GOOD MORNING INDIA
PG Vargis
Greetings in Jesus name who said, “I will heal.”
First of all let me say that I could not write fr 6 weeks as I was on a constant move across Karnataka, Kerala (Kannur and Calicut), and north east Indian states. It was tough and tiresome but meaningful. Most of the days Lilly was with me.
Now, Lilly and I are on our way to Tanda Punjab for a convention there till this Sunday. Then?
22nd arrive at 545 am. Catch train at 550 pm to Jabalpur.
28th Sunday arrive at Delhi by 820 pm
29th Monday pg/lily 8.50 pm to Katra.
1st Nov reach Delhi at 930 pm
2nd to 11th – at Delhi – fasting and prayer.
12th Monday – rest.
13th Tuesday 450 pm to surat. Till 18th.
19th Monday to 21st: meeting
22nd: Kerala. Crusades at Chengannur and Kumbanad (in a village) till 25th Sunday.
26th Monday 615 am – Kochi to Hyderabad. Jeep to Utnoor. Till 28th
29th Thu – to Delhi.
1st & 2nd Dec rest.
3rd Monday pg/lily to Jagdalpur/Bachholi. Nagpur, Pipariya,
10th Monday arrive at Delhi
11th to 13th – rest
14th Friday. Pg to Bhubaneswar . convention at Berhampur by New Testament Church. Till 16th Sunday.
17th : Delhi
18th: Tuesday rest
19th Wednesday – pg/lily to Kerala for crusades and supporters meet. Till 11th Feb.
There is only one life. You know my slogan:
Mind of Christ, Hard work, Simple life, Holiness according to the Bible.
Will I be tired? Well, I want to reach heaven tired. Very tired.
I am a gambler. I gambled my life in 1971, then the life of my wife and all my children.
And you are still clinging to me. I want to say thank you.
Let us gamble our lives. Jesus is a Jew. When we gamble our life for Him we will not be losers but winners. If you have doubt, talk to me on the other side.
Let us plan a big 2019. For that we IET ministers will spend more time in prayer in Nov, Dec 2018 and Jan, Feb 2019. Yes, we will plan more prayers alone and also as small groups with our co-worker’s. We can do much more in 2019.
I had a dream and still that is my dream. “The smallest church of IET must be of 500 people”. And, “we must multiply.”
Finally, here is a message. Share it with others. My eyes swelled as I read it. It simply says our efforts may not bear fruit ‘today’ but it can blossom ‘another day’. Some may even grow as a tall oak tree. So let us work today and sow our seeds.
Quote: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" - Ephesians 3:20
David M. Howard relates the following: “He arrived at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, during my junior year, 1947-48. A German who had spent time as a prisoner of war, he was now working as a janitor, sweeping the halls and cleaning the restrooms of Blanchard Hall.
Many of my fellow students had served in World War II; some had even been prisoners of war themselves. We heard that this man had served in the German military forces, but we knew nothing else about him. Had he been a Nazi himself? Or was he one of those young men who were obligated to serve their country regardless of political opinions? We did not know. And since he spoke almost no English, we could not communicate well with him.
The janitor had a pleasant smile, and we enjoyed greeting him in the hallways as he carried out his duties. As far as we knew, he was not a Christian, so Jim Elliot (who would later be martyred, along with four other missionaries in Ecuador) got the vision to start praying for him. Jim rounded up several more of us and challenged us to pray that this young man would give his heart to Christ. We would get together from time to time and pray especially for this German, who remained a mystery to us.
After a time, he left Wheaton and we lost track of him. We only hoped that somehow the Lord would be working in his heart to bring him to salvation. After a while he faded from our thoughts and memories.”
In 1978, David was invited by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization to help organize and direct a consultation on world evangelization. The leadership committee met in Hamilton, Bermuda.
One afternoon David was standing at the waterfront of Hamilton with another committee member as they looked at some of the ships tied up in port. David continues his story: “One was a large British submarine. My companion, who was from Germany, looked at the submarine and commented, ‘I served in Hitler's submarine corps.’ I was fascinated, so I asked for more details.
He said, ‘Toward the end of the war, as the Allies were sweeping across Europe and crossing the Rhine River into Germany, Hitler pulled most of us off the submarines and naval vessels, which were no longer of much use to Germany, and put us in the front lines as infantry.
I was on the front lines in Holland, where I was wounded. This was the best thing that ever happened to me, as I was abandoned by our troops in retreat and was captured by the British. They sent me to a hospital in England. The rest of my contingent retreated eastward and was captured by the Russians. Most of them were never heard from again.’
He went on to explain that he had gone from England to the United States for a period of time. He said his name was Peter Schneider, and he was the chairman of the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Germany. He spoke perfect English, and so served as Billy Graham's interpreter whenever Mr. Graham preached in Germany.
Suddenly my mind began to spin, dredging up memories of 30 years earlier. Peter Schneider? That was the name of the janitor in Blanchard Hall for whom we had prayed!
I asked, ‘Peter, were you ever at Wheaton College in Illinois?’
‘Why yes,’ he replied. ‘I worked there as a janitor, sweeping the halls and cleaning the restrooms in the main administration building.’
My heart leapt with joy. I burst out, ‘Peter, were you a Christian at that time?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘I became a Christian later, at a YMCA camp in Wisconsin. When I was at Wheaton I knew almost nothing of the Gospel.’
My excitement continued: ‘Peter, you would have no way of knowing this, but I must tell you what happened during your time at Wheaton. Jim Elliot got a vision to pray for your salvation. He organized several other students, including me, to pray that you would come to know the Lord. We could not witness to you, because we spoke no German and you apparently had learned almost no English yet. But we prayed faithfully for you in those days. We used to greet you in the hallways, and you always responded with a pleasant smile and a nod.’
My exhilaration knew no bounds. Here I was, standing at the waterfront in Bermuda with a key evangelical leader from Germany who was committed to proclaiming the Gospel to the world—and for whose salvation I had prayed!
As my mind harked back to 30 years earlier and the prayer meetings we used to have asking God for the salvation of Peter Schneider, I could only bow in humble thankfulness for the way God had so abundantly answered those prayers. We never could have dreamed where this young janitor and former prisoner of war would end up.”
Our Lord is a God of miracles and He provides for us in countless ways beyond what we can imagine. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Unquote.
Your brother, His servant,
pg vargis
Yours to count on to see India is evangelized in our life time. No one can do it alone. But together...we can do it. Let us do it... together...now,
p g vargis and team
PG Vargis
God's Protection
God doesn't want us to live our lives in fear. Over and over the Bible tells us to fear not.
Yet with all the terrible things happening in the world, how can we not be afraid? How can we overcome the temptation to fear?
We must know and remember that God loves us and has a good plan for us: including a home in Heaven and going to be with Jesus when we die. So we should not fear death as it is a promotion and a gain for a Christian believer (Philippians 1:21).
Also, we must know and remember the promises of God given in the Bible concerning protection from evil, accident, and harm in this life. For example:
PSALM 91:9-11 NKJ 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
This is not to say that victims of tragic events are sinners, or are not loved by God. Only that if we walk with God and heed His direction, God promises to protect us.
LUKE 10:19 NKJ 19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
We know many good people have died unexpectedly. Yet the promises of God stand true and should not be doubted. We don't know what they knew or what they were believing. But we know that God is faithful and keeps His promises.
There is a place of protection as you live close to God and walk in faith. So do not be afraid!
SAY THIS: God gives His angels charge over me, to keep me safe in all my ways.
PG Vargis
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
Dr. Leo Buscaglia was a best-selling author and motivational speaker. He was also known as "Dr. Love" and was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a 4-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who recently had lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”
We need to show the heart of Jesus and to be compassionate to others. Today in prayer, thank Christ for His compassion toward you and seek to show His love to others.
Yours to count on to see India is evangelized in our life time. No one can do it alone. But together...we can do it. Let us do it... together...now,
PG Vargis
You Are Not A Failure
EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
You may have failed, but you are not a failure.
It is not the essence of what and who you are. Failure is just something that happened to you.
God created you, and He made you able to do good. Maybe you have not yet discovered what you were created for, but God has a plan for you. When you fit into God's plan you will find that God truly made you "a work of His art."
A donkey could compare itself to a race horse and think it was a failure. But a donkey was created for other things than running fast.
Find out what you were created to be and do. Then rejoice as you do it.
SAY THIS: I am God's unique work of art -- still in progress.
PG Vargis
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." - Ephesians 6:4
Gina L. Smith is the author of “Grace Gifts – Practical Ways to Help Your Children Understand God’s Grace.”
She gives the following summary on how to raise children in the Lord:
“No parenting program can guarantee our children’s godliness. Our children’s greatest need is to hear and receive the gospel, and nothing we “do” can make them God-followers. But as we faithfully obey the Lord’s calling, He will use us in the lives of our children. We will honor Him, guide our children to the one true God, and ultimately create a place where they can grow in their relationship with Him. You can be faithful to point them in the right direction and be a living example of God’s grace!”
Parents, love your children and bring them up to know the Lord by following Jesus in all that you do. Today in prayer, praise Christ for all of the fathers who are teaching their children to love and follow Jesus.
PG Vargis
LUKE 18:1 NKJ 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Many people give up too easily in prayer. When they don't see the answer almost immediately, they quit.
God is not pleased with this approach.
You may say, "God knows my need. Why doesn't He just give it to me, instead of playing games?"
Whether you agree with God's ways, or not: God is still in charge and makes the rules -- not you. So, it does you no good to argue or complain. Better to just line up with God instead of fighting against His plan. Besides, in reality God's ways are perfect, it is just that we are often too immature and ignorant to understand all God is doing.
Scripture has many examples of people pressing in and receiving answers to prayer. We should never be quitters when it comes to prayer.
It is God's will to answer your prayers. He is the One who told you to pray. God actually delights in answering your prayers.
(Never forget that God loves you more than you can imagine. God loves you more than He loves Himself, and proved it by dying in your place, so you could go free.)
"Then why are there so many delays?"
There is an enemy, the devil, who hates you and is against you receiving your answer from God.
Second, some prayers involve other people, and God does not force people to do His will but works with them patiently so they can see and do the right thing willingly. This takes time.
Third, there are things that God is working in you while you are persevering in prayer. God's plan is for you to grow up spiritually. God wants to enlarge your faith and encourage you to develop a closer relationship with Him. If every answer always came immediately, would you really press in and spend time drawing closer to God and studying His Word?
Don't despair in prayer. Keep on praying in faith as long as you are praying according to God's Word. A delay, even a very long one, does not mean that God is saying no to your request.
SAY THIS: I will persevere in prayer.
PG Vargis
A note that I wrote to my children yesterday: Quote.
As I talked to a few about saving for the future I thought I must brush up my Bible teaching that I gave you as you grew up in our home.
Please read this. And share with your family members.
I always give 5 tips to everyone who accepts the Lord.
1. Read your Bible and pray every day.
2. Keep away from sin and causes of sins.
3. Attend a church that teaches the Bible.
4. Talk about Jesus to someone every day or whenever the Lord will open the opportunity.
5. Pay your tithe faithfully.
Here is 6th advice – save for the future.
You must save the same amount you paid as the tithe. It may be difficult but as soon as you pay your tithe – put the same amount in a separate bank account. This must not be touched – other than college education of kids or emergency hospital bills or for real estate.
If it is difficult for you to spare this amount –
You get 100.
Pay 10 plus as tithe immediately.
Future saving: 10 plus immediately.
Then pray that God may help you to stretch this left over to 100 plus. God does.
If there is anything left in the month end, put it in your second savings which you can withdraw for any need – like a car, fridge, holiday etc.
I preached this in Kottayam. My cousin sister’s husband took me to his home and told me that I am the second person to tell this to him - 1st his dad. His dad said to him when he got the job as a college lecturer that he must give second 10% to him so he will save for the son ‘for the future’.
He got his first pay, paid the tithe faithfully to the church but didn’t have much left to give the 10% to his dad as savings ‘for the future’. The father slapped him hard. He left his home in anger.
After 2 months he got TIME magazine from his father. There was an article about Rock Feller.
A reporter asked him – how you became a millionaire?
He replied, “when myself and my brother were kids our father gave 50 cents after Sunday breakfast to us as a weekly pocket money. Then he will pass a bowl before us to place the tithe – 5 Cents.
Then he will pass the piggy bank and ask us to save the same amount we gave as tithe. Another 5 C.
He said as years went by “our pocket money went up, our tithe went up and our savings went up.”
Then I started to earn and the same principle I followed. My tithe amount went up and my ‘savings for the future’ too got accumulated and soon I found that I am in the list of millionaires of America.
I urge all of you to do so.
Pay your tithe faithfully. Save for the future. And save for tomorrow.
Everything is in the Bible. Joseph gathered when he had plenty. This savings for the future made his kingdom rich.
I remember an LIC agent coming to us at Pathankot to encourage us to join LIC. He told that LIC got the inspiration from the story of Joseph in the Bible.
Let us practice. Learn from Joseph. Learn from the ants.
And invest your money in land. Small house and more land – remember that always. The value of the house will get depleted year after year and after 50 or 70 years it is totally wiped out. Think of that. So a small house and more land must be your slogan.
dad
PG Vargis
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Guard Your Hearing |
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"Then He said to them, 'Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given'" (Mark 4:24).
We measure everything we hear. When you take notes in church, you judge every statement made by the speaker and only write down what you judge worthy. I've noticed in the church that as people take notes, not everyone takes notes at the same time. That's because not everyone is valuing the words with the same measure. What's important to one person may not be important to someone else.
The measure that you use and the judgment that you place on the value of what you hear determines what will eventually get into your heart. What is in your heart will be spoken and what is in your heart will be revealed in your spiritual walk with the Lord. Everything must be measured by the Word of God and by God's standard.
It's unbelievable what some people use as a measure. Recently I saw a young boy with multiple piercings on his face. His lips and tongue had so much metal that he would have to make it a point to avoid magnets. His hair was multi-colored and came to multiple points. His cut-off jeans still reached his ankles because his belt line had slipped so low that his underwear was exposed. His T-shirt was for someone twice his size and it was torn.
What is more astonishing than the way this guy looked is a comment that I heard from another youth standing nearby. After observing the metal-studded, mis-dressed young man, the second boy said, "Cool!" He obviously didn't measure "cool" with the same standard that I did.
The Bible says to take heed what you hear and it goes on to say we must measure the words properly.
Of course, not everyone judges style, food, color, and entertainment by the same standards. But all words must be measured by one standard and one standard only.
Guard what you hear and measure every word spoken by the truth in God's Word and then you will be using the correct measure.
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PG Vargis
Joni Eareckson was a teenager when she dove into the Chesapeake Bay. She misjudged the shallowness of the water and was paralyzed when her spinal cord was ruptured. For more than 50 years she has been an evangelical Christian author, radio host, and founder of “Joni and Friends”, an organization "accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community."
Joni said the following on praise:
“A sacrifice of praise will always cost you something. It will be a difficult thing to do. It requires trading in our pride, our anger, and most valued of all, our human logic. We will be compelled to voice our words of praise firmly and precisely, even as our logic screams that God has no idea what he’s doing. Most of the verses written about praise in God’s Word were penned by men and women who faced crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other intolerable situations.”
Praise God in the night as well as the sunshine. Today in prayer, at this very moment, put aside your hurts and burdens and praise the Lord.
“You don’t learn to praise in a day, especially since you may have been complaining for years! New habits take time to develop. But you can begin today, and practice tomorrow, and the next day until it becomes part of you.” – Erwin Lutzer
God’s Word: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Highest” – Psalm 50:14
PG Vargis
| Ask God to use you |
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| ‘Lydia…a merchant of expensive purple cloth…the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.’ Acts 16:14 NLT |
| Lydia wasn’t a preacher, she was a successful businesswoman won to Christ under Paul’s ministry. As a result, her home became the first church building named in Scripture where believers met. Get rid of the idea that only preachers speak for God. Out of 168 hours in each week, preachers generally get to speak to people only one hour. Who’s going to speak for God the other 167 hours? India has over a billion people, and there’s an interesting story of how the gospel first reached the Telugu region. It wasn’t through a preacher, but a civil engineer called John Clough, who offered to go to a newly established mission and help them. The missionary board had misgivings because he hadn’t been to a Bible college, but they admired his zeal so they authorised the trip. During a great famine, Clough supervised the digging of the Buckingham Canal. His position enabled him to hire thousands of hungry people, which meant they could earn wages and buy food. But something even more important happened. As a result, God opened the hearts of multitudes to receive His Word for the first time and today the church is thriving in India. God says, ‘Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass’ (Isaiah 46:10 NLT). God already has a plan; what He’s looking for are workers willing to help fulfil it. And you can be one of them. |
PG Vargis
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Guard Your Hearing |
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"Then He said to them, 'Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given'" (Mark 4:24).
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We measure everything we hear. When you take notes in church, you judge every statement made by the speaker and only write down what you judge worthy. I've noticed in church that as people take notes, not everyone takes notes at the same time. That's because not everyone is valuing the words with the same measure. What's important to one person may not be important to someone else. |
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The measure that you use and the judgment that you place on the value of what you hear determines what will eventually get into your heart. What is in your heart will be spoken and what is in your heart will be revealed in your spiritual walk with the Lord. Everything must be measured by the Word of God and by God's standard.
It's unbelievable what some people use as a measure. Recently I saw a young boy with multiple piercings on his face. His lips and tongue had so much metal that he would have to make it a point to avoid magnets. His hair was multi-colored and came to multiple points. His cut-off jeans still reached his ankles because his belt line had slipped so low that his underwear was exposed. His T-shirt was for someone twice his size and it was torn.
What is more astonishing than the way this guy looked is a comment that I heard from another youth standing nearby. After observing the metal-studded, mis-dressed young man, the second boy said, "Cool!" He obviously didn't measure "cool" with the same standard that I did.
The Bible says to take heed what you hear and it goes on to say we must measure the words properly.
Of course, not everyone judges style, food, color, and entertainment by the same standards. But all words must be measured by one standard and one standard only.
Guard what you hear and measure every word spoken by the truth in God's Word and then you will be using the correct measure.
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Yours to count on to see India is evangelized in our life time. No one can do it alone. But together...we can do it. Let us do it... together...now,
PG Vargis
Pastor Stephen P. Beck wrote the following:
“Driving down a country road, I came to a very narrow bridge. In front of the bridge, a sign was posted: "YIELD." Seeing no oncoming cars, I continued across the bridge and to my destination. On my way back, I came to the same one-lane bridge, now from the other direction. To my surprise, I saw another YIELD signposted. Curious, I thought, "I'm sure there was one posted on the other side." When I reached the other side of the bridge I looked back. Sure enough, yield signs had been placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions were requested to give right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision. When the Bible commands Christians to "be subject to one another" (Ephesians 5:21) it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.”
Submitting to one another is a sign of maturity in Christ. Today in prayer, consider how can you submit to someone out of reverence for Christ.
PG Vargis
| Look for a true friend |
| 27 NOVEMBER 2018 |
| ‘A true friend sticks by you like family.’ Proverbs 18:24 MSG |
| One day two cows looked over a fence and saw these words on a passing milk truck: ‘Pasteurised, Homogenised, Vitamin A added.’ One cow said to the other, ‘It makes you feel a bit inadequate, doesn’t it?’ Seriously, is that how you feel today? There’s too much to do, and not enough of you to do it? Or you don’t think you have the skill or resources? Remember the old Beatles song: ‘Help!’? You may think you can do everything on your own, but you’ll begin to realize you need the help of others. In a perfect world Adam still couldn’t make it by himself, so God said, ‘I will make a helper suitable for him’ (Genesis 2:18 NIV 2011 Edition). Sometimes the solution requires more than prayer or counselling; it requires a friend who understands – especially one who has fought the same battles and won. In Acts chapter three God used Peter and John to bring about the healing of a lame man sitting at the temple gate. But there was another miracle earlier that day. Peter had just denied Jesus, fallen flat on his face, and decided to return to his old fishing job. But John refused to let go of him. As a result, Peter was restored, a lame man was healed, and three thousand people were won to Christ. You don’t need a lot of people in your life; you just need the right people. So ask God for a ‘true friend’ who will stick by you; then you do the same for someone else. |
PG Vargis
"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." - Galatians 5:26
Salvador Dalí was a prominent Spanish surrealist painter. He was a talented artist whose conceit exceeded his imagination.
"Every morning when I awake, the greatest of joys is mine: that of being Salvador Dalí" he once said.
He was criticized for choosing to live under General Franco's fascist government in Spain. Dalí defended his position by stating that he didn't care about others so long as he could be king.
If he wasn't getting enough attention, he was known to walk the streets of New York City clanging a handbell. He is also the man who once said, "The thought of not being recognized [is] unbearable."
He summarized his ambitions, and his conceit, by saying: "At the age of 6 years, I wanted to be a chef. At the age of 7, I wanted to be Napoleon. My ambitions have continued to grow at the same rate ever since."
The conceit is a sin - be on your guard against it! Today in prayer, confess any sin of conceit in your life and seek to walk humbly with the Lord.
PG Vargis
Salvador Dalí was a prominent Spanish surrealist painter. He was a talented artist whose conceit exceeded his imagination.
"Every morning when I awake, the greatest of joys is mine: that of being Salvador Dalí" he once said.
He was criticized for choosing to live under General Franco's fascist government in Spain. Dalí defended his position by stating that he didn't care about others so long as he could be king.
If he wasn't getting enough attention, he was known to walk the streets of New York City clanging a hand bell. He is also the man who once said, "The thought of not being recognized [is] unbearable."
He summarized his ambitions, and his conceit, by saying: "At the age of 6 years, I wanted to be a chef. At the age of 7, I wanted to be Napoleon. My ambitions have continued to grow at the same rate ever since."
Conceit is a sin - be on your guard against it! Today in prayer, confess any sin of conceit in your life and seek to walk humbly with the Lord.
PG Vargis
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21
Christine Paolilla had a rough childhood. Her father passed away when she was just two-years-old and her mother struggled with drug addiction. To top it all off, she suffered from alopecia, a hair-loss condition, leaving her to go through school bullied for wearing a wig.
However, in Paolilla's junior year at Houston's Clear Lake High School, she was taken under the wing of two "cool girls," Rachael Koloroutis and Tiffany Rowell. After receiving a makeover from the two girls, Paolilla was even voted "Most Irresistible" by the student body. Despite their kindness, Koloroutis and Rowell were shot at point-blank range and killed in 2003, along with a cousin and boyfriend. It took three years to connect the murders to then 17-year-old Paolilla and her boyfriend Chris Snider, thanks to a tip.
Though Paolilla has since blamed her actions on Snider, who committed suicide, investigators believe her envy of the beautiful and popular young women who were supposed to be her best friends. While nothing ever came easy for Paolilla, her friends seemed to naturally possess the qualities she wanted most. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2012.
Envy is an abhorrent sin and one that leads to many other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of envy to the Lord and seek to rejoice in other’s successes as you follow Christ.
PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." - Luke 4:13
One of the largest freshwater turtles is the alligator snapping turtle. Found primarily in the southeastern United States, these massive turtles have been known to weigh close to 250 pounds. They are carnivorous, and while their diet is primarily fish, they have been known to eat almost anything else they can find in the water—even in a few cases small alligators! The alligator snapping turtle relies on a uniquely deceitful method of foraging for fish.
The turtle will lie completely still on the floor of a lake or river with its mouth wide open. At the end of the turtle’s tongue is a small, pink, worm-shaped appendage. The turtle wiggles the end of its tongue so that it looks like a worm moving through the water. When a fish comes to eat the worm, the turtle’s jaws rapidly close, trapping the fish so that it cannot escape.
Similarly to the snapping turtle’s lure, temptation comes in the guise of something desirable, but it always carries destruction with it in the end. If we could see the end result rather than the tempting part, it would be far easier to resist. But Satan knows this, so he cleverly disguises what is deadly in the guise of something pleasurable.
Temptation can come at anytime. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to make you aware of any temptations and have Him lead you away from all temptation.
"When evil desire finds you armed with the fear of God and the determined to resist, it will flee far away from you.” – Hermas, the Shepherd
God's Word: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”- Matthew 6:13
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The months of September and October 2018 have been particularly troublesome and have witnessed the maximum number of incidents in U.P. state. September saw 28 incidents while 16 incidents were recorded in October.
Last year RLC documented 50 incidents of targeted hate and violence against Christians in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which was in itself a high figure in comparison with the past years. However, this year till October alone the number of incidents recorded in the state are 64 and counting.
PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message |
Resolving Offense |
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In order to resolve an offense, according to Matthew 18:15-17, you must go to the person who has hurt or offended you and work it out. Notice what it says: "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church."
According to this Scripture, if the other party refuses to work through the problem, then you are supposed to take someone with you to attempt to settle the issue. And if they still refuse to cooperate, then you are free from your scriptural duty, and you can walk away from the situation without any further responsibility. However, if you still desire a relationship with that person, then you can take it before the church. If the person rejects this last attempt to resolve the problem, then there is simply nothing further that you can do except to keep your heart pure.
It is impossible to build relationships that are founded on contention, strife, envy, and pride without the devil gaining an entrance into your life through them. Proverbs 13:20 says, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." That's why you must choose your friends very carefully, and then remain diligent to guard those associations.
Galatians 5:15-16 further bears out this point when it says, "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." You choose to walk in the Spirit by faith. When you walk by faith, you cease to walk in fear. As long as you continue to walk by faith, you won't give place to the flesh. In other words, you are not building a foundation in your life from which the devil can control you.
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Part TWO. Please Pray- Matter of great concern |
On 13 September in Karmahi village in Dharmapur block, Jaunpur District, Uttar Pradesh, a fasting and prayer service organized by pastor Ravindra Maurya of the Jeevan Marg (Life Way) Church was attacked by Hindutva extremists. The attackers disrupted prayers and terrorized the congregation which was made up of mostly women and children.
PG Vargis
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How to Measure True Humility |
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"Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Colossians 2:18)
Tucked away in Colossians 2:18 are some very interesting nuggets of information concerning our personalities. This verse tells us that it is possible to be cheated out of our reward through false humility and by being vainly puffed up by our fleshly mind. Simply put, pride will cheat you out of God's best for your life.
When humility and pride are measured, most people use an incorrect measuring device. Some measure pride and humility by the amount of wealth a person has.
Years ago, two ministers I know were invited to a ministry crusade meeting hosted by a well-known foreign missionary. The missionary was speaking on humility and called both of them to the platform. The missionary, with a clear voice, announced to the crowd that my minister friends were two of the most humble ministers she knew.
When the proclamation of their humbleness had been made, you could hear some rumbling from the crowd. As soon as the meeting was over, another minister attending the meeting approached them and asked, "How can you be humble when you have new cars, new homes, and are probably the only two people in the room who own their own airplanes? Try hanging around with me for a while. I don't have any of those things. I'll show you what true humility is."
Sadly, this minister was not measuring humility with the right measuring stick. Humility has nothing to do with how much or how little money we have. Jesus said that He was humble, yet He possessed the universe and had all power (Matthew 11:29 NLT). The devil, on the other hand, has had everything stripped from him and he is full of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Humility is exalting God and His Word and His plan above your own and willingly being obedient to all that He says. Jesus submitted His will completely to the Father and He was humble. In light of that, if we submit our will to the Father with willing obedience, then we too will be walking in humility.
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PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message HOW TO MEASURE TRUE HUMILITY |
On 16 September in Bhulandih village, Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, according to reports, the police blocked all the roads leading to the Bhulandih Church (led by Durga Prasad Yadav) and forced the people to go back. Five people from the Church, identified as Deepak, Rahul, Chandrabhushan, Rajendra and Virendra were arrested on the same day and were released on bail on 19 September 2018.
PG Vargis
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)
Part of my role as pastor involves mentoring and counseling. I can honestly say I enjoy this aspect of being a pastor immensely. Not too long ago, one of the men from the church came to my home to meet with me. He had been going through a rough time.
As he sat in my family room, head hung low, he lifted his eyes to mine and said, “Pastor, I feel as if my detour has met another detour, and they got married and had a baby detour.”
In other words, he felt as if he were running into detour after detour after detour, and the detours merely kept replicating and multiplying rather than taking him anywhere meaningful.
It’s easy to feel that way when God is taking you to your destiny. This is because before you can ever get to where God wants you to be, He has to do some twists and turns. In life, as it is often on the road, detours exist because construction is taking place. When you’re on a highway and there’s a detour, it is usually because workers are trying to fix, build, correct or improve something.
Similarly, God will take us on a detour because He is constructing something in our lives as well. Granted, detours are anything but convenient. They take you out of the way. They take longer than you originally had planned to travel. But they are necessary.
God is more interested in your development than your arrival. He cares more for your character than your comfort, your purity than your productivity.
Keep in mind, development is not an event. Neither is it a one-size-fits-all experience.
Development takes time, tests, failure and overcoming. God knows each one of us individually. He knows what we each need in order to develop and strengthen our spiritual muscles and sharpen our spiritual insight and wisdom. More often than not, this requires detours in life to allow us the opportunity to learn, grow and develop.
We see this play out in Romans 5:3-5, which reads: “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
God has a destiny for you. He has a place for you and a purpose that He wants you to live out. But it may not happen tomorrow. You probably won’t get there by going in a straight line. Rarely does God take someone to the destiny He has for them without taking them on a detour … or two or 10 or even 100.
It is the one-in-a-million Christian who gets to go from point A to B to C and straight on to Z. Most often, God takes us from A to F to D to R to B to Q and so on. We never know which letter He’s pulling out next, either. That’s why patience is a preeminent virtue needed in order to reach our destiny.
Part TWO. Please Pray- Matter of great concern
On 16 September in Bhagwanpur Tola, Ragunathpur village, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, around 25 Hindutva extremists attacked and disrupted worship service at a Church led by Evangelist Anil Kumar Bharti. The attackers also called the police and alleged that conversions were taking place. Anil was arrested during the Church service by the police and was taken to Gulhariya Police Station in Gorakhpur. Three other Christians identified only as Praduman, Pradeep Kumar, Monu, and Deepak were also arrested.
PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. (Psalm 92:5 CEV)
Hot water isn't consistent in my home, when the winter weather starts. So yesterday, I had to endure a shower with cold, lukewarm water. I wasn't thankful for having water or the time to get clean. I was focused on the discomfort and the temperature. It was a let-down to my expectation of warmth and refreshment.
I immediately thought of the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. Hans Christian Anderson wrote about a princess who slept on a large amount of mattress, only to toss and turn because there is a pea in the mist of the mattresses. She was overly sensitive to the luxurious mattresses, and not comfortable, because of a squishy pea. I was being overly sensitive to a cold shower. I was being ungrateful
There are always reasons to be grateful, although they may not be so easy to find. 1 Chronicles 16 recounts several examples of God's wonderful acts, and how a person shows gratitude.
We should:
-Sing praises to the Lord and tell about His miracles. (verse 9)
-Remember all God's wonders and fair decisions. (verse 12)
- Recall "He is the only God worthy of our worship. The Lord created the heavens." (verses 25-26 CEV)
-"Praise the Lord because he is good to us, and his love never fails." (verse 34 CEV)
When we're in the midst of a frustrating and unjust situation, it isn't always easy to stop and give God the honor He deserves. Hopefully, we'll remember to focus on God's goodness, love, and wisdom, the next time we're in less than perfect circumstances.
Lord, Help me put injustices into perspective. May I think before I speak, and may I see the blessings that abound. May I keep a radiant face when I look up to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message
On March 10, 2018, Allen Clemmons was working on his Mustang convertible in his backyard in Sumter, South Carolina. As he attempted to remove the transmission, the car slid off the blocks and jack holding it up and fell onto Clemmons.
"I was having a really hard time breathing with it on top of me, even though I was kind of on my side," Clemmons said.
For the next hour and a half he called out for help, but no one responded. His family was out running errands and most neighbors were out of earshot.
"I asked God to help me, to give me one more holler and send an angel by my way," Clemmons said. "The last holler before I give up."
After letting out that last holler, Clemmons was shocked to see 9-year-old Malachi running from a nearby yard.
"I was playing outside and I heard someone yelling," Malachi said. "He was saying something like he was stuck but I didn't know what he meant."
When Malachi got close enough to see what had happened, he immediately grabbed a nearby jack and with the help of Clemmons guiding him, was able to get it back under the car. From there, he began pumping the two-foot pole until the car was raised off of Clemmons.
"My uncle taught me how to use a jack so I knew how," Malachi said.
After relieving Clemmons of the weight of the car, he ran back to his aunt's house to get help. Shortly after, a tow truck arrived and with the help of another jack, onlookers were able to pull Clemmons out from underneath the car. He was flown to Palmetto Health in Columbia for his injuries.
"I have six broken ribs and a fractured pelvis," Clemmons said. "My shoulder is also banged up."
Despite being injured, Clemmons said he is happy to be alive and thankful to his neighbor Malachi for saving his life.
"I don't think I would have survived another 30 minutes," he said. "It was getting really hard to breathe. He is truly my guardian angel."
Do you love others as Jesus loves you? Today in prayer, seek to love your neighbor for Jesus' glory.
Part TWO. Please Pray- Matter of great concern
On 23 September, in Nevadiya Village, Jaunpur District, a mob of Hindutva extremists went around the village shouting anti-Christian slogans and later attacked and disrupted the worship service in the Church led by Pastor Ashok Rajbhar. The Church usually has an attendance of 800 - 1000 people but following instructions from the police, only a small service was organized with barely 50-60 people present. But even this gathering was attacked. The police arrested Lalchand Rajbhar, Anil Rajbhar, Akhilesh Rajbhar, Rama Shankar Maurya along with Pastor Rajbhar and took them to the police station.
PG Vargis
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." - Luke 4:13
One of the largest freshwater turtles is the alligator snapping turtle. Found primarily in the southeastern United States, these massive turtles have been known to weigh close to 250 pounds. They are carnivorous, and while their diet is primarily fish, they have been known to eat almost anything else they can find in the water—even in a few cases small alligators! The alligator snapping turtle relies on a uniquely deceitful method of foraging for fish.
The turtle will lie completely still on the floor of a lake or river with its mouth wide open. At the end of the turtle’s tongue is a small, pink, worm-shaped appendage. The turtle wiggles the end of its tongue so that it looks like a worm moving through the water. When a fish comes to eat the worm, the turtle’s jaws rapidly close, trapping the fish so that it cannot escape.
Similarly to the snapping turtle’s lure, temptation comes in the guise of something desirable, but it always carries destruction with it in the end. If we could see the end result rather than the tempting part, it would be far easier to resist. But Satan knows this, so he cleverly disguises what is deadly in the guise of something pleasurable.
Temptation can come at any time. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to make you aware of any temptations and have Him lead you away from all temptation.
"When evil desire finds you armed with the fear of God and the determined to resist, it will flee far away from you.” – Hermas, the Shepherd
God's Word: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”- Matthew 6:13
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Yours to count on to see India is evangelized in our life time. No one can do it alone. But together...we can do it. Let us do it... together...now,
PG Vargis
Part ONE. At the Master’s feet – a devotional message
We see this play out in Romans 5:3-5, which reads: “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
God has a destiny for you. He has a place for you and a purpose that He wants you to live out. But it may not happen tomorrow. You probably won’t get there by going in a straight line. Rarely does God take someone to the destiny He has for them without taking them on a detour … or two or 10 or even 100.
It is the one-in-a-million Christian who gets to go from point A to B to C and straight on to Z. Most often, God takes us from A to F to D to R to B to Q and so on. We never know which letter He’s pulling out next, either. That’s why patience is a preeminent virtue needed in order to reach our destiny.
On 2 October in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, miscreants belonging to Hindu extremist groups attacked the St. Thomas Church at Godowlia area. The attackers raised slogans against the Christian faith, broke open the lock at the front door of the Church and vandalized the property. They were alleging that the pastor had offered money to one Pravin Dube (who was part of the attacking group) and had asked him to get converted to Christianity. The historical Church belongs to the Church of North India denomination as is led by Rev. Newton Stevens. Rev. Stevens was not in the Church when the attack happened. He heard about it through people and called the Dashashwamedh Police Station who sent a Phantom Patrol and dispersed the attackers. A FIR has been filed against 50-60 people. No arrests have been made till the writing of this report. A man who calls himself Yogi Aloknath Sanatani first mobilized the attack using his Facebook page and then posted pictures of the attack issuing warning to “Christian pigs” to stop the game of conversion. It is not known if this person has been arrested. One Advocate Ankit Pandey and one Roshan Mishra were also tagged on his Facebook post. |
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PG Vargis
Christmas Reflection
As believers reflect on this season, the holiday with but, one reason, In a season which bears His name, we reflect on the One, who came,The One, Who came for everyone, God’s One and Only Eternal Son, The One, Who came for all of us, The Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
During this special time of the year, how many today truly draw near, The One, sent from heaven above, He who fills this season with love, Not simply a love, that passes by, but, God’s Love, from up on high, Love, beyond our human reason, which, extends beyond this season.
Real Truth, that men need to hear, is so absent from this time of year, The Truth that nations proclaim, in this season, which bears His Name, Though the name’s altered by some, it’s still about when He did come. Being God’s Gift, sent to everyone, Jesus, God’s Only Begotten Son.
This is the season for every life, to reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ, The Author of life and our Creator, Who came to be the world’s Savior, But, in this postmodern world, Christmas Truth, people seldom herald, In this world that is so fast-paced, Christmas Truth has been replaced,
With an empty meaning so far from, Truth, that would have men come, To The Lord sent to every nation, to receive from Him God’s Salvation; But, this season and for all year long, Christmas can be a lasting song, In your heart through truthful gleaning, giving Christmas a real meaning.
Yours to count on to see India is evangelized in our lifetime. No one can do it alone. But together...we can do it. Let us do it... together...now,
PG Vargis
Christmas Angels
It was December 23, 1993. For a single mom who was going to college and supporting my children completely alone, Christmas was looking bleak. I looked around my little home, realization dawning like a slow, twisting pain. We were poor.
Our tiny house had two bedrooms, both off the living room. They were so small that my baby daughter's crib barely fit into one room, and my son's twin bed and dresser were squeezed into the other. There was no way they could share a room, so I made my bed every night on the living room floor.
The three of us shared the only closet in the house. We were snug, always only a few feet from each other, day and night. With no doors on the children's rooms, I could see and hear them at all times. It made them feel secure, and it made me feel close to them -- a blessing I wouldn't have had in other circumstances.
It was early evening, about eight o'clock. The snow was falling softly, silently, and my children were both asleep. I was wrapped in a blanket, sitting at the window, watching the powdery flakes flutter in the dimming light when my front door vibrated with a pounding fist.
Alarmed, I wondered who would stop by unannounced on such a snowy winter night. I opened the door to find a group of strangers grinning from ear to ear, their arms laden with boxes and bags.
Confused, but finding their joyous spirit contagious, I grinned right back at them.
"Are you Susan?" The man stepped forward as he held out a box for me.
Nodding stupidly, unable to find my voice, I was sure they thought I was mentally deficient.
"These are for you." The woman thrust another box at me with a huge, beaming smile.
The porch light and the snow falling behind her cast a glow over her dark hair, lending her an angelic appearance.
I looked down into her box. It was filled to the top with delicious treats, a fat turkey, and all the makings of a traditional Christmas dinner. My eyes filled with tears as the realization of why they were there washed over me.
Finally coming to my senses, I found my voice and invited them in.
Following the husband were two children, staggering with the weight of their packages. The family introduced themselves and told me their packages were all gifts for my little family. This wonderful, beautiful family, who were total strangers to me, somehow knew exactly what we needed. They brought wrapped gifts for each of us, a full buffet for me to make on Christmas Day, and many "extras" that I could never afford. Visions of a beautiful, "normal" Christmas literally danced in my head. Somehow my secret wish for Christmas was materializing right in front of me. The desperate prayers of a single mom had been heard, and I knew right then that God had sent his angels my way.
My mysterious angels then handed me a white envelope, gave me another round of grins, and took turns hugging me. They wished me a Merry Christmas and disappeared into the night as suddenly as they had appeared.
Amazed and deeply touched, I looked around me at the boxes and gifts strewn at my feet and felt the ache of depression suddenly being transformed into a childlike joy. I began to cry. I cried hard, sobbing tears of the deepest gratitude. A great sense of peace filled me. The knowledge of God's love reaching into my tiny corner of the world enveloped me like a warm quilt. My heart was full. I fell to my knees amid all the boxes and offered a heartfelt prayer of thanks.
Getting to my feet, I wrapped myself in my blankets and sat once again to gaze out the window at the gently falling snow. Suddenly, I remembered the envelope. Like a child, I ripped it open and gasped at what I saw. A shower of bills flitted to the floor. Gathering them up, I began to count the five, ten, and twenty-dollar bills. As my vision blurred with tears, I counted the money, then recounted it to make sure I had it right. Sobbing again, I said it out loud: "One hundred dollars."
I looked at my children sleeping soundly, and through my tears I smiled my first happy, free-of-worry smile in a long, long time. My smile turned into a grin as I thought about tomorrow: Christmas Eve. One visit from complete strangers had magically turned a painful day into a special one that we would always remember...with happiness.
It is now several years since our Christmas angels visited. I have remarried, and our household is happy and richly blessed. Every year since that Christmas in 1993, we have chosen a family less blessed than we are. We bring them carefully selected gifts, food and treats, and as much money as we can spare. It's our way of passing on what was given to us. It's the "ripple effect" in motion. We hope that the cycle continues and that, someday, the families we share with will be able to pass it on, too.
PG Vargis
“[Christ] is . . . the first-born of all creation” (Colossians 1:15).
Christ is the preeminent inheritor over all creation.
Puritan minister Thomas Manton once said, “Heresies revolve as fashions, and in the course of a few years antiquated errors revive again, and that by their means who did not so much as know them by name.” He was right: false doctrines keep repeating themselves through the ages, only to reappear under different names. From the Arians of the early church to the Jehovah’s Witnesses of our own day, cultists have sought to deny our Lord’s deity. One of the favorite verses of such cultists is Colossians 1:15, which refers to Christ as the “first-born.” They argue that it speaks of Christ as a created being and hence He could not be the eternal God. Such an interpretation completely misunderstands the sense of prototokos (“first-born”) and ignores the context.
Although prototokos can mean first-born chronologically (Luke 2:7), it refers primarily to position or rank. In both Greek and Jewish culture, the firstborn was the son who had the right of inheritance. He was not necessarily the first one born. Although Esau was born first chronologically, it was Jacob who was the first-born and received the inheritance. Jesus is the One with the right to the inheritance of all creation (cf. Heb. 1:2).
The context of Colossians 1:15 also refutes the idea that “first-born” describes Jesus as a created being. If Paul were here teaching that Christ is a created being, he would be agreeing with the central point of the Colossian false teachers. That would run counter to his purpose in writing Colossians, which was to refute them. Moreover, Paul had just finished describing Christ as the perfect and complete image of God (v. 15). In the following verses, he refers to Christ as the Creator of all things (v. 16) and the One who “is before all things” (v. 17). Far from being an emanation descending from God, Christ is the preeminent inheritor over all creation. He existed before the creation and is exalted in rank above it.
Suggestions for Prayer
Use Psalm 93 as the basis of your prayer to worship Christ, who is preeminent in rank over all creation.
PG Vargis
| God will make it happen |
| ‘How can this happen?’ Luke 1:34 NLT |
| The Bible says, ‘Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you”’ (vv. 34-35 NLT). Has God been telling you things He wants to do through you, but you’re looking at yourself and thinking, ‘How can this happen?’ You’re saying, ‘I don’t have the training, the resources, the skill, or the connections. And I certainly don’t have the strength to accomplish it alone.’ If you’re wondering how God will bring it all to pass, remember that He will accomplish it! No one else will get the credit. How will it happen? ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you’ (v. 35 NLT). The Holy Spirit can impregnate you with a vision, inspire you with creative ideas, introduce you to the right people, and empower you to do the job. God had a unique plan for Mary, and He has one for you too. You aren’t privileged to see the future and you don’t know all that God has in store for you. But He has a plan. After the angel spoke to Mary, notice what she said: ‘Be it unto me according to thy word’ (v. 38 KJV). Not according to your social status, or your job description, or your finances, or what you deserve. No, ‘Be it unto me according to thy word!’ Was that easy to say or believe? No, she was taking an extreme risk. To be pregnant and unmarried brought dire consequences in those days. Yet she gave herself willingly to God – and the results were miraculous. And God can do the same for you. |
PG Vargis
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. (Psalm 92:5 CEV)
Hot water isn't consistent in my home, when the winter weather starts. So yesterday, I had to endure a shower with cold, lukewarm water. I wasn't thankful for having water or the time to get clean. I was focused on the discomfort and the temperature. It was a let-down to my expectation of warmth and refreshment.
I immediately thought of the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea. Hans Christian Anderson wrote about a princess who slept on a large amount of mattress, only to toss and turn because there is a pea in the mist of the mattresses. She was overly sensitive to the luxurious mattresses, and not comfortable, because of a squishy pea. I was being overly sensitive to a cold shower. I was being ungrateful
There are always reasons to be grateful, although they may not be so easy to find. 1 Chronicles 16 recounts several examples of God's wonderful acts, and how a person shows gratitude.
We should:
-Sing praises to the Lord and tell about His miracles. (verse 9)
-Remember all God's wonders and fair decisions. (verse 12)
- Recall "He is the only God worthy of our worship. The Lord created the heavens." (verses 25-26 CEV)
-"Praise the Lord because he is good to us, and his love never fails." (verse 34 CEV)
When we're in the midst of a frustrating and unjust situation, it isn't always easy to stop and give God the honor He deserves. Hopefully, we'll remember to focus on God's goodness, love, and wisdom, the next time we're in less than perfect circumstances.
Lord, Help me put injustices into perspective. May I think before I speak, and may I see the blessings that abound. May I keep a radiant face when I look up to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.