As we look back on 2007 there are many things that happened in our personal lives. As I was reflecting back on 2007 there are some things that I could have done better ... I stumbled on ths article and thought I must share this with you. Very interesting read and it is our 08 ACFI theme
Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and great 2008 !
Jars of Clay
By Gail Rodgers
He handcrafted the clay baby cup with her name on it. It was beautifully glazed and I hardly wanted to let her use it. But he said, "Please use it, that's why I made it." And so we did. She loved her own cup with her own name on it!
Today the cup sits in her cupboard in her own kitchen. It is still beautifully glazed with her name on it. But the lines on it show where it was carefully glued back together. A clay pot is oh so sturdy yet oh so fragile!!
God calls us clay pots. And true to the name most of us sport cracks, carefully glued back together. We are oh so sturdy, yet oh so fragile. Why would God entrust clay pots with the light of His love? We try to fulfill His purposes but we get cracked and broken.
Yet His strategy is clear. He knows our weaknesses yet He chose clay pots anyway. He tells us why…
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7
Don't be ashamed of the cracks in your life. Don't be afraid to show how God has mended you. This is the testimony to the watching world. Our God fixes broken pieces!!
If you are broken today because of circumstances in your life, or because of choices you wish you had made differently, don't stay in pieces on the floor. If you know you have disappointed God in your walk or in your talk, tell Him you are sorry.
God will forgive you, pick you up and mend you. Changed lives, lives lived in the power of the Holy Spirit, demonstrate that it is His power at work in us. This is our hope. This is the hope we hold out to a needy world.
God uses you and me, cracked pots, to demonstrate His power. Stop the guilt trips and the pity parties and tap into the power that changes lives. Raise your voice in thankfulness to God who put His Spirit in us so that His amazing power is visible!!!
Allow Him to show through your cracks!!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Baptism
I am aware that baptism is a significant step in a Christian's life. This is evidently made clear by even Christ taking Baptism.
How important is this for our salvation? The example that comes to mind is when Christ is on the cross he tells the theif that "today you will be with me in paradise". Very concise and succint.
I would like to hear from you all
Do you have the zing for Christ?
How important is this for our salvation? The example that comes to mind is when Christ is on the cross he tells the theif that "today you will be with me in paradise". Very concise and succint.
I would like to hear from you all
Do you have the zing for Christ?
Friday, October 12, 2007
In first reconversion in MP, VHP to ‘purify’ 160 Christians today
Subject: In first reconversion in MP, VHP to ‘purify’ 160 Christians today- Oct.11,07 Indian Express story
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:19:54 -0700
Indian Express story
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:06:51 -0700
Subject: In first reconversion in MP, VHP to ‘purify’ 160 Christians today - Milind Ghatwai
DEWAS (MP), OCTOBER 10: In the first “reconversion ceremony” in Madhya Pradesh, as many as 160 Christians will be “returned to the Hindu fold”tomorrow by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shree Sampraday Seva Samiti.
The Sampraday is identified with Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj whose followers protested at airports after he was denied permission to board aplane with his mace.
Hard News Jagran Newspaper Confirming this,VHP Dewas district secretary Nandkishore Dwivedi told The Indian Express that 160 Christians will be “purified” amid “rituals” and “chanting of hymns” at the Chimnabai Girls Higher Secondary School in Dewas town’s Meera Bawdi locality. Converts from Gujarat and Maharashtra along with those from two tribal-dominated talukas of Dewas district “will return to the Hindufold” at a day-long ceremony that will begin with “a three-hour purification process”, the first such ceremony in the state. Even in Jhabua district, where Hindu organizations accused Christians of converting tribals in large numbers, no “reconversion” ceremony ever took place.
“We haven’t forced anyone. They have all agreed to return to their original faith willingly and have given us affidavits,” Dwivedi said. He said locals were “scared to convert”, so the organisers “decided to bring converts from Gujarat and Maharashtra” as well. Followers of Narendracharya said that in the last 18 months he had
brought back to the Hindu fold some 26,000 families who had “strayed to other religions”.
Posters announcing the “reconversion” have come up all over Dewas, forcing police to take precautionary measures. There’s already tension in town with the function organizers alleging that several posters were torn last night. They have even lodged complaints with the police. Sampraday’s MP unit chief Rajendra Garud warned that if more posters were torn, followers would be forced to act like they did when the Swami was not allowed to board a plane with his mace.
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:19:54 -0700
Indian Express story
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:06:51 -0700
Subject: In first reconversion in MP, VHP to ‘purify’ 160 Christians today - Milind Ghatwai
DEWAS (MP), OCTOBER 10: In the first “reconversion ceremony” in Madhya Pradesh, as many as 160 Christians will be “returned to the Hindu fold”tomorrow by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shree Sampraday Seva Samiti.
The Sampraday is identified with Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj whose followers protested at airports after he was denied permission to board aplane with his mace.
Hard News Jagran Newspaper Confirming this,VHP Dewas district secretary Nandkishore Dwivedi told The Indian Express that 160 Christians will be “purified” amid “rituals” and “chanting of hymns” at the Chimnabai Girls Higher Secondary School in Dewas town’s Meera Bawdi locality. Converts from Gujarat and Maharashtra along with those from two tribal-dominated talukas of Dewas district “will return to the Hindufold” at a day-long ceremony that will begin with “a three-hour purification process”, the first such ceremony in the state. Even in Jhabua district, where Hindu organizations accused Christians of converting tribals in large numbers, no “reconversion” ceremony ever took place.
“We haven’t forced anyone. They have all agreed to return to their original faith willingly and have given us affidavits,” Dwivedi said. He said locals were “scared to convert”, so the organisers “decided to bring converts from Gujarat and Maharashtra” as well. Followers of Narendracharya said that in the last 18 months he had
brought back to the Hindu fold some 26,000 families who had “strayed to other religions”.
Posters announcing the “reconversion” have come up all over Dewas, forcing police to take precautionary measures. There’s already tension in town with the function organizers alleging that several posters were torn last night. They have even lodged complaints with the police. Sampraday’s MP unit chief Rajendra Garud warned that if more posters were torn, followers would be forced to act like they did when the Swami was not allowed to board a plane with his mace.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Eating food presented to idols
Friends,
This has been a topic that I have debated for a long time. When you either suspect or know that food (sweets) that have been presented to idols are offered to you as Christians ( who love others unconditionally) how should we react?
Sometimes it has put me in a very uncomfortable situation. During some Indian festivals friends share sweets with you. What do you do? I have said "Sorry it is against my religion".
Would like to hear from you all :)
This has been a topic that I have debated for a long time. When you either suspect or know that food (sweets) that have been presented to idols are offered to you as Christians ( who love others unconditionally) how should we react?
Sometimes it has put me in a very uncomfortable situation. During some Indian festivals friends share sweets with you. What do you do? I have said "Sorry it is against my religion".
Would like to hear from you all :)
Friday, September 14, 2007
Prayer
Greetings to all :
Let me start this blog with a quote from Billy Graham
"The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. "
I would like to use this as a forum where we can share, learn, express your opinions on topics that could lead us to deeper thought provoking debates.
Is there a style you have to follow? Can I pray in my car? (Of course not with my eyes closed) Btw, does prayer have to be done with eyes closed?
Let me start this blog with a quote from Billy Graham
"The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. "
I would like to use this as a forum where we can share, learn, express your opinions on topics that could lead us to deeper thought provoking debates.
Is there a style you have to follow? Can I pray in my car? (Of course not with my eyes closed) Btw, does prayer have to be done with eyes closed?
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