom Fordyce | Viking an imprint of Penguin Books |
You might be suffering from guilt. Now how can your guilt be taken away? Will due punishment take it away? It cannot! You still will hear accusing from your conscience and often from the devil himself. Is there an escape? Oh yes, there is! Come to the fountain!
What is this fountain? It is the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. The Bible says the blood of Jesus is a fountain of cleansing. All our sins, when we confess them before God and repent of them with sincere and true and broken hearts, are forgiven. Its shame and guilt is taken away. So come to this fountain.
Come to this fountain with all your failures, mistakes, and sins. There you will find pardon and forgiveness in abundance. For God is compassionate and merciful. He is ever willing to forgive when you come to him broken. He does not want you to live in guilt and shame. Therefore come to this fountain.
When God forgives, he also restores. He brings you back to a right relationship with him. He brings you out of darkness into his light, from death to life, from lies and deception to truth, and from despair to healing.
Therefore do not lose your life to guilt trips. But find God’s unconditional love and forgiveness by coming now itself to the fountain of cleansing from sin and impurity. End your guilt trip today. Come to this fountain!
Have you ever closely watched a baby learn to walk? Now you got it before I even said it. The baby gets up each time it falls down. This simple act of getting up is what life is all about.
There are a few things we need to remember about getting up:
The first thought is that falling down is natural if you wish to learn to walk. There is nothing to be ashamed about mistakes and failures that happen when you try to master something. What you need to do is get up every time you fall having learned the lesson it was meant to teach you.
The second thought is that what keeps you moving and able to get up time after time again and again is a burning desire to learn to walk. There is no time to despair over falling down, there is no time to spend on regrets, and there is no time at all to weep over lost opportunities. Just get up and start walking again.
The third one and the final thought is that God encourages us when we try to get up and walk. Often he sends people to us, very unexpectedly at times, to help us find strength in God. They come like angels, lift up our spirits, remind us that God has not given up on us and he will still bring his promises to fulfilment in our lives in his time.
So let me conclude reminding you that falling down is a natural thing that happens when you learn to walk. You need to have a burning desire to move forward and you can look forward to God encourage you to get up and walk.
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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their laboUr: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:10, 11 Bible NIV
Sometimes you feel all alone. You lose hope. There is nothing but despair.
But before you give up, consider: Night and darkness do not stay permanent. Light and joy comes with the break of dawn.
So you need to wait. Not just wait, but wait in hope. Why? Because focus on the negatives can make you lose sight of help standing by.
Yes, there are many situations in which no one else can share the burden of your anxious thoughts. But then hope is there because God has promised, “I am with you.” He also said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
You can trust what he has said because God doesn’t lie. He remains true and faithful to what he has promised. Therefore you are never alone. God is with you. Do you believe it?
From this moment, ask God to help you know and experience with certainty that he is with you. God’s presence with you gives you the strength needed to face the giants in your life. You are not alone when God is with you; are you?
If you are young and probably in your teens, life can turn difficult from being rosy as quickly as lights are switched off. You can feel unloved, rejected, and confused. The longing for acceptance can be met with scorn. People can even make fun of you. But let not your hopes be dashed: Life can be better!
The question is whether you should allow negative feelings to determine your worth? If you allow others to decide how you should feel; then all through your life you will be at other people’s mercy. Your trying hard to please everybody and saying yes to everything will surely create unpleasant experiences for you.
There are no simple solutions I have to offer when you feel unloved, rejected, and confused. The only thing I can remind you of is hope. Hope in God comes first and following that hope of a better tomorrow. You might wonder how God fits in to the whole situation you are facing. Probably you are feeling like a failure already and doesn’t want God to come to play the game of your life.
But let me tell you a simple reason why you should consider God. He is someone who is willing to accept you just as you are. What does that mean? It simply means that God loves you the way you are right now. He loves you even when you feel unloved, rejected, and confused. He does not find fault with you for your doubts. He is not angry when you rebel against him; but is patiently waiting for you to come to him. For he believes that your life can be better with better hopes, better dreams, and better tomorrows.
Usain Bolt, one of the greatest sprinters the world has seen, wrote in his autobiography1: “Distraction for one hundredth of a second might be enough to lose a race.” In this modern world of gadgets when most of us spend too much time on our mobiles, distractions, especially caused by time spent on social media can drug you to lose in life.
Why do I use the word drug? Because drugs cause addiction. And who will disagree that social media is so addictive that you simply cannot control the urge to check and recheck and scroll through the reels and trolls and status updates.
Now the impact of distractions can be felt in a few areas: Losing focus, losing a sense of priorities, and losing the sense of responsibility are some of those.
Secondly, let me talk about losing a sense of priorities. Time is limited. So not one of us can accomplish anything worthwhile in life without establishing priorities. That tells us what is urgent, important, can wait, and not needed. But distractions often make us spend valuable time on minor things, things that don’t matter, and what is frivolous.
Thirdly, let me talk about losing the sense of responsibility. Take the example of a mother of school kids and also a professional. If the mother spends long hours with her mobile, she is not doing justice to her prime responsibility of caring for her children. And one cannot find fault if her kids too just snug her and watch all that she is watching.
Let me conclude. My dear friends, life is short. And today, distractions are stealing away much time from your life. You are losing focus, losing a sense of priorities and also the sense of responsibility. So say no to distractions and avoid being drugged to lose in life. The decision is yours. Take it now! Clip on Distraction from Malayalam Sermon on the Blood of Jesus
1Usain Bolt | Faster Than Lightning | My Story | Published by Harper Collins
The Bible says: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119 verse 11.
We live in a world where we face a lot of temptations. Our hearts and minds are not strong enough to resist them. We need God’s help. At the same time, we need to store up and hide God’s Word in our hearts. Why?
Because God’s Word is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. God’s Word is like fire and a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces. Therefore, storing it within our hearts gives us a fighting chance and resisting power against sin. God will bring to our minds the right word at our time of need.
Therefore, let us try to memorize God’s Word and hide it in our hearts. Yes, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119 verse 11. Amen.
Times have changed. Centuries have passed by. Empires have risen and fallen. From the man who walked all the way; we have come to a point when man travels to Space as a tourist. But man has not changed. His heart is having the same makeup and is prone to get corrupt. It is not virus free; not at all. Therefore let me talk about one of the viruses that plots evil in the human heart—the breaking of the 10th Commandment which God gave the world through Moses the prophet: You shall not covet!
Coveting is essentially an yearning to possess something which is not rightfully ours. It can be anything that you set your desire on. For a child it can be a pencil, a toy, or even a sweet his or friend has. For a man or woman it can be things much larger and more prized than all these. Coveting is a desire that crosses boundaries God has kept for our own safety. It is like ignoring the red lights and pressing on the accelerator of your car. You might succeed to get, to grab, to hold, and to possess. But it destroys everything that we cherish in life in that process:
Relationships turn murky. There is heartbreak and sorrow. Justice is upset. Wrong is done. There is violation of human dignity. The tales of misery and sorrow do not end; it continues in the family. The results of breaking the 10th Commandment which says, you shall not covet, is terrible.
So is there a checklist I can refer to in order that I might not violate the 10th Commandment? It is a good question. The starting point is, do not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour. The wise King Solomon made the point: “All labour and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbour.”1 We compare and contrast with what our neigbours have. Then we start to covet.
Be thankful for what you have. Get rid of that sense of dissatisfaction in life. Serious consequences that can plague you lifelong accompany the violation of the 10th Commandment, you shall not covet. At the end of the day you and me are answerable and accountable to God when we stand before his judgement seat. Not one of us can stand before his wrath. So let us not covet.
Patience is a kind of outdated word in today’s busy world. When everything happens instantly at the touch of one’s finger on the mobile, people have lost the art of waiting.
Almost all good things in life can come with patience. A child might yearn to grow up and achieve great things. But that happens only as years pass by. There is no way this process can be made to run fast.
Patience is part of achieving spiritual growth too. The Bible says that patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It means that patience seen in the life of a man or woman is a sign of spiritual maturity.
Why is this important? Waiting patiently for Gods answers to prayer runs contrary to worldly wisdom which says when God doesn’t answer prayers quickly, he is denying you your request.
The truth could be otherwise. God is helping you grow strong by patient waiting. His delays are not denials, but grand designs of his wisdom in your life.
A patient man or woman will not easily get angry. He or she will be quick to listen but slow to speak; doing so only after thinking through.
On the other hand, God is very patient too. He is showing mercy to all by delaying judgement on man’s sin and rebellion against him.
To conclude, patience is not weakness but strength clothed in meekness.
You are reading this probably because you are going through a period of low self-esteem. It can happen due to a lot of reasons. But it need not stop you from moving ahead successfully in life.
There are many external causes for low self-esteem. Being unable to do what you are good at, lack of finances, words of criticism, emotional or physical abuse during childhood, rejection from loved ones, breaking up of relationships, ill health; can all contribute to low self-esteem.
The chances are, low self-esteem you feel is based on others’ negative opinion and false estimates about you. When someone says, “You’re an utter failure,” or “What benefit do you get when you help others?” it is bound to make you feel low and down.
But are those estimates true? Maybe that’s how someone feels about you. Their ideas of success might be totally different and influenced by the crowd they mingle with.
Whatever it be, feeling low on self-esteem is painful and can take away the enthusiasm to do anything purposeful. There are three things you should keep in mind when you go through a period of low self- esteem:
One, God values you and sees infinite worth in you so much so that he sent his one and only Son Jesus to shed his blood on the cross and die for you. Believe God’s truthful estimate about you.
Two, patiently keep doing your good work knowing that its fruit and reward will come someday without fail. Do not mistake slow-moving phases of life as failure.
Three, the pain of low self-esteem can make you a better person. It can make you more creative, more compassionate, and more humble before God. In due time, God will exalt you. Trust in his perfect timing for you.
So when low self-esteem troubles you, pour out your sorrow before God. He will listen to you, for he is compassionate. You can lean on him for strength in times of low self-esteem. The night is darkest, as it is said, just before dawn!
Air, water, soil, and noise pollution are commonly talked about. The advancement in technology and the giant leaps made in development has caused harm to our environment and to ourselves. But today I would like to speak about the pollution of our minds which nobody talks about much. This pollution is immersive and no one can easily escape the web it weaves.
Pollution of our minds is a reality. There are several ways in which it can happen. Pollution of the mind happens when the gateways of the mind like the eyes and ears are open to pollutants.
We live in a highly visually stimulated world. Technology has brought lot of distractions too right in front of our eyes along with all the educational, informational and entertainment possibilities it offers. The question is, “Are children taught to filter all that they see?” Does our educational system teach them how to discern whether what they consume on the internet is polluting material or not?
As there are non-biodegradable waste, so also there are pollutants of the mind that are non-erasable. Some kinds of conversations we listen to which fall into the category of slander and gossip remain in the minds with permanence. So also certain kinds of literature we read, movies or videos we watch, or sensational news we consume that glorify evil; all put their roots deep down in our minds.
So here are three simple steps to avoid pollution of the mind:
One, avoid and run away from places, situations, and entertainment, which you know can poison your mind.
Three, involve in creative activities and cultivate good friendships in life.
To conclude, let me remind you that in this age of Space travel and tourism, we have created a huge quantity of debris in Space already, thus polluting what was majestic, glorious, and reflecting God’s incomparable wisdom and power. We’ve polluted everything possible, filling it with junk. Therefore, let me plead with you not to let your minds become a garbage graveyard from where nauseating smell emanates and the smoke of burning never stops.
Make me a channel of your peace is the first line of a famous prayer. I would like to share a few simple thoughts on it:
Each one of us is confronted with choices everyday—to be contributors to peace or let go of opportunities to make peace. It is easy to think, “Why should I bother?” But remember Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”1 So make an active effort to create peace and be a channel of peace wherever you get a chance.
Again, in contrast to this, many people take away from the possibility of creating peace by mocking others, slandering them, and spreading gossip. Such people never think of the pain of being the cruel victim of jokes and stories which have no basis on facts or truth. What if you heard someone telling false tales about to another and having a wicked laugh about it? Refraining from being a listener to taleberaers will itself make you a channel of peace.
Finally, it is easy to break relationships. One word from you can break years of friendship. On the other hand your words to promote peace and understanding can save families from breaking apart and friendships from being destroyed. Show initiative to be a channel of peace to restore strained relationships.
So my dear friends, join hands with God in creating peace on earth and reconciling people to each other. There is much hate and war in every heart, but you can pray to God to make you a channel of his peace.
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Note: This prayer has been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, but in all possibility the author is someone else. See the history of this hymn.
Forgiving someone who has done you harm or wronged you in some way is not easy. We hold a grudge against a person who has wronged us. This can go on for years.
But consider. Who are you harming in the long run? It is you yourself. I do not know about the chemical changes that happen in the body due to this; but I can assure you it is certainly negative.
You are like a person poisoning yourself a little bit each day. You fail to enjoy the good things of life because the grudge you hold in your heart colours your emotions black and ugly. No matter what you do the grudge puts up its ugly head to distract and discomfort you.
Having said this much, is there any solution to it? Saying that you should forgive the person is easy. Because no matter what you do you are unable to forget the wrong that the person did to you. You might even get angry and burst out at the one who suggests to you to forgive the other.
That’s quite normal. But should it be left like that? Therefore seek God’s help. If you sincerly ask him for wisdom to deal with the situation, he will give it to you without finding fault.
The point is it is humanly impossible to let go of a grudge. Because it persists. It irritates. It clouds your mind and thinking. It makes you hate.
I don’t have solutions. But I know only to point you to the One who can provide you the grace to let go the grudge you have. Seek God and his help today. For his mercy is great and his compassions never fail. He will surely help you to give up the grudge you have.
Maybe it doesn’t happen like you switch on the lights. But when God gives you grace, there will be a diluting of acidity that has been eating away the peace in your heart and mind.
Positive thinking is much talked about because most of us think negatively all the time; isn’t it? We worry too much and get stressed when we face problems. And therefore it is not surprising that so many motivational books on positive thinking have been and still are best sellers.
Let me try to say a few thoughts on positive thinking:
First of all, positive thinking is a deliberate act of the mind. It doesn’t happen naturally as most of us seem to be wired to be negative thinkers. Thinking positively is like switching on the lights so that the darkness of negative thoughts cannot stand before the light.
Secondly, positive thinking is about choices. It is about choosing to keep your mind focused on good things. For there are lot of negative suggestions that bombard your mind from external sources all the time—even as you walk the streets, listen to conversations, or watch something on television or YouTube. So choose life instead of death, dreaming instead of defeat, hope instead of despair, and light instead of darkness.
So my friends, life can throw a lot of changes especially as the world is nearing its end. The moment I say this, negative thoughts might have clouded your minds. That is why positive thinking is needed even when the world is about to end.
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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
A meditation on the precious blood of Jesus can bring you near to the presence of God. For the blood of Jesus removes all barriers and opens the way for you to come to the presence of God. So come boldly and with confidence that Jesus himself is bringing you near to God by his precious blood shed on the cross of Calvary.
Come to God with a heart that is truthfully and sincerely hurt by all your sinful attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions. Ask God to help you turn away from all that is wrong in your life. The Bible calls that repentance, and it is godly sorrow that leads you to repentance.
Seek God’s cleansing in your life through the blood of Jesus. This is another point for meditation. Yes, the blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse and purify you from all your sins. It has the power to make you stand before God having your past wiped clean.
The forgiveness and pardon you get through the blood of Jesus is so real that you stand before God as if you never ever sinned against him. It means that God will never use those sins that were forgiven, to punish you. The Bible calls this justification. It is a kind of legal term showing that you stand acquitted before the court of God.
Another thought for meditation is how God becomes friends with you through the blood of Jesus. See, when you trust his blood for your salvation, sin that separated you and God is removed. The shame and guilt of sin is also taken away. That brings you into close connect and fellowship with God. Instead of enmity with God, there will be peace with God. The Bible calls that reconciliation.
God has also brought you out from Satan’s dominion and darkness and evil and given you the power to lead a life that becomes increasingly holy. See, Jesus took the punishment for sins that should have come upon you and me on his body broken on the cross, to set us free! The Bible calls that redemption.
A sinless life might not be possible, for we all sin against God from time to time knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore we need repeated cleansing by the blood of Jesus from day to day and moment by moment. So when you allow the blood of Jesus to operate in your life and submit to the powerful influence of this cleansing fountain, there will be a gradual dying to all the wrong desires as God gives you a stronger desire to be holy like him. The Bible calls it sanctification.
This happens only through the blood of Jesus which gives you a new desire to say NO to temptations. The battle is the Lord’s and the victory over the devil is through the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah (that means Praise the Lord.)!
Let me end by saying that you might not understand all about how the blood of Jesus works effectively in your life to save you completely. But just like you drive a car effectively without knowing all about its mechanical or electrical functioning; just like you use a computer without knowing much about chips, algorithms, processors, artificial intelligence and so on; you can meditate or think much on the precious blood of Jesus, and God will draw near to you.
Take a few moments deliberately while you work, play, study, or are busy in the kitchen, or driving to think on the precious blood of Jesus. I can say with full assurance that this meditation will help you know God’s everlasting love for you and make God’s joy complete in your life.
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“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Hi friends,
