Live in the Now

 

In this life on earth each and every one goes through wonderful experience. Some are good, some are bad. Some bring joy, some bring a drop of tear as the heart gets hurt. And in this journey of life we get caught up. With the busyness of life people have no time to take care of their emotional and mental stress they face. The stress they face is so intense and it continues to pile up in them creating a deep rooted trauma and mental illness. People continue to carry the past especially the bad incidents in life. The betrayals , heartbreaks and disappointments. 

Then comes the other side of the coin. The  stress and anxiety of all the what could  happen situations. Fear of future is used as a tactics to keep the person manipulated and get the work done for ones personal benefits. Fear puts people under deep stress and depression where they are not able to excel and be productive to the best of their capabilities. 

So both past and future are having over bearing experience on individuals. It keeps the individual caught up with what has happened and what might happen. And that too it is mainly concerned over negative things. It has an adverse effect as it prevents the person from being present in the now. 

Now is the happening moment. Now is the moment where there is life. It is where the memories are created. But when the mind is caught up in the past burden and future anxieties it is tossed on sides and misses the present which is NOW. 

So it becomes very important to be careful and take deliberate steps to anchor the mind in the present. Just like how the small anchor can hold a big ship and keep it in the place and not be washed inside in the tide our thoughts help us to stay anchored in the present and not be carried away to the past or future and be down in the emotions. 

So how can this be accomplished. 

1. Pay attention to what you are thinking as often as possible throughout the day. 

2. If it is overwhelming do some breathing exercise and quieten the mind 

3. Learn mindful exercises which helps you to come back to the present from past or future thoughts. 

4. Develop morning routines to start the day intentionally

5. Be consistent and practice everyday till becomes part of your personality. 

So do think and take first intentional steps that will keep you anchored in your present. This gives you power to create and be in control of what you want and feel. Getting held tossed by the past and future keeps you embroiled in situations which make you weak and overpowered. Take steps and control your thoughts and feel empowered. 

Life is awesome now and hope you get to enjoy it to the fullest. 

2023 - A moment of reflection

 

As we are on this last day of the year let us take us take a moment to look back and see how wonderful it has been. 

Grateful

As 2023 comes to an end. Let us reflect and write down all the great things that have happened for which we are grateful for.

·         Needs were met in ways we knew not

·         Saved from incidents, sickness and situations

·         Family that has stood with us and given memories to cherish

·         Friends who helped us to lighten our heart when we were down

·         Moments we were a blessing to others and felt happy to see a smile on others face

·         Joyful moments that made life look so good

Remember

Just remember and not ignore. Just remember and don’t dive into self pity.

·         All the hardships you face

·         Moments of pain

·         Moments of heart break

Now see and analyse

·         How in those situations when you thought that is the end you have come out strong.

·         See how it was not the end of the world or your life.

·         See how in situations you thought there was no answer or way out you were able to come out

·         See how though at moments you crumbled to pressure you were able to rise up and take your stand

·         See how the answer to so many situations came from ways we did not think or see coming

·         See how God brought people and situation in life to help us grow and shine

Vision and plan

With all the lessons learnt in 2023 let us not look forward to 2024

·         Plan and set down the goals for the New Year. Not just wishes but reasonable and attainable goals.
·         Plan what you want to do career wise
·         Plan what you want to do for personal growth
·         Plan and put down ways you can achieve your goals
·         Plan to be consistent and persevere till you achieve your goals

Self Motivate

·         Stay positive
·         Hear Positive messages
·         When low don’t give up. Reflect past incidences and know you are a warrior
·         Keep focused on the goal
·         Keep going one day a time and never give up
·         If there is a break take it up from where you left.
·         All things can be accomplished and are possible for you to do.

Have a great start to a wonderful year ahead. A year filled with so much to explore and achieve. 

Keep positive and create a better world where ever you are 

Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2023

Gospel

Yes Christmas just got over and there was joy all around. We sang carol and decorated the houses because it was a season of joy. And we heard the passage where the angels bring the news of Jesus birth and say good tidings and great joy. Jesus birth brought great joy and its the gospel and the good news to be shared to all the people in the earth. 

• How is the effect of gospel in your life. 
• Are you happy that you have heard the gospel? 
• What change did the gospel bring into your every day living? . 
• Is your life bubbling with joy and happiness. 
• Has the gospel broken you of all chains that held you down and set you free to leap with joy because of the freedom and power it has brought into your life? 

It was supposed to be a good news with good good tidings and of great joy

A tree is known by the fruit. There is no difficulty to name the tree when you see the fruit in it. It takes time and wisdom or knowledge to name a tree without fruit based on the leaves, or appearance. But when there are fruits even a child can mane it. Bible in Mathew 7 says the following

15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

How are the fruits in your life? 

Are you finding it difficult to find out its effect?

• How is your life?
• How is the life of those around you?
• Is there freedom?
• Is there joy?
• Is the overcoming power of God working in and through you?
• How much of Jesus are people able to see in you?

If the gospel has not brought freedom, joy and power into your life...... how on earth do you think you can influence others?

Lets think..... and experience the power of gospel in our life so that it just becomes contagious and influences every person crossing your path.

Have a great day.... thinking and stirring yourself. 

Confession

Colossians 2:!3 says

When you were dead in your sins and in the circumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins

ALL our sins were forgiven in Christ. It means even before you were born your sins were forgiven in Christ.

Psalms 139: 16 says

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be
...... how true!!! Even before we were born he has ordained a forgiven life for us in Christ.

Colossians 1:22 says

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--

So now not only are our sins forgiven we are presented as holy, without blemish and free from accusation in front of God. This is the NEW CREATION and NEW IDENTITY in Christ.

So today let us examine how our prayer life is. Are we still going and confessing our sins and seeking forgiveness which was already done? Are we asking God to repeat the process of forgiveness when we all know Christ cannot be crucified again and again daily to forgive us. WE ARE FORGIVEN FROM PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE SIN ONCE AND FOR ALL.

So today let us pray and ask God to reveal his love and receive forgiveness even when we sin in our day to day life. We do fall ........ but let us be quick to get up and run away from sin not because of fear of hell or punishment but because we have a God who has already forgiven all our wrong doings and has given us a new identity of holy and righteous child.

Let us lead a life today knowing we are the NEW CREATION AND THE OLD HAS GONE. Let go of the old and embrace the new nature.

Have a great day.

Information Vs Knowledge

If you have been some one who was born in a so called Christian family with faith in Jesus you will KNOW these things

1. God is love and good
2. He is with us  and has all good things in store for us
3. He died to set me free from sin, sickness and curse
4. He gives me eternal life and blesses me
5. He knows my name and is always on my side
6. We are a new creation and there is no condemnation 

We all can for sure raise the hand and say I know these things. The truth is since we have heard it so many times we know it. All these things are in our mind and we KNOW IT. These information are like the currency notes you have accumulated in  the Spiritual realm. Since you know the promises of God and believe in it you are rich. You can quote when one word is said. You know it, you can quote it, you can explain it and you can believe in it. 

But the known information is all the currency you have accumulated.  But money is of no use when its not used wisely and at times of need. A person may have billions in his account and starve to death if he is either not aware of the money in his account or not willing to use it to buy his necessities. Such a guy is called a fool who has the source and does not use it when needed.

Bible calls us to taste and see the Lord is good. 

Bible says taste and see that the Lord is good. We are not called to just know that he is good.  You cannot realise the potential and power of money unless you put it into use. God calls us to put to use the information we have of him. Knowledge is not going to bring the change and the blessings in our life. We need to take the initiative to put every single thing into practice and use them. We are not called to gain knowledge but we are called to experience our relationship with the living God based on what we have been told in the bible. 

Today in your life,  what ever situation you may be facing..... put the information you have about God to use. Just believe it and use it in your situation. Don't use your logical reasoning in explaining the nature of God. He is more than what your  mind can perceive. Just like a child...... who believes on what the parent says Believe in what he has said and turn your information into a life changing experience. Simply believe and put to use and see massive change in your life. Putting to  use the information you have about God will help you to shift your focus from human perspective to Spiritual perspective. What is impossible in human perspective is possible in the Spiritual realm as God who is all powerful works in ways beyond what human mind can think, imagine or perceive.

Today.. take a conscious step to TASTE and SEE that God is good in all true to all he has said in the Bible and to you over the years.

Have a great day. 

How to please God

PERFORMANCE MENTALITY

Kids do a lot to please their parents. They try to do good things, behave well, get good grades and do what we want.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO PLEASE GOD? 
Are you reading the bible regularly to please him, praying regularly to please him, doing things in church and telling gospel to please him, are you always thinking of ways to please God.

Its all very good but do you know Hebrews 11:6 says And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Colosians 2:6 says So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

Lets leave the performance mentality just as the kids have these days........ lets live by faith pleasing God knowing that he loves us irrespective of what we do........... his love is not dependent on what we do............. lets today try to live as children of God with a sense of freedom. Lets do things out of love and the freedom we have in God and not with a small thought that God is getting pleased based on what you do.

Leave the performance mentality....... lead a guilt free..... live a condemnation free life. Live a life of freedom knowing that you are his child and he love you so much that there is nothing on heaven or earth or anywhere else that has the power to separate you from his love.

Have a fabulous day.

How is man the image of God?

The dictionary meaning of image is 

• A representation of the external form of a person or thing in art:
• A visible impression obtained by a camera, telescope, microscope, or other device, or displayed on a computer or video screen:
• An optical appearance or counterpart produced by light from an object reflected in a mirror or refracted through a lens.

We have heard and read this verse a thousand times. Have you ever thought of it. 

1. How is it I am the image of God?
2. He created the external form as man and woman - then how is it both are his image?
3. In what way is man the form of God?

God is a trinity....... three in one.......... three but one........... in the same way man is made up of 3 parts.

• Spirit - which is eternal and was breathed into man by God.
• Soul - which is made up of emotions, feelings will power, mind
• Body - in the physical part that exist and is visible and used through out the life on earth. 

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