Life is too short!

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6: 14, 15

The Lord has placed a deep burden inside me to share with you all two things. Let me bring the first one today and the next one tomorrow. This is my personal unforgettable incident, but I’m sharing this to you all for your edification. Please read it fully.

My father got voluntary retirement when I did my Engineering second year. Till then I used to spend my vacation at my grandparents home. My father used to be their son, rather than their son-in-law. We all loved one another. He helped my uncle financially with the entire amount he got after his retirement upon the advice of my grandfather. One day came when my family stood shocked when we were not able to pay my college fees. My parents and I went to my uncle’s home just to know that he would not return even a single rupee for my fees. Somehow God provided graciously and only with His mercy I got graduated. Only by his grace I got placed even before I came out of the college.

But the other side was, we had hatred developed deep inside our hearts toward them all. IT was my mom who constantly longed and prayed for unity and peace between us once again. But I, my father and siblings felt that they didn’t deserve to be forgiven. Somehow God spoke to me and I reconciled with few of them, especially with my grandfather.

Few months back, when we went for a prayer meeting, by God’s grace my father met my grandfather and spoke to him. Things started changing one month back. My grandfather fell sick. To take care of him, my father took off and was there outside the Critical care unit day and night along with my uncles and soon everyone was united. We wholeheartedly prayed for one another. We felt the love growing from within.

Within a month, the Lord wanted my grandpa and on last Saturday he entered the eternity. We all cried and cried till no more tear was left out in the eyes. IT was very tough. But I could see the oneness again. That’s what my mother longed for a very long time, which I thought was never possible at all. But now I know with God all things are possible!

Before my grandpa died, he saw everyone together and though he was not able to speak or express it, I know definitely he was very happy on the reunion. And my dear God showed us the grace to reconcile with everyone through this incident. We have peace in our hearts when we think at least we have taken good care of him before he left us.

Dear friends, it’s not too late to forgive someone who cheated you! Though they don’t deserve it, please forgive them. Because, you never know whether you’ll get yet another chance to forgive them. Life is too short to hold grudge against someone. As far as possible live in peace with everyone. It’s not so easy. But through Him we can do anything and everything. Jesus Christ forgave even those who spat at Him. He showed His love even to us when we were the worst of all the sinners.

May God bless!

Wings like Eagles!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Good morning. One of my friends shared this wonderful message which I wanted to share today. If you feel like you’ve lost your hope, then this message is for you. So please read this without skipping lines.

The Eagle can live up to 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision. In its 40th year its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent. Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, stick to its chest & make it difficult to fly.

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: DIE or go through a painful process of CHANGE which lasts 150 days. The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. Then the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons. When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers. And after 5 months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.

What do you understand from the life of Eagles? It’s not easy for an eagle to live till 70 long years with the same strength it has when it is young until it undergoes some painful months. Are you in such a situation? Remember the Lord doesn’t want you to die due to lack of strength, but He teaches you today that you may soar up again. You’ll have to regain the strength you had before.

Unless the eagle strikes its beak and plucks its feather it can no longer fly at all. Similarly unless you and I don’t pass through the valleys of difficulties, we’ll not understand the mighty power of the hands of God in our lives. All things will work together for good. Your tears will be wiped off. Your mourning will be turned to joy! But when & how?

1.   Be patient in times of struggles and be assured that God the Lord is with you wherever you go! His presence will never leave you. In fact during these tough times it’s not you who walk, it is the Lord who carries you on his shoulder.
2.   Strike your beak against the rock. You cannot escape from temptations unless you hate it. If you love it, then there is no way to come out of it. The sin it leads to, is really cheap. Make efforts continually to preserve your relationship with God by not giving a chance to sin. It’s not easy, I know. But it’s achievable through Him as Bible says; we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
3.   Pluck out your old feathers. When you really prepare your mind not to sin against God as Joseph did, you’re ready for the battle. Start plucking out your dark areas one by one with the renewed beak. Sometimes it hurts. But the end is very near; you’re going to have the beautiful fresh feathers which will take you to heights no matter how forceful the storms in your life are!

If you have ‘I will sing’ album of Don Moen, please listen 12th song “Like eagles.” There is another song ‘Everlasting God’ which says ‘Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord’. I heard it in NLAG worship. They convey the same message. You’ll enjoy!

May God bless!