Pay It Forward

I try to write down something about teaching the "Word of God" when I saw a movie "Pay It Forward." Our world seems like an unfriendly, violent, unhappy at this moment of time. Practicing "paying it forward” methodology may change it – I believe. As you can see in the novel/movie that little steps the kid takes from his side finally got results.

Teaching the Word of God

As we have seen in my previous blog, accept the reconciliation that God offers asking Him to forgive you. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7) and this is the peace that god brings to those who have been reconciled himself to God. In the current world, peace is the one that we rarely seen or get. But there are something everyone can do to make a better world, by spreading the word of God.

How can we make this practical in helping our children or friends or colleagues?

We are the new generation and we are responsible to take the gospel to others… It’s not the duty of a pastor or missionary to preach others about salvation. Those who all got reconciled by Jesus, is having equal responsibility to tell about Got to others… Sometimes it is a difficult question for us about how to spread God’s words.

Bible teaches us all that it’s our job to study the words of God and teach others…

The first question that comes to our mind when we read the above line is that, I have a job, have to run my busy life, lots or responsibility etc. and where I can find time to teach others about salvation. As we are familiar with a proverb “little drops of water makes an Ocean”, likewise if you get free time in your work place or while you are traveling, find some time to spread the word of God… now in the modern world we have email to spread the word of God… By us doing our part in spreading the word, we are not only doing our part, we are also showing others how to spread Gods word - We can say it triggers Reciprocity (cultural anthropology).

Why God send his son to this world? In simple words we can say that God cannot die, so he sends his son to this world so as to prove that God loved the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16. Knowing god is the beginning of wisdom.

But, before we can teach others we must find time to study ourselves, from Bible itself and if we are not sure about any verse as our Pastors and Parents. I would say it’s our daily responsibility to go through at least half a chapter if it is too long…  

The word of God can indeed change our outlook on life, but we must listen to it and follow its teachings, if we are going to see the changes. The Israelites, for example, were told by God that He was going to lead them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, a place that had an abundance of food, and where they would no longer be oppressed. But they didn't listen to His word; they spent forty years in the wilderness. And as the end of these forty years comes to pass, Moses reminds the people of all that the Lord has told them during their time in the wilderness. If we want a new and bright outlook on life, if we want to cast out the darkness and gloom in our lives, if we want our lives filled with love and compassion, then listen and teach the word of God to others…

Think for a moment and give this some serious thought on how to make this world a better place to live - from your part...

Are We There Yet?

Background:-

Last weekend my friend Jaico asked me “Do you know what reconciliation is?”… At that instance I told him something about how the process of reconciliation happens from a Bank’s point of view – It’s from what I learned from my Dad – He worked in “Inter Branch Reconciliation (IBR)” for more than 8 years. I shared some of the terms that my dad used to tell me about reconciliation and its process…
When I was laying in my bed, that same question to my mind… I ignore and went to sleep… This Sunday at Church, Rev. John Prasad take following lines from Romans-5 and discuss about the same…
After reaching home I thought about these 5 lines … Made me to write something about Reconciliation…

Romans ­- Chapter 5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by
faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God.
3 And not only, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience,
hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us - since we have been made right in God's sight by faith.
Faith - Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand.
Because of our faith we stand confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
We can also rejoice, when we run into sufferings and trials, for we know that they are good for us to produce endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation and brings us hope.
And this hope or expectation will not disappoint us.
For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love by dying on the cross for our sins.
Because of all Jesus has done for us, we live out thankful lives full of gratitude to God each day.
At the worst of times, we know that Jesus stands beside us...
Justification is God’s free gift and it comes in a package and which is received by the believer at the moment of salvation - peace with God, access and a standing in grace, received reconciliation.
We can for sure rejoice because of all of these blessings and benefits.

So what is reconciliation?

The meaning of reconciliation is the establishment of friendly relations between parties who are in conflict or disagreement with each other.
Compare this to Jesus. Jesus died for us when we were wicked. He did not die for us when we were righteous. He did not die for us when we were good.
That is also one word that sums up the meaning of the Lord's Supper. In Christ, we are reconciled to God.
God reconciled us to Himself through the death of His Son though we were enemies, though we were wicked.

Conclusion: -

Suffering-produces-endurance and endurance-produces-character and character-produces-hope and hope do not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. As we eat and drink we need to remember something
Always be thankful to God.

Drawing for delivery...

While we are having our dinner, after yesterday's prayer meeting Rev. Prakash Achan shared one of his experiences with us...


Once while he was sitting in one of church's member, the little girl about 3 years of age in the family came to Achan with a drawing...


"Father, can I get a feedback on my drawing..."


Achan looked at the drawing and noticed that the paper is having 3 balloons with red, blue and black with a note ... "God loves red blue and black color... "


Prasad Achan: "That is correct moolu..."


She is happy upon hearing that and starting walking back, suddenly she stoped and turned back and asked "Achan .... Does god loves Peach color"...


Prasad Achan: "Sure ... God does love Peach color"...


She went back and came back with the modified drawing where she added one more Peach balloon... and She asked...


"Does God love me?"


Prasad Achan: "Sure moolu, God loves you..."


She was happy to hear that and went back to her room and started modifying the drawing....


She added "God Loves Me"

Came back to Achan and showed it to Achan... Achan told it was so nice and you have to keep this drawing with you...


She asked "why?"


Achan: You can show this to God when you are at Heaven...


She replied: "Ok Acha" and started walking back to her room.... Suddenly turned back and gave that drawing to Achan and said...


"You keep it ... because you will reach Heaven before I reach ... So you can give my drawing to God before I do... "

Smart Thinking...

Rachel's First USA Onam with "Pookalam"

It's 2006 Onam, First of time going to celebrate witout my dad , mom and sister. So this year, I planned to enjoy my Onam vacation with Rachel & Ruben @ Colombus with my cousin sister Preetha chechy and Renjichayan. Booked SouthWest airlines - Oh ! the flight was at morning 4 am from Midway, Chicago ... Reached Colombus ontime, Renji chayan was waiting there to pick me up from Airport. Colombus's ring road was beautiful and I took few photos while we head to new home that they brought. I think I was the first one to visit from our family to the newly owned house...

Its a nice house, Preetha chechy was busy preparing Onam special for me... Yummy.

Hi Rache & Ruben - How are you ! --- No reponse.... Both were into the TV ... I think the program was Dora!

I spend few mintues to talk with Preetha chechy and Renjichaya about my stay and work at Chicago.

After the show, kids came for me .... Fun starts now ! :-) enjoyed 2-3 days...

Preetha chechy told me that Rachel is dreaming about "Pookalam" - flower carpet ; Then we put a plan to bring all flowers from backyard and started laying out the design... After all things are done, We miss on last piece - the central flower ! ... Rachel is like.... ! "Jeancha" what to do ? she spend few more minutes ... "I have a idea" said Rachel.... She ask me to wait here... ran to the next house as she started knocking the door... "Can I get the pick the big flower from your garden mam?" !

We completed the "Pookalam" and it's Rachel's first Onam Pookalam ....