Walking, Leaping and Praising God!

Victor Manoharan uncle of Youth for Christ Ministries was a frequent speaker at the CSI Redeemers Church in the seventies! One day he shared testimony from his life. While he was on his way to a speaking assignment in an auto rickshaw, due to the rash driving of the auto driver, it seems the auto rickshaw went in for a somersault! After one complete turn, by the immense grace of God, it had landed right side up, and uncle got out unhurt! Immediately, he had burst forth thanking God for His protection. It was at that moment that he had heard the voice of God in his heart saying, "Son, how many times you have had uneventful journeys but you never thanked me for them." How very true! We thank God profusely when we have great escapes but all our safe travels, we tak...

Joy to the World!

There are many questions people ask about the birth of Jesus. Some of them are: Where was Jesus born? When was Jesus born? How was Jesus born? Also, why was Jesus born? Matthew says Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Luke tells us about the miraculous conception. He tells us that Jesus was born during the time of the first census called for by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governing Syria. Luke also tells us that He was named Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. However, in my mind, the most crucial question that needs an answer is: who were those for whom Jesus was born?

The birth of Jesus was announced not only to the shepherds who were watching their sheep in the local Judean hills but also to the Magi from the Far East! Jesus' birth was...

The Four Sundays of Advent!

Generally, the four Sundays that precede the Christmas day are called ‘Advent' Sundays. Four different themes are assigned for each of those Sundays by the Church for reflection. The first advent Sunday stands for hope or promise and points to the many prophecies that were fulfilled in the birth of Christ. The second one stands for faithful preparation for the fulfillment of the prophecies of His second coming. The third advent Sunday stands for Joy for Jesus came for the humble, unimportant people like the shepherds, too. The fourth one stands for peace! Jesus came to bring peace between God and man. He came to go to the Cross so that your sins and my sins can be forgiven. The four Sundays are celebrated by lighting advent candles for Jesus came as the ‘Light of...

Watch and Pray…

Just after we got married we were supposed to travel to Vellore for a reception (Maru Veedu). My father had booked our tickets by Brindavan Express which was scheduled to leave Chennai central by 7 AM. All of us were ready much ahead of time but before we could leave, our wedding photographer arrived with the album! We thought we had time and started glancing through it and by the time we reached the station, we were able to see only the back of the Brindavan Express receding at a distance. Distraction spoiled the day!

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, we have to ready ourselves and await the second coming of the Lord! While His first coming provided for our salvation, His second coming heralds our life with Him for eternity. Jesus taught us the importance o...

Praying for one another

Two weeks back my husband had to be admitted in the hospital for a health issue. What started as a simple thing developed into something very serious and it was a traumatic time for me. Apart from the extended family that stood with us and prayed for us, many friends also supported us in prayer. It was a miracle and answer to prayer that he has been healed. All glory to God!

Praying for others is a Christian responsibility. Our willingness to walk through a difficult time in prayer with someone means more to that person than we will ever know. Sometimes the Lord Himself brings somebody to our mind and puts a burden in our hearts to pray for them. The church in Jerusalem after Pentecost "devoted themselves to … the prayers" (Acts 2:42). James 5:16...

The Real Man

Raymonds advertises about becoming a ‘complete man’ by wearing their suits. The beauty industry promotes products to pamper the ‘real you’ to make you look more beautiful! The fitness industry and the garment industry also thrive on the outward looks of a person. We may do many things on the outside to look beautiful and acceptable in our society, but who are we really on the inside, the real you and me?

All through life we put up many faces. We put up a friendly smile even when we hate the person. Some are very good with colleagues and friends but very unkind to their spouse and children. While the friends and colleagues think that person is an angel, the people at home will think that person is a devil. Who are we really? How can we know the real you and me!

The Pain of Rejection!

Rejection is the single most common emotional wound we sustain in daily life.

Mark R. Leary of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA has this to say about rejection: ‘In many ways, hurt feelings can be regarded as the “rejection emotion” in that people's feelings are hurt by events that connote that other people do not regard their relationship with them to be as valuable or important as the individual desires, thereby leading them to feel rejected’.A great deal of human emotion arises in response to real, remembered, or imagined rejection by other people.

When scientists placed people in functional...

The Five Treasures

Pastor Isaac of St. Peter's Church, Semmenpet, Chennai is a very dear man of God who visits us without fail on our birthdays and wedding anniversary. Every time he comes, he will bring a Word from God. This time when he visited us, he spoke to us about five treasures that a man must seek in this life. They were Jesus, the Bible, the Church, a righteous man's home and of course heaven. Without accepting Jesus there is no way to heaven for Jesus said that He is the way. The church is the fellowship of believers. The Bible says in 2 Tim 3:16,"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness". I thought these four treasures were very obvious but the 5th one was very perplexing to me....

The Master Key

I happened to read the book by Ronald Dunn on faith titled, "The House that Grace built". It ministered to my heart and I want to share it with you!

Dunn says that salvation is like a house built beside a busy highway. He was born on that highway and was following it to its destination. As time went on things became more difficult and the backpack that had been issued at the beginning had grown heavier. One day his attention was drawn to the side of the highway to a magnificently constructed house. Over its narrow front door, a sign announced ‘Whosoever Will May Enter and Find Rest'. Somehow, he realized that if he could reach the inside he would be saved from the highway and its destination. He tried the front door but, it was locked. Why would some...

The Tragedy of Unbelief

Have you ever watched a cricket match or any other match for that matter? Recently we had the opportunity of watching the State Level Invitation Basketball Tournament for Indian Bank trophy in Chennai. The finals were played between the Indian Bank team and the Income Tax team. Both teams were very good and equally strong. It was a nail-biting match. It was anybody's game until the end but in the final minutes, the Income Tax team scored and won the trophy! When we watch a match, ball by ball, we will be very tense not knowing how the match would end. But the same match, when we watch the replay, we are not tense at all. Why? It is because we know how the match ended. Faith is like that!

Unbelief is the thief of God's blessings. But faith is a possessor!...