~Four Things About The God Kind Of Love~By: Vijay Martis

Hi,

Praise God,

Sharing with you all an article written by a fellow brother in Christ, Vijay Martis (Mumbai)

Be Blessed

YSIC,

Julia

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Four Things About The God Kind Of Love

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- Vijay Martis

“And You saw me when You took a crown of thorns
And Your blood washed over me.
And You loved me through the nails that You bore
And Your blood washes over me.”

- Hillsong ‘You saw me’

From the look on his face I could see that he was hurting. Badly. As we sat there and talked, I learnt his faith was not in question; he still adored His Saviour, having already been through the fires of persecution when he became a Christian.

And it also wasn’t about the job he just lost. A new job he could always get. It was about something a whole lot deeper. It was about living the Christian life the Lord has commanded us to live in Matthew 5-7. Authentically and from the inside out.

We talked some more. I spoke about letting go, but he honestly felt love was a mountain he couldn’t scale just right now. I knew that wasn’t true, because the Lord would never ask us to do something we couldn’t do (1 John 5:3, Phil 4:13). It’s only tough when we try to do it in our own strength. 

Still I admired his honesty. And knew that if he could keep himself open to God, he’d find his way back into the light (1 John 2:10).  For the love is there (2 Tim. 1:7), it’s already been poured out into our spirits  (Rom. 5:5), and will manifest itself as we renew our minds (Rom. 12:2), deny the self  (Luke 9:23) and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)

Which is what the rest of the article is all about – the practical, effective, everyday outworking of this Love in our lives. For we’ve all heard enough sermons pounded from pulpits on the need to love, which in the absence of a clear ‘how-to-go-about-it’ is about as helpful as being asked to lift a 300 pound Gorilla! C. S. Lewis got it right when he said, "Everyone says forgiveness is a wonderful idea until they have something to forgive". 

But first let’s take a look at what ‘Agape’ the God kind of love really is. There are plenty of definitions but I prefer it the way Joseph F. Manning puts it. You’d find this towards the end of his delightful book, ‘The Miracle of Agape Love.’ He begins with describing human ways of loving such as:

“I love you because you love me.” – conditional love

“I love you because I want you to love me.” – barter love

“I love you now because you once showed me love.” – law of return love

“I love you because you are attractive.” – physical love

“I love you because you agree with me.” – social love

“I love you because it’s the religious thing to do.” – moral obligation love

as against…

“I love you (I really experience a giving, selfless love) because God has placed within me His wonderful love for you.” – Agape or the God Kind of Love. I’ll add here that it’s the very nature of God  (1 John 4:16), the same love that Jesus has (John 13:34) and is a fruit of our recreated human spirits (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:22) . Enough said, here are four insights on how to make this Agape love more real in our lives.

1. Agape Only Begins Where We End

Picture a corpse in a coffin. Does it have thoughts of its own? Any feelings? Any desires? None whatsoever.  It’s only when we get to that place in our spiritual walk, with our thoughts, our emotions, our desire to get even, our idea of the outcome completely CRUCIFIED (Gal. 2:20) , that Agape flows and God can work in that situation.

This is not suppression or driving those feelings inside (they only eat you up, cause depression, or an even bigger explosion) or expressing your anger to the other person  (this only creates more pain and darkness and confusion) because we’re not acting in the wisdom, the timing or the love of the Spirit. It’s simply getting in your prayer closet and waiting on the Lord until He gives you the answer.

Almost as a real-life preparation for this article, I got into a huge argument. What started as a phone call, turned into a discussion, turned into a major theological debate that completely polarized my friend & I. So I took his permission for some time off, and after spending over 15 hours praying in the Spirit  (Jude 20-21) whilst listening to praise & worship on my earphones over three and a half days, I was finally able to break through.

During those terrible hours with wave upon wave of anger, and thoughts of hopelessness & giving up crowding in on me, I held on in my own personal Gethsamene. In the end satan lost, Agape flowed, healing flowed, the situation returned back to normal, with the friendship stronger than before. I’ve been into a lot of stuff  - New Age, Transactional Analysis, the Self Esteem Movement, A Course in Miracles – but nothing, nothing, nothing can bring that complete and lasting healing to our hearts like the love of Jesus within us does.

2. Agape Celebrates Our Differences

                Anyone who knows my twin Sanjay & I knows we’re both very different. Sanjay is friendly, social, a born leader. He loves meeting family and friends, loves to travel, and can manage people and complex projects very easily.

 Me, I’m the creative type, need a lot of personal space, and love losing myself in the Word and prayer. While I do spend a lot of time ministering and praying with folks, my ideal weekend is two days locked in with the Lord and His Word with the phone off and no contact with the outside world!

It’s these differences in all of us that makes life interesting. As long as we flow with them and not try and make others in our image. The Greeks identified four basic temperaments : 1. Sanguine - optimistic, cheerful, popular and fun-loving  2.Choleric - ambitious, persuasive, independent,and dynamic 3. Melancholic – introspective, sentimental, self-conscious & intuitive 4. Phlegmatic – adaptable, peaceful, reliable & easy-going

Each type has peculiar strengths and weaknesses. Just accepting and working with these differences makes relationships easier to live with and understand. It also ends a lifetime of frustration, of dealing with our own ‘hang-ups’. Now we boast in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9), for the power of God is at work within us (Eph 3:20) to transform these weaknesses into strengths for His Glory (2 Cor. 3:18)

It would pay anyone to study up on this. Tim La Haye’s got some excellent books on the Spirit-Controlled Temperament. You could also reach for ‘Personality Plus’ by Florence Littauer.

               

3. Agape Agrees With The Counsel Of The Word And The Spirit

In ‘The Tipping Point’ sociologist Malcolm Gladwell discussed Dunbar’s number or how an individual can have meaningful, genuine relationships with a maximum of 150 people. Beyond that number, it’s gets difficult. We find ourselves stretched, burdened, irritated and burnt out; unable to give quality time to ourselves or the ones closest to us.

Which is why the Bible has much to say on who we let into our inner circle. Yes, while it does talk about a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Cor.13:7), it also talks about a love that is discerning. In fact, in Rev 2:18-22, we find the Lord Jesus Himself strongly cautioning Christians in Thyatira to keep away from a certain individual.

To not heed such advice is to invite trouble and even face the judgment of God (ver. 22). A closer study of the Word reveals a lot more of the same advice. In writing to Titus, Paul informs him to reject a divisive person after a first and a second admonition (Titus 3:10), while to the Corinthians he even goes so far as to command them not to keep company or even eat with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. (1 Cor. 5:11)

So clearly discernment is involved, for as Christians, we will encounter the carnal (1 Cor. 3:3),  spiritually immature (Heb. 5:12), unteachable (2 Tim 3:7), foolish (Rom 2:20), boastful (2 Cor. 11:18) , immoral (1 Cor. 5:1) the legalists  (Gal. 3:1-2) , fake (2 Cor.11:26), unstable (Eph 4:14), control freaks like Diotrephes (3 John 9, 2 Cor. 11:20), gossips & busybodies (1 Tim. 5:13), lovers of money (2 Tim. 3:2), cultists (2 John 9-10), the rebellious like Hymenaeus & Philetus (2 Tim.2:17),  false teachers (2 Pet. 2:1), deceitful workers (2 Cor. 11:13) and  the ones who preach the Word with impure motives (Phil. 1:15-16).

To not put the Word into practice, is to drain yourself physically and emotionally, and even to despair of ever finding true Christian friends. I know it because I’ve been there, and want to let you know that if you’re feeling condemned about not giving your time to everyone who asks for it, check with the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27) if He really wants you to spend time with that particular person. You just might be surprised with what He tells you!

4. Agape Needs Time To Grow, Mature And Recharge

I’m writing this point after just having spent the last two days ministering to others. It’s ironical that after being blessed and seeing others blessed by the Word and the Spirit, that right now with my body feeling a little worn out, that I need to be most watchful that I walk in Agape towards those around me.

It’s easy to get angry, irritated and depressed when we’re low on energy, tired, stressed out and running on empty. In such a state, we can’t think correctly let alone hear the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27) Even the prophet Elijah reached a state of physical exhaustion, so that in spite of what he had witnessed at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40), he now pleads with God to take him away (1 Kings 19:4).

As Christians we have to come to terms that our bodies need rest. Yes, we will receive heavenly bodies but as long as we are in this mortal flesh, we are going to have to take time to adequately rest, recharge and recoup. Jesus even asked His disciples to take some time off to rest (Mark 6:31) because there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

But more than spiritual rest, the Christian needs time alone with the Lord; time in the Word and time in His Presence. We know that the love of God has been poured into our hearts (Rom. 5:5) by the Holy Spirit in the New Birth, but unless nurtured in the Spirit (Gal 5:25) and developed in the Word (Rom 12:2), within us as a seed it remains.

So let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal 6:9). My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). Let us walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us (Eph 5:2).

(Vijay Martis is a non-denominational Charismatic Pastor/Teacher, media professional, and co-author of the book ‘Burnt Alive: The Staines and the God They Loved’)

Kids are precious

Kids are so...precious aren't they??

Quit Smoking Plz............

SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH.

No one can deny this!!

How many times the Lord's gently reminded you to QUIT SMOKING,
But you've been putting it off??
The Lord knows it defiles your body & it's not good for your health.

That's why even manufacturers too are forced to put that message on the cigarette boxes.

I am burdened to pray for friends and loved ones who still smoked and think it's ok. Pray the Lord will enlighten them to the truth that smoking is "INJURIOUS TO HEALTH" and that their body is the "Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT"
It may be hard to quit smoking..but surely not impossible.
I just happened to read this article on-line and sharing it with you all. Pray someone out there is blessed.
Before reading the articles below..just know that God wants to help people who are struggling to quit this habit.
Just "Pray" & reach out to JESUS.

SEE THE GOOD IN PEOPLE AND APPRECIATE THEM~

"Family, Friends and loved ones...

They fight about the smallest things when together

But miss the smallest things when apart...."

We need to appreciate & treasure the people in our life. We got to learn to see the good in people around us & compliment them!

Every individual has some 'good' in them.

Let's speak words of love to people we love.

We need to tell our spouse, kids, parents & loved ones how much they mean to us. 

If we can't speak words of love, let our actions show. Let's hug them more often & through our small deeds show them how much we care. We can send them notes to say how special they are...

Let's take time for people we love & care.

We need to treasure valuable friendships. True friends can be such a blessing.

Friends, brothers & sisters in Christ are added bonus to us. They will pray for us & with us, encourage us & help us in our spiritual walk as we tread this narrow path together.

Today can we take time to appreciate our loved ones? Let's also thank them.

There are some who bless our lives so much and I'm sure we can take a moment to thank them...

Employers need to compliment their employees even for a small achievement. This will motivate them to work better!

Words of appreciation, love, compliments cost us nothing to give...but sure is priceless to receive.

God Bless each of you....

JESUS LOVES YOU SO.....MUCH!!!

Julia

MIRACLE WORKING PRAYER!!!

This was sent to me by someone long back.....

Be Blessed..
Julia

 

MIRACLE WORKING PRAYER

I love you dear Heavenly Father, Precious JESUS & Beautiful Holy Spirit.

Dear Heavenly Father, as I cup my hands before you, please fill this cup with JESUS' precious, powerful blood.

Thank you Lord  and now I take Jesus' precious powerful blood & by the HOLY SPIRIT of love, power & sound mind, I pour it all over my head, let it saturate my body from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.

( In faith move yr hands over yr entire body...)

I proclaim in JESUS NAME that JESUS'S BLOOD which has cleansing power, healing power, restoration power, will cleanse heal & restore my scalp, hair, my brain, my conscious mind & sub conscious mind, my head, my fore head, my eyes, my ears, my nose, my mouth,

my tongue, my gums, my teeth, my lips, my oesophagus, my stomach, my gall bladder & my liver, my pancreas & every single organ in my body.

My immune system, upper & lower intestine,my colon, my private parts, my uterus, my hips, my thighs, my legs, my calves, my knees, my ankles, my feet & my toes, my back side, my kidneys, my spine, spinal cord, vertebrae, my central nervous system, my autonomic nervous system,my back, my neck, my hands, my fingers,

my heart, chest & my lungs..

Now dear Father, I pray, fill this cup with Jesus' Precious Blood, with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT i now pour this blood into my heart, this beautiful heart you gave me Lord..I give it back to you & dedicate myself to you, to be obedient to you & my heart totally worships you, loves you & adores you my Lord,

Now that my heart is filled with JESUS Precious Powerful blood, let this BLOOD be pumped through every artery, every vein, every capillary, into every single cell, every atom, every molecule of my brain, my body, my spirit & my blood.

Thank you Lord for completely cleansing, healing & restoring my body, my mind, my heart, my Spirit, my soul & my blood & all my desires in JESUS NAME.

AMEN!

~Now you can bring the person you are praying for before God & pray this prayer over them.....

~We need to cover all the prayer requests, people, our desires requested of the Lord with the BLOOD OF JESUS.

~We need to believe & proclaim the person is cleansed, healed & restored by giving glory to God & thanking HIM.

~We need to thank God

~And we should not speak words of unbelief, should not let any negative thoughts enter our mind because we know now all our requests are covered with JESUS' PRECIOUS BLOOD.

~We also have.. THE WORD OF GOD & THE NAME OF JESUS to back it....

So God will hear our prayers!!

Be Blessed!!

~Beautiful Autumn~

Beautiful  Autumn

(Author Unknown)

Autumn is a season of much change, when nature makes preparations for the cold winter months ahead using a variety of methods. September is often the month when trees begin to take on their autumn colours. The exact time depends on what kind of summer, wet or dry, hot or cold, has gone before. Fruits of all kinds are now ripening and can be seen fat and colourful on the trees and in the hedgerows, along with a large variety of fungi.

During autumn flowers begin to fade, although there are some specialist plants that can be found only at this time of year, for example wild parsley and ivy which bloom in autumn providing vital sources of nectar for butterflies and the last wasps. We can witness a lot of change in the species of birds that can be seen, as we lose our migrants to warmer countries. However, some new arrivals join us from colder countries.

Many small mammals, such as hedgehogs and squirrels, hibernate during the winter. This means that they go into a sleep like state by lowering their heartbeat and slowing their breathing. The body temperature is lowered and energy expenditure is greatly decreased, sometimes to even lower than during normal sleep, to cope with the lack of food intake. Animals that hibernate during winter spend autumn feasting. This ensures that they have adequate fat stores and are healthy enough to get through the cold foodless winter ahead. Insect numbers drop dramatically during the autumn, as the nights are chilly and many die. Some insects like bumble bees and ants hibernate during the winter.

Let it be known that you are God......

1 KINGS 18:36 "At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command."

Genesis 35:11
And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; ..."

Hi.....

We need to pray the Lord will display His Awesome power, miraculous healing and for a great move of God on earth.

We need to ask to receive. So many out there need to know and see the Almighty God who created this universe.

Millions still need to know there's healing, spiritual, emotional and physical in the Name of Jesus.

What are we doing about it?

YSIC,

Julia

Father God...

You are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You made fire fall from Heaven when Elijah called out to you.

You are the same yesterday, today and forever Lord.

Work miracles amidst us O Lord.

We want to see supernatural, creative miracles so that this World will see your power and your glory.

Lord increase our faith to believe for miracles like Elijah.

We today ask for a double portion of your anointing in our lives Lord.

Come Lord..move in and through us.

Use us as instruments that display your Glory...Lord.

Thank you Lord.

In Jesus Name,

Amen and Amen

What's Abuse?

It's said Emotional abuse is a hard form of abuse to define...

http://students.cis.uab.edu/bremo08/psychological%20abuse.html

Psychological/Emotional Abuse

the hardest form of abuse to define

this form of abuse can include name-calling, ridicules, degradation, destruction, torture, excessive criticism, inappropriate or excessive demands, withholding communication, and routine labeling or humiliations. Victims of this type of abuse usually react in ways such a distancing fighting back by insulting others or the abuser. According to readings, emotional abuse can result in abnormal or disrupted attachment disorder, a tendency for victims to blame themselves for the abuse, learned helplessness, and over passive behavior.This form of abuse is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such as abusive relationships, bullying, child abuse and in the work place. it was once reported that children whose families are characterized by interpersonal violence, including psychological aggression and verbal aggression, may exhibit a range of serious disorders, including chronic depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress dissociation and anger.

WHAT'S ABUSE?~By: Becky

I'm not trying to define abuse here. Its been done too many times already and most girls are probably told a gazillion times over what it means.

But I do want to refine the definition of abuse.

Many often believe that a girl is abused when her virginity is stolen from her or when she has been taken advantage of sexually. True.

But let me stretch this a bit further. Not many are aware that emotional abuse rates higher than sexual abuse these days amongst young girls.

What things qualify for emotional abuse?

If any man (young or old, friend or relative, handsome or not) leads you to believe that he loves you when HE REALLY DOESN'T, disassociate yourself with this person.

If any a person you are in a relationship with always demands things of you, requires you to do stuff for them and if you are doing it willing in the name of LOVE, you're in for a big surprise............its NOT LOVE!

If any person you are in a relationship with disregards your desires, wants, wishes and has an EGO that rules the relationship, my friend, you're being abused!!!

VERY IMPORTANT: If any person makes you believe that he loves you and leads you to sexual talk and activity very often, its time to get alert and call it quits.

If a person that you respect, look up to or admire and love in a clean way (relatives, leaders, employers, professors) starts talking personal and intimate stuff.....its time to draw the lines and stop speaking to the person.

If a person makes you think its your fault that he has sexually used you, that's emotional abuse of the worst degree!

I can go on with the list but the point is not to intimidate you but to make you aware.

Always remember, its never too late to talk to someone or to walk out of an emotionally abusive relationship.

Cheers!

Becky.

You are loved (Girls please read)

Here below is something written by Becky...

Julia

Hi,

     I’ve come to understand that every young girl dreams of a ‘perfect’ wedding more than any other thing in her life. The sheer suspense of whom it will be that she will spend her entire life with fills her fantasies. She will often spend hours wondering who she will dance with on her wedding day, laugh with when she’s happy, cry to when she’s sad and shout at when she’s angry.

     Being totally aware of how imperfect the world is, every girl stills dreams of a ‘perfect’ man. And surprisingly, ‘perfect’ here doesn’t mean financially sound, academically brilliant or physically charming. It simply means someone who loves her unconditionally. Very clichéd, but absolutely true. Every girl, no matter what race, what colour, what nationality or culture; wants to be loved.

     Is this why young girls are taken advantage of everyday in this world? Is this why they are robbed of their innocence every minute? Even as I write this mail some girl some where is being raped, molested or sexually assaulted. Scary but true.

     I have a message today for young girls. Not for their offenders. Not for people who walk into their lives, make them feel loved for a while and walk out. Not for those who mislead them. Just for the girls.

     Jesus loves you. Just as you are. Unconditionally. He cares. If He would want to pick anyone from this earth to spend eternity with, it would be you. He knows how like being loved. He knows what you looks good on you. He knows when to speak to you and tell you just what you want to hear. He knows you like being held more than anything else in the world. He loves you.

     Let’s not ignore such great love for what might seem tangible and momentary.

    “For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord Almighty is His name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer- He is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:5

    “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and in justice, in love and in compassion.” Hosea 2:19

     “Therefore now I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her….In that day, you will call me ‘my Husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my Master’. Hosea 2: 14:16

     I didn’t intend for this to be a chain mail thing but please pass this on to as many young girls as possible- sisters, cousins, daughters, friends, mates, etc. There may be people you know who are going through the toughest of things like abuse and emotional harassment that you never know of. It’s not something that can be detected. Do it for someone who needs it. 

God bless you.

Love,

Becky.

Peacock~ India's National Bird

The Peacock, Pavo cristatus (Linnaeus), the national bird of India.
Peacocok is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green train of around 200 elongated feathers it is able to expand its tail erect like fan as ostentatious display.


The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male, and lacks the train. These birds do not sound as beautiful as they look they have a harsh call. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a beautiful sight.


The peacock is widely found in the Indian sub-continent from the south and east of the Indus river, Jammu and Kashmir, east Assam, south Mizoram and the whole of the Indian peninsula. Found wild in India (and also domesticated in villages) they live in jungle lands near water. They were once bred for food but now hunting of peacocks is banned in India.

The Road may be Narrow..but...

Hi ..

The road we walk is narrow and has rocks and thorns that hurt our feet and stumbling blocks that slow us down. Sometimes we pass through deserts where the heat is real bad, face storms that batter us but if we have Jesus Christ our Lord in our hearts we don't walk this path alone.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died to save us, has promised He'll never leave or forsake us.

He never promised the walk would be easy. 
He said we will face troubles.

John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

There may be times we may fall, slip, back-slide, but the moment we call out to our Redeemer, He will pick us up right from where we are and when we ask forgiveness for our sin that caused our fall, He won't shake His finger at us & say " You've sinned so you can't carry on" and cast us out.

He won't look at our condition and accuse us.

But with compassion will brush off the dust (sin) and make us stand firm, look past the sin that caused our fall, at our repentant heart and will look at us and say, "I love you and I died to save you, it doesn't matter what people say...MY BLOOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO WASH YOUR SIN AWAY."

So let's not judge our fellow brethren who fall, slip or back slide but pray for them & help them stand.

Let's not be quick to judge things by what we see and hear. If you have doubt's a fellow sister/ brother is doing something wrong it's very important we find out the exact truth...!

For our eyes & ears may deceive us...!

Prov 25:7b and 8a it's said.."....what you've seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court....."

When a woman caught in adultery was brought to Him(JOHN 8:1-11)

1) He didn't condemn or accuse her. He loved her though' He hated the sin she was involved in. He asked her accusers ...
" If anyone of you is without sin let him be the first to throw the stone at her."

2) Jesus without condemning her, just by showing His love unhooked her of her past. She no longer was a prostitute!

We too got to forgive & release people of their past. When Jesus forgives He immediately forgets & let's that person follow Him.

3)He gave her back her lost dignity.

He accusers called her a prostitute but Jesus forgave, forgot & calls her 'Woman' 
(vs. 10). "Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you? Then neither do I condemn you. Go now & sin no more."

We need to be imitators of Jesus!

We need to have the Father's heart!

Let's keep our eyes focused on JESUS and walk this narrow way. Let not the hardships we encounter hold us back.

Let's always remember that this narrow road leads to God's beautiful garden....!

So come on, let's keep moving ahead.

 I'm glad so many of you walk with me this narrow path and I'm not alone.

We help each other, pray for each other, when a fellow traveler is weary we encourage him/her, we lift him/her up, when they need a helping hand.

That's why God loves fellowship and He knows we need each other.

And the Holy spirit guides and leads each of us! His angels guard over us!

Thanks to family, friends, brothers and sisters who have and are a blessing to me as I walk this narrow path.

julia