Make The New Year A Year Of Changes In Your Life

Wish you all a very Happy New Year 2018 filled with peace, success, and prosperity.  May God bless you all, fulfill your desires and do miracles in life. May God cover you with His healing hands restoring you to good health.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)

During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ touched and transformed countless lives. Many Healing Miracles are recorded in the Bible.  Jesus still heals people as he did two thousand years ago.  Are you sick and looking for healing? Is there someone you know in need of God’s touch and healing? If you have faith in Jesus, lift all the sick people up to the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ. Download Prayer Book for the sick and pray daily with strong faith. If you believe and pray, he will surely heal the sick. Remember, when you pray for others, they get healing and you get more blessings.

Forget the past, forgive others who have done anything wrong to you or your family. Thank everyone who has done well in your life. Thank God for everything he has done for you, not just for the good things, but also for the pains. Believe that those pains are given just for purifying you. Do not pray only for you and your family, but pray for all the sick and needed people in the world. When you pray for others, they will get the blessing as well as God will bless you also.

Take a decision not to do anything wrong to anyone or hurt anyone with words or deeds. If possible try to attend the church daily, or at least on every Sunday. Have good confession as frequent as possible, at least once in a month. Do pray and give thanks to God in the morning and before bed.

Have you set any goals for 2018? Find Successful Goal Setting Advice And Motivational Quotes

May God Bless You All. Kindly remember me and my family in your prayers.

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a parable told by Jesus and is mentioned in only one of the gospels of the New Testament.

Luke 10:25-37

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii,gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

How many times we ignored persons who were suffering or need help? How many times we ignored our neighbours, relatives or other persons during our travel who were in need of help? Are we able to inherit eternal life? Let us pray to God to send the Holy Spirit on us and bless us to become good samaritans.

The Gift of Love

“Am I Loved?”  “Do I Love?” If we can answer to these two questions, then we can understand what is Love. Is it like give and take? No, if you do not get love also, you can give love to others. But today for many people it is give and take away. We love people from whom we get something.  Through below bible verses St. Paul clearly saying what is Love.

In today’s world we can see all kind of people about whom St. Paul is mentioned below. Many people smile but not with love from heart, they make us feel like they are angels to us, but in reality they are like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  They smile only for their benefit. Some people have prophetic powers, healing powers and much more blessings of the Lord, but sometimes they have no love to others and poor. May be it is not their fault, it can be a play of Satan also. Some people give many donations, but not out of love, may be for the benefit of tax exemption or such things. It doesn’t mean all people doing charity are like this. Many good people are doing many charity and helping the poor with love.

From verses 4 to 7 is very important. Let us think about our daily life. Are we patient? Are we kind to others, especially with poor? How  many times we were envious, boastful, arrogant or rude? How many times we thought just our benefit only and forgot others problems? How many times we rejoiced when we saw our enemies or dislike persons were in trouble?  How many times we ignored rejoicing in truth, just because that happened with a person whom we do not like?

It is time for us to think, change our attitude and try to love each other. In today’s world people fight each other, no love.

St. Paul speak about the Gift of Love in 1 Corinthians 13

1. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; ⁵ it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. ¹³ So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Taming the Tongue

Dictionary meaning of Tongue – The fleshy, movable, muscular organ, attached in most vertebrates to the floor of the mouth, that is the principal organ of taste, an aid in chewing and swallowing, and, in humans, an important organ of speech.

See the importance of tongue. Tongue can identify taste and force us to eat more or not to eat things which do not we like. Tongue can say good words to make others happy or can say words hurting others. Words from tongue can prove the personality and character of a person, Some words can console others and some can make angry to others. Sometimes a single word can create big quarrel.  Below bible verses warning us how to use the tongue. Let us pray to God to give us strength to produce only good words.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. (James1:26)

 

James 3:1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Responsibilities of Wives and Husbands

Read the below bible verses to understand what the scriptures say about married life. In today’s world are we following the same? Verses 6 says “Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord“. But today many wives call their husband by name or something else which do not have any respect. Today not only women, even men also are after fashion, ornaments and make their outward look beautiful. Verses 4 asking the wives to “let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.” But who cares or listen to these words. Read the verses 1 to know the hidden quality of a woman. How many wives know this, and how many try to follow this,

Verses 7 is for husbands. Many husbands take advantage of the weakness of their wives. Many think wives have to do only what they like and if they say anything against, the quarrel start. Divorce has become a fashion these days. They are not even bothered about the future of their own children.

1 Peter 3:1-7

Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; ⁴ rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. ⁵ It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. ⁶ Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.

⁷ Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.

Let us  pray to God give us strength to follow the scriptures and lead a happy married life according to the will of God, May the Holy Spirit bless our family and help to live together till the end of life.

What to do in new year 2015 ?

If you could spend the next year as someone radically different from the current “you” — a member of a different species, someone from a different gender or generation, etc. — who would you choose to be?

Happy New Year 2015.

God has given us one more new day, new year. It is the time for us to remember all the good things happened in the last year and also the sufferings, diseases we received, We must thank God for both, Some of the sufferings and disease you received might have helped you to change your life, helped you to seek God and pray more than earlier. When we get sufferings and disease sometimes we think that it is happened as a punishment to our wrong deeds. But that is not the truth. Those sufferings and diseases are just a way to purify your heart, change your wrong deeds and paths, Instead of complaining to God, we must thank God for the same and pray to purify with his blood. When we are purified with the blood of Jesus, our heart fill with joy and peace,

We should take a vow today to change our life, remove and avoid all bad habits like drinking liquor, addicted to visiting bad sites and any such. We should try to help others as much we can, especially the poor, We must try our best to spread the Word of God through our blog, words and deeds. We must pray for others who are in need of our prayers, who are sick, who are away from God. We must make a habit to attend the church and prayers regularly. It is duty of every christian to proclaim the Word of God,

How much we spent on decorations, fireworks, picnic, liquor etc? When we celebrated and enjoyed new year like this, how many shelter less, poor were suffering without food for a meal? Have we ever thought of it? If a small part of the money which we spent on the above how many shelter less would have got a place to sleep, how many would have got a piece of warm cloth on this winter, how many hungry would have happy with one time meal in a day? If we had helped any person in any kind as said, Jesus would have been very happy with us. Let us pray for change in attitude of the people.

May Jesus bless you and your family, make the year 2015 prosperous filled with peace and joy.

New Skin        Be the Change

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of Holy Communion. I found this in net – Who Can Receive Communion?

Let us read the below bible verses and think how many times we have received the Holy Communion without examining our sins, without timely confession and repentance. Some people reach the church for  the Holy Mass late, after sermon or sometimes just a few minutes before the Holy Communion, but they simply go and accept it. Is it correct? St. Paul says in below verses that “27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.” . Some people do not follow the word of God and going to the church, attending the Holy Mass, receiving Holy Communion all have become a routine job for them. Let us pray to God to give us strength to understand the word of God and follow the same as per the will of God.

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30 For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head

In today’s world while praying at home or in the church women do not use veil. As per the below bible verses it is not correct. I am not an expert in explaining the bible, just a normal man only. But in my childhood days and even now I see many women put some cloth on their head while praying. But for some women, it is a fashion or may be they are not aware of the bible verses or custom which a christian woman should follow.  Kindly read the below bible verses in which St. Paul clearly saying what we should follow as Christians.

1 Corinthians 11:2-11

Head Coverings

2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, 5 but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. 7 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. 8 Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 10 For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

Your opinion and thoughts on this matter are welcomed.

What to do to continue in holiness.

Below list is prepared with inspiration received from attending retreat in Sehion retreat centre and from their book inner healing retreat helper.

Do at least one hour personal prayer daily.

Do intercessory prayer for the whole world.

Be regular in sacramental life. Attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion whenever possible and not just on obligatory days. Do confession often and receive spiritual blessing.

In your word and deed spread the message that Jesus is the only saviour.

Do gospel work. For eg. send people for retreats, distribute spiritual books, publish blogs related to word of God etc.

Do not avoid Family prayer, Holy Rosary, Prayer in groups.

Do not keep angry with others in mind. Pray with forgiveness and fasting for your enemies, who hurt you and whom you hurt.

Do fasting prayer once in a week.

Pray for Holy Spirit filling.

Do each work in the name of Jesus. Recite the name of Jesus whenever possible.

Be regular in tithe giving.

Everything is God’s gift, hence remove greediness and behave humble.

Read Holy Bible at least 30 mins, study word of God and meditate daily.

Pray for spreading the word of God in the whole world.

To continue spiritual blessings attend renewal retreats often.

Avoid all kinds of bad friendship, situations, reading, internet activities, chat etc.

Do eldering and pastoring as and when necessary.

Frequent repentance will lead to frequent inner healing and feeling of God’s love.

Be regular in charity.

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What is your opinion? Do you feel it is easy and good?

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

Think about today’s wold. People know about God, go to church, pray daily but everything is just as a routine work. They are become wicked. They forget about God’s invisible qualities, eternal power and divine nature. They know that God can see every wrong what the do, but still they do the same wrong again and again. They do confession, but again do same sin. So God give them pain, diseases.

Today technology has improved a lot, just touch of a finger tip we can do many things sitting at home or travelling. This made people to think they are wise, but the scripture says that “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools“. Because people have no time for God, but have time for other worldly pleasures.

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.(Romans 1:18-25)

Above bible verses 24 is a true these days. Internet is one of the main medium for this.

Below verses speak what is happening today. We read news about this lust and sinful unnatural relations. Even some people are fighting for this and according to them all these are good for happiness. Satan is playing a great role on this.

²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:26-32)

Each and every word written in above verses is really true and fact these days. Fighting each other, killing, children do not obey parents or elders and do whatever they like.

Let us pray to God to have mercy on us, change the world, send the Holy Spirit to the mind of such people for repentance. Lord save this world.

Jesus can change our life

In today’s new technology world we have many medium for entertainment, social networking which all sometimes make us to addicted to that happiness. We forget the God, we have no time for God. I also was like that. I was addicted to internet, not blogging or any useful way, but just entertainment. I used to be on net without proper sleep. I got sick. At that time, I realised my mistake. I started changing. Started praying daily timely. Earlier also I used to pray, but that was just to fulfill the routine. As advised by spiritual leaders I attended inner healing retreats in Sehion Retreat Centre. Spiritual talks, counselling, meditation all helped me to change. Now I feel much better, feel happiness, but not like earlier. In the Retreat Centre, I found a Prayer Book for the Sick which I pray daily. From my experience, I suggest every sick person must pray with this book. You must pray for your friends/relatives who are sick. Praying for others is a good thing. God will heal them with your prayers and he will bless you. Now I started this Blog to spread the word of God. I am not a preacher, not a writer, but a simple man. Still trying to do my best through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Are you addicted to internet just for entertainment ? Do you have any such experience which changed your life? If yes, share with others in the comment below. Reading experience of a person help other person to think and change his life.

Misuse of the tongue – Sins of the tongue

You need your tongue to chew, swallow, and sing. You taste with it, talk with it, and sometimes even stick it out! What is evil tongue? A tongue which speak evil things is an evil tongue. A tongue can make friends, make enemies, make another person happy, make another person cry and much more. So a tongue is very powerful part of the human body. It is apparent that we all have within our power many uses of the tongue that are good and acceptable with God. But there are specific references to types of misuse of the tongue as well. You witness the misuse of the tongue every day. Whether it is your classmates who gossip and betray one another, or people who verbally abuse each other, you see it all the time! The tongue can be a powerful tool for good or a powerful weapon for those who are bent on evil. The tongue has the ability to determine the direction of our lives. It can make or break us.  The tongue is certainly an essential tool in carrying out our God given responsibilities. It is safe to say that any misuse of the tongue like cursing, backbiting, lying, spreading rumour, or presenting false doctrine is done to cover up a weakness. If one is able to control his tongue, he is a mature person able to control his whole body. Lack of control means just the opposite of control and is an indication of gross immaturity.

We want to see how specifically the Scriptures speak out against sins of the tongue.

¹² If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
    if you spit on it, it will be put out;
    yet both come out of your mouth.

¹³ Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
    for they destroy the peace of many.

¹⁴ Slander has shaken many,
    and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
    and overturned the houses of the great.

¹⁵ Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,
    and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.

¹⁶ Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,
    nor will they settle down in peace.

¹⁷ The blow of a whip raises a welt,
    but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.

¹⁸ Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
    but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.

¹⁹ Happy is the one who is protected from it,
    who has not been exposed to its anger,
who has not borne its yoke,
    and has not been bound with its fetters.

²⁰ For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
    and its fetters are fetters of bronze;

²¹ its death is an evil death,
    and Hades is preferable to it.

²² It has no power over the godly;
    they will not be burned in its flame.

²³ Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
    it will burn among them and will not be put out.
It will be sent out against them like a lion;
    like a leopard it will mangle them.

^24a As you fence in your property with thorns,
^25b     so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
^24b As you lock up your silver and gold,
^25a     so make balances and scales for your words.

²⁶ Take care not to err with your tongue,
    and fall victim to one lying in wait. (Sirach 28:12 to 26)

Obviously we have all misused our tongues. Think of a situation you remember where you sinned in this way. If possible try to ask pardon to that person you hurt with your tongue, else remember him in your prayers and ask pardon in prayer to God for the sin done with your tongue. Ready, Set, Done

The Meaning of Happiness Changes Over Your Lifetime

Staying happy and enjoying life appear to be the key to staying healthy in old age. Love and affection from partner, children, grand children are necessary in old age. This is a very good post for every one to read, especially for the young who do not take care of the old, but put them in old age homes.

Center for Advanced Hindsight

The following is a scientific and personal article written by CAH member Troy Campbell about happiness.

One lovely afternoon, I began chatting to my grandpa. I was completely unaware he was about to say something that would change my view of happiness forever.

In the middle of our conversation, I felt a lull so I pulled out the classic question. “If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be?” I couldn’t wait to talk about my long list of dead presidents, dead Beatles, dead scientists, and a really cute living movie star. But I was also really eager to hear what he’d say.

Then he simply answered, “My wife.”

I immediately assured him it’s not necessary for him to answer like that. We all knew he loves his wife, whom he eats dinner with every night and was currently over in the other room…

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Who is Jesus Christ in your life ?

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full “(John 10:10)

Why is Jesus Christ important to you? Jesus is the only way for us to live an abundant life here on earth, or receive eternal life in fellowship with God. Jesus is the only one who can forgive and transform us, thereby delivering us from the power and penalty of sin:

“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

How has Jesus influenced your life? Are you ready to accept Jesus as saviour ?

How are you at receiving criticism?

It is human nature to get angry, make criticism for silly matters. We never like to receive criticism, but we are always ready to make criticism. I prefer that others treat me well, but many times I am unable to do that with others.  Some people can successfully lead a happy life without receiving a single piece of constructive criticism or brutal honesty. Some people become brutally honest as a defense mechanism to deflect criticism of their own deficiencies or shortcomings.

Below are a few Bible quotes about criticism.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:1-2)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

How are you at receiving criticism? Do you prefer that others treat you with kid gloves, or go for brutal honesty? Daily Prompt

You are welcome to share your answer in comment.

The CEO And The Old Homeless Man

Madamsabi's Blog

One day a woman was walking down the street when she spied a beggar sitting on the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven, and ragged. As he sat there, pedestrians walked by him giving him dirty looks they clearly wanted nothing to do with him because of who he was — a dirty, homeless man. However, when she saw him, the woman was moved to compassion.

It was very cold that day and the man had his tattered coat — more like an old suit coat rather than a warm coat — wrapped around him. She stopped and looked down. “Sir?” She asked. “Are you all right?”

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make…

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Silence and Speech – How to speak with others?

Stone once thrown can not be taken back and we do not know where will it hit and make damage. Just like that words once said can not be taken back and sometimes it can hurt someone more than you intended to. Therefore it is very important that take a moment to think before speak, no matter your mood. Choose your words wisely or else it can become costly to you.  Are your co-workers better off after having a conversation with you? Is your speech building-up others or pulling them down?

Jesus Christ changes every aspect of your life for the better, and this includes the way you speak to the people you work with. Honouring Christ in every conversation is an altogether more important personal attribute. If you are angry, it’s probably best not to say too much until you cool down. Below are some of the Holy Bible verses about how to use your words.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19)

For some people the problem is that they do not listen to others or do not give time for others to speak. They are fast in speak, over riding while other speaking, very fast to get angry. Once they get angry, none can control them.

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

Above verses is very true. Sometimes one word from a person can make other person angry and that angry mood force him to do anything which he does not want or wish to do.  Sometimes even that lead to death of one person.

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips. (Ecclesiastes 10:12)
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Proverbs 17:28)
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape. (Proverbs 11:9)

Just think about this, how many times your words wounded the neighbour, the co-worker in office, friends, relatives, parents, children? Might have become enemy to neighbour, might have lost the job just because of the wrong words.

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person. (Matthew 15:11)

This is very true, but we do not understand this. If soft, good words comes out from your mouth, people will say good about you, people will like you. But if you always speak bad words, fight with others, hurt others with your words, then none will like you.

  Silence and Speech

1.There is a rebuke that is untimely,
    and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.
² How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!
³ And the one who admits his fault will be kept from failure.
⁴ Like a eunuch lusting to violate a girl
    is the person who does right under compulsion.
⁵ Some people keep silent and are thought to be wise,
    while others are detested for being talkative.
⁶ Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,
    while others keep silent because they know when to speak.
⁷ The wise remain silent until the right moment,
    but a boasting fool misses the right moment.
⁸ Whoever talks too much is detested,
    and whoever pretends to authority is hated. (Sirach 20:1-8)

If anything from this post strike your  mind, make your comment below.

The False Attractions of Adultery

Adultery is one of the most frequently and severely condemned sins in the Bible. What is Adultery? For Christians, adultery is the sin of a married man having sexual relations with anyone other than his wife or a married woman having sexual relations with anyone other than her husband.  The Bible does not mention any possible exceptions. As long as a couple is legally married, sex with anyone else is considered adultery. In Bible teachings, marriage is an exclusive romantic and sexual relationship between husband and wife.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Look at this verses and think how many times it happen in a day in your life.

² But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

⁴ For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

⁵ Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (Corinthians 7:2-5)

One of the reason for unhappy married life and divorce is  menioned in above verses. Not understanding duty of each other in married life.

Below Bible verses mentioning about youth, but in today’s world, people of any age are getting into adultery. The internet has become one of the main medium for this sin. Satan tempting good people to false attractions of Adultery through visiting such sites, watching such videos, chating with such people.

The False Attractions of Adultery (Proverbs 7)

1 My child, keep my words
    and store up my commandments with you;

² keep my commandments and live,
    keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;

³ bind them on your fingers,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and call insight your intimate friend,

⁵ that they may keep you from the loose woman,
    from the adulteress with her smooth words.

⁶ For at the window of my house
    I looked out through my lattice,

⁷ and I saw among the simple ones,
    I observed among the youths,
    a young man without sense,

⁸ passing along the street near her corner,
    taking the road to her house

⁹ in the twilight, in the evening,
    at the time of night and darkness.

¹⁰ Then a woman comes toward him,
    decked out like a prostitute, wily of heart.

¹¹ She is loud and wayward;
    her feet do not stay at home;

¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
    and at every corner she lies in wait.

¹³ She seizes him and kisses him,
    and with impudent face she says to him:

¹⁴ “I had to offer sacrifices,
    and today I have paid my vows;

¹⁵ so now I have come out to meet you,
    to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!

¹⁶ I have decked my couch with coverings,
    colored spreads of Egyptian linen;

¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
    aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
    let us delight ourselves with love.

¹⁹ For my husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.

²⁰ He took a bag of money with him;
    he will not come home until full moon.”

²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him;
    with her smooth talk she compels him.

²² Right away he follows her,
    and goes like an ox to the slaughter,
or bounds like a stag toward the trap

²³     until an arrow pierces its entrails.
He is like a bird rushing into a snare,
    not knowing that it will cost him his life.

²⁴ And now, my children, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

²⁵ Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways;
    do not stray into her paths.

²⁶ For many are those she has laid low,
    and numerous are her victims.

²⁷ Her house is the way to Sheol,
    going down to the chambers of death.

The damage adultery causes often cannot be undone. It often leads to unhappy married life and divorce. It robs the children of the love and security of a healthy family.

I can’t get no satisfaction

Duty towards neighbour

What is our duty towards God, and towards our neighbour?
We all have neighbours near our home or work. Are we on good terms with them? Are we helping them in their need?
Being on good terms with neighbour has numerous benefits. Being on bad terms with neighbour can make life frustrating, day after day.

Think about the below questions and try to change your life as per the will of God.

Do you show your neighbours a warm welcome and extend a helping hand ?
Are you kind to your neighbours and respect them ?
If they need to borrow something from you,  do you provide them with it when you can ?
If they ask you for help do you help them ?
Do you ignore helping them, especially elderly or disabled neighbour ?
Do you try to ease their pain when they fall into sadness ?
Do you make fun of the way they live, talk, or dress ?

The Bible contains uplifting and encouraging scriptures for any situation you may face in life, and will guide you in your walk with Christ. Below are selected Bible verses that will offer biblically based guidance about duties toward neighbour.

28    Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29   Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.

30  Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you. (Proverbs 3 Verses 28-30)

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)

For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (James 2:8)

Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. (Romans 15:2)

 

Is it necessary to consult Doctor when sick ?

Some people think and say that they don’t require to consult a Doctor when they are ill. Some people do not take medicines. According to them only with prayer they can get healed, no medicine is required. No doubt, prayer will heal and prayer is a must in life. But that doesn’t mean that you should not consult a Doctor when you are sick. God select and assign particular profession/job to a person. He has a plan to do so. Think about  you, you might had a vision or interest to become a Doctor. But unfortunately you could not get admission in medical, and now you are a teacher/engineer. That is God’s plan. He wants your service in that field.  Lord created the Doctor and he is a selected person by God to treat the sick. God given him the gift of healing. You might have heard many Doctors saying that only God can cure this person. That shows his trust in God. Many times miracles happen with his trust and prayerful treatment.

Let us see what the scripture says about Doctor in Sirach Chapter 38  Verses 1 to 8

1   Honor physicians for their services,
for the Lord created them;
2   for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
and they are rewarded by the king.
3   The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
and in the presence of the great they are admired.
4   The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
and the sensible will not despise them.
5   Was not water made sweet with a tree
in order that its power might be known?
6   And he gave skill to human beings
that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.
7   By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
8     the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God’s works will never be finished;
and from him health spreads over all the earth.

Again in Sirach Chapter 38  Verses 9 to 15 it is written what we should do when we are ill.

9    My child, when you are ill, do not delay,
but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
10  Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,
and cleanse your heart from all sin.
11  Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of choice flour,
and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.
12  Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
do not let him leave you, for you need him.
13  There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,
14     for they too pray to the Lord
that he grant them success in diagnosis
and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.
15   He who sins against his Maker,
will be defiant toward the physician.

It is written that pray to the Lord, cleanse your heart from all sin, give offering as much as you can afford, then give the physician his place.
In verses 13 and 14  it is clearly written ” [13] There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians, [14] for they too pray to the Lord that he grant them success in diagnosis and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.” It is true and you might have realised it many times in life.

We should pray for all Doctors and all other working in medical line. Many of them are working not just for money, they are doing service. Sometimes without food and proper rest they have to work to save human life.