The best gift to your child
Five-year-old Deepak used to sleep alone in his room. One day his father was with him at bedtime. Deepak wanted his father to tell him some stories, which he did.
After quite some time Deepak felt sleepy and told his father, “Now, Daddy, I have to say my prayers.” He knelt down beside his bed, joined his hands, raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “now I lay down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” This was his usual prayer, but that night he looked up at his Dad, then raised his eyes to heaven and prayed aloud, “Dear God, make me a great big good man, like my Daddy. Thank you God.” In a moment he was in bed and in five minutes he slept.
And then the father knelt by his son’s bedside and prayed “Dear Lord, make me a great big good man like my boy thinks I am.”
Every child holds a very high opinion about its parents. It is left to the parents to come up to that opinion. The best gift that parents can offer to their children is their own life’s example.
BY,
RSV RAJ
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
What is God like?
A man who had been blind from birth once asked someone to give him a glass of milk and queried, “What does milk look like?” The other man answered, “Milk is a white liquid”. The blind man asked, “But what do you mean by white?” The other man answered, “White is the colour of a swan”. The blind man asked, “What is a swan?” The other replied, “A swan is a bird with a bent neck”. The blind man asked again, “What does bent mean?” The other man said, “I will bend my elbow and you will touch it, and then you will know what bent means”.
The blind man touched the bent elbow of the other man and said, “Now I know what milk looks like!”
In a book, even in the Bible, only words can be used to tell about God. These might seem ridiculous to you, as it seems ridiculous for a blind man to know the appearance of milk from a bent elbow. But we are all very limited and by nature blind to the all- comprehensive, omniscient, omnipotent God. We come to know Him by approximations. Read the words, forget about them, look at the ear, the dandelion, the bumble bee, and simply believe that God is!
By,
RSV RAJ
A man who had been blind from birth once asked someone to give him a glass of milk and queried, “What does milk look like?” The other man answered, “Milk is a white liquid”. The blind man asked, “But what do you mean by white?” The other man answered, “White is the colour of a swan”. The blind man asked, “What is a swan?” The other replied, “A swan is a bird with a bent neck”. The blind man asked again, “What does bent mean?” The other man said, “I will bend my elbow and you will touch it, and then you will know what bent means”.
The blind man touched the bent elbow of the other man and said, “Now I know what milk looks like!”
In a book, even in the Bible, only words can be used to tell about God. These might seem ridiculous to you, as it seems ridiculous for a blind man to know the appearance of milk from a bent elbow. But we are all very limited and by nature blind to the all- comprehensive, omniscient, omnipotent God. We come to know Him by approximations. Read the words, forget about them, look at the ear, the dandelion, the bumble bee, and simply believe that God is!
By,
RSV RAJ
Sunday, September 16, 2007
LET US ENJOY LIFE HERE AND NOW
Once a philosopher asked the emperor Alexander: “Your Excellency, what will be your next goal after conquering Rome?” “Cicily is next to Rome. It will be an easy task. So my next aim is to conquer Cicily,” he replied.
“After that…?” the philosopher continued.“After that I will turn to Africa and defeat Carthage.” “After Carthage?”
“Greece will be my next target.”
Again the philosopher asked courteously, “Your Excellency, if you don’t mind, please explain me the advantage of all these victories?”
“After conquering the world I will enjoy my life in peace.”
“Then why don’t you enjoy your life now?”
History reveals that his dreams were not fulfilled. He had to bid farewell to this world long before he could sit and enjoy life in peace. His kingdom got divided. He met with the same fate that doomed the lives of many who wished to become the wealthiest and mightiest in the world. Life cannot be maintained happily with our achievements and gains. We do not need anything new in order to make our life more joyful. The presumption that more wealth and status would give us more happiness is foolishness. We can maintain happiness in life, here and now. For that, we need a serene heart. We can derive it from our faith and dependence in God.
Ambition to become bigger and greater will gradually destroy our serenity of heart. When we travel in a fast-moving vehicle, we would feel the trees and the crowd outside flashing away quickly. On the other hand, if the vehicle runs in a moderate speed the pictures by the wayside can be seen very clearly. Similarly, we will be able to experience the beauty of a flower, the warmth of moonlight and the tenderness of relationships only if we make our minds calm.Over speed can always cause danger. So we must find out enough time to pray, to love, to be alone in solitude… If we gain everything in life and miss happiness, that will be a big tragedy. “This time you will not have to leave in a hurry; you will not be trying to escape. The Lord your God will lead you on every side”
By,
RSV RAJ
Once a philosopher asked the emperor Alexander: “Your Excellency, what will be your next goal after conquering Rome?” “Cicily is next to Rome. It will be an easy task. So my next aim is to conquer Cicily,” he replied.
“After that…?” the philosopher continued.“After that I will turn to Africa and defeat Carthage.” “After Carthage?”
“Greece will be my next target.”
Again the philosopher asked courteously, “Your Excellency, if you don’t mind, please explain me the advantage of all these victories?”
“After conquering the world I will enjoy my life in peace.”
“Then why don’t you enjoy your life now?”
History reveals that his dreams were not fulfilled. He had to bid farewell to this world long before he could sit and enjoy life in peace. His kingdom got divided. He met with the same fate that doomed the lives of many who wished to become the wealthiest and mightiest in the world. Life cannot be maintained happily with our achievements and gains. We do not need anything new in order to make our life more joyful. The presumption that more wealth and status would give us more happiness is foolishness. We can maintain happiness in life, here and now. For that, we need a serene heart. We can derive it from our faith and dependence in God.
Ambition to become bigger and greater will gradually destroy our serenity of heart. When we travel in a fast-moving vehicle, we would feel the trees and the crowd outside flashing away quickly. On the other hand, if the vehicle runs in a moderate speed the pictures by the wayside can be seen very clearly. Similarly, we will be able to experience the beauty of a flower, the warmth of moonlight and the tenderness of relationships only if we make our minds calm.Over speed can always cause danger. So we must find out enough time to pray, to love, to be alone in solitude… If we gain everything in life and miss happiness, that will be a big tragedy. “This time you will not have to leave in a hurry; you will not be trying to escape. The Lord your God will lead you on every side”
By,
RSV RAJ
Song and Silence
A shepherd said to a nightingale, “sing!” The nightingale replied, “The frogs make too much noise. It takes away the pleasure of singing. Don’t you hear them?” the shepherd said, “I surely do, but only your silence makes me hear them”.
Walk through the world singing the song of Jesus. It is to your shame if so many words of hatred and unbelief are heard.
By,
RSV RAJ
A shepherd said to a nightingale, “sing!” The nightingale replied, “The frogs make too much noise. It takes away the pleasure of singing. Don’t you hear them?” the shepherd said, “I surely do, but only your silence makes me hear them”.
Walk through the world singing the song of Jesus. It is to your shame if so many words of hatred and unbelief are heard.
By,
RSV RAJ
Friday, September 14, 2007
WORSHIP
A man dreamed that an angel escorted him to church one Sunday. There he saw the organist vigorously playing the organ, but no sound was heard. The choir and the congregation began to sing, but he heard no voices. When the minister stood up to pray, his lips moved but he heard nothing.
The man was amazed as he turned to his guide.
“You hear anything?” said the angel.
“No,” was the reply.
The angel replied, “You’re right, because there is nothing to hear. These people are not engaged in worship - only in the form of worship. Their hearts are not touched, and this silence is the silence that is yet unbroken by God”.
By,
RSV RAJ
A man dreamed that an angel escorted him to church one Sunday. There he saw the organist vigorously playing the organ, but no sound was heard. The choir and the congregation began to sing, but he heard no voices. When the minister stood up to pray, his lips moved but he heard nothing.
The man was amazed as he turned to his guide.
“You hear anything?” said the angel.
“No,” was the reply.
The angel replied, “You’re right, because there is nothing to hear. These people are not engaged in worship - only in the form of worship. Their hearts are not touched, and this silence is the silence that is yet unbroken by God”.
By,
RSV RAJ
Thursday, September 13, 2007
YOU SAY & GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)You say: "I'm not smart enough"God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
By,
Roy Thampi
You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)You say: "I'm not smart enough"God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
By,
Roy Thampi
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