He sacrificed his son to save the son's friend

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,  THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,  HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE   CONGREGATION  THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS  ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER  HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE  PULPIT  AND BEGAN TO SPEAK." A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE  SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST,"  HE BEGAN.   "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.  THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE    FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT  KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT  INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,  MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,  FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,   "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST  EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.  HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND  HE,  ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU,  SON!'  HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.  BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK  TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

 BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP  STRAIGHT  IN  THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.  "THE FATHER,"  HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD  STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT  BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED  HIS  SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. "

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE  SAME FOR US.  OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN  SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED.  I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE  LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."  WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN  HIS  CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND  DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT  THE  END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.   

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS  WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.  "THAT WAS A NICE STORY,"  POLITELY STATED ONE OF  THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A  FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT  THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."

 "WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED,  GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE.  A BIG SMILE BROADENED  HIS  NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS  AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT?  BUT,  I'M  STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES  ME A  GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE...    I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."

  

Remember the poor...

Galatians 2:10
They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.

In today's Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul recounts to the Galatians the instruction he received from the New Testament leaders in Jerusalem to 'remember the poor'. In our busy lives that have many distractions and demands, it might not always be easy for us to remember the poor.

So today, I just want to remind us all of our heavenly Father's heart. He is always for the marginalized, the poor and the disadvantaged of this world. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 how God has chosen the weak things of the world, the foolish things of the world, and the poor things of the world to confound those that are on top of the food chain.

May we all be a manifestation of His image today as we go about our busy lives. May we remember the poor wherever we go. Whether those we meet are poor in the financial sense or poor in the spiritual sense, may we not forget them. May we always be willing to share what has been so freely shared with us. May the generosity of our heavenly Father abound wherever we go! May we hold dear to our heart what is dear to His heart. And may we know that there is a blessing to those who are in poor in spirit to inherit the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

 Source from   www.fatherheart.tv 

Praying For Your Country

Ezekiel 22:30-31 Stand in the gap for your country.
Psalm 106:23
Jeremiah 12:11
1 Samuel 12:23 Recognize that failure to pray is sin.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 Persist in prayer for our national leaders and all in
authority.
Jeremiah 29:7 Seek the welfare of the city to which God has called you.
Romans 13:1 Acknowledge that leaders are in authority by God’s will.
Daniel 12:19-22 Pray that leaders will know that their office was granted to
them by God.
Job 34:30 Pray for the election of godly leaders and that godless
leaders will not hold positions of government.
Psalm 5:10 Pray that unrighteousness will be exposed in your leaders
and that God will remove them, if that is His will.
2 Peter 3:9 Pray that corrupt leaders will see the evil of their ways and
2 Chronicles 32:12-13 repent.
I Timothy 1:5-6 Pray that authorities will have a pure heart, good
conscience, and faith in Christ.
2 Samuel 23:3 Pray for just leaders to rule in the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 21:1 Pray that leaders will find wisdom and direction in God’s
Proverbs 2:10-11 truth.
Psalm 109:29 Pray that decisions will be made according to God’s truth.
Psalm 60:11-12 Pray for your country to rely on God.
Psalm 20:7
Psalm 127:1
Psalm 33:12 Pray that the God of your nation will be the Lord.
Proverbs 14:34 Pray that your nation will practice righteousness.
Psalm 119:29-30
Proverbs 29:2
Psalm 108:3-6, 11-13 Pray for God to protect your nation.
2 Chronicles 7:14 Pray for revival in the Church and spiritual awakening in
the nation.

Witout Jesus

Animal Symbols and meanings

Animal Symbols
Animal	Meaning	Region
Clean animals	Nations of the world ( in a religious context)	All
Unclean animals	Nations of the world	All
Unclean birds	Liars	Heaven
Dove	Holy Spirit	Heaven
Eagle	Destroyer	Heaven
Lamb, Bull	Jesus Christ	Earth
Lion	Satan, the roaring lion	Earth
Lion	Jesus, the lion of Judah	Earth
Sheep	Good people	Earth
Dog	Unclean sinful people (Gentiles)	Earth
Goat	Clean sinful people (Jews)	Earth
Scapegoat	Satan (the fallen clean one)	Wilderness
Serpent	Satan (the deceiver)	Earth
Dragon	Satan	Heaven and sea
Frogs	Evil leaders	Earth and sea
Fish	The wicked	Sea

Animal Symbols and meanings

Animal Symbols
Animal	Meaning	Region
Clean animals	Nations of the world ( in a religious context)	All
Unclean animals	Nations of the world	All
Unclean birds	Liars	Heaven
Dove	Holy Spirit	Heaven
Eagle	Destroyer	Heaven
Lamb, Bull	Jesus Christ	Earth
Lion	Satan, the roaring lion	Earth
Lion	Jesus, the lion of Judah	Earth
Sheep	Good people	Earth
Dog	Unclean sinful people (Gentiles)	Earth
Goat	Clean sinful people (Jews)	Earth
Scapegoat	Satan (the fallen clean one)	Wilderness
Serpent	Satan (the deceiver)	Earth
Dragon	Satan	Heaven and sea
Frogs	Evil leaders	Earth and sea
Fish	The wicked	Sea

Symbols

Meaning	Symbols
Church	Woman, moon, stars, Israel, Zion, flock
Leader, prophet	Man, star, horn, rock, tree
Jesus	Shepherd, lamb, morning star
People	Grass, sand, sea, hair
Power	Beast, animal, head, horn, mountain, rock
Sin, corruption	Darkness, Whore, fornication, abomination, unclean, wine, dregs, leaven, sea
Sanctuary	Lamp, bread, grape drink, incense, blood, clean flowing water, salt
Sacrifice	Circumcision, blood
Separation	Door, fence, wall
Judgment or trial	Measuring rod, scale, trumpets, cup
Judgment executed	Bow, sword or any weapon of destruction
War	Horses, locust
Victory	White robes, crown, palm branches
Our response	Eye, ear, hand, heart, forehead, tongue

Agricultural Symbols

Agricultural Symbols
Green	Life
Seed	Life
Tree	Israel
Withered Tree	Israel rejected
Tree watered	Israel fed by God with life
Grass	The living. People.
Wheat	Good people
Tares or weed	Evil people
Vineyard	Earth
Vine	Jesus
Attached to the vine	Linked to the source of life
Branches	People, king
Fruit	Characters
Wine press	Judgment
Season	Expects fruit in autumn
With Fruit	Good, affected by the Holy Spirit
Without Fruit	Bad in some seasons
Pruning	Building the perfect man
Grafting	Added to the people of God
Harvest	Gathering the fruits, separating food from weed. Judgment.
	www.lamporganisation.blogspot.com

Bank Account

"Jesus Hug"

Anger, Assurance, Burdens, Comfort

Things are to be used People are to be loved.

This is a story which many of us would have heard or read before. I thought of sharing it on my blog because I'm also a person who gets uncontrollable anger sometimes. When we are angry we never care for personal feelings, please try to remember this story whenever you get angry. It is very difficult to regain a broken relation or a broken heart. It is almost impossible to rectify some of our mistakes related to hurt feelings. Lets try to have patience at all times of our lives. Here comes the story...

While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car.

In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw his father….. with painful eyes he asked,

‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?’

The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times.

Devastated by his own actions…… sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written ‘LOVE YOU DAD’.

The next day that man committed suicide. . .

Anger and Love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life & remember this:

Things are to be used and people are to be loved.


The problem in today’s world is that people are used while things are loved.

Think about the story the next time when you get angry on someone or you see a baby crying. Think first before you lose your patience with someone you love. Broken bones, hurt feelings and a broken heart can't be fixed always.

We are allowed to make mistakes, but the actions that we take while in a rage will haunt us forever

Let’s try always to keep this thought in mind:
Things are to be used,
People are to be loved.

MATT 17:20

Guide Me Lord

Guide Me Lord

 

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill,

and to thy tabernacles... Psalm 43:3

Send out — That is, actually discover them.

Truth — Thy favour, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to

me; or the true-light, the illumination of thy spirit, and the direction of thy gracious

providence, whereby I may be led in the right way, to thy holy hill.

Hill — Of Zion, the place of God's presence and worship. 

♥ ♥ ♥ Merry Christmas ... :-) :-) ♥ ♥ ♥

What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul ?

What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul ?

reading of the day :- { mark 8 : 36 }

for = Luke 12:20,21...what will it = Luke  12:27,28,29...profit = Luke 13:24...a man = Mic 6:8...if he = Jonah 2:8...gains = 1 John 3:17...the whole world = 1 John 2:16...and loses = Eccl 11:9...His = Eccl 12:14...own soul = Luke 12:19,20

Lord punished our enemy's.....................Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.Romans 12:19 .

ASK...