Put the Glass Down

The Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it.
He held it up for all to see & asked the students “How much do you think this glass weighs?”
’50gms!’… ‘100gms!’….’125gms’ …the students answered.
“I really don’t know unless I weigh it,” said the professor, “but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?”
‘Nothing’ the students said.
‘Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?’ the professor asked.
‘Your arm would begin to ache’ said one student.
“You’re right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?”
“Your arm could go numb; you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go tohospital for sure!” Ventured another student & all the students laughed
“Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?” Asked the professor.
‘No’.. Was the answer.
“Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?”
The students were puzzled.
“What should I do now to come out of pain?” asked professor again.
“Put the glass down!” said one of the students “Exactly!” said the professor.
Life’s problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It’s important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,
But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to ‘PUT THEM DOWN’ at the end of every day before you go to sleep
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you start your day today, Remember friend to ‘PUT THE GLASS DOWN’ 🙂 ♥
^_^

How to give ourselves to God


Father, bless me to write this. I cannot do anything if its not your will for me. Whatever I do, whatever I write, belongs to you. Father am a clay, mould me into a pot to serve you. Thank you Father.

Today’s topic is giving ourselves to God and trusting him. Trusting his decision and knowing whatever he does is for our greater good. As a new believer, I face lots of uncertainties and doubts. I take things in my own hands and mess it up. Later I regret, thinking if I had given it to God. He would have change the results in my favor. It would have been ended up even better than I expected.  How to overcome this uncertainties and Trusting God completely.

Here is a simple question. If you have a sickness. And your suffering is beyond bearable. What would you do? Will you try you treat it yourselves? or You will consult a Physician to heal it?

If your car need an oil change. Will you do it yourself or you will take it to a car mechanic? Most probably we seek an expert. He will take care of the issue better than us. Mechanic knows what’s best way to change the oil. Doctor knows best medicine to heal the sickness. We usually hesitate to trust ourselves to change the oil . How could we expect to clean up our issues, when we clearly have no idea of doing it how 🙂

We can justify a professional does a better job than us and believe an expert can do a better job than us. Why is it hard to trust God and give all the troubles, worries, burdens to him. He is the almighty God. His works are always better than us. He sees the big picture. He got solutions for all our troubles. Is there anything that God can’t fix?

John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

My testimony – Out of 100 times, 99 times I failed to trust God completely. And the 1 time when I did, he did miracles in my life. Trusting God is opening a door to infinite number of possibilities. Its not so hard. I am writing this for me, I will read it again and again. Whenever I get urge to take things in my own hands. I might learn to trust God even more. If I learned to trust God 2 times out of hundred I will call it as a walk of faith. And I am sure God will accept my efforts and refine me more to be a true believer. Its really wonderful to taste his Grace

Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Non believers may disapprove. Here is a verse that might answer.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

The reward is greater for people who believes without seeing a miracle.

-Shalom

*verses taken from New Living Translation
*further reading Book of Psalm

Embracing the Call to be Peacemakers: A Biblical Perspective

As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers, as Jesus emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NLT). In a world full of conflict and turmoil, it is crucial to understand the biblical foundation of peacemaking and apply it in our daily lives. This article will explore the importance of being peacemakers and provide practical ways to cultivate peace in our relationships.

A Personal Testimony
Before delving into the topic, I would like to share a personal testimony. For the past three days, I have been trying to share the Word of God, and I encountered challenges along the way. Through this experience, I learned three essential lessons:
I cannot accomplish anything without God’s help (John 15:5).
My motivations must be pure and not driven by a sense of duty (2 Corinthians 9:7).
I must put God first and acknowledge that everything I do is by His grace (1 Corinthians 15:10).
With these lessons in mind, I will seek God’s guidance as I explore the topic of peacemaking.
Biblical Foundation of Peacemaking
The Bible consistently calls Christians to pursue peace and unity, especially within the body of Christ: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). As followers of Jesus, we are to be agents of reconciliation, seeking to restore broken relationships and bridge divides (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Practical Ways to be Peacemakers
In our daily lives, we encounter various situations that test our ability to maintain peace, such as conflicts with loved ones or dealing with difficult people. Here are some ways to foster peace in these situations:
Practice patience and understanding: Be slow to anger and quick to listen, recognizing that everyone has unique perspectives and experiences (James 1:19).
Forgive and seek forgiveness: Genuine repentance and forgiveness are crucial for restoring relationships and maintaining peace (Matthew 6:14-15).
Focus on unity, not uniformity: Celebrate diversity within the body of Christ and work towards unity, not uniformity (Galatians 3:28).
Let go of the need to be right: Prioritize peace and relationships over winning arguments, recognizing that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Embracing God’s Grace
As we strive to be peacemakers, it is essential to remember that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Extending grace to others, as God has extended grace to us, enables us to be more forgiving, understanding, and compassionate in our relationships (Ephesians 4:32).

Conclusion
The call to be peacemakers is a central aspect of the Christian life. By embracing biblical teachings on peace, striving for unity in the body of Christ, and extending grace to others, we can faithfully represent Jesus and bring His light to a world in need of healing and reconciliation.

Understanding and Embracing God’s Grace

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This powerful passage from the Bible encapsulates the essence of God’s grace, which we often experience in our lives without fully grasping its profound meaning. Let us delve deeper into the concept of grace through a personal story and scriptural references.

A Personal Experience of God’s Grace
Once, I found myself unprepared for an important exam. In my despair, I helped a classmate cheat and, in turn, was tempted to do the same. However, my desire to maintain an honest reputation prevented me from giving in to that temptation. As the invigilator expressed sympathy, I noticed that many others were cheating, and a wave of emotions washed over me: fear of failure, jealousy, anger, and a sense of injustice. Amidst this turmoil, I submitted my incomplete answer sheet to the invigilator and eventually forgot about the incident.
Despite my flaws and shortcomings, I was surprised to learn that I had passed the exam. How could this be? A friend reminded me of God’s grace, which is abundant and freely given, even when we feel undeserving. In this moment, I realized that God’s grace reaches even those who know they are not righteous but still seek Him.
Defining God’s Grace
In the Bible, grace is described as unmerited favor, compassion, and love that God freely extends to humankind. It is through grace that we are saved, not by our own actions or righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is a divine gift that fills us with hope and empowers us to live a life that glorifies God (2 Corinthians 12:9).
To embrace God’s grace, we must:
Acknowledge our sinful nature (Romans 3:23).
Recognize that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).
Accept that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross redeemed us from sin and death (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Embrace our new identity in Christ as redeemed sinners (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Conclusion
God’s grace is a transformative force that changes hearts and lives. As we journey through life, we will inevitably stumble and fall short of perfection. However, we can find comfort and hope in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). By acknowledging our sins, surrendering to Christ, and accepting His redemptive sacrifice, we can experience the fullness of God’s love, mercy, and grace.
Further Reading: Romans 8