This Week With Jesus

  "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come" - Rabindranath Tagore "When I fall sick, I am taken to a hospital where I surrender to the nurses, attendants and doctors. They put me in a wheelchair and take me where I do not know, put me on machines I do not recognize and do tests which the doctors have ordered. I am completely in their hands. Then I wonder, when I can trust the doctors, nurses and attendants for my well being, and surrender myself, why do I have a problem surrendering to God? Why cant I let God push my wheelchair?" - Pastor Jolly Raj, Bethel Methodist Church, India. " Faith is the bird that feels the light, when the dawn is still dark". - Rabindranath Tagore "Pray; and as you pray, surrender; and as you surrender, believe". - Aiden Wilson Tozer It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available. We are not to see that they like it, but that they ge...

                  You will never be saved against your will; God drags nobody to heaven by the ears.  Charles Spurgeon This life is the only hell believers will ever know. But for those who die in their sins, this is their only heaven -  Ray Comfort Let me remind you that this is God's universe, and He is doing things His way. You may think you have a better way, but you don't have a universe to rule -  J. Vernon McGee When we share Christ, the Truth behind our transformation, we are offering people an opportunity to be transformed -  David Jeremiah Too many Christians live their Christian lives inside their heads; it never gets out through hands and feet and lips -  Vance Havner When the Lord's white sheep become dirty gray, all black sheep feel more comfortable -  Vance Havner If you see a Bible that is falling apart, it probably belongs to someone who isn't!  Vance Havner God often hides His blessing in t...

Well, Christmas is a day away. We will all be so busy with the busyness of Christmas, prepping for dinners and special cakes, cookies, gifts, travel and plans. In this great and busy time, let us not forget the birthday boy! Jesus was born into the world to bring peace and joy and love. He wants to be born in our hearts if we let Him. What does it mean for Jesus to be born into our hearts? For Him to shine through our lives as light for the world? Sometime back we talked about the three dimensions of spiritual relationships - within us, with God and with fellow men. Because of Jesus we need not hide our faces and ourselves from God, like Adam and Eve, but have a bold relationship with Him and with others. Which means that because Jesus was born to sacrifice Himself for our forgiveness, we are at peace. The Billy Graham Foundation describes this very well - "So many people strive for one thing more than any other - peace. The reason they seek it is because there’s no lasting com...

  This Saturday before Christmas, we come before our God, with hearts full of gratitude for His unfailing love and mercy. We thank Him for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us, even those we may not see or acknowledge. We especially thank Him for the Gift of Jesus Christ, and the hope, peace & joy we have through Him.  We humbly lift up those who are in need of His divine intervention and care. For those suffering from illness, to grant them healing and strength. Comfort for those who are in pain, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, and to let them feel His presence by their side. We pray for those who are facing difficult decisions or challenges. Lord, guide them with Your wisdom and grant them clarity and peace. May they find the courage to trust in Your plans and walk the path You have set before them. We are grateful for our readers from around the world who pray for prayer requests and t oday we also ask for prayer from all our readers for -  Ms....

  It was December and a cold one at that. An old woman worked in a home for cleaning and washing. One day she complained about the cold to the mistress, about how she could not sleep in the cold at night. The mistress, who was a very thoughtful and kind lady decided to get the old maid a blanket, for Christmas, to keep her warm and so she did. Next day a beautiful woolen blanket was delivered, in beautiful Christmas colors of green, red and white. As the maid was getting ready to leave, the mistress gave her the blanket, but instead of being pleased, the maid scornfully stated she did not want it. On being asked why, she said she didn't like it because it had a white color which would get dirty and she would have to wash it, so she would prefer one without white. The mistress got a bit upset because she had gone through a lot of trouble and expense to get the blanket delivered urgently. "Anyway," she said, "don't take it if you don't want. I can't force y...

The Story of the Christmas Guest by Helen Steiner Ric e It happened one day at December's end Some neighbors called on an old-time friend. And they found his shop so meager and mean, Made gay with a thousand boughs of green. And old Conrad was sitting with face ashine, When he suddenly stopped as he stitched the twine. And he said, "My friends, at dawn today, When the cock was crowing the night away, The Lord appeared in a dream to me. And He said, 'I'm coming your guest to be." So I've been busy with feet astir, Strewing my shop with branches of fir. The table is spread and the kettle is shined, And over the rafters the holly is twined. And now I'll wait for my Lord to appear; And listen closely so I will hear, His steps as he nears my humble place. And I'll open the door and I'll look on his face." Then his friends went home and left Conrad alone, For this was the happiest day he had known. For long since his family had passed away. And Conr...

"Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands " Christmas is around the corner and a time of joy, love, and giving, and is often intertwined with the spirit of charity. It's a season when people are more inclined to think of others, especially those less fortunate. The story of Christmas, especially the birth of Jesus, is often associated with humility, compassion, and selfless giving. By helping others, we not only bring joy to their lives but also experience a sense of fulfillment ourselves. But here is the thing: when we help someone with money or some material things, it often jolts their own self worth. So while we may help them temporarily, we may hurt them permanently. So, taking a cue from Christmas, we try to understand what charity should mean. Jesus took birth to die. We all do. But He took birth to die for us. He knew from the very beginning that he was the scapegoat! He knew His f...

 

Peace is a word most sought after, most misunderstood and most misinterpreted. We are in the second week of advent, with the theme of peace, and yet According to recent data, there are currently around 56 ongoing conflicts worldwide , with some sources stating this is the highest number since World War II, involving numerous countries engaged in conflicts outside their borders. So then, what is this peace? What does it look like? What does it mean? What is the peace of God?  In the Bible, the word Jesus uses for peace in most of these passages comes from the Greek word eiréné , which means harmony, tranquility, and reconciliation. It’s the concept of being in perfect unity and accord with the Lord, living in tune with his commands and ways. It is a deep, inner peace that surpasses human comprehension, a calmness and serenity that can be experienced even amidst difficult circumstances, and is considered a gift from God that guards one's heart and mind through faith in Christ Jesus. ...

While the world celebrates Christmas with merriment & laughter, there are many whose hearts are filled with anguish. Unseen and unknown. Beneath the façade of smiles and laughter, a silent storm often rages within the them. Unseen anguish can manifest in various forms. It may be the quiet desperation of a person grappling with a chronic illness, the silent suffering of a victim of abuse, or the internal turmoil of someone struggling with mental health issues. It can be the gnawing loneliness of an isolated soul or the profound grief of a bereaved heart. The world often overlooks these silent struggles, dismissing them as mere fleeting moments of sadness or temporary setbacks. However, for those who endure them, unseen anguish can be a relentless force, consuming their thoughts and emotions. It can lead to feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Yet, even in the darkest depths of despair, there is a flicker of hope. Jesus Christ: offering a lifeline, offering underst...

                        “Here lies the tremendous mystery: that God should be all-powerful, yet refuse to coerce. He summons us to cooperation. We are honored in being given the opportunity to participate in his good deeds. Remember how He asked for help in performing his miracles: Fill the water pots, stretch out your hand, distribute the loaves.” (Elisabeth Elliot) “The terrible, tragic fallacy of the last hundred years has been to think that all man's troubles are due to his environment, and that to change the man you have nothing to do but change his environment. That is a tragic fallacy. It overlooks the fact that it was in Paradise that man fell.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones) “For God to reveal His Son in us is not the result of research or searching; it is entirely a matter of mercy and revelation. It is an inward seeing, an inner knowing.” (Watchman Nee) “You cannot go outside of A and Z in the realm of literature; likewise Chr...

Revivals have been a part of Christian history for centuries, and they continue to occur today. Once such annual revival concert called "Revive", happens in India, every year in November, at the Bethel Methodist Church in a Place called NOIDA, bringing in the Christmas. Today we bring you a short glimpse of this years' concert.   

  "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" ,  Psalm 141:3 There is a super power given to us and that is the tongue. It produces words and Words have power. They can heal or they can destroy. They can also make you a laughing stock. God's Word mentions the tongue in over 120 passages, and many of those are cautions about using it wisely. Learning to control how we speak – to the Lord and to others – is one of the vital parts of our growth as Christians. The tongue reveals our hearts. It is a window. If you want to see the effect of your tongue, take a tube of Toothpaste and squeeze some onto your hand. Now try putting all that you squeezed back into the tube. Impossible right? Trying to put it back in the tube will further mess your hand. The tongue is like the tube. Once it has spoken words, you cannot put them back in your mouth. They will leave a mark. If they are good, kind words, you will leave a good kind mark. If they are harsh and ...

 

  “No one sets out to become an apostate—it's never the result of one abrupt, drastic turn away from the Lord. Instead, apostasy is most often the product of a pattern of sinful compromises that harden and gradually steer a professing believer away from the truth.” -  (John MacArthur) “True weanedness from the world does not consist in being beat off from the world by the affliction of it, but a being drawn off by the sight of something better.” -  (Jonathan Edwards) “Discipline is not inconsistent with love. It is lack of discipline, in fact, that is inconsistent with love. The Lord disciplines His children because He loves them, and we will discipline our brothers and sisters in the Lord if we truly love Him and truly love them.” -  (John MacArthur) “The Christian is not superficial in any sense, but is fundamentally serious and fundamentally happy. You see, the joy of the Christian is a holy joy; the happiness of the Christian is a serious happiness. ... it is a s...

  We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. You come to us through other people and their love and concern for us. You come to us through men and women who need our help. You come to us as we worship you with your people. We remember your presence with the pastors wife with stage 4 cancer and the hope you bring this advent to all those who call upon you for a miracle. We remember a lady in India suffering from back and hip pain and who needs the relief you can give. Mr. Crane says - Today I would like to have a prayer request for the health of the father of one of my co-workers who is very dear to me. He has problems with his lungs and is in the ICU being treated. He has been with this problem since he had his accident at the age of 42. He is now 57 and still fighting... Stephanie prays for God to repair, restore, connect, and heal in every way her relationship if it’s in...

The Colt Peacemaker revolver was named for the sentiment that an armed society was a polite society. The presence of a Colt revolver was thought to discourage troublemakers from picking a fight. The Colt Peacemaker was also seen as an equalizer for women, the elderly, and those who were physically smaller. In a warped sense, the very instrument of violence was thought to bring about peace. But Christ talked of a different peacemaker. Men and women who are empathetic to others. The peacemaker initiates reconciliation when others have wronged them. The peacemaker is also quick to repent when they have wronged others. In a world, where we have been discipled to avoid conflict, peacemaking takes a commitment to move toward it. The human peacemaker does not enforce peace with the threat of violence but brings about peace with love. When we contemplate the profound words of Jesus in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” we understand the inheritanc...