Thursday 27 June 2013

Christian Bear!!


An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. 'What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!', he said to himself.
As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster.
He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him.
At that instant the atheist cried out: 'Oh my God!...'
Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.
It was then that a bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying:
'You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident.  Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?'
The atheist looked directly into the light.
'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian?'
'Very well, 'said the voice. The light went out, and the sounds of the forest resumed.could you make the BEAR a Christian?
And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke: 'Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful, Amen.'

Wednesday 26 June 2013

God our Helper!!


One dark rainy night a salesman had a flat tire on a lonely road. But to his dismay he had no lug wrench. Seeing a nearby farmhouse, he set out on foot. Surely the farmer would have a lug wrench, he thought. But would he even come to the door? And if he did, he'd probably be furious at being bothered. He's say, "What's the big idea getting me out of bed in the middle of the night?" 

This thought made the salesman angry. Why, that farmer is a selfish old clod to refuse to help me. Finally the man reached the house. Frustrated and drenched, he banged on the door. "Who's there?" a voice called out from a window overhead. 


"You know good and well who it is," yelled the salesman, his face red with anger. "It's me! And you can keep your old lug wrench! I wouldn't borrow it is it was the last one in the county."  

How many of us face our lives with this attitude? It is because of this misunderstanding about people around us and about the situation around us we miss out many blessings. Many of us misunderstand the love of God too at many times in our life. 

Many a times we decide that God wouldn't help us out in our desperate situations and get angry on our God. Our God is a loving God. Never will he back out from helping us. We need not fear that at the middle of the night our God wont help us out because He may be resting. Remember, Our God never sleeps nor slumbers!! 

So fear not! Have a clear understanding!! God is our helper at all times!!

Amen!! Hallelujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas

Saturday 22 June 2013

Salvation!!


I read about a small boy who was consistently late coming home from school. His parents warned him one day that he must be home on time that afternoon, but nevertheless he arrived later than ever. His mother met him at the door and said nothing. At dinner that night, the boy looked at his plate. There was a slice of bread and a glass of water. He looked at his father's full plate and then at his father, but his father remained silent. The boy was crushed.

The father waited for the full impact to sink in, then quietly took the boy's plate and placed it in front of himself. He took his own plate of meat and potatoes, put it in front of the boy, and smiled at his son. When that boy grew to be a man, he said, "All my life I've known what God is like by what my father did that night."    
 
The punishment that we were supposed to suffer, Lord Jesus Christ took it upon himself. The blessings that God, the Father has promised his only begotten, beloved son Jesus has been now given to us through the mighty sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary!!

How many of us realize that it is our plate that was supposed to be empty? How many of us feel the love and grace of our Lord God in the Salvation plan? The Father's love is seen clearly when He sent His only Son Jesus to save this mankind. Do we dare doubt it? 

Take the full plate that Jesus is offering you today! The forgiveness for all your sins and sonship with his inheritance. He is more than willing to help us accept him as our personal Saviour so don't delay the salvation God has willingly paid for!!

Amen!! Hallelujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas
Yeshoowa ministries

Thursday 20 June 2013

Grace!!

At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity.

Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.”

Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead.

Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?”

Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.”

The room fell silent.

Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. 

Isn't it so true!!God's grace is what's making the world go round even today!! God's grace saves people, God's grace makes his children live in victory!!

Are you aware of God's grace in your life? If so Praise him, Love him, Glorify him.

Amen! Hallelujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas

Monday 17 June 2013

Be a God pleaser!!


A Miller and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?' 

The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs." 

Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: "Why, you lazy old fellow," cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?' 

The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is that Ass your own?' "Yes," replied the old man. "O, one would not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you." "Anything to please you," said the old man; "we can but try." 

So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river. 

Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way home again, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in the bargain.

This may be just a story but this is what most of us do in our real life. Trying to please all around us we leave off doing God's will for the fear that others may mock you or judge you. God's words are to be obeyed come what may! That's the only way to gain favor in the sight of the Lord and be blessed!!

Amen! Hallelujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas

Saturday 15 June 2013

A lighter moment!!


Locked Car Door

 A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.

She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that her the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."

So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.

The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"

He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"


Shared by
Carolyn Thomas
Yeshoowa ministries

Thursday 13 June 2013

WHEN TO SAVE A DROWNING MAN


Watchman Nee tells the story of his stay in China with twenty other Christians. The bathing accommodations were inadequate in the home where they were lodging, so they went for a daily dip in the river.

On one occasion, one of the men got a cramp in his leg and began sinking fast. Mr. Nee motioned to one of the other men, who was an excellent swimmer, about the drowning man. To his astonishment, however, the man did not move. He just stood there and watched the drowning man.
 
Mr. Nee was agitated, but the swimmer was calm and collected. Meanwhile, the voice of the drowning man grew fainter and more desperate. Mr. Nee hated the swimmer who just stood and watched on the shore when he could have jumped into the river and rescued the drowning man. As the drowning man went under 
 for what looked like the last time, the swimmer was there in a moment, and both were soon safely on shore.
 
After the rescue, Mr. Nee chewed out the swimmer, accusing him of loving his life too much and being selfish. The response of the swimmer revealed, however, he knew what he was doing. He told Watchman that if he had gone too soon, the drowning man would have put a death grip on him and they would have both drowned in the river, and he was right. He told Mr. Nee that a drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.

Such is the case with our salvation. When we stop trying to save ourselves, then the Lord can step in and save us when we yield to Him. When you see the struggle that is a sign that you’re sensitive to sin and that is where God can help you.


 
Shared by 
Carolyn Thomas
Yeshoowa ministries

Monday 10 June 2013

Is the Lord’s arm too short?


Is the Lord’s arm too short?
                                 Numbers 11:23


God had led His people out of slavery in Egypt into the desert through Moses. They are on their way to the land He promised to Abraham hundreds of years earlier.

The Israelites had heard the stories about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They heard about Joseph being sold as a slave and rising to power in Egypt by God’s providence. But now they lived all of their life as a slave to the Egyptians.

But now it’s the time of deliverance for them! They saw the plagues inflicted on Egypt. They walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. They were following the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. It’s really happening. God was right in their midst. The miracles were real. God is real.

And yet…the desert is also real. It’s hot. It’s dry. There’s no food. There’s no water. Just a desert and a couple of million Israelites.

Sure, God got you out of Egypt–where there was enough food and water, by the way–but how in the world is He going to get you through this desert? You, along with everyone else, realize there’s no way this can turn out well, so you do what comes naturally…you grumble, you quarrel, you complain and you wail.
And God hears you.

God isn’t happy about all the whining, but in response to the faithless Israelites, God provides meat, manna and water. And in response to Moses’ complaining, God says:

“Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true.”

What are you lacking today? It’s probably not food or water, but it’s something. Are you sick? Do you have more bills than income? Are you in a strained relationship? What do you need G
od to do?

You may look around and see nothing but desert. There’s nothing around you to help your situation. No matter which way you turn there’s more desert.

Is the Lord’s arm too short? Is He really able to work in your circumstances?

The Israelites could not have imagined that manna would miraculously appear on the ground six days a week for forty years. They never would have guessed that water would gush from a rock.

You may not be able to see any possible way for God to meet your need. But what you can see or not see is irrelevant. The Lord can see. The Lord knows what to do. And at just the right time, He’ll act.

Keep seeking Him. Keep believing Him. Your faith is pleasing to Him and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Know this for sure: the Lord’s arm is not too short.

Amen! Hallelujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Twice owned!!


Tom carried his new boat to the edge of the river. He carefully placed it in the water and slowly let out the string. How smoothly the boat sailed! Tom sat in the warm sunshine, admiring the little boat that he had built. Suddenly a strong current caught the boat. Tom tried to pull it back to shore, but the string broke. The little boat raced downstream.

Tom ran along the sandy shore as fast as he could. But his little boat soon slipped out of sight. All afternoon he searched for the boat. Finally, when it was too dark to look any longer, Tom sadly went home.
A few days later, on the way home from school, Tom spotted a boat just like his in a store window. When he got closer, he could see -- sure enough -- it was his!

Tom hurried to the store manager: "Sir, that's my boat in your window! I made it!"
"Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you'll have to buy it for one dollar."

Tom ran home and counted all his money. Exactly one dollar! When he reached the store, he rushed to the counter. "Here's the money for my boat." As he left the store, Tom hugged his boat and said, "Now you're twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you."


This is exactly our state. In the beginning God created us so we are his. Then after mankind fell into sin Jesus came and paid the price for our redemption on the cross and bought us back. We are now twice owned by Jesus!! MADE and BOUGHT!!

Amen!! Halellujah!!

By Carolyn Thomas