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Grace  & Peace

An Assembly based E- periodical for evangelism,

 edification & encouragement.

Issue No.0004 3/11/05

 

 

In this issue:-

                     Perspective: -   <SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">          Unprecedented Natural Calamities

 Brief Article: -         Any end can be a beginning!

                         Anecdote: -<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">                 Love and hate

                      Sermon Out line: -       Three fold appearances of
Christ

                      Quotable quote: -      By C.P Varkey on
‘Love’

                        Just for laugh: -       Minister in a troubled plane.

                        To ponder over: -      Psalm.73:28

 

 

 

 

 

Unprecedented Natural Calamities

This generation it seems is seeing a lot of unprecedented calamities. Tsunami,   Hurricanes, (Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Beta etc), typhoons, floods then earth quakes. And the list goes on. Only God knows what next!

            What is this all about?  Let the theologians wrestle over the prophetical/dispensational implications.  I think the most important need of the hour is to learn lessons from such incidents and correct our life.  Can we not hear the solemn voice of the almighty even through such unfortunate events too? Is it not the Lord’s silent reminder to the rebellious man kind that He is on the throne and man is
helpless and feeble in times like this?

I have learnt afresh three important lessons:-

            a. Be humble & Yield. God alone is all powerful. Only He can protect us.  Yield to His sovereign will and be at His feet.  We are simply nothing. It is time to acknowledge God’s greatness and our ‘nothingness’.

            b. Love & Serve . After all we all are in the same boat. What speciality we have? We need each other. During the floods natural men helped each other, forgetting the differences, then why should we, God’s people keep boundaries, for our love and fellowship? It is time to forgive, forget and serve one another in Christ’s love.

 

            c. Give out & Utilize . You can not keep on accumulating. It is time to loosen our hands on our possessions. No benefit in keep on holding.  A tsunami, a Katrina, or just a flash flood can take away all what selfishly accumulated.

Never showing a token generosity at the least for the poor and needy, working hard to make a show and indulge in the pleasures of this world. Oh it is foolishness. It is time to share, give away, than to be taken away and also utilize.

            There are much more of course. Let us consider these. If no change now when are we going to improve in our life?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes">                                                                                                  N.T

 

 

Any end can be a beginning!       (‘A New Beginning’ part 4)

 

Remember, victorious life is always a series of new beginnings! No need to consider the present state to be an end in itself. Any end can be a new beginning. Failure could be a back door to success, stumbling block could be a stepping stone and weakness can be our strength through the amazing grace of the Lord.   Halleluiah!

 

You are not alone. We have plenty of examples. Apostle Peter who denied the Lord and John Mark who deserted the Lord’s servants could start all over again and succeed.

Job’s story is more pertinent.  A blameless, upright, God fearing man who led a very exemplary life suddenly loses all what he has- wealth, health, family and everything.  Every one forsook him. Friends, even wife were not willing to stand with him. Nobody thought that he can start anew.

 Yet we read, “The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” Job.42:12.  The Lord not only restored all what he lost but gave it double.

A close study of the portion reveals that 4 things took place before he regained his past glory.

 

1.  He saw the Lord and His greatness.  Job.42:1, 2, 5

2.  He saw his true self and hated it.  Job.42:6

3.  He repented with sorrow. Job.42:6

4.  He prayed seriously and selflessly. Job.42:10

 

 

Beloved, what are you waiting for? Start afresh now. Any moment can be a new beginning with Christ.  Why waste precious opportunities? Before too late take the above steps and ask the Lord Almighty to start a new beginning in your life.

 

Climax of the new beginnings.

 

While explaining the divine programs of new beginnings, Isaiah goes on to explain the future programme of God too. There we see the climax of the new beginnings God initiated.  Is.65:17-25 cp. Rev.21:1-5

When the world leaders are trying to bring about a new world order and fail miserably, Isaiah says God will set up a new heaven and the new earth. Many scripture portions refer to that glorious period when Christ shall be on the throne. Is.2: 11 etc. Then the born again believers who live for Him will reign with Him. 2Tim.2:11.  That’s the hope of a believer.

Any beginning will have an end, but the beginning of our life with Christ will have no end.  Everlasting peace and joy will be their portion. Make sure that we begin with Him.      (Concluded)

Nelson Thomas

 

 

Love and hate.

            Story of a group of children who visited a hospital. The nurse who directed them was asking for questions.  Immediately a hand went up, “How come the people who work here are always washing their hands?” A little fellow asked.

After the laughter had subsidized, the nurse gave a wise answer.   “They are always washing their hands for two reasons-first, they love their health and second they hate germs.”

  Moral: - Love and hate always go together.  If you love God –hate evil.  Cp.  Ps.97.10, Rom.  12.10.  1 John. 2.17)

 

 

The threefold appearances of Christ.   . Heb. 9:24-28

 

V.26 –The past               --to put away sin

                                      -- To save us from the penalty of sin

                                       -- To procure salvation.

 

V. 24 – The Present         -- To plead for us

                                         -- To save us from the power of sin

                                         -- To secure salvation

 

v. 28- The future           -- To take away the saved

                                        -- To save us fro the presence of sin

                                        -- To complete the plan of salvation

 

 

 

“Love can build up people; lack of it can destroy people both young and old”.  C.P.Varkey

 

 

Minister in a troubled plane.

                        An air plane lost control- people began to pray in panic – they saw a priest –told him ‘Mr. Minister, Mr. Minister do something religious we are in trouble.  He was in confusion, didn’t know what to do, finally took out an offering bag and said ‘let’s take an offering.’!

            Moral:-Ritual service-don’t know what to do and when to do

 

 

 

 

 

“But as for me it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”    Psalm.73:28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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