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Mark 16:1-3 tells us that very early on that first Easter morning, a small group of women made their way to the garden where the tomb was. As they walked along, their minds were seized of a great problem. They had gone into all the trouble of preparing the spices, but how would they anoint the body? Wasnt there a heavy stone rolled against the entrance to the tomb? None of them was strong enough to move it. They discussed the problem among themselves, wondering who will solve it for them. You can speculate on the suggestions that would have come forth. Lets find the gardener, May be one of the soldiers on guard will be kind enough to help us, Shall I go back and get my son? .there would have been umpteen options considered in those few minutes. As they went closer, the tension and confusion in their minds would have been sky high. Those of us who know the end of the story know that their anxiety was absolutely unwarranted. There was no need for a giant pair of hands to roll away the large stone, for it had already been rolled away. There was no need for the fragrant spices, for Jesus body was not there. It seems amusing that the women got so worked up and spent their money, time and mental prowess on a problem that did not exist anymore. Yet, how often we do the same thing! Looking back, I tried to make a list of the things I have worried about over the years. It made me sincerely wonder why I had agonized so much over some things that turned out so well in the end! I realized that most of my worries were because my feeble mind had greatly exaggerated the problem on hand and made it appear much bigger and more ominous than it actually was. Anxiety is a fertile breeding ground for imagination and soon the matter assumes monstrous proportions in the inner eye. There is a nagging
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BLESSING / April 2011

Who will roll away the stone?

Mrs. Haema Henry, Chennai

stomach pain and the doctor advises an endoscopy. Instead of just waiting for the result, the mind conjures up situations where the verdict is a terrible disease! Sleepless nights follow considering the implications of the supposed result. By the time the report comes in that it is only a treatable inflammation, the blood pressure goes up to new heights! Luke 24:13-35 describes a scene that happened later that Sunday evening on the road to Emmaus. Here, we encounter two disciples discussing feverishly about the heart-wrenching happenings of Thursday and Friday. They were totally oblivious to the earth-shattering miracle that had already occurred on Sunday morning and were too fatigued to realize that they were joined by the Subject of their conversation. How often I too am on that Emmaus road! When there is a problem, I am frequently on the telephone, discussing situations that I, with my finite understanding, think, are beyond redemption. Little do I realize that my Infinite, Living God has already solved the problem for me! It is only a matter of time before my eyes are opened and I see Him having worked it out far more beautifully than I could have asked or imagined (Eph 3:20). Parents with children of marriageable age often find themselves on this road. We fret over every proposal that doesnt click because we do not see Him working behind the scenes. We do not realize that He is very much on the job, moulding and preparing both our child and the person He has ordained for him/her. The veil will be lifted at

exactly the right time when both become uniquely suited to receive each other. When Jesus met the women in the garden, He greeted them and said, Do not be afraid. Thats the command He gives each of us as well. Many of us are unable to lead the victorious life that the Victors children ought to lead because we worry about all kinds of things. When the Bible tells us Do not be anxious about anything it doesnt stop there ( Phil 4:6). It also tells us what to do about it. The verse continues, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. It is followed up by the promise, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (v 7). The and is the connecting word between the two statements. The peace of God fills our hearts only when we stop worrying over the problem and focus instead on the Lord whos greater than any situation. The secular world advises us not to worry, because, we cannot change anything by worrying. The Living Word from the Author of Life tells us not to be anxious about anything, because, our times are in His hands, He is in control of all things and all things work together for good for those who love Him. Just as He greeted the anxious women that early morning, the Risen Christ wakens me each morning whispering Greetings(Is 50:4). When I open my Bible, He breaks the word to open my eyes, just as the eyes of the two men were opened when He broke the bread (Luke 24:30,31). He reassures me that because He lives, I can face today and tomorrow; Because He lives, all fear is goneLife is worth the living just because He lives!
(The author is a housewife, Mob: 09003131177)
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How I won a soul

A SOUL AND A CHURCH

Fortyfive years ago when I had just turned to the Lord, three of us brothers used to go to the seashore to pray. The owner of the coconut grove where we bent our knees was the local postmaster belonging to the fishermen community. He was an atheist. Whenever he found us in his grove he would stop for a chit chat. Now and then we would lovingly share the gospel with him and give him books to read, like the history of Sadhu Sundar Singh and other saints. In a short while he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. He was very burdened for his community and opened the doors for us to preach the goodnews to them. During their important festivals we would invite preachers to comm unicate the gospel to them and thus sowed sack loads of seeds among them. We also started to pray regularly for them. After 45 years, on the same spot where we knelt down, stands a church and along with the same postmaster and around 100 fisherfolk who turned to the Lord and were baptized. We worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. I feel my heart would burst with joy when I think of this small start and a beautiful beginning! S. Wilson, Kanyakumari

name for our child. Why not adore the One of the most Lord, using one of His attributes every beautiful and heartday? The Lord says, The people I warming experiences in for Myself will proclaim My life is watching an egg One of the most beautiful andformed heart-warming praise (Is 43:21).This is His longing hatch. As the eggs are experiences in life is watching an egg and expectation from us. May we gathered under the hatch. As the eggs are gathered under the everyday Paul and Silas who remember mother birds wings, they receive wings, they receive warmth, and sang praises in prison in the middle of warmth, and lo, a mother baby birds emerges from the night! it! Its the genesis of a new life! lo, and behold, a baby emerges from it! Its the Similarly, when the spirit prayer is genesis of of a new life! Similarly, when the : The first step is the tax Petition lit in a nation, its heat begets and collectors prayer (Luke 18:13). A good spirit of prayer is lit in a nation, its heat begets revives countless new lives. When the model is countless new lives. When Jonah, who accepted his Apostle Paul saw and therevives inscription To circumstances and called out to God the Apostle saw the inscription to an an unknown god on an altar Paul in Athens, from the belly of the fish (Jon 2:1-9). his heart was seared (Acts unknown god 17:23). on an altar in Athens, his Nehemiah shot off an arrow prayer Everyday, we witness people in our heart was seared. Everyday, we witness before he people spoke to the king (Neh 2:4) country going to lengths to in great our country going to great lengths to caused Nehemiah to find and God propitiate numerous gods and favour withDoes the king (2:6). When Esther propitiate numerous gods and goddesses. goddesses. Does this affect us? Or do fasted and prayed along with her this affect us? Or do we just go about our we just go about our business maids, she found courage and wisdom business unconcerned? unconcerned? to stand before the king and gain victory (Esth 4:16). Prayer warriors are Praise : As the sun dips into the Praise : As the sun dips into the horizon each those who stand boldly and fervently horizon each evening, the skyline is evening, skyline is filled on flocks their knees for the redemption of filled with flocks of birds the returning to with their land. We are accountable for the their nests. When of the first rays of the nests. birds returning to their When the first hundred and thirty crores of people He morning pierce through the darkness, rays of the morning pierce through the had placed in their loud chirps add to the magic of darkness, their loud chirps add to the magic ofour land. There will be a bountiful harvest if only we intercede the breaking day. Praising God with the breaking day. with all like Elijah (James 5:18).The earnestly all their might in the language ofPraising their God theiryou might in the language their heart, they in faith will raise the offered heart, they challenge and me. We of prayer challenge you and me. We humans ought sick (James 5:15). While on ministry, humans ought to be on our knees even I than once met a girl who seemed to be earlier than them, to lifting hands be onup our our knees even earlier them, lifting about 13 years old and had the and voices to the God who created day up our hands and voices to the God who opportunity to talk to her of Christs and night. He who feeds the birds of created day and night. He who feeds the birds love. As she spoke, I was shocked to the air cares much more for us. It is the air cares more for us. It is also she was 24 and had been know that also our duty to of teach this much to our our duty to teach this to our children. Do you married for four years, but childless. children. Do you see your neighbour your neighbour worshipping the sun visiting her grandmother. We She was worshipping the see sun reverentially prayed with her and left. She was every morning? If reverentially you dont every speak to morning? If you dont speak delighted. When we went there again him about the God who created the to him about the God who created the the next week, she brought her sun and rules over it, how can you sun and rules over it, how can you stand before husband to us and said she was going stand before Him on Judgement Day? Him on Judgement Day ?(Matt 12:41,42) back home. She had told her husband (Matt 12:41,42) We search glossaries We search glossaries before about us. We prayed again and gave and dictionaries before we chooseand a dictionaries

THird prize

Prayer - The breath of Life!

Mrs. Margaret Manuel, Dindigul

BLESSING / April 2011

we choose a name for our child. Why not adore the Lord using one of 4 His attributes every day? The Lord says, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. (Is 43:21)This is His longing and expectation from us. May we remember everyday Paul and Silas who sang praises in

them a New Testament. Weeks passed. One day, her grandmother rushed to us with the news that the girl Iswari had conceived, adding You made puja for her! (prayer). We were amazed by their faith. The door opened for us to proclaim the true God. When the answer to our prayer is No, Jesus teaches us to submit to the Fathers will by His own example in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:38-44). That is the climax of prayer. Lifted up on the cross, He prayed to His last breath. May we follow in His footsteps! Vows : When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it (Eccl 5:4-7). Hannah is a good example here. There are many who make vows to God by the dozen like politicians before an election! Not surprisingly, they are unable to fulfill them. Our God is a great and awesome God. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear (Heb 12:21). So, we need to be careful with our words, unlike Jephthah who regretted, Oh!....I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break (Judg 11:35). Our words should reflect the fear of God and be uttered after respectful consideration. Our Lord has warned us not to babble like the pagans (Matt 6:7). How do we describe Jephthah who made a rash vow and his daughter who offered her life to honour her fathers commitment? Have you heard of the mother who dedicated her little son for ministry when he was very sick and almost dying? When he grew up, he asked her how she could make the commitment without consulting him! I wonder if she had brought him up prayerfully telling him of her commitment as he grew up! Prayer alone brings victory. Thanksgiving: Where are the other nine? (Luke 17:17). Thats the heart cry of the God who created and rules
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over the entire universe. He desires that the human race would have an attitude of thankfulness. The disciples who had received so much from Him over 3 years just vanished from sight at Gethsemane! Even Peter, who followed at a distance claimed he did not know Him. What a longing there was when Jesus looked at Peter!(Luke 22:61). Dont our eyes well up when we read this verse? After the Lord delivered Mary Magdalene of devils, she remained one of His most devoted servants and played a crucial role in publicizing the goodnews of the resurrection. What a great expression of thanksgiving! Thats what the Lord expects from each of us. Recently, a non-Christian family attended our church. The lady had a beautiful testimony to share. She said, For the past three years, I have been visiting this place from a village 57 km from here. Every time I come, I step into this church and pray. Also, I used to take out a small offering, wrap it in paper and keep it in my purse. At that time, my husband was very ill and bedridden. As I kept praying, he got better and better and started walking. I prayed for a job for him. He got a job. I have also found employment. My children are going to school. I praise God. Please accept this offering. She opened an old, worn out purse and emptied it on the altar. It was full of money. It was her token of thanksgiving collected over the years. The Pastor was spell bound. I am sure heaven would have rejoiced. There may be many of us who have experienced such deliverance from acute needs. May we pray for thankful hearts as well. That would be our sacrifice to our dear Redeemer. Let our every breath be a prayer! Let it become the rule of our life!

(The author is a retired teacher now serving the Lord. Mob: 9894449874)

Because He Lives...!
Dr. Mrs. Lilian Stanley

Many years ago I had invited a 50 plus professional to give the Christmas message in the Remand Home for juveniles, where we were regularly ministering. He explained excellently the birth of Christ and movingly His crucifixion. Jesus died for you he said, Jesus died for you. Accept Him as your Saviour. Then he sat down. The boys squirmed. Why would they accept a dead man as their Saviour? The room fell silent. I didnt know what to do. I didnt want the boys to think that the death of Christ was the end of His history. So I mustered enough courage to break the impasse by getting up and tactfully concluding with the resurrection and Second Coming of Jesus. We got the happy ending. All faces lit up like fireworks and the room began to sing again. What a great difference it made! It is the pivotal point in the history of Jesus and the hinge event in the history of our planet itself. Because He rose again, because He lives, my life is changed cent percent. What appeared to be the end was really a new beginning. Lets see how our lives are influenced by Christs resurrection. Because He lives, our preaching is fruitful. If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless (1Cor 15:14). The death of Christ put a damper on the hopes of the disciples. Why would they preach? What would they preach? They huddled up behind closed doors. With their leader gone their self-esteem hit rock bottom. But when He rose again they were ready to kick into action. What is the point in proclaiming someone whose life was cut short? He will be one Mahatma Gandhi or Buddha or Confuscius. Our preaching will bring little more than a yawn. Now we preach the risen Lord in no uncertain terms and thats why our preaching is the power of God to bludgeon sinners into submission. It has made us powerful crusaders
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for ridding the world of injustice. Because He lives, our faith is alive (1 Cor 15:14). There is no monument built for Jesus. Think of putting our faith in dead idols which can neither see nor hear nor speak. We believe in a living God whose eyes are on us, whose ears are open to our prayers and who answers prayers. Why do Christians risk social ostracism and even die as martyrs? Repeatedly gunned down, beaten and arrested, they have never been completely vanquished. Why is it so difficult to shake the faith of Christians? It is because Jesus lives! Resurrection makes us cling to our faith even when every other reason for doing so is yanked away. Because He lives, we have the hope of eternal life. Man will live for evermore, because of Easter Day! Easter is the death blow to death. Occassionally a feeling of utter hopelessness overwhelms me. I become paranoid and cry, Lord, Your sea is so big and my boat so small! Then the thought of Job flashes across my mind who had a prophetic revelation of Jesus and in his desperation uttered, I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (19:25-27). It is as if someone had suddenly gripped my heart and given it a squeeze. At the graveside of Lazarus Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die (John 11:25). The hole in the heart left by the death of Lazarus was healed when Jesus resuscitated him. The spectacle of resurrection unfolds before my eyes and I hear

the rustling of grave clothes. Hope surges within me and with a spring on my feet and bloom on my cheeks I go ahead with life. As Marcello Marcheri put it: May death find us still alive and life find us not already dead!

through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:5457). Because He lives, we will see our loved ones and will be united with them. The breaking away process was hard on those left behind. But when Christ made His debut after resurrection what a happy reunion it was. The Spirit of Jesus is palpable even for us. I think of my parents, inlaws, my two little brothers and friends who are with the Lord now. Sometimes my heart aches for them. But the Bible says, For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes those who belong to Him (1 Cor 15:22,23). Christ rose first and therefore others. As Paul wrote in 1Thessalonians 4:13,14, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. What a relief! The thought of resurrection slays the demons of depression. I find myself grinning ear to ear and singing.

Because He lives, we have a clear objective for our earthly existence. If there is no resurrection...why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day... If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die says Paul (1Cor 15: 29-32). If there were no resurrection we just exist and disappear into oblivion. The days and nights will follow more days and longer nights, all empty, dreary, meaningless. But Paul says, He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Cor 5:15). There is an urgent need to live for Him and proclaim Him. It is an itch I have to scratch. It drives me hard to live for Him and die for Him. It makes me a get-up-and-go-person. It consumes my thoughts every moment and my life is full and crowded because He rose again. It gives us the zest to beat Because He lives, we are acquitted and the odds and survive. face no charges..No one can condemn us. Because He lives, we are delivered from Who will bring any charge against those whom our sins. The three hours on the cross pass by in a God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is maddening blur. A gloom envelopes the earth for He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died three days. And then like a lightning across a black more than that who was raised to life is at the sky comes the announcement, He is not here; He right hand of God and He is also interceding for is risen. The doom of sin is past. If Christ has not us (Rom 8:33,34). Do not trample yourself for been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your your past sins; God has justified you. Dont allow sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ your friends or anyone like Jobs friends to are lost (1 Cor 15:17,18). It is our faith in the trounce you. Jesus rose again and is interceding risen Lord that lifts us out of our sins and those for you from the right hand of God. Never allow who died in Christ are absolved of their sins. The Satan, the sly accuser to lambast you. God has sting of death is sin. Because of the absolution we chosen you and satan cannot bring any charge find in the risen Christ we can challenge, Where, against you. We are guilt-free because Jesus rose O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your again! sting?... Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory Jesus Christ Zindabad!
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Ashamed of the Gospel?

Rose Allen, Missionary. Rajasthan If a survey is done to know who is the most favorite person of born-again Christians, doubtlessly the survey report would reveal Jesus to be the most desired person, irrespective of their denominational background. Its quite natural that sooner or later after our conversion we deliberately pack off our heroes, icons and superstars to give way to supernatural, supreme Jesus. Is it not? Of course, He is our most preferred man on the face of the earth. In our songs, in worship, in prayer and in fellowship very often without any reservation we declare Jesus to be our only favorite. It gives us a good feeling and we are pleased about it. But thats not the case when we are outside our prayer closet or fellowship. Just hang on. When was the last time you talked about Him to a stranger? When did you last go out of your way to witness to an unsaved friend? When was the last time you shared your faith with someone while traveling in a bus or train? How would God be delighted if He is not your favorite when you are in the outside world? You talk about sports icons with your colleagues and friends. You chat about T.V serials and politics with your neighbors. You engage in conversations with strangers about day to day issues. But barely there was anytime you were bothered to talk about your faith in Jesus as you move and mix with people. We are very much comfortable talking about people to God. But we find it extremely difficult and uncomfortable to talk to men about Jesus. All born-again Christians know that Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life and no man comes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6). Also without a shadow of doubt they claim
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that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). Nevertheless their lips are tightly closed when it comes to sharing the goodnews with strangers. Are you ashamed of the gospel of your Lord and Savior? Jesus forewarned, If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory (Luke 9:26). If the love of God dwells in us, how can we not be horrified by the fate of the lost? Many professing Christians today are so locked into worship (with the volume turned up high) that they seem to give little or no thought to the fact that all who die in their sins will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 21:8). Did you know that if you allow another human being to die when its within your ability to save him, you are guilty of something called, depraved indifference? Depraved means that its as low as you can get, and indifference means that you couldnt care less. If you are not seeking to save them with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garments defiled by the flesh you are guilty of the serious crime of depraved indifference (Jude 1:23). Are we doing all we can to rescue the lost, or are we sitting passively in the pews while people perish? Oswald J. Smith said, Oh, my friends we are loaded down with countless church activities, when the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost neglected. We have been gazing to the Heavens while sinners are sinking into Hell. When we look back to the book of Acts, we dont find the Church consumed with worship although it is the highest calling of every Christian

as we see in the book of Revelation. Instead, we find the Church was obsessed with the lost, to the point that they willingly gave their lives to preach the gospel. Suppose, God offers Rs. 1000/- every time you share the gospel with one person, with how many people will you be sharing the gospel in a day? Im sure the entire Church would be on the streets busy sharing the gospel with strangers forgoing their worship services, parties, entertainments and worldly affairs. Shame on us! Lets repent of our lust for money and lukewarmness of our hearts. Please re-evaluate your priorities, take off your earphones, unlock the doors and demonstrate the depth of your love for God by rescuing those who are about to perish. One of the common reasons for a Christian to put aside evangelism is because of the erroneous understanding they have about evangelism. People take evangelism as a gift and consider it as assigned for a special group of people in the church. Hence they expect the so called gifted and chosen ones to do it. But as for the early Church it was a matter of obedience or disobedience and not a matter of gift or calling. Evangelism was in their very breath. Had it not been for evangelism, the early Church would have ceased to exist. Their right perspective about evangelism was the key to their commitment in evangelism. They took it as an art and not as a gift. Of course it was their simple obedience to the Master coupled with passion for souls resulted in evangelism explosion. Were they skillful and competent in evangelism when they went about sharing the goodnews? No! They became experts simply by the process of doing it. Practice makes one perfect goes the saying. It is very much true even for evangelism. Just like you learn prayer by practice, you learn evangelism too by practice. You know, every time
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you share your faith with someone, you are practicing. And the more you practice, the better you get at it. When you share your faith with someone there are only three things that can happen: 1) The person surrenders to Christ, or 2) Your plant a seed, or 3) The person rejects you. The first one of course is a winning situation. And most of the time you are planting seeds when you share the gospel which is also a winning situation. But, what if someone rejects you? Is rejection OK? Well, the Bible says in 1 Peter 4:14 that every time you are rejected for the name of Christ, the Holy Spirit will rest upon you and comfort you. Also, Jesus said in Luke 6:22,23 that when we are persecuted or opposed for the sake of His name there will be great reward in Heaven. Is it not a winning situation? Yes, it is! WINNING! WINNING! WINNING! So, you are always on the winning side whether you win a soul or plant a seed or face rejection. You just cant lose! The only time you lose though, is when you are NOT sharing your faith. Thats the only time we lose as the Church of Jesus Christ. By the way, what is the worst thing someone can do to you when you tell them about Jesus? They can kill you and send you to heaven. Is that a bad thing? Let the slogan of the Apostle Paul, For me to live is Christ, and to die is a gain be our slogan too (Phil 2:21). Evangelism is one thing that you cannot do in Heaven. Do you realize when you take your last breath on this planet you will NEVER be able to witness to a lost person for all eternity? So, if that is true, how can you be ashamed of this glorious gospel? (Allen and his wife Monica work among youth. Mobile : 9828378411)

TwT

Tween Tweet

Hard Work, the Hard Word

Sugirtha Livingston, Missionary, HQ
nights work. He laboured for 20 years in this fashion. You may not be a brilliant student who could understand the concepts at a wink or who could memorize theories at a reading. But you also have to realize that you are not inept. May be you will have to read again and again, read aloud, write what you have learnt to retain it in memory. This is hard work and it really pays. It doesnt matter if it is mathematics, science or language, hard work will help you raise a notch above, then another and another. Even if you are a brilliant student, working hard will make you one among the cream of achievers. If not you should be satisfied with your mediocre performance. Long hours of study can be tiresome. You can keep your mind fresh and active by taking 10 or 15 minutes break to peer at the night through the window and let the fresh air dash against your face. You can also munch a slice of apple or a piece of chocolate. Difficult portions and easy ones can be studied alternatively. When the Ammonites and Syrians came against the Israelites, Joab saw that the battle front was against him both before and behind. He divided the people and put them in array against the Ammonites and Syrians. After he did all that he can do he said, ...let us play the man for our people and the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what seems good to Him (2 Sam 10:12). The word hard work will cease to be a hard word if you have the right kind of drive behind the work. It would be harder if you think you are working to fulfill the expectations of your parents or just to get a seat in the desired course or the institution.But only if you understand that you are Gods child and your achievement is directly proportionate to God being glorified through you in your school / college, society and family you will be able to bring the best out of you. When you do your best and leave the rest to Him, in Joabss words, May the Lord do what seems good to Him.

I was talking to a 13 year old. With his face plunged into his hands he asked, How do I know what the will of God is for my life? Will I become a professional or serve God fulltime? I am confused. As I chuckled in my heart I remembered how I was plagued by such questions as a teenager. I told him whatever it might be, the will of God for him right then was to study to the best of his abilities. Our conversation continued for another fifteen minutes. Fulfilling the will of God in life is a state rather than a step. Yes, as students, working hard to excel in studies is the perfect will of God. For every new generation, the word hard work is becoming more loathsome. Reading through the night before the examination and spilling over the answer sheets those few concepts retained in short term memory and exulting over the results achieved by a nights work has become common place. In other words, systematic study grasping the concepts, putting it into application and entering the examination hall with a thorough idea of the subject is limited to a handful. Do you think, after deciding not to defile themselves with the Kings food, Daniel and his friends sat for a chat? They had so much to talk about... their country, their friends and relatives left behind, the new country and so on. But they worked hard to graduate with special distinction. Ofcourse, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom (Dan 1:17). But they worked hard to show a 10 fold excellence. Even before Jacob met Laban, God promised to bless him. But Jacob worked hard to inherit the promise. While he took care of Labans flock, the ewes and she goats did not lose their young ones. He protected the flock from the wild animals and never brought a carcass to Laban. He said, ...by day the heat consumed me and by night the cold, and I could not sleep (Gen 31:40). When Laban said that the streaked ones shall be his wages, he kept watch and put the peeled poplar rods when the strong animals bred and removed it when the weak bred. The blessing did not come as a result of a 10
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(Mobile : 9488234526)

Feed Orissa
An update by Biswanath Samal, Missionary, Bargarh
Dear Friends of Feed Orissa, Every surgery camp turns out to be a mela for the poor people here. When we hold our breath praying that every surgery would be a success, God is faithful in helping each of the patients come out unscathed and fully healed after the surgery. Yes! 92 patients were operated in 4 days (9-12 February) and all the surgeries were successful! Who else can make such things happen? As we pen these words our hearts are filled with gratitude for God. Dekunja Paik of Khenedsara village is a poor weaver who gets thread from the government and gives back the product. He manages his family of five with the meagre income. Two years back due to a growth on his right brow, he felt intense pain and slowly his vision got impaired. But what he earned was hardly enough to feed his family and hence he could not get operated. Dekunja was operated in this surgery camp. He was excited when we met him after the surgery. He said, The pain is gone and my vision is also alright. So were every x, y and z who never thought that they could be ever relieved of the pain and agony they were going through until they were operated in this camp. Our heartfelt thanks to Medivision, Nagercoil who have been sincerely involving in this ministry of coordinating doctors and

paramedics in conducting Eye, Medical and Surgery camps in the mission fields in order to give a boost to the missionary works. We appreciate the team: Dr. Stephenson, Dr. Gnanamani, Dr. Litta, Dr. Berrylson, Dr. David, Dr. Chandra, Dr. Lisha, sisters Ruth, Nancy, Pattukumari, Vasanthi and Shoba and brothers Pushparaj, Christopher and Julian. Besides putting up with the minimal comforts available in the fields, they had to work hard performing atleast 24 surgeries a day. But they have left an indelible impact in the lives of the patients and their families. We also thank the Catholic Mission Hospital, Bargarh for opening their doors for us to conduct the camp. Many of you have been praying towards the success of the camp and have contributed towards the surgical expenses. Surely, your reward in heaven is great for bringing back the lost smile on the faces of the poor. May God bless you all.

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NEWS FROM THE FIELDS

The Blessing Youth Mission has stationed 333 missionaries in 15 States of India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, for reviving Churches and missionary evangelism leading to church planting in churchless places. The news of various fields is compiled here for PRAISE and PRAYER. ANDHRA PRADESH A Christian Officers Meet was planned in Warangal. As against the expected hundred, 115 officers from different walks of life made their appearance. As Bro. A. Lionel, Spiritual Overseer of BYM brought the challenging Word for the changing times they sat with rapt attention from 9.30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. How to Work for God in the office & How to be a witness for God in the office were the two messages. For the glory of God 50% responded through the Feed Back forms. Many had expressed their desire to have another such meeting. Warangal and in the factory of Mr. Konningston, to the workers. All the expenses for the meetings were met locally and Rs. 7000/- worth literature passed into the hands of people. ASSAM Church planting ministry was started in Assam in Jorhat Districts Majuli (Asias largest river Island). This is the main Vaishnavite site and home to the Mishing tribe who are basically animists (worshippers of spirits). 6 are now ready to make a covenant with God. Pray for missionary Somasundaram and family who are based there and doing the Lords work enthusiastically. As direct evangelism is not possible here, through tuition classes children and their parents are reached. Pray for Mridul pegu who is doing his 10th exams now. The Lord enabled our missionaries to minister in the CNI Upper Assam Deanerys Womens Conference on the theme, Where Are You? (Gen 3:9). The Spirit of the Lord moved the hearts of the women to examine where they stand. Missionary Dolly Joel shared Gods Word in the Womens Fellowship of Iswar Prem Baptist Church, Jorhat. Missionary Leence Joel shared the Lords message in the Immanuel Prayer Fellowship. One day Youth Retreat was organized in the Lokmi Baptist Church. BYM missionaries ministered to the 26 youth. Missionary Leence Joel shared on Preparations for the Second Coming in the Sunday Service of the Borbheta Baptist Church on 30th Jan and again on 27th Feb. Nine youth attend the Sunday Bible Study. House visiting is done systematically. Missionaries Somasundaram and his wife Saritha shared the Word in the Upper Assam Deanery Conference in Dibrugarh. The Conference was well attended and the Word well received. Pray for our contacts who will be writing their exams: Arjun, Audrey, Mridupan, Ranjit, Gopalsingh, Aditya, Rajhee, Bruce, Liza, Jyoti, Porinita and Nehali.
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BLESSING / April 2011

Eight have pledged to support missionary work and 17 wanted missionaries to visit them. Bro. Lionel shared Gods Word in the evening Youth Retreat at Revival Christian Centre, Kazipet to 60 youth on the theme In Pursuit of Happiness. Many engineering graduates rededicated their lives. Bro Lionel shared the Word in Manna Church,

 Please pray for the safe delivery of Dolly Joel, Benita Nag, Diana Murmu and Chitra Nath. GUJARAT Service was conducted in Pampalapada, Hatta Kandi, Beda company, Moti Fokidi, Sakrali, Rosar and Navijamuni. In Sabarkantha Distirct (North Gujarat) congregations have came up in 10 villages. Praise the Lord! Praise God for the new Child Sponsor in Vadodara who has joined the galaxy of sponsors. Blessing Readers in Vadodara, Navsari, Anand and Ahmedabad were visited. Bro. A. Lionel ministered the Word of God in the three day Staff Fasting Prayer and Revival Meetings. 150 gathered for the revival meetings and were richly blessed. Marathi Sangat was conducted for the Marathi people of Vadodara. Missionary Kailash Mane ministered to the 25 participants. Jolly Meet was conducted in Nadiad and Bro. Sallins Roy challenged the 32 youth who participated. A One-day Youth Meeting was conducted in the Salvation Army Church, Vansol. Missionary Esther Robin shared the Word to the 75 participants. A new Girls Prayer Cell has been started in CTM area of Ahmedabad and the Monthly Partners Prayer renewed. Night meetings were conducted in 9 villages in which 600 heard the Goodnews, 19 committed their lives to the Lord and 42 are in touch with our missionaries. Praise the Lord! Three obeyed the Lord and joined the church in Boripetta village. Mrs. Sumen, Mr. Mukesh and Mr. Chawdha of Sakrali village were delivered from demon possession after our native missionary prayed. A one-day Ladies Retreat at Ponayee, a Sozo at MTI, Vadodara and Exam Goers Meets at Vadodara and Salvation Army Church, Jashodanagar are planned. Voluntary workers for Vadodara and Ahmedabad and a Youth Worker for Nadiad are needed. Pray for the healing of Mrs. Bhaju Rathan Vasava (Chronic headache), Mrs. Lucky (severe loss of vision), Mrs. Punu (stomach tumour), Mr. Suresh (mental problem).
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BLESSING / April 2011

Missionary Kailash Mane met with an accident and underwent knee surgery on 5th March. Pray for the expenses of more than a lakh to be met. Pray for the safety of missionaries. KARNATAKA God performed a miracle after the prayer of our missionary for Gurunath Seethavva who is pregnant after 10 years. Raju (12), Nijama and Mahaboobi were delivered from demon possession. A new village Bijikuppa was visited and 6 families showed interest. Missionary Shakuntala Sadamal visited new villages Odrahathi and Mudalagi and conducted prayer. 13 attended the Gospel Meeting in Chilumur. Missionary Albert shared the gospel. Bro. Regunathan shared the Goodnews to 50 who attended a house-warming ceremony on Feb 8th. Bro. Solomon from Hubli, brother of missionary Myla John gave two talks on intercessory prayer to 80 people in Alnavar. Missionary Saravanan and his wife Suganthini addressed the 24 youth who participated in the Youth Retreat in Alnavar on Feb 12 & 13. Lady Staff of Karnataka gathered in Alnavar from Feb 22 to 24 to fast and pray. Mrs. Beulah Newton and Mrs. Grace encouraged them through the Word. One-day Prayer Retreat was conducted in Bagalkot. 150 attended. Missionary Ramanathan and Pastor Ashok Naik from Udipi led them. Local people met all the expenses. Fasting Prayer for partners, conducted in Hubli was attended by 40. Missionaries Albert and Sadamal encouraged them. A new prayer meeting has been started at Thoppalakatti (Hubli). 10-15 regularly attend. Four backslidden families were restored to faith. Missionary Ramanathan and his wife Latha shared the Word in the Love Feast at Biliki. Missionaries Sadamal, Subash Nalavade and Bro. Bennith shared the Word in the two day Blessing Revival Meet in Pandraval. 130 people from Hosur, Kegadal, Kalaiginakoppa, Sambrani, Haliyal and Dandeli attended and were blessed. Missionary Mohanakrishnan preached in the

New Covenant Church, Bethel Full Gospel Assembly (Bangalore), Shalom Prayer House, Kadumane Estate, Zion AG Church, Hassan and Hassan Wesley Church. Exam Goers Meet was conduted in Ramdurg. Teacher Sowmini Daniel and missionary Ruth Manivannan exhorted them. Missionary Manivannan addressed the 150 youth in Welcome 2011 in Hubli. 100 youth attended the Tarikere Sozo. Missionaries Arun, Mohanakrishnan and Catherine exhorted them. 25 attend the Tuition Centre in Chunchalakathi. Teacher Rekah Rathod is in charge of the centre. A new Tailoring Project has been started in Kattur. 100 Kannada Better Everyday have gone into the hands of people in one month. Prakash, a fruit of our Sunday Class ministry in Jamakhandi joins us as a native worker. Praise the Lord! Pray for missionary Victoria Albert suffering from Migraine. Our missionary Mr. Joseph (48) in Bijapur had his homecall most unexpectedly on 4.3.2011 when he had a massive brain haemorrage. His eldest daughter is married to our missionary Subash Nalavade. His wife and two other sons need your earnest prayers. UTTAR PRADESH Exam Goers Meet was conducted in Kanpur at the CNI Christ Chruch premises. 85 students and some parents attended the same. It was amazing that 50% were from other faith. Missionary Allen from Jaipur gave practical tips. Mr. Victor Kumar, Campus Coordinator of BYM shared the Word and

challenged the students to seek Gods blessings in all they do. Dr. Samuel Dayal, City Coordinator of Kanpur coordinated the programme. TAMILNADU Our believer Kandhamma, a widow got widows pension and Mary got a Government Job as cook. Both dedicated to God their first income. Believer Pasuvammal was praying for an oil engine. God enabled her to purchase one and improve plantation work. 43 believers from Aladipatti, Pungamaduvu and Chitling gathered for a day to fast and pray for ministries. School children Valarmathy, Ilavarasi, Anita, Radha, Amudha and Augustine read the Bible from cover to cover, memorize verses and take active part in the church service as future pillars. Missionary Ebenezer Dhinakaran was diagnosed for tubal pregnancy and surgery at the right time saved her life. Believer Ravi of Pereri Pudur passed his B.Ed exam.He also wrote the exam for Sub Inspector of Police and has received the appointment order. A Medical team of 13 from MEDIVISION stayed in Palamalai for 3 days and treated patients with eye and other diseases in Palamalai, Ramanpath, Pullampatti, Pathiramaduvu, Padiangadu, Kadukkamarathukkadu and Thalaikadu villages. Partners from Nazareth trekked through Kannamoochi, Moolapanangadu, Kattuvalavu villages for three days. they treated 450 sick, distributed 1200 tracts and 700 New Testaments. Our believer Kasthuri married Sakthi in Aladipatti Church. Pray for Angel, Arunodayam, Revathy and Elsan who have made a committment to serve the Lord, to find like-minded life partners. A youth Retreat for the young people of Chitling and Arnoothu was conducted by our partner Mr. Ponpandi. News awaited. The lands of believers Subramani, Duraisamy, Danapal, Kulandai Rajammal, Jeyaraman Kandhamma (widow), Stephen and Singaram were encroached upon by neighbours. The cases are pending in courts since many years. Pray for justice. Ammapalayam, Gandhinagar and Porasakkal House Churches are growing. We need to buy land to build churches here. Pray.
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BLESSING / April 2011

 Pray for the salvation of Krishnan, Pushpa, Elumalai, Kanmani, Masilamani, Govindan, Senthil, Thiruppathi, Thangamani, Selvam, Sangeetha, Vijayan, Annakkili, Pandu-Rajamani, Devan-Mythili, Senthi, Santhosh, Saravanan, Selvam, Duraisamy, Subramani, Madhaiyan, Kapilan, Raman, Palani, Vijiya, Sridhar, Palaniamma, Ponni, Sudha, Nandhini, Palani and Chennamma. WEST BENGAL 20 youth prayer cells have been formed in North Bengal over the last few years. Prayer Cell Leaders Training Programme was conducted for 30 leaders from these prayer cells from 18-20 February. Bro. Anand Daniel (GEMS, Bihar) was the resource person. GENERAL Pray for Mrs. Lilian Stanley as she will be ministering in Bangalore, C/o The Faith Baptist Church on the 14th and in the First IEM Women Missionaries Conference to 250 lady missionaries from 15th-18th of May. Pray for the preparation of the book The Dream that did not come by Night (The History of Feed Orissa) by Mrs. Lilian Stanley as the Feed Orissa Project Celebrates the inauguration of the Second Decade. Your contributions welcome to cover the printing cost of 2 lakh rupees. The Editorial Committee of Blessing Magazine met on the 26th of February to discuss the various aspects of it. Around 100 key persons of Tamilnadu gathered in Tiruchy on the 26th Feb to pray and plan the ministries of BYM. Send off function was organised for missionary E.L. Mathansingh in the Headquarters office as he retired in February. Pray for missionary Devanesan who had a

stroke 3 years ago and was completely paralysed. He cannot talk or eat. He is bed ridden and fed through a tube put in the stomach. He was a hardworking and sincere missionary. His wife Ida, a heart patient is taking care of him faithfully. Please pray. He is in Thanjavur (Tel: 09786719523). Pray for Saravanan and Suganthini who will be shifting to Jhansi (U.P) from Hq by the end of April with their two children (13&9). Pray for Dr. Jaisankar and Florence who will be shifting from Hq to Sagar (M.P) by the end of April with their two children (12&5). Pray for the coming Elections that the Lord may give us a favourable Government.

Let Gods Word Go!

IIt is an Indian custom to give a gift on behalf of the bride and groom to all who attend the wedding. Why not give a Blessing book? I thought. When I approached my friend Prabakaran in Sivakasi, whose daughters wedding was on February 28th his response was not too enthusiastic. We sent him five Blessing Books. After a few days he called me and said, Super. What? I asked. The books you sent he replied. We can give books useful for families he said and decided on Jolly Family and World of Youth. We presented 250 sets in the wedding. Some sets were given to the leaders of his church prayer cells. Prabakaran called again on March 3rd. It seems some non-Christians who attended the wedding complained that they did not get the books. We heard that the books were very good. Atleast xerox and give us they had said. December 2010 we approached some textile shops in Chennai and suggested they compliment their customers with books. Jeyachandran Textiles decided on Her Decisions and 2000 copies have been supplied to them. May Gods Word pervade every nook and corner.
D. Ilango, NeyveliI
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Gifts of the Spirit

Beginning with 14 April 2011, every Thursday, 9.30 to 10 pm, Brother Stanley is giving a Series of Talks on How not to operate Gifts, English-Tamil, in Tamilan TV. A vital subject for the day. You can also watch it online: tamilantv.com
BLESSING / April 2011

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BLESSING / April 2011