DIVINE LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS!

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own." At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Please share the love of God with every one you find on your way.

 "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him" [I John 2:9-11].

Bibliography:

1.Agape Love Divine Ministries

TRANSFORMING TO DIVINE IMAGE!

There lived a man who had a daughter named Sophie, a toddler. He used to take her to a park not far from their apartment. One day as she was playing in a sandbox, an ice cream salesman approached them. He purchased her a treat, and when he turned to give it to her, he saw her mouth was full of sand. Where he intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt. Did he love her dirt in her mouth? Absolutely no, was he going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way. He loved her right where she was, but he refused to leave her there. He carried her over to the water and washed her mouth because of his love towards her. God does the same for us. He holds us over the fountain. God says "Spit out the dirt, my child because I have got something better for you." And so He cleanses us from filth: immorality, dishonesty, prejudice, bitterness, greed. We don't enjoy the cleansing; sometimes we even opt for the dirt over the ice cream. But if we do, the loss is ours. God has a better offer. He wants us to be like Him. God's plan for you is nothing short of a new heart. So God wants us to change our heart. God's love never ceases. The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. But, it’s not the same with God; God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. Though we limit Him, ignore Him, reject Him, despise Him, disobey Him, He will not change and He wants us to enjoy ice cream rather than sand.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will".[Rom 12:2]

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

One evening a man took a small candle from a box and began to climb a long winding stairway. "Where are we going?" asked the candle. "We're going up higher than a house to show the ships the way to the harbor." "But no ship in the harbor could ever see my light," the candle said. "It is so very small." "If your light is small," the man said "just keep on burning brightly and leave the rest to me." When they reached the top of the long stairs, they came to a large lamp. Then he took the little candle and lit the lamp. Soon the large polished mirrors behind the lamp sent beams of fight out across the miles of sea. We are God's candle. Our job is to keep on shining. The success of our work is in His hands. A tiny candle or match can start a forest fire. The little flame of your good example can actually change the lives of others without you knowing it. Be a light to them like the beacon light in the story which guided the ships to safe harbor.

" You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" [Matt 5:14-16].

Bibliography:

1.Agape Love Divine Ministries

GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS

Once there was a man, who goes to the doctor due to some problem. He tells the doctor that, his wife is acting being deaf these days, i.e. no matter what this man says she is not replying to any of the things. The doctor says, "I do not have a treatment right now for this problem, I can suggest you something through which you can know her level of deafness then we can start treatment." The doctor says, go home and try calling your wife from 30 feet far and then go little closer and then call her again and go little further and repeat the same. Do this in order to know her level of deafness. The man says, "Ok doctor I will try this out" and left that place. The man goes home. He tells his wife, "Honey what's for dinner?" He does not get any reply. He goes little further and asks the same question. He does this ten times; he was almost near to her. Then for the 10th time she answers him saying, "How many times should I reply saying that today is the special dinner for you." Wow that’s sounds so different, That means it was not his wife who was deaf but he himself.  Friends, it is same with Our God. We think that we ask him so many things in prayer many times and Lord is not answering us. But it is the other way around. He always listens to our cry and answers our prayer as our Lord is gracious and merciful but we never realize them. He may give answers to our prayers to us but in different ways. Because he says, my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways. "O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you." Isaiah 30:19.

Bibliography:
1.Agape Love Divine Ministries

CONQUERING FEAR BY RELEASING FAITH !

We have many opportunities each day to worry and live in fear. From being worried about the economy, our health to our family and children, the list could go on! But did you know faith and fear having something in common? They both ask us to believe something is going to happen that we cannot see. Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, "Have with your faith expects". It's important to use your energy to believe because what we meditate on the most is what's going to take root. If you go around all day thinking about your fear, it can become a reality. But when you focus on faith and God's provision, your mind stays full of peace and you give God room to show Himself strong in your life. Faith moves the hand of God, not fear. God promises to meet all of our needs according to His glorious riches. Sometimes you may not see how it can happen, but don't use your energy to worry. Use your energy to believe. It takes the same amount of energy to have faith as it does to worry. Our God is all-powerful. He has brought you through in the past and He is going to bring you through in the future. So switch your gears to having faith and trusting God. God works everything out for good and to your advantage!