A Cat was walking along one early evening, heading towards the village.

Cat was a friendly sort. In her lives she wore many hats. Sometimes she was a companion, listener and even a watch cat. Suddenly, out of the shadows leaped a massive dog. To cat it seemed as if a chunk of the sky had fallen into her path.

In the shadowy darkness, the animal towered over cat and bared its great, sharp, yellow teeth.

“Run away,” the dog snarled.

Startled nearly out of her wits, cat knew that if she were going to survive she must not panic. She imposed a steely calm on herself and looked up at the beast.

“I beg your pardon,” answered cat, far more calmly than she felt. “I have business here. Let me pass.”

The dog had not expected this reaction. He usually left his victims weak with fear by simply looking at them.

“Run,” he repeated. “I don’t like the way you drift about these parts cozying up to people and making them feel so secure. This is my place. Everyone here does as I tell them to.”

Now cat was nearly paralyzed with fear and running was absolutely out of the question. Cat knew that if she did run away she would never be able to see her friends in these parts again. She also realized that if she did not stand, she would always live in fear of dogs. Perhaps she would spend her life cringing at shadows as so many other cats did.

It wasn’t right. There was nothing wrong with cat helping people. The wrong was in the animal she was facing.

Cat breathed a silent prayer; “Oh help me find my way home safe.” A little spark kindled in cat’s heart. The light in her heart began to fill her and unfreeze her muscles and nerves. Suddenly, cat was no longer pretending – she really wasn’t afraid.

Cat realized at that moment, nothing mattered more to her than shining her light in this dark creature.

“I invite you to come with me and meet my friends,” cat purred. “I hate to think of you out here all alone.”

Slowly, cat managed to put one paw in front of another until she found herself gliding past the menacing creature.

“Stop,” snarled the dog. “Take one more step and I will destroy you. Don’t you dare cross me!”

It was too late. Cat had found her feet and was going at a fast pace toward the village where her friends waited for her.

She rushed into the home of the village’s guard dog and told her story.

“Did I do right?” cat asked.

“You did just fine,” he answered. “You aren’t finished. Now you must go out and tell your tale so that others who find themselves in fear might recall it and find their light.”

And so cat did.

– - – Contributed by Lisa Suhay

This world will give you plenty of reasons to give up, but God wants to give you TWICE the LIFE!

Can you believe that 2008 is over! 2008 will never come back again! What a relief :)

What a year it’s been! For many it has been filled with trials and adversity. It has been a time of great economic uncertainty. I have realized that when we face the pressures of life, when financial concerns, health issues, and fears about the future tempt us, we need to remember and claim the promises of God more than ever. It is when we face tough times that we run into the presence of God. We can’t allow the negativity — the reports of doom and gloom — to take root in our hearts and control our thoughts. If you are going to receive everything that God has for you in 2009, you need to keep your faith and hope in the Lord strong through the end of this year. There is something that I have realized about God and that is “he is not negative” There is so much positive energy around him and every time you step into his presence, you need to have faith that he exists and he rewards those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11)

Let me encourage you to remember God’s Word and all of the abundant promises of His protection, provision, hope and a future. These  promises become even more significant when we find ourselves troubled.  For me personally, God spoke to me through his word, illustrations and  most of all, when tough times came.. For a while I thought God has forgotten me.. only to realize later that He was always with me.. He is only a prayer away.. We have to remind ourselves that God’s not mad at us. He’s not mad at you — He’s madly in love with you. I don’t know why but I love this phrase .. that He is madly in love with me!! And I hear myself repeating it throughout these few days! What an assurance!! He knows exactly what you are facing, and though you may not feel like it, He has a “double portion” of blessing planned for you and your future. Look at what it says in His Word:

Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever (Isaiah 61:7 The Message).

What an amazing promise! The prophet Isaiah was speaking to a group of hurting people who refused to give up. They put their trust in God.  They didn’t let the circumstances of life steal their joy or the promises of a great future. God promised to reward them, and, like always, God made good on His promise.

In 2009, I believe that God wants to give you double for your trouble. He wants to give you twice the life — twice the joy, twice the faith, twice the peace, twice the love and twice the hope that you’ve ever known.

Twice the life doesn’t mean that we won’t have problems. We’re always going to face challenges and obstacles, but we’ve got to believe that God is for us and He has good things in store for you and me. We have to be determined not to look at how big our mountains are but focus on how big our God is! I am reminded of a man who went fishing and all the small fish he caught, he kept putting it in his bag and if the fish was big, he would throw it back. A puzzled onlooker approached him asking him what he was upto? And the man replied” See buddy, I have an eight inch frying pan at home and any fish that isn’t 8inches is thrown back into the river” Don’t we limit God sometimes to that 8 inch frying pan??

I think we all do.. We need to know what a big God we serve.. John says in his book, “Calling Out” that probably taking a walk outside and looking at his creation will amaze your little brain on what a big God we serve. If you like going on walks (like I do) try it!

Tired, discouraged, negative people drain the life from others. But positive, faith-filled, encouraging, enthusiastic people bless others everywhere they go. They are always looking to give and be a blessing to others, and God promises to give back to them a double portion. No matter your current circumstances, look to share a simple compliment, a kind gesture, a listening ear. These simple gestures can make all the difference in the lives of those around you. Keeping a positive attitude of faith is the key to God unleashing His peace and power in your life. Would you like to have twice the energy in 2009? What about twice the peace? Twice the answers to your prayers? Twice the satisfaction or twice the purpose? Whatever it is you need today, God wants to give you double for your past troubles!

God’s Word says it’s possible. All you have to do is be faithful and believe.

It doesn’t matter if your past was dark . . . your future is bright.

If you feel like you missed your chance . . . it’s never too late.

And even if you’ve experienced good things . . .your best is yet to come.

Today is the time to expect greater opportunities, new possibilities, divine connections and miraculous open doors. What I also want to add is that this year ” do more for the Kingdom” seek to serve, seek to learn, seek to hear from Him, seek His face more than His hand…

Remember, God wants to give you a double portion — or as I like to say . . . twice the life.

Expecting great things in 2009!

- – - written by Jenny

Today, we celebrate our 62nd Independence Day. Happy Independence Day to all of you.

We got this freedom by fighting hard against our suppressors, The British Rulers. I am sure all of you are well aware of the hardships endured by our forefathers so that we can have this wonderful freedom which we enjoy so much now.  Take a moment today to remember and salute them.

15th August gives us a great opportunity to celebrate India’s freedom as free sovereign political nation. There are various kinds of freedom. Do Indians enjoy true freedom? When we look at it from a national point of view, yes, we are free now as a nation. But we must also achieve freedom from something else also. The freedom which we failed to achieve all along, until now.

Types of Freedom :

Political Freedom - India is enjoying political freedom. The democracy in India is successful that people have freedom choose their own representatives to Parliament and State Legislature. Peoples’ will is determined by peaceful elections.

Social Freedom - India’s social freedom is not as good as political freedom. There is discrimination against women in all walks of life. The gender ratio is against women and is matter of concern in several districts. Deprivation of resources and opportunities on the basis of caste is also practiced in many parts of the country. In certain pockets of the country, the religious minorities are harassed or threatened.

Economic Freedom - Economic freedom is available but still there is struggle for the poor to get their share. Poverty cycle seems to be perpetual. The poor Below Poverty Line do not have food security. The subsidized food meant for them do not reach them as it is looted by the rich traders. Their children do not go to school. With mid-day meals, more and more children from these families are going to school. Many children from poorer families are not able to pursue higher education, as they do not have money to pay fees. Poor do not have opportunity to become entrepreneurs.

Spiritual Freedom - Each and every Indian should enjoy spiritual freedom. Lord Jesus Christ taught: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) The phrase ‘set you free’ means a person is in bondage and requires deliverance. It is evident that human beings are held in bondage by Satan with his cunning traps or nets. There are five significant nets in Satan’s armour: 1. “Me Only” attitude, 2. Mindset, 3. Myths, 4. Memories and 5. Mammon.

The Main Problems :

“Me only” attitude/Selfishness - The first bondage of men/women is selfishness, which is ‘me only’ attitude. Or, a life centered by a person’s ego. Adam sinned by opting to make decision that was rebellion and was satisfying his ego as confident, assertive decision maker. Instead of leading a life with God as centre, Adam opted for self-centered life.

Unless a person is delivered from being gravitated towards his/her self, the person cannot enjoy freedom. This is possible only having Lord Jesus Christ as the centre of life. Lord Jesus asked the foolish rational of human beings: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25) Man can opt to forfeit his very self to Satan or gain freedom by surrendering to Lord Jesus Christ.

Mindset – governed my traditions and culture - People are governed by ideas in the culture. For example, people have ‘auspicious time’ on certain days. Good events like marriage or house warming ceremony is scheduled during this precise hours. But, even Christians schedule their programmes during auspicious time, which is sin. God, the Father is Sovereign and all time is good.

True freedom is deliverance from mindset governed by traditions and culture. Traditions, culture and media constantly communicate practices that are not biblical. Even social evils like domestic violence, caste practices, dowry…etc are examples of bondage in minds. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) The Word of God renews and transforms the mind, so that Christians are not enslaved by patterns of the world.

Myths – Freedom means no limits - The society today reinterprets freedom in a diabolic manner. They forget that freedom has always limitations. For example, a fish is free as long as it is within the water body. The minute it leaves the water, it begins to die. Morality is the freedom area for humanity, when human beings try to defy the boundary; they begin to die morally and spiritually. Then God’s wrath and judgment cannot be averted. “So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord -’freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:17).

Another myth is: “Freedom means multiple choices”. With the economic boom, people get plenty of choices, whether it is food, clothes, footwear or any other products. Postmodern youngsters think that there are many choices in spiritual aspects of life also. But, to choose life there is only one option. Salvation is through Lord Jesus Christ. Many are deceived with the myth that there are many ways for forgiveness of sins.

Memories – Real and imagined - Memories are so powerful that a person could be controlled or manipulated for life. Some people are prisoners of past and are unable to break free from those memories. Human nature is to forget the good things and remember bad and bitter events. It gets imprinted in their minds and not erasable for years. Many of their present life is also spoiled due to such memories. Child abuse victims, people who experienced rejection, abandonment, divorce, failure, loss, grief, accident, bereavement; have bitter memories and are unable to shake free.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14) Paul was able to forget the past. Christians are called to be future oriented. Each day in a life of Christian is nearer to eternal glory. So, the future is always bright. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Cor 5: 17). When a person comes to Lord Jesus Christ his/her past is erased and newness comes as reality.

Money – The alternative god -  people worship, work and even die for. Money could be a good servant, but not bad master. In pursuit of money people lose focus, values and meaning in life. Rich become richer, poor become poorer. Rich are not satisfied with what they have, they like to have more. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Timothy 6:10)

What can we do?

As India celebrates Independence Day, we wish freedom for all Indians in all aspects of life. The superior freedom is in Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians we have privilege to enjoy the Freedom which is true and relevant. But, also Christians have a responsibility towards people around them. So, they should be channels of bringing True Freedom in the lives of people. Christians in India have a great contribution to make for making India a super power.

Independence Day Prayers

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