Everyone wants to be LOVED

Everybody needs somebody who wants them.

God has made all of us with an inner need for relationships. Everyone at sometimes needs somebody to give them a hug or a caring pat. Everyone loves to be loved.

There are times everyone needs somebody to be there in moments of happiness or tragedies.

We need somebody to be with us when the storms of the world rage against us.
Everyone wants to be loved.

We need somebody to pray when we are discouraged.

We need somebody to lift us in times of weakness.

Everybody needs somebody to love.  

We need somebody to be there in our times of need.

We need somebody to lean on.

We need somebody to talk to and listen.

We need somebody who understands.

Everybody needs somebody to love.

We need somebody to walk in when others walk out. 
Everybody needs somebody to love.

But there are moments that I just need somebody to be here just for me. I too need somebody to love.

Everybody needs somebody at sometime. We all do.

Everyone needs someone who cares for him or her. 
Everybody needs somebody to love.

Sometimes those who we thought were friends reject us. Often our truest friends disappoint us, and our closest loved ones do not understand us.

Everybody needs somebody to love.

In the heart of every person there are longings that sometimes people fear to speak, thinking it may seem odd or what the other person might think of them. There are feelings which cannot be put into words or expressed to even our closest ones. Most people have experiences locked within their hearts which no one truly knows.

Everybody needs somebody at sometime. 
Everybody needs somebody to love.

The loneliest place in the world is often in the midst of a crowd. The loneliest people in the world are those who are trying to cover up their loneliness with laughter.

Everybody needs somebody to love.

There is a longing within the heart of every one for some one-who can lighten the burden—someone who will not make fun of us, but who has shared the same trials. We long for someone to listen to us with interest, someone to walk by our side. When we do not find such a one, the human heart grows discouraged and despondent.

Remember: Everybody needs somebody to love.

Dear friend, if it seems no one cares for you...just look up and remember that Jesus always cares. HE loves you always.

Everybody needs somebody to love. And Jesus always does!

The Apostle Paul states in Colossians 1:10: Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God.

Paul tells us: Therefore, as God’s chosen people clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13.

To knowing God

God wants us to know that no matter how difficult things may get for us, He will sustain all who trust in Him.

The book of Isaiah 30:21 states: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah delivered this word to Israel when the nation was under judgment, in absolute ruin, with everything breaking down. And so Isaiah told Israel’s leaders, “Turn to the Lord now! He wants to give you a word of direction—to speak to you” But they wouldn’t listen.

Yet, God did not send all of His judgment on Israel at that point. Rather, He waited patiently. Finally, when all their schemes had fallen through, God told the people, “Now, let me take over! Open your ears, and I will speak to you. I know the way out, and I will direct you. I want to guide your every move,  to deliver you. I’ll lead you by my voice—speaking to you, telling you what to do, down to the last detail!”

What matters—is that you get to know the voice of God. He is still speaking, “My sheep know my voice.” There are many voices in the world today. But there is that still, small voice of the Lord that can be known and heard by all who trust what Jesus said.

 

Trust God

God had just promised Abraham he would have a son. Remarkably, Abraham didn’t flinch at this promise, instead, when Abraham received this word from the Lord, we’re told he “considered not his own body now dead (nor)…the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” Romans 4:19

To the natural mind, it was impossible for this promise to be fulfilled. But Abraham didn’t dwell on any such impossibility. According to Paul, Abraham gave no thought to how God would keep His promise. He didn’t reason with God.

The fact is, when God is at work producing a faith that is tried and better than gold, He closes the door to all human reasoning.

The faith that pleases God is born in a place of deadness. I’m speaking here of the deadness of all human possibilities. It is a place where only God can bring about the impossible.

Are you facing a situation that seems impossible? Does it seem like the end of the road?

I declare to you, today, this is God at work. His Spirit is working to get you to stop considering the impossibilities—to stop looking to human ways and means—to stop trying to think your way out of your situation. The Holy Spirit is urging you, to quit focusing on how hopeless you think your situation is. Those are hindrances to your faith.

 

Come boldly to God

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need-Hebrews 4:16. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him- Ephesians 3:12. These verses speak of coming to God boldly with our pressing needs, which please Him.

When God tells us to come to His throne boldly, with confidence, it is not a suggestion. It’s his preference.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” James 5:16. Effectual fervency—means coming into God’s court fully convinced that you have a well-prepared case.

We have to be fully persuaded that God honours His Word. The Lord wants us to bring His promises, remind Him of them, bind Him to them and stand on them.

We see this demonstrated in Acts 10, when Peter was given a vision. God told the apostle, “Some men are coming to your door, and they will ask you to go with them. I have sent these men, Peter, so I want you to go with them, doubting nothing.”

What does this passage tell us? It says that when God has declared something to be true, we are to believe and stand on it, without consulting our flesh. We simply cannot measure the reliability of God’s Word by examining our situation or our worthiness. If we do, we’ll end up only seeing that we’re unworthy. And we’ll talk ourselves out of claiming His Word and appropriating it.

Moreover, we have been given help to approach God’s throne of grace. The Bible says we are petitioners at His throne, and that Christ is there as our intercessor. We also have the Holy Spirit (our advisor) standing beside us in the Father’s court.

And so we have these incredible, promises—of a God, standing beside us—to give us boldness and assurance in coming to God’s throne.

Fully persuaded in God

Abraham was fully persuaded that, what God had promised, he was able to perform. Romans 4:21. In Genesis: out of nothing, God created the world. And God can create miracles for us, out of nothing.

When all else fails—that is the time for you to cast everything on God. It is time for you to give up all confidence in finding deliverance anywhere else. And, out of nothing that is of this world, God will work in ways and means you could never have conceived.

We need to believe in God in the face of impossibilities? We find the answer to this question in the story of Zacharias. Zacharias was visited by an angel who told him that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son, John. But Zacharias—who was advanced in years, refused to believe it.

Zacharias answered the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years” Luke 1:18. Simply put, Zacharias considered the impossibilities. He was saying, “This isn’t possible. You’ve got to prove to me how it will happen.”

Zacharias’ doubts displeased the Lord. The angel told him, “Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” 1:20.

The message: God expects us to believe Him when He speaks. Likewise, Peter writes: Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19

CONCLUSION: The closer we are to Jesus, the stronger we’re going to be. And all the strength we’re ever going to need will come only through our secret life of prayer. If we’ll just draw close to Jesus, He will draw close to us, giving us a fresh supply of strength daily. This is the secret of His presence!

REMEMBER: Being like Jesus, means to be more forgiving. Forgive to the end. Being tender-hearted, compassionate, having mercy. Love with all your heart. Love everybody, withholding all your judgements.

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

PRAYER: Abba Father, I come to you, knowing the desire You have placed in my heart. It has now become my prayer. I love you so much for this and I thank You. And I love You even more with each and every passing day. I BELIEVE in Your word. Now and Forever, I ask this prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

  

My Prayer

I know people who walk with their heads held up high, people who fail to recognize the worth of another person. I see them all the time.

I know people who can’t make enough to have a good day’s meal. I see them all the time.

I know from what I watch, mothers holding their malnourished children in their arms and it hurts to watch those mothers so helpless. I see them all the time.

I know people who have no shelter and the only place they call home is under the bridge or the pavement. I see them all the time.

I know people who have lost their loved ones and they go on. I see them all the time.

I know people who are lonely and have no one to talk with. So they may be bitter. And do you wonder why? I see them all the time.

I know people who we may meet for a few minutes, and may never meet ever again. But yet we don’t have a second thought to lose our tempers and be abusive. I see them all the time.

I know people who carry disputes over property. Neither one of them, will take it when they go. I see them all the time.

I know that no matter how much of death we come to witness, around us until we loose someone of our own to the tragedy we will never come to understand what bloodshed really means. We fight and kill each other in the name of religion. I see them all the time.

I know people who have never learned from their past experiences at all.  I see them all the time.

I know that GOD watches over All. I see that all the time.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.   MARK 11:24

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus cleansing of the temple coincides with the cursing of the fig tree. The “house of prayer” Jesus longed for was people who had faith in God.

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:20-25

The entire conversation began because Peter remembered that Jesus cursed the fig tree and then saw the withered tree on the next day. More than just a minor observation, this reminds us of the power of remembering as it relates to prayer.

Over and over again in the book of Deuteronomy, Israel was commanded to remember the way the Lord brought them out of Egypt and delivered them into the land of promise. Prayer seems to work the same way. Seeing the withered tree reminds us that we serve a God who can do great things.

As the psalmist (David-Psalms) knew, reciting the past deeds of God fuels present worship.

The prayer of faith is rooted in our memory of how God acted in biblical history. We would do well to remember the stories of God’s divine hand through the exodus journey, of God’s answer to Esther’s prayer, of Elijah’s encounter with the prophets of Baal, or of Peter’s miraculous release from prison.

We should also be able to recount how God specifically acted in our past. Remembering these past divine works fuels our faith and gives us reason to approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that we can find help in our time of need.

Faith – Doubt + Belief = Mountains Moving.

Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God. Forgiveness is an essential part of prayer.

We pray to GOD:

to express to Him our love

to thank Him

to obtain from Him the pardon of our sins

to ask for graces and blessings for ourselves and others.

Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. Matthew 26:41

We should pray to GOD:

with a conviction of our helplessness and our dependence upon God;

with a great desire for the graces we beg of Him;

with a loving trust in His goodness;

with perseverance.

And all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Matthew 21:22

We usually begin and end our prayers with the sign of the cross.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost(Spirit). Matthew 28:19

When we say "In the name," we express the truth that there is only one God; when we say "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," we express the truth that there are three distinct Persons in God; and when we make the form of the cross on ourselves, we express the truth that the Son of God, made man, redeemed us by His death on the cross.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

A Prayer-is an overflowing of desires!

Faith is essential to a successful prayer-“Believe that it’s yours.”

I have something that I need. Oh that I could draw near my God and ask Him for it! I want to have it satisfied; I long till I can get alone, that I may pour out my heart before Him, and ask Him for this great thing after which my soul so earnestly pants.

Be simple and direct in your pleadings with God. When you pray, tell Him what you need. Express your needs in the words which naturally suggest themselves to you. Pray in your own words. Speak plainly to God.

There is always some objective for which you may knock at Mercy’s door and cry, Give me, oh God, the desire of my heart. Equally necessary is that there should be an earnest desire for its attainment.

When you know what you need, be compelled to plead for it as a man pleads for his life! That is the way for us to pray to God; we must have such a desire for the thing we need, that we will not rise until we have it—but in submission to His Divine will, nevertheless. Feeling that the thing we ask for cannot be wrong, and that He, Himself, has promised it, we have resolved it must be given, and if not given, we will plead the promise again and again, till Heaven’s gates shall shake! In other words, don’t stop! Be persuasive. Remember God loves to give. So go ahead, keep knocking on His door. I know He will answer. The Bible says so.

Have a firm faith in God. Friends, when a man really prays, it is not a question whether God will hear him or not—He must hear him—not because there is any compulsion in the prayer, but there is a sweet and blessed compulsion in the promise. God has promised to hear prayer, and He will keep His promise! God is true and faithful, He cannot deny Himself.

To a Christian his faith is of the essence! If he has but faith in God, there is nothing impossible to him! He shall be delivered out of the deepest waters—he shall be rescued out of troubles—in famine he shall be fed—in pestilence he shall go unscathed—amidst calamity he shall walk firm and strong—in war he shall be always shielded—and in the day of battle he shall lift up his head and believe the promise and hold it up with and unfaltering reliance in God!

God has blessed every man, to be like Jacob who can wrestle, like Israel can prevail with Him in prayer! But we must have faith in this; we must believe prayer to be what it is.

“We know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

We should be able to count over the mercies before we have received them, believing that they are on the way. God breathes the desire into our hearts, before we call, before the words have got half way up to Heaven, He begins to answer them—and sends the angel! (Tobit-Bible). The angel (Raphael) comes, and brings down the needed blessing (brings Tobiah & Sarah together in marriage-thus ending the misfortunes that hunted Sarah for a long time). Oh that we had that uncommon faith to take God at His Word! He cannot, and He will not permit the man who trusts Him, to be ashamed or confounded! These are the essentials of prayer
“Whatever things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”

Mean what you pray. Let the feelings flow from your heart.

“Ask in the name of Jesus, and when led by the Holy Spirit—the blessings which you shall ask shall surely come to you.” 
We need to talk to God as a child talks to his father. Pray—seek the spirit of prayer, and God Almighty will bless you and make you more mighty in your supplications.

God has given us power in prayer, matchless power, full of blessedness to ourselves and of unnumbered mercies to others.

Wake up, do not neglect prayers. There is a power in prayers-because it is our conversation with God! God longs to be with you. You have not drawn near to God, but He waits to be still gracious, and is ready to hear all your petitions! What a blessed thing it is that the Master in Heaven is always ready to hear!

Christians, look up, then, and rejoice! There is always a ready hand if you have a ready heart! You have but to cry, and the Lord hears! Before you even call He will answer—and while you are speaking He will hear! Lift up your hearts silently, and whatever your petition or request may be, ask it in Jesus’ name, and it shall be done unto you.

REMEMBER: Do you know that the worst heartache is the one of loneliness? Do you know the pain when some one you love ignores you? Which also leads to loneliness, desolation.

You could be a millionaire or a pauper and you could be lonely.

You could be a single person or married and you could be lonely.

You could be friendless or befriended and you could be lonely.
You could be a kid or a grand-dad/mom and you could be lonely.
You could be in a most crowded place and you could be lonely.

It does not take different colour, shape or size of people to be lonely or not.

PRAYER is your conversation with GOD. And you will never be lonely again, ever.

CONCLUSION: Prayer is God’s power. Let every vein of your heart be full to the brim with the rich blood of desire—and wrestle and strive with God for it, using the promises and pleading and see if God does not give you your heart’s desire. Believe GOD to be more than He is! Open your mouth so wide that He cannot fill it!

PRAYER: Abba Father, your will be done! 
I hold you to your promise, Father. Promise date 20th June, 2012. Praise be God the Holy Father, Praise be Christ His Son our Lord, Praise be God the Holy Spirit!

P:S: Sorry, for the delay in Post. Had serious food poisoning. :) Thank you.

REJOICE!

Just the last week, we played a game, during which two questions were placed before us, we were to state the one thing we loved and the thing we hated? The word hate simply disappeared and everybody spoke something they loved and something they disliked. It was really good for a change, it was entertaining and we got to know something about each other. I think overall it was great. Of-course what I answered then was I love to love and that I don’t dislike anything, because if I do-I’ll be focusing my mind on the wrong things. And it kind of got me to thinking, what are the things that I really-really love.

So here goes, my first one, I love babies-always dreamed of working in a crèche (non-financial). I love the way babies walk-they have that wobble effect. And they have this little cute thing when they cry about something they’ll simply just fall on their bottom. I mean you just want to lift them up and want to give them that big hug. I love their innocence the way anything can make them happy. You keep a toy before a kid, he will play with it for some time, but place a big cartoon (box) before him, and watch him, he will forget the toy. I still try to figure out what is it that a baby loves so much about a carton? Maybe someday I’ll figure that one out. But till then I’m totally fascinated, I know I always will be. Babies are cute.

Christmas, is my favourite holiday season. I remember this one Christmas when we were kids, when Santa got down the chopper and gave us chocolates. And that is something I will never forget. I love Santa-Claus and to he was as real as real can be.

My favourite movie-While you were sleeping, I have watched this movie about 7-8 times and maybe even more. It’s set around Christmas time. The movie-is where the actress likes this guy, who falls into a coma-one thing leading to another-she realizes that the coma guys brother and she have much in common, she falls in love with him. I love the part where she says, Thank God, things don’t happen the way we plan.

The movie-little women again set around Christmas, speaks of a loving family. There is one scene at the end of the movie, that I love the most. When he places his open hand towards her and says, my hands they are empty (I have noting to give you) and she places her hands in his and says they are not empty now. Maybe I did not get the words here right, but these are the two movies that I love.

Of all the memories, I cherish in the world, this one is closest to my heart. It’s of my baby brother. I had this argument with my mother, when we were at my aunt’s place. And so I packed up my stuff and was going to my dad. I was crying, as I was tying my shoelace. Back then my brother was something 31/2 to 4 years. He comes with his bag to me, and tries to put on his shoes. I look at him and I see he is crying too, so I ask him where are you going? He replies I’m coming with you. My tears automatically stop. I thought no it can’t be. I know a baby can’t live without his mother. So I kept whatever I felt aside and made peace with that moment. The reason I cherish this moment is because I felt most loved. It was just one moment, but I always return back to that moment with the utmost fondness. So whenever, I need to feel loved, I know I was at that very moment.

Love is so very important in every-one of our lives. How you live your life is so very important too.  Love and sacrifice they go hand in hand.

Often, people give higher priority to material things. My advice, don’t. Love is priceless. Things they come and go. But love is forever. 

At the end of the journey, all the wealth wont matter. All I want for you is you be happy, you be blessed. I wish you love. And I love you more than you would ever know.

I know that Love is and will always be the greatest thing in the world. It always will be.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice”. Philippians 4:4

Happiness is dependent upon circumstances – joy is independent of circumstances. Today times are tough. What ever your need - God, our Heavenly Father already knows about it-Matthew 6:31. So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow's.

We as Christians are to rejoice always in the Lord! Our Heavenly Father knows our needs, our problems, our concerns, our lack, and our grief. And He promises to take care of them too!

We have to put Jesus Christ our Lord first in our lives. We have to rejoice in all things! This is a very important part of our daily walk with Christ.

Rejoice means be glad, be glad that you have Jesus, be glad that you have Him to lean on and trust in. Being glad that you have Jesus to lean on leads to thanksgiving!

When Paul wrote those words, life was not going well for him. He was in prison–on death row. St. Paul had every reason to complain-He had offered his life to God-He served God faithfully and yet for his faithfulness-he ends up being in a prison cell. But instead of complaining, Paul was full of joy.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice”.

In fact his whole letter to the Philippians is filled with joy. It has been called ”the Epistle of Joy‟.  E.g.
1.4  He speaks of the joy of prayer
1.18 He speaks of the joy of seeing the Gospel preached
2.17 He speaks of the joy of Christian service
2.18 & 3.1  He urges the Philippians to rejoice
Here in 4.4 He twice more urges the Philippians to rejoice

Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Titus 2:13-14, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own.

God has taken care of everything for us Christians!
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Romans 5:3 states-Rejoice in sufferings? If we persevere in our sufferings, it will bring us character which leads to hope.
God did not give us life just to be hopeless! And so, we must have hope and hope is produced through sufferings. How does this happen?

James 1:2-8 states-No matter what happens, we must persevere in our faith in God and in Jesus Christ; this is the perseverance which brings character and leads to hope!

Only God has the power to do the impossible! James 1:5-8 states-Pray with faith! We persevere through prayer!

The other things we are to rejoice about? We are to rejoice in God. Romans 5:6-10 states what Jesus Christ did for us! While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for our sins! Through Jesus Christ, we are justified before God! We as Christians are saved from God’s wrath! We are to rejoice in what Jesus did and what He is doing in our lives right now! Rejoice in the Lord always….

And finally, we simply rejoice because God has brought us to Him! God has reconciled us to Himself! 

 

Tonight I give you reasons for joy
REJOICE IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS


As the angel said to the shepherds, “I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David’s town your Saviour was born – Christ the Lord”. Luke 2.10

To their amazement the shepherds discovered that Jesus came for them. Imagine being the few selected to be witnesses to the visitation to the Son of God (to be witnesses to the birth of Jesus). I mean, imagine that, to be a part of God’s plan to encounter the 1st Christmas ever. It’s a who would have thought moment. The splendid thing about God, is He always is in control. So you may have written yourself off. Not God! He loves, to do the impossible. Do you know, what it is to know how gentle and loving HE really is? One touch of His goodness, one Breath of His in your direction and everything has to move. 

In this society, of ours, we have so many classifications between ourselves. The thing is when God created us He made us in His image and likeness.

Jesus, came into the world (the son of God) as a carpenter’s Son. The birth of Jesus-was in a manger with cattle all around. And the people who were announced of His birth-were the poor shepherds.

So what is it that we need to learn? It’s just this, that God choose to be a common man on purpose. He told us that we are to love above and beyond all words. We know that God does not condemn and how do know that? It’s simple, Jesus did not treat anyone in an inferior manner. He came into the world for us, to deliver us. He took our sins on Himself and for our transgressions, He chose to be condemned. For love.

Come, says Jesus, come home. HE has His arms open wide for you and me. He invites all of us. Come, you who are burdened and I will give you rest-says Jesus. COME!

So, Rejoice. “Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved”.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice”.
   

REJOICE IN THE DEATH OF JESUS

Jesus was an innocent man, convicted and sentenced to die. But His brutal execution changed the world. Jesus Christ died on a rugged cross for our salvation. Yet among all the emblems of the world, the cross is admired with awe and wonder.

The love of Christ is manifested in the cross to everyone. The Bible says that God’s love surpasses knowledge-Ephesians 3:19. There is no way that our finite minds can even begin to understand the love God had for us when He gave His Son on the cross to die for us.

Think of Christ’s suffering for you and for me. They beat Him on the head. They bared His back, took long leather whips with steel pellets on the end and beat Him until He was bleeding from head to toe. They crushed that crown of thorns on His brow. They drove the nails through His hands and feet.

He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 It was God’s great love for each of us that allowed His Son to take that suffering.

Here was the Son of God dying on a cross that was made for the hardest of sinners. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world by His suffering and death.

Yes, the death of Jesus is cause for joy. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans: “We rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ-5.11–“We were God’s enemies, but He made us His friends through the death of His Son”-5.10

Jesus died for you–and for me. Jesus died that our sins might be forgiven–He died to open up a way to God. Because of Jesus we can call God , ‘Abba Father’. 
“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice!”

REJOICE IN THE RESSURECTION

The message of the angel to those followers of Jesus on the resurrection morning brought hope, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, for he has arisen!" That same message fills our life with hope and assurance. HE IS ALIVE!

Christ has risen from the dead. In the resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered sin and death; He is alive forever. 

The greatest news is the news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, as He had promised. Without a belief in the resurrection there can be no personal salvation. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” - Romans 10:9

John tells us that when the risen Lord Jesus came to His disciples that first Easter Sunday evening “the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord”-20.20
At that stage they rejoiced that their Lord was back with them. But as time passed, their joy deepened, because they came to realise that in rising from the dead Jesus had broken the power of death over your life and mine. Peter 1st Letter states: “God gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope”-1.3. He goes on: “So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express” 1.8
 
The resurrection of Jesus is cause for great joy. Death no longer has the last word – Jesus does.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice” 

CONCLUSION: If we rejoice in the Lord, we will be reasonable. We dont need to be axious about anything, but through praying and asking God and then with thanksgiving for all we have, we should request what we need from our good God and know that He will answer our prayers. And then, we will have peace.

Don’t you want peace and freedom from anxiety? I know I do. I want to be able to lay down my burdens and not pick them up again. I need to rejoice, pray, and thank God to have the peace that passes all understanding in my life today.

REMEMBER: Every day we have on this earth is a gift from God, but ultimately everyone has to be prepared to face death and judgment. Through the triumph of the cross and resurrection, Jesus has already dealt with both of those.

PRAYER: Abba Father, thank you for the many blessings in my life. Help me to love everyone with all my heart. Keep me always obedient and faithful. This I ask in the name of Jesus Christ your son and my savior. Amen.

Hello!

Hello!

I am Anita, and I am glad we finally met.

‘Hello’, such a simple and a wonderful word at that and yet sometimes it takes a lifetime to get to speak to someone. When Lionel Richie, sang ‘Hello’, it was an instant hit.

And do you wonder why? It’s not just because it’s a love song. But the way he expressed it. It seems so polite and gentle.

But the world today has changed. Things have never been the same. Rejection-has become such a part of life. To reject someone means to refuse to accept that individual as being anything of worth. We all go through rejection in our lives. I have. I have been denied, rejected and have been called dirt. But do you know, you can get angry or really mad, or maybe you are the kind of person that wants to tear that person up. Whatever it is, do think. I have learned that forgiveness is always best. I’ve had painful moments. I’ve cried my heart out, but I’ve never ever wondered where God was. I would call on Him and He would answer me.

The thing about being humiliated is you have a choice to sink to your lowest-lows or you get up and find your strength in your weakness. For when I am weak then I am strong-says Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10.

The enemy will always find a new way to attack you-in order to keep you low. Especially, when you are exhausted the most, remember the love of Christ will carry you through. Rejection is nothing but our faith on trial.

Love creates a web of security. When you are truly loved, you become the one you love. Your thoughts, your mind your heart they both are in unison. Nothing separates you at all. When it is love, nothing does. Love is forever-to the end of time.

If you ever ask me what is it that I seek in my life? In a jiffy, I would say, LOVE! That’s everything I want! After God, that’s everything that I need.

In the words of Fr. William, ‘Love will bind us together’.

So with all the faith in God, hope-that never stops, and love in my heart, I’m wishing every prayer that I prayed come true. Because I know it already has.

With all my love,

For Love Prevails

AnitA.

In life we often, place limitations on ourselves, thus hindering God’s best for us. What limits you from experiencing the best that God has for you?

Could it be fear? Could it be your past experiences?  Remember God condemns no one. The word of God says “Arise, shine; for your light has come!” Isaiah 60:1

“Arise” means to mount up; move to a higher place or to stand up. Arise beyond any kind of limitation and begin to achieve God’s best today.

Jesus says “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly”.
Rise up by faith to live this life that Jesus is talking about and see your dreams come true. You can still achieve what you think you lost.

Things that God wanted people to do to reach the promise land:

Abraham: It’s already yours but you have to start a journey away from the known and toward the new and unknown.

Moses: It’s already yours but you have to step up to leadership.

Joshua: It’s already yours but you have to fight for it. How many of us lay down our swords when confronted with challenges?

People upon entering the Promised Land: - It’s already yours but you have to follow me in patient trust and wholehearted obedience.

To the people after they took possession: - It’s already yours, but you must believe and act upon the truth to keep it.

We must believe that God is the provider and our deliverer. Finally, if you are really ready to receive, remember God for it is He that gives. God’s ready. Are you?

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1st Corinthians 10:13 states-we won't be tested past the breaking point (but very well may be up to the breaking point). For it does not say that God will provide a way of escape, but the way out.

Perfect faith, like Daniel's, like Abraham's, resilient faith like Peter's, like Paul's, faith like Moses, patient faith like Job's, faith that wrestles with God to the end, ever strengthening the grip and refusing to let go no matter what-like Jacob's. Faith has to learn to believe in the opposite of everything. It has to look through the fear and doubt. Faith is the confidence in God's deliverance. Even when everyone in the world and every experience we have ever had says we are wrong, we need to know we are not. We need to know that God is a God of IMPOSSIBLES and nothing in this whole universe is ever impossible for the Almighty God. And so I trust, in You my Almighty God. I trust you to deliver me. I trust Your word. I know You cannot and will never fail. You are my God-My God of Impossibles.

Abraham had many tests. He waited his whole life for the son of promise then was faced with having to personally put him to death in a horrible way. But he believed God, and God worked it out in a way Abraham could never have anticipated. Abraham followed Gods instructions. He trusted God to do the rest, and His name is enshrined in the Word of God forever as the one who "trusted God" so that it was reckoned to him for righteousness Gen.15:6.

The more impossible the test-the greater the need for the believer to let go of everything except God. We have to be careful not to focus on our own understanding of the situation Proverbs.3:5. We need to remember that God is hearing our prayers, that He does have our deliverance ready at hand.

In Exodus 14 - A reference to the Israelites on the edge of the Red Sea. Situation IMPOSSIBLE! Bearing down on them from behind is the Eyptian army heading at them full speed. In front of them is an impassible Red sea. Moses trusted what God had said - He would create "the way out". The Red-Sea had to part. It did, just after Moses said "Stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord!" God did give them a way out, and He did destroy their enemies utterly. God turned the situation completely and at the last possible minute. God may very well choose to allow us to be thrown into the fiery furnace. If He does, we have to have the same attitude that Daniel's three friends had: "... the God we serve is able to save us ... but [even] if He does not, we [still] will not serve your gods ..." (Dan.3:17-18).

The book of JOB opens with a scene in heaven where Satan comes to accuse Job before God. He insists Job only serves God because God protects him and seeks God’s permission to test Job’s faith and loyalty. God grants His permission, only within certain boundaries. Why do the righteous suffer? This is the question raised after Job loses his family, his wealth, and his health. Job's three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, come to “comfort” him and to discuss his crushing series of tragedies. They insist his suffering is punishment for sin in his life. Job, though, remains devoted to God through all of this and contends that his life has not been one of sin. A fourth man, Elihu, tells Job he needs to humble himself and submit to God's use of trials to purify his life. Finally, Job questions God Himself and learns valuable lessons about the sovereignty of God and his need to totally trust in the Lord. Job is then restored to health, happiness and prosperity beyond his earlier state.

The Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. “As for God, His way is perfect” Psalm 18:30. If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. It is true that we can’t expect to understand His mind perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9. Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

People boast about anything and everything — their bank accounts, their accomplishments etc.  I always remind myself that I need to be humble at all times.

Paul knew that the Bible forbids boasting. "This is what the LORD says," according to Jeremiah 9:23: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches". We are not to boast about anything at all. King Solomon wisely gave this warning: "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips" Proverbs 27:2 In other words, let someone else be the one who sings your songs.

Another reason to boast about the cross of Christ is because it is the greatest demonstration of God's love. It shows the love of God the Father, who gave up His only Son as a sacrifice to save His people. Therefore, to glory in the cross is to glory in God's love.

CONCLUSION: God’s ready! God is ready to give all that He has promised to all those who believe in Him. God wants you to have an abundance of Divine Life. He gave his only son who said, “I have come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 

Mark 11:24 states, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Ask God and be ready to receive. But will you choose to believe that no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

REMEMBER: Remember, unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken. So rejoice in your problems, they are your strengths which make God strong in your life. The first step to wisdom is to fear the Lord, trusting upon His guidance and wisdom in the trials He allows in our life.

Grace is God’s unprecedented favor. God's grace is sufficient for any trial or suffering we shall ever encounter.

Often we wonder why God allows something, and we question or doubt God's goodness, without seeing the full picture.

To my God-Who called me into existence. I am forever indebted. To you all praise and Glory forever.

PRAYER: Abba Father! Here I am! I am ready Father. Keep me always faithful and obedient to You, I pray.  Amen.