BLESSED SERVANTS

" Serving Even When                       It Is  Inconvenient "

As they went on their way, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.” (Luke 9:57-58 TEV) Jesus never calls us to blind obedience.  As we follow him and become familiar with his character, we learn he is always waiting on the other side of our steps of faith.  He forces us into a place where we must trust him and his promises, but he also tells us what to expect when we follow him (John 14:1-4). He wants us to count the cost of our commitment, because he knows it will demand every thing we have (Luke 14:28).  In essence, Jesus warns us away from a romantic view of following him.  He understands that when we volunteer to go anywhere at any time, our romanticism will wither when our commitment becomes inconvenient — or when it collides with the full cost of discipleship. Discipleship means we give up any thought that there will be bits and pieces of our lives that can remain unaffected by our relationship with Jesus.  We can’t say “yes” to Jesus and expect to hold on to a portion of our independence. He demands it all. We no longer have the choice to serve only when and where it is convenient for us.  “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest” (Luke 9:58 TEV). When we have a romantic view of discipleship, we may imagine ourselves giving up everything for Jesus as the world admires our faith and people express their heartfelt gratitude for our sacrificial service. But the cost of discipleship may bring the scorn of the world to your doorstep.  When you follow Jesus and do the things he tells you to do, even fellow believers may think you’re throwing away your future to help people who can give you nothing in return.  Discipleship may mean sacrificing for others who will have no appreciation for what you have done — much like Jesus was ridiculed as he died on a cross. The grace to go wherever Jesus tells us to go comes only through the call of Christ and the power of God infused into our being.  Grace obligates us to obey Jesus, regardless of the circumstances or consequences. How much of your service to Jesus is based upon what is convenient for you, and how much of it is based upon you doing what Jesus has told you to do?  Jesus loves you and plans his best for you.  He brings no condemnation; he wants to turn you in the right direction. =================================================

" Who Will Be Next C.E.O ? "

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. 

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different.

He called all the young executives in his company together. 

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next C.E.O. 

I have decided to choose one of you." 

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. 

"I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. 

I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today 

with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. 

I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next C.E.O." 

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. 

He went home and excitedly told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, 

soil and compost and he planted the seed. 

Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. 

After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds

and the plants that were beginning to grow. 

Jim kept checking his seed but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.

Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, 

he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he wanted the seed to grow. 

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the C.E.O. for inspection. 

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. 

But she asked him to be honest about what happened. He took his empty pot to the boardroom. 

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. 

They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. 

Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him! 

When the C.E.O. arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. 

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the C.E.O. 

"Today one of you will be appointed the next C.E.O.!" 

All of a sudden, the C.E.O. spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. 

He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 

"The C.E.O. knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" 

When Jim got to the front, the C.E.O. asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The C.E.O. asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, 
and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" 

Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. 
"How could he be the new C.E.O.?" the others said. 
Then the C.E.O. said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. 

I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. 
But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. 

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. 

When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. 

Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. 

Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!" Proverbs 4:18; 
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
" Wonder if this goes with the Lion and the Lamb? "

" Animals are doing it better than mankind! "

" Just amazing and who knows why ? Photographer Michel Denis-Huot,  who captured these amazing pictures on  safari in  Kenya 's Masai Mara in October last year, said he was astounded by what he saw:"These three brothers (cheetahs) have been living together since they left their mother at about 18 months old, he said  'on the morning we saw them , they seemed not to be hungry, walking quickly but stopping sometimes to play together. At one point, they met group of impla who run away. But one younger was not quick enough and the brothers caught it easly.' These extraordinary scenes followed.

           
       

         

" And then they just walked away without hurting him " May your day be filled with blessings!    Life is short... forgive quickly,love truly,laugh uncontrollably...and never regret anythingthat made you smile.

BLESSED SAYINGS OF GOD TO US.

YOU SAY: "it's impossible"........GOD SAYS: "all things are possible"

In Luke 18:27 the Bible says Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." and again the Bible says in Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. And in Matthew 19:26 says, Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

YOU SAY: "I'm too tired"...........GOD SAYS: "I will give you rest"

In Matt 11:28-30 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

YOU SAY: "Nobody loves me" ...GOD SAYS: "I love you"

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

YOU SAY: "I can't go on"...........GOD SAYS: "My grace is sufficient"


2 Cor 12:9 says, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,


for my power is made perfect in weakness."


YOU SAY: "I can't figure this" ...GOD SAYS: "i will direct your steps"


 Prov 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own 
understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

YOU SAY: "I can't do it" ............GOD SAYS: "You can do all things"


Phil 4:13 again the Bible says, I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

YOU SAY: "I'm not able" ...........GOD SAYS: "I am able"


2 Cor 9:8 says, And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in


all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work


YOU SAY: "It's not worth it" ......GOD SAYS: "It will be worth it" 


Rom 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good 


of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

YOU SAY: "I can't forgive me" ...GOD SAYS: "I forgive you"


Rom 8:1 says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

YOU SAY: "I'm afraid" ..............GOD SAYS: "I have not give you a spirit of fear"


In II Timothy 1:7 the Bible says, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity 


but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.

YOU SAY: "I'm worried" ............GOD SAYS: "Cast all your cares upon ME"


I Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

YOU SAY: "I'm not smart" .........GOD SAYS: "I give you wisdom" 


1 Cor 1:30 says,  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

YOU SAY: "I feel alone" ............GOD SAYS: "I will never leave you"


In Hebrews 13:5 says, . Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

YOU SAY: "I can't manage" .......GOD SAYS: "I will supply all your needs"


Last but not least in Philippians 4:19 we read in the Bible, And my God will meet all your 




needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Mango is the king of fruits, now the season started in India. This is a small mango tree with full of mango.

BLESSED RELATIONSHIP.

Keeping love alive requires more than a few blessings. It requires an awareness of how very fragile love is. Every thought, word and gesture either makes love grow, or dims its brightness. This brightening process is a mystery worth knowing. One of the more practical ways to know love is through relationship. Here are Ten Tips for a Healthy Relationship:

1. Take care of yourself. Be responsible for your own health and do what you need to do to stay healthy. This means getting the right kind of exercise. We need to stay strong, be flexible, and make our hearts strong. Do Exercise like walk, jog, swim, play tennis, dance. Move your body in ways that are fun for you! Spend time in nature absorbing the blessings of the earth. Nature helps us relax and tune into the elements. We need to feel the earth under our feet, the wind in our hair and get in the water whenever possible. Eat right. Find the balanced diet that appeals to you. Most studies keep finding that a diet heavy in fresh veggies and fruits, and light on heavy protein creates the best health.

2. Take time to nurture the love. Be generous in your appreciation of your partner. Make sure you explore the many ways to express it. The way love is felt is: through loving, kind touch; through spending quality time together where you put the total focus on nurturing each other; through words of affirmation where you express the deep appreciation you have for each other; through acts of service where you do things for each other; and through thoughtful gifts that you give one another. Be creative. Have fun!

3. Inspire each other. Bring new and fresh ideas into the relationship. Try new things together. Discover what inspires you and share it with your partner.

4. Be committed to intimacy. Allow passion and the joy of being alive and having someone to share it with enliven you. Be fearless in your honesty but temper it with kindness. Spend quality time together massaging, being sensual and playing!

5. Use relationship as a way for you to understand yourself. Meet each other when challenged and share what is true for you without blame or judgment. We are all learning and growing. Be compassionate with yourself and each other

6. Use sexual loving as a way to enhance the intimate connection between you. Allow it to flow beyond the boundaries of expectation.  Know that the fire of passion that brought you together must be nourished and stoked.

7. Share your dreams and visions. Imagine your future and move toward it with courage and grace. Look for miracles. Stay positive as much as possible.

8. When you disagree, don't argue or bicker. Communicate carefully. Look at each other in the eye while talking. Listen to each other with respect. Acknowledge what is said. Sometimes when you listen carefully, long enough, you will find a place of agreement. If you can't agree, let the disagreement rest and talk over the problem with a trusted friend or counselor who might bring in a fresh perspective, and pray together for the highest option. When you both know you want what's best for you individually and for the relationship, you will relax and let that highest option percolate into your hearts and minds.

9. Do thoughtful things for one another. When your partner asks you for a favor, do it with a happy heart, if you possibly can.

10. Pray and ask God for guidance daily - alone and together. 

OUR BLESSED GOD AND OUR PROBLEMS.

By  John Varghese.

We all have trials, temptations and problems in our life. The Bible says in Psalms 34:19,

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

Here we see that even the righteous man also has troubles but fact is Lord delivers him

 from them all. Think about Job, Joseph and Daniel. I sought the LORD, and he answered

 me; he delivered me from all my fears.(Psalms 34:4)Again in verses 6 in the same

 Psalm we read,"This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of

 all his troubles."In your time of troubles or fears if seek Lord He will answer and deliver

you. If you call upon Him He will hear and save you out of the troubles. Amen. I like to 

share with you now how our good GOD change our problems in to our blessings.

1. To Direct you in the right DIRECTION.

When the fire is burning then only some machines work properly, like wise when we go

through some fiery problems then only we think in Godly ways and understand God's deliverance . 

 [1.] It is supposed that they have their share of crosses in this world, perhaps a greater share than others. In the world they must have tribulation, that they may be conformed both to the will of God and to the example of Christ (v. 19); Many are the afflictions of the righteous, witness David and his afflictions, Ps. 132:1. There are those that hate them (v. 21) and they are continually aiming to do them a mischief; their God loves them, and therefore corrects them; so that, between the mercy of heaven and the malice of hell, the afflictions of the righteous must needs be many. [2.] God has engaged for their deliverance and salvation: He delivers them out of all their troubles (v. 17, 19); he saves them (v. 18), so that, though they may fall into trouble, it shall not be their ruin. This promise of their deliverance is explained, v. 22. Whatever troubles befall them, First, They shall not hurt their better part. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants from the power of the grave (Ps. 49:15) and from the sting of every affliction. He keeps them from sinning in their troubles, which is the only thing that would do them a mischief, and keeps them from despair, and from being put out of the possession of their own souls. Secondly, They shall not hinder their everlasting bliss. None of those that trust in him shall be desolate; that is, they shall not be comfortless, for they shall not be cut off from their communion with God. No man is desolate but he whom God has forsaken, nor is any man undone till he is in hell. Those that are God's faithful servants, that make it their care to please him and their business to honour him, and in doing so trust him to protect and reward them, and, with good thoughts of him, refer themselves to him, have reason to be easy whatever befalls them, for they are safe and shall be happy.

In singing these verses let us be confirmed in the choice we have made of the ways of God; let us be quickened in his service, and greatly encouraged by the assurances he has given of the particular care he takes of all those that faithfully adhere to him.

2. To Inspect our own Spiritual Life.

When everything goes perfect we may not inspect ourselves, but when things go wrong we try to find out the reasons or even inspect ourselves where we went astray. In Psalm 119:67 we read, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word."

David here tells us what he had experienced, 1. Of the temptations of a prosperous condition: "Before I was afflicted, while I lived in peace and plenty, and knew no sorrow, I went astray from God and my duty." Sin is going astray; and we are most apt to wander from God when we are easy and think ourselves at home in the world. Prosperity is the unhappy occasion of much iniquity; it makes people conceited of themselves, indulgent of the flesh, forgetful of God, in love with the world, and deaf to the reproofs of the word. See Ps. 30:6. It is good for us, when we are afflicted, to remember how and wherein we went astray before we were afflicted, that we may answer the end of the affliction. 2. Of the benefit of an afflicted state: "Now have I kept thy word, and so have been recovered from my wanderings." God often makes use of afflictions as a means to reduce those to himself who have wandered from him. Sanctified afflictions humble us for sin and show us the vanity of the world; they soften the heart, and open the ear to discipline. The prodigal's distress brought him to himself first and then to his father

3. To Correct ourselves.

In Psalm 119:71, we read, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees"

It is good for me that I have been afflicted. Whatever may have been the form of the affliction, it was good for me. The design was benevolent; the result has been my own benefit. This will be the experience sooner or later resulting from all the afflictions of the righteous. That I might learn thy statutes - That I might be brought more fully to understand what they require; and that I might be led to conform to them. It is implied here (a) that this is the tendency of affliction; and (b) that this is an advantage - a good. Anything that will lead a man to obey God is a blessing and a favor. Whatever leads a sinner to secure the salvation of his soul is a gain to him. No matter what it may cost; no matter what he may be required to give up; no matter to what persecutions and troubles it may expose him; no matter what he may suffer, or how long he may suffer; no matter though poverty, contempt, toil - even the rack or the stake - may be the consequence of his religion - yet it is again to him; and he will be thankful for it in the end - for nothing that can be endured in this life can be compared with the sufferings of the world of despair; nothing on earth can be "compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us in heaven." Dear readers OUR PROBLEMS ARE A BLESSINGS IN DESGUISE.

Our loving God is keeping us under His wings like this bird...Thank you Lord.

BLESSED STORY OF VALENTINE DAY

By John Varghese.

Approximately 250 years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem,


 there was a priest by the name of VALENTINE.


 He lived in Rome. At that time, Claudius was the


 Emperor of Rome. Some people called him Claudius


 the Cruel. St. Valentine didn’t like Emperor Claudius, and


 he wasn’t the only one! Many people felt the same way. 


Claudius wanted a big army. He thought men should volunteer 


to join. Many men just did not want to leave home and go


 off to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their girlfriends


 and wives. So, not many men volunteered for the Roman army.


 This made Emperor Claudius very angry. He had a


 crazy idea that if men were not married, they would be more inclined to


 join his army. So Claudius decreed that there would be no more


 marriages. Young people thought his new law was really cruel. 


Valentine thought it was ridiculous! One of his favorite duties as a


 priest was to marry people. After Emperor Claudius passed his


 law, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but


 secretly. He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening


 for soldiers on the steps outside. One night, Valentine did hear


 footsteps at his door. The couple he was marrying escaped, but


 he was caught. He was thrown in jail and told that his punishment was death.





St. Valentine tried to stay cheerful. Many young people came to the jail


 to visit him. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. They 


wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love. One of these


 young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her


 father allowed her to visit him in his cell. They often sat and talked


 for hours. She believed he did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor


 and performing marriage ceremonies. 



ON THE DAY VALENTINE WAS TO DIE, HE LEFT HER A NOTE THANKING


 HER FOR HER FRIENDSHIP AND LOYALTY. HE SIGNED IT, "LOVE FROM YOUR


 VALENTINE." THAT NOTE STARTED THE CUSTOM OF EXCHANGING LOVE


 NOTES ON VALENTINE’S DAY. IT WAS WRITTEN ON THE DAY HE DIED,


 FEBRUARY 14, 269 A.D. NOW, EVERY YEAR ON THIS DAY, PEOPLE


 REMEMBER. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY THINK ABOUT LOVE


 AND FRIENDSHIP. WHEN THEY THINK OF EMPEROR CLAUDIUS, 


THEY REMEMBER HOW HE TRIED TO STAND IN THE WAY OF LOVE,


 AND THEY LAUGH -- BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT LOVE CAN’T BE BEATEN!



THESE VALENTINES FROM GOD ARE NOT JUST FOR A FEW. THEY


 ARE FOR YOU...FOR ME... FOR EVERYONE! AND THEY ARE NOT


 JUST FOR FEBRUARY 14TH..BUT FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.



EACH DAY IS VALENTINE’S DAY WHEN YOU ARE THE BELOVED OF GOD!

ARE YOU FULLY AWARE OF GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE FOR YOU?

EVERY SINGLE MOMENT, WHETHER AWAKE OR ASLEEP, 

WE ALL LIVE UNDER THE CANOPY OF THE LORD'S WONDROUS

 AND ABSOLUTE LOVE FOR US.

BUT TO FULLY EXPERIENCE THAT LOVE, YOU MUST RECEIVE IT.

SAY YES TO THIS AMAZING GIFT THAT GOD WANTS TO POUR OUT ON YOU.

BASK IN IT AND LET IT OVERFLOW TO THOSE AROUND YOU..

With All My Heart And Love, I Wish You The Best Of Valentine's Day In Christ Jesus

 Our Loving Lord Who GAVE His Life For Us Because Of LOVE!!