Tag: christian

Blessed are the peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God. Mt:5:9

The role “Peacemaker” mentioned in the Bible is often ignored by believers. It is taken very lightly. Peace is a gift GOD gives.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Jn:14:27

JESUS is mentioned in the below verse as “Prince of Peace”. HE longs to give us the peace even in our most troubled times.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Is:9:6

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Is:9:6

Who is a Peacemaker?

A person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries.(Google’s definition)

Whenever there is a division or disagreement between two parties, a 3rd person who gets involved to make peace is called a Peacemaker.

Today many christians forget their role as peacemakers and cause more division among friends and families. I have come across many such people who knowingly or unknowingly play a role in creating division among couples, friends and family.

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Ps:34:14

Bible says, search for peace and maintain it. Peace is a key to unlock the blessings in your life. Peace is like a river that nourishes your soul in the drought of your life.

Reminds me of the song written in 1873 by Horatio Spafford – “It is well with my soul”

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

He wrote this song in the worst season of his life when he lost all his children, which still resonates to this day with millions who go through their own loss.

Peace is also a fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal:5:22,23

Peace is something through which GOD confirms HIS decision/will.Have you ever been at cross roads and you felt peace about 1 decision and chaos and confusion about the other. The peace is always GOD’s confirmation. Don’t make a decision when you are confused.

Now where does the peacemaker come into all this.

6 There are six things the Lord hates—
    no, seven things he detests:
17 haughty eyes,
    a lying tongue,
    hands that kill the innocent,
18 a heart that plots evil,
    feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies,
    a person who sows discord in a family. Prov:6:16-19

The last one mentioned in the 7 things GOD hates is the opposite of PEACEMAKER.

Someone who creates discord or breaks the unity among family, friends and community. Imagine if you were part of that list of what GOD hates. The Message translation of the Bible states that person as “a troublemaker in the family”.

Instead of being called a troublemaker choose to be called a “Child of GOD”.

What a privilege GOD gives us to be called by the title- “Children of GOD”

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Mt:5:43-48

Let’s us make it our goal not to gossip about others, not to speak lies about others, to mind our own business and not to poke into other people’s lives, but to speak life and truth and love into others. And work more to maintain the Peace that GOD has graciously given us.

GOD has called us to be HIS Children!!! Let us replicate HIM!

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect! Mt:5:48

GOD bless ya!

THE MAN BEHIND CHRISTMAS

The Christmas season where children and adults alike get very excited. Walking down the streets I see houses lit up beautifully. December is the most exciting and joyful month of the year.

The shops have exclusive endless aisles bearing Christmas decorations from as early as October.

In all the excitement of Christmas – presents, sweets, lights, decorations, office parties, school parties, teacher gifts and endless parties with friends and families. The countless hours of planning leading upto the big day. It all seems to be magical on one hand yet exhausting on the other.

The world seems to have completely forgotten what is Christmas all about. If you stop anyone on a busy street and ask them the real meaning of Christmas they would say- its about the presents we share with the ones we love, eating turkey,christmas tree, snow man, santa claus, reindeers etc. But there is no mention about JESUS the One person who is the core reason for this season. Movies ignore him and children are taught about Santa and elfs more than JESUS

Who is this MAN?

….“Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him! Luke:8:25

I would like to tell you that HE is no ordinary Man and HE is the only One who deserves the adoration this Christmas season.

HE is the CREATOR of the Universe

Everything was created through HIM.

 1In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,1
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.John:1:1-3

HE is LIFE

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone. John:1:4

HE is LIGHT

5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it. John:1:5

HE is GOD’s own SON

.13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.[h] He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. Rev:1:12-16

HE is Supreme over all

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Heb:1:1-4

HE is everything the world needs

And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Is:9:6

HE is the Judge

22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him. John:5:22,23

HE is the Way, the Truth, the Life

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except

through me. Jn:14:6

He gives eternal life

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”Jn:10:28-30

JESUS is the reason for Christmas. Let us remember HIM and be grateful for HIS life, although HE is GOD’s own Son who owns everything and is filled with immense Glory. HE left it all behind to be born as a humble baby in The most humblest ways ever seen in human history.

HE chose Mary and Joseph and not royalty

HE chose a manger and not a palace

HE chose shepherds to share the good news not rich people

HE chose humility

All because HE loves you and me.

If you haven’t given your life to HIM yet, today is the day. Surrender your life to HIM.

Lets celebrate Christ’s birth knowing who HE is.

Happy Christmas!!!

Invest your 5

What do you have in your hand that GOD gave you and you are still not using? Have you ever wondered?

1.Five talents or 5 bags of silver-

“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. Mt:25:16

Each and everyone of us have been entrusted with talents, whether it is writing, singing, playing music or encouraging others. Let us use it for the glory of GOD. Many times in our lives we become so laid back that we bury our talents and become busy in our day to day routine. Some times we are very shy to do what GOD has called us to do.

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Mt:25:24-27

In the above verse the servant who hid his bag of silver instead of investing it, is condemned by the Master as wicked and lazy. Today how many of us are lazy to use our GOD given talents? Let us analyse ourselves and change.

2. Five loaves of bread-

 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” Jn:6:9

Be generous in what GOD has given you to share freely with others. It could be your resources, time, energy and gifts/talents.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Prov:11:24

When we give freely to others we gain more from the LORD. GOD loves a cheerful give.

3. Five Stones of David-

40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. I Sam:17:40

David knew his strength was from GOD. Among the people of Israel David was the only one who could not bear to hear the insults of Goliath against GOD and HIS people. He knew how great and how big HIS GOD was and how with GOD’s help he could defeat the giant. Today when you face your own giants in life always know like David ‘Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world’. The 5 stones David picked up are nothing but a similitude of the Name of JESUS which has 5 letters. You can face any problem or obstacle with JESUS in your life

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. I John:4:4

Always remember that with JESUS in your boat, you can face any storm in life!

4. Five Wise women with extra oil

 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.Mt:25:4

We are living in end times, everything around us points us to the return of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.As children of GOD we are called to be watching and always ready to meet our Saviour. As the above verse mentions we are to be ready with THE OIL which represents the HOLY SPIRIT and HIS ANNOINTING. It clearly mentions that all 10 virgins had oil but only 5 carried extra oil. We might have given our lives to CHRIST and accepted Him and still living a complacent life by not spending more time with Him in HIS Word or in prayer this could lessen the oil within us.

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” Rev:16:15

 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I Thes:5:2

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. I Thes:5:4

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son​—but only the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming”. Mark 13:32-33

Be alert and always be ready with the extra oil to keep you burning for the coming of our LORD JESUS is at hand.

Have a blessed day!

Unbelief – Main tool of the enemy

Unbelief is the greatest enemy of believers. It is the opposite of faith. We see so many examples in the Bible of people who didn’t experience miracles because of unbelief.

GOD says it is impossible to please GOD without faith,

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Heb:11:6

Unbelief blinds the eyes of a believer to the reality of who GOD is and what HE can do.

It is one of the main tools of the enemy which he uses against the believer. Whenever we are confronted by evil in our lives, when we encounter problems or impossible situations, 1st thing that comes to us is unbelief. Today lets practise faith instead of unbelief. Faith on our Heavenly Father should be blind, just like a little child trusts her parents.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Heb:11:1

In the below passage we read about the incident where the people from JESUS’s hometown witness very few miracles because of their unbelief.

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

4Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. Mark:6:1-6

JESUS was amazed at their unbelief.

Unbelief stops the blessing from flowing into our lives. JESUS couldn’t do any miracle because of their unbelief, how sad it is to read.

Here are few examples from the Bible,

1.Joshua and Caleb. GOD blessed them immensely with supernatural strength and blessing. Num:13:30

People of Israel doubted GOD’s ability of leading them to the promised Land. Among the Twelve people sent to spy on the Land only 2 had the faith that GOD expects from us.

2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego- GOD honoured their faith Dan:3:16-18

3. Abraham- Father of faith- He blindly trusted GOD and stepped out of his comfort zone not knowing where he was going. He trusted GOD and HIS ability to lead him to the right place. He trusted GOD when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac his only son that GOD was able to bring him back to life.Gen:12,22

4.Daniel trusted GOD to reveal the dream, thereby saving his life and others from the king’s wrath and to protect him from lions.Dan:1,6

5. Joseph trusted GOD to fulfil the dreams GOD gave him and endured all suffering with patience.Ps:105:19

Unbelief and doubt go hand in hand and so is faith and trust. Choose the latter because that is what opens the floodgates of Heaven.

When in doubt and times of uncertainty read Hebrews chapter 11

Trust GOD like a little child.  Whenever we travel by public transport be it a taxi, bus, train or plane we never ask for the experience of the driver/ pilot, we trust them blindly. How much more should we trust our Creator, the One who created us and formed us in our mother’s womb. The One who gave HIS own life for us and loves us so dearly.

Trust in HIM that He has a special place for you in HIS heart, a mansion in Heaven and eternal life to live with HIM forever.

Choose faith and trust in GOD rather than walking in unbelief and doubt.

Have a faith filled day!!!

GOD bless!