The oppressive mentality of colonialism still looms large over our nation.  The people of ‘ruling class’ consider themselves to be above the law, and are quick to assert their power and privileges while willfully ignoring their duties.  Even in bureaucracy, this gap between the higher officer class and the lower ‘employees’ is widening. The ‘rulers’ assert time and again that they are kings and queens though without crowns.  So, just like the old kings and the subsequent colonial rulers, their motto is to loot the land.  They want to just utilize their position and power to amass wealth, by any hook or crook. They want to enjoy a luxurious life with wine and women while living in palaces.

It is a highly competitive world, of course, to amass more and more money.  The ministers, the politicians, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, the corporate leaders, wealthy business class, the religious institutions and all those who have muscle and money power are playing together to squeeze the common man of all his possessions.  The law abiding citizen has no place in such a nation.  The law and the police are often with the powerful and wealthy offenders, while the common man’s rights are easily strangled.  In fact, the honest common man has no rights now-a-days.

This is the backdrop where society looks upon the corrupt rulers and wealthy tax-evading ‘robbers’ and the like as role models.  Most ministers are involved in scams, and they are in a way very proud about it.  Even if they are punished and may have to spend some years in jail, they have amassed such wealth that it will last for generations.  Such a ‘father’ who has amassed wealth for his posterity will be praised and respected in our society.  Making money by any means is the motto of the common man also.  Those who talk in English and go around in luxurious cars and live in posh houses are respected and preferred by society rather than the honest common man who lives a simple life.  Here is an interesting incident to prove this. One Editor was highly respected in his village and was shown obeisance by all people as they had mistakenly heard his profession as “Auditor”.  Once they understood that he is just an “Editor”, nobody wanted even to see him again. Even the poor folk in the village know that an ‘Auditor’ is to be respected because he amasses wealth through corruption.  Who needs a poor fellow like an ‘Editor’.

The sole aim of most common people in India is to amass wealth by any means, even if it is stealing from Government exchequer or public property.  Very few Indians think about the development of the nation.  Others want themselves to get rich by looting public money or public property.  There had been instances in remote villages in Bihar, where the locals cut out and sold the copper electric wires of electricity supply lines in scrap for the night drinking session. Items from streets, public buildings, railways and such public property are usually stolen.

People in the lowest rungs of the society also dream of getting rich by any crooked means.  The street vendor cheats in his weights or measures.  The shopkeeper cheats his customers by selling them adulterated commodities. Most business people take some extra profit by employing many dishonest means.  Who wants an honest man? The auto-rickshaws usually charge the passengers much more than the actual fare. The petrol bunks always cheat by tampering the meter. Most companies service sector and production sector over charge than the justified profit. The common man also tries to cheat when there is an opportunity.  The private hospitals loot the patients.  They are not concerned about the treatment of the patients, but about the money that can be extracted from them. They are only partly to blame, because they have to bribe the police, the bureaucracy and the politicians in order to get their licenses and other permits.

Someone said that people get a government which they deserve.  So, don’t be so much dismayed by so many scams and corruption and dishonesty in our present Government and those institutions in power.  Most people are unhappy that they don’t get a chance to loot like the ones in power are now enjoying.  They are not corrupt because they have not got an opportunity yet. We deserve our Government.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Sara George Muthoot, Principal, St. George’s School said: “Our motto ‘Spread the Light’ is at the heart of everything we do at the school. Discipline, values, integrity, tolerance and respecting each other’s culture are the very foundation of this school. We seek to develop and nurture the different facets of a child through varied co-curricular activities so that the child can explore, find their strengths and reach their true potential. This award will always be treasured as it comes at a time when we are celebrating 50 glorious years in the field of education.”

A doctorate in Philosophy, Dr. Sara’s commitment in the field of education and social welfare for the last five decades has given a substantial shape to the nation’s education policies. Her mission to educate and empower each child as her own is timeless. Under her able guidance, St. George School follows the student-centered CCE system set by the CBSE that encourages individual-based learning with the help of modern teaching aids and methodologies, thus, making education a one-to-one dialogue with the student, as the core of the teaching-learning process. The varied co-curricular activities including inter-house and inter-school competitions are held to help students imbibe a sense of team spirit, positive attitude and groom themselves to be good planners, inspiring, innovative and creative. Great emphasis is laid on saving the environment for generations to come by maintaining eco-friendly compost pits, rainwater harvesting, planting more trees, teaching and using of recycled paper among others.

Dr. Sara George Muthoot has also been a recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award for Services, Personal Achievements and Outstanding Contribution to the society; Shiksha Rattan Puraskar for Meritorious Services, Outstanding Performance and Remarkable Role in the field of education; Educational Excellence Award by the Knowledge Resource Development and Welfare Group for providing Inclusive and Holistic Education and The Golden Peacock Training Award for impeccably portraying leadership qualities that demands commitment and inherent cognitive efficiency to reach the pinnacle and hold fort.

St. George’s School is managed by St. George’s Education Society, a charitable non-profit Society presently chaired by Shri M. G. George Muthoot (Chairman, Muthoot group) who believes in the motto “Mata, Pitha, Guru, Daivam” or “Matha, Pitha, Guru, Ishwar” or as we say in Sanskrit “MathruDevoBhava, PitruDevoBhava, Guru DevoBhava”.

The school having over 3,000 students and 130 teaching staff provides the very best and most modern facilities for education with two well-equipped libraries, six laboratories, four excellent computer centres, a multipurpose auditorium, conference and in-service training centre, lush green Cricket ground with two turf wickets of International Standard (This is the only school in Delhi having the entire sports complex illuminated with floodlights.)

Since 2008, St. George’s School has emerged as a National Winner consistently in the Green School Awards presented by the Centre for Science and Environment. Apart from other accolades, the school was awarded 4th position pan-India in the ‘Change Makers’ category and the 2nd position in the Delhi state category for the year 2010-11.

It is good to make plans, but they will disappoint you if you leave out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist, because your future is in the hands of God. What would you like to be doing 10 years from now? Five years from now? Two years or one year from now? What about tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? Plan ahead, but ask for God’s guidance. Seek God’s perfect will in your planning. He will never ever disappoint you if you are doing so.

Life is short, no matter how many years we live on this planet earth. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy with your loved ones, or to do what you know you should be….

Live for your Lord today! “Yesterday already died, tomorrow has to be born, you have only one day that is today.” Then no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.

Boasting about your future life without God is evil. We tend to think that doing something wrong is sin.  But James tells us that sin is also not doing right. Doing wrong things are called sins of Commission and not doing right things are called sins of Omission.

It is sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it. The first one is sin of Commission and the second one is sin of Omission. It is a sin to speak evil of someone; it is also a sin to avoid that person when you know he or she needs your friendship. You should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides you. If you are directed by God to do a kind of act, or render a service or restore a relationship, do it. You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your holy faith and trust in Him.

 (The author can be contacted at 917509151805, johnalice@gmail.com)

M K Babu

Man says work is worship. God says worship first, work comes next. God is a person of relationship. He knows the person entirely whom He called out for His purpose. God is interested in developing an individual relationship with all of them prior to their commitment to work for Him. In return, it is for the man to know God and develop a similar relationship with Him. No one can know God unless He reveals Himself to him. As a matter of fact, God does not turn a blind eye to anyone who longs for Him. True worship is not generated without first knowing the object of worship.  Receiving worship is not making fans. A particular activity or a typical personality trait of a person may fascinate fans.  But worship is an adoration that sprouts from the depth of the heart and manifests through the physical body. In other words, worship comes out of deeply rooted love. Worship can only be offered to a living person because worship is received. Worship can only be offered to God because we won’t worship a being similar to us. The worshipper enjoys and lives in the presence of God. Worship is a total surrender. God uses those who are totally surrendered.

God picked up David, a young shepherd, to do His work for His people. The job that God wanted to bestow upon him was no less significant. The job was kingship over Israel to rule, protect and provide. God wanted to make David a worshipper before he was designated as the king. First God gave him a tremendous victory that made him popular and recognition of God’s calling upon him. Next God wanted to draw him near in order to make Him known to him. For that David faced the opposition of King Saul, the most powerful person on the nation. Resultantly, he became a fugitive. He had gone through hardships, mental and physical agony which made him a person who totally trusts in the Lord. In his Psalm he sings “I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders”. He trusted in God’s lovingkindness and his heart rejoiced in His salvation.  He had such a confidence that “though a host encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though war arises against me, In spite of this I shall be confident”. In his worship to God he exclaims, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him”. David worshipped God from the depth of his  heart, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”, O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water”. As he turned a true worshipper God implemented His project for the destruction of his enemy and his enthronement.

No doubt, many of us who work for the Lord are playing a major role in transforming the society.  Whether it is organised or the other, God is at work these days through many. Encouraging testimonies of God’s mighty deeds have replaced the sermon illustrations and moral tales. At the same time, the depressed and desperate Christian workers can’t be overlooked.

Indeed, there are people who are driven by the enemy, entice the deprived with a little support and lead them astray. Apostle Peter prophesied about them,  ” Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep”. 2 Peter 2:2-3. In one of His parables, Lord Jesus Christ mentioned about them rightly. “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’  “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ Mat 13:27-28.

The worker can’t pass the buck just by quoting the above Word.  We must take the responsibility to become a true worshipper before we do His work.  While we make many projects God implements His project, unpleasant to us, in our lives in order to make us a true worshipper.  Do not be dismayed you are in processing unit of God. Stand firm and be faithful.

God bless you.

]]> http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/worship-first-work-next-pastor-m-k-babu/feed/ 0 http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/a-philosophy-of-holistic-healing-mpk-kutty/ http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/a-philosophy-of-holistic-healing-mpk-kutty/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:23:54 +0000 admin http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/?p=4311

MPK Kutty

Diagnostic machines are now on a dominant role in the healing ministry, analyzing blood, urine, sputum samples and taking pictures of  hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys to determine what has caused the various ailments that confine men to hospital beds.

Yet, these machines are not trained to trace the damage caused by the malfunctioning of the glands and other organs triggered by murderous thoughts, anger, bitterness, jealousy, selfish rivalry, maddening lust, thwarted ambition or heart breaks and frustrations.

Until the 19th century, medical writers rarely failed to note the influence of grief, despair, or discouragement on the onset and outcome of illness, nor did they ignore the healing effects of faith, confidence, and peace of mind.

Spiritual teachers and saints of the past had written a lot on the powerful influence of love on health and well-being. According to Gary Zukav, American best selling author, people will come to understand eventually that “ love heals everything, and love is all there is.”Without love we lose the will to live. Our mental and physical vitality is impaired, our resistance to sickness is lowered  and existence becomes drab and dreary.

Sir William Osler, the Canadian physician and medical historian said that the outcome of tuberculosis had more to do with what went on in the patient’s mind than what went on in his lungs. He was echoing Hipporates, who said he would rather know ‘what sort of person has a disease than what sort of disease a person has.’

 Scientific research and clinical experiences of great physicians of the past go to show that  the  state of the mind changes the state of the body by working through the central nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system.

 A positive attitude stimulates favourably the immune system and a negative attitude depresses it. Emotions create chemical alterations in the brain. Negative emotional traits such as low self-esteem, feelings of envy, hatred, hostility, guilt and anger depress the immune system.

 Positive emotional attitudes like love, happiness, peace and spiritual exercises improve the process of healing. Contentment used to be considered a prerequisite for health. So too an attitude of thankfulness to God and fellow beings and a firm faith in the power of the Creator to intervene even in an impossible situation aid the healing process.

“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he” declares the Bible. Our destiny is shaped by the kind of thoughts we entertain. But man is yet to invent a fool-proof system by which control could be exercised on the thought process. Unfortunately the heart, signifying the center of all thinking, is the root of problems. “ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20,21)

If your inner thoughts are dominated by “gripe” and “groan” if you are a consistent bellyacher or worrier, you are shortening the years of your life just as surely as you are growing older by the day. An unwillingness to forgive others for the real or imaginary wrongs they have done us is a poison that affects our health—physical, emotional and spiritual..

Depression, mental or emotional illness, fear, anger, bitterness, turmoil, alcoholism, drug addiction, perversity, lust, grief, jealousy, selfishness – these are all things which can destroy life.  If one or more of these things is a part of your life, it is stopping you from enjoying the fullness of life

The Bible is a book about healing—healing of the total man, body, mind and spirit, the healing of relationships, the healing of society and the healing of the nations. The Biblical philosophy of life, when acted upon, increases health. “Fear the Lord and depart from evil; it shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.”(Proverbs 3: 7,8)

 Healing comes when we live in harmony with ourselves and our environment, maintaining a balance in the face of change and developing our own innate healing factors. The body’s self healing mechanism is activated by nutrition, exercise, environment and stress management, writes Dr A K Tharien, founder of the Felloship Hospital at Oddanchatram in Tamil Nadu. He quotes a five year study done in ‘Wickenberg in the United States which revealed that :20 per cent of the patients benefited through drugs, surgery and scientific technology; 35 per cent by ‘Placebo effect’,  15 per cent by Hawthorne effect (let off steam effect) and 30 per cent by unknown factors such as prayer and spiritual exercises.

When we turn within, transform our thinking, God will heal our sickness of mind and the body.

Then ofcourse we must not forget God can heal. He dwells within us. Stuart Gramenz, in his book, How you can heal the sick quotes Ephesians 3:20 to illustrate a great truth. “God can do anything we ask or think; exceeding abundantly, if we releaase the power within us.” In New New Zealand a woman came to him for prayer. She wished to give birth to more children but because of infection one of her fallopian tubes had been removed.The other had since become affected the same way. “We laid hands on her believing that the infection would clear up in the one remaining tube.”

The woman, unsure of her healing ,went ahead with her surgery appointment.During the operation the doctors were amazed to find that not onlyhad the affected tube cleared up but the one that had been previously removed by them had grown back.She experienced a complete restoration miracle; much nore than we asked for.

We serve a God who is able to do much more than we dare to think or ask. To quote the Bible verse:” Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly  above all that we ask or think according to the poiwer that worketh in us .”

]]> http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/a-philosophy-of-holistic-healing-mpk-kutty/feed/ 0 http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/pakistan-blasphemy-girl-granted-bail/ http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/index.php/2012/09/24/pakistan-blasphemy-girl-granted-bail/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:23:54 +0000 admin http://www.praisethealmighty.com/home/?p=4331 Rimsha Masih, the Christian girl accused of blasphemy in Pakistan, has been granted bail.

According to reports, Judge Muhammad Azam Khan has ordered her release and set bail at 500,000 ruppees.

He also ordered that she be placed under protective custody out of concern for her safety.

Rimsha was placed in a maximum security prison three weeks ago after neighbours accused her of burning papers with Koranic writings on them.

Her principal accuser, Imam Khalid Chishti, was arrested last week on suspicion of planting evidence against Rimsha.

Blasphemy is a crime punishable by death in Pakistan but Christians and other minorities say the laws are being misused to settle personal scores.

The accusation against Rimsha caused her whole family to be taken into police custody and hundreds of Christians reportedly fled the area.

The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which provides free legal aid to persecuted Christians in Pakistan, welcomed the release of Rimsha but remains concerned for her safety and the welfare of the wider Christian community.

It wants to see the Pakistani government take action to stop more unfounded blasphemy charges made against the country’s minorities.

Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK Coordinator commented: “The charge of blasphemy against Rimsha Masih was based on false evidence and this is not an uncommon occurrence in Pakistan. Sadly the blaspemy laws are frequently misused to stir up animosity and hatred towards Christians and even to take their land or property.

“We wish to thank the Pakistani and international press for their keen interest in this story and for bringing it to the world’s attention. This has certainly played a part in Rimsha’s release. There are, however, many accusations of blasphemy against Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that never make the news headlines and some of these nameless victims pay the price of these unjust laws with their lives.

“Even those who do not fall victim to extra judicial killings face the death penalty or years in prisons where the conditions are terrible. We appeal to the Pakistani government to review these laws with urgency and implement reforms that will bring an end to their misuse and the suffering of minorities.”

The findings of the Transformational Discipleship Assessment released by LifeWay Research noted that 19 per cent of respondents report reading or studying the Bible outside of church “every day”.

By contrast, 36 per cent of respondents said that they either engage the Bible “once a week”, “once a month”, or “a few times a month”. Eighteen per cent reported rarely or never reading or studying the Bible outside of worship.

Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Research, told The Christian Post that he felt attributes from the modern American culture influenced the responses.

“Regular Bible engagement is both personal and requires discipline. Neither are popular in Western culture today,” said McConnell. “Too many churchgoers want the benefits of salvation without investing in personally knowing Christ and the abundant life He offers.”

For the study, LifeWay Research interviewed a demographically balanced online panel of American adults in October last year. A total of 2,930 surveys were completed, with churchgoing respondents being defined as those who attend a Protestant church at least once a month.

“Bible engagement encompasses more than just Bible reading. It measures the extent to which individuals interact with the truth of Scripture and allow it to permeate their thinking and influence their actions,” said McConnell.

“There is a widespread desire among churchgoers to please Jesus, but much less interested in daily wrestling with what pleases Jesus. Instead of Christ being preeminent in the lives of every churchgoer, He is often only the preamble to lives lived apart from biblical truth.”

Other findings in the study included 90 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement “I desire to please and honour Jesus in all I do” and 59 per cent agreeing with the statement “Throughout the day I find myself thinking about biblical truths”.

In an interview with Baptist Press, LifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer explained the importance of scriptural study and reading.

“God’s Word is truth, so it should come as no surprise that reading and studying the Bible are still the activities that have the most impact on growth in this attribute of spiritual maturity,” said Stetzer.

“As basic as that is, there are still numerous churchgoers who are not reading the Bible regularly. You simply won’t grow if you don’t know God and spend time in God’s Word.”

While the study noted the small percentage of regular Bible engagement from respondents, it also pinpointed six actions that “positively impact” the level of Bible engagement a churchgoer partakes in.

These actions were confessing wrongdoings to God, believing in Jesus as the only way to Heaven, following God with an awareness that it “may be costly,” praying about the spiritual statuses of acquaintances who are not Christian, reading a book on spiritual growth, and being mentored by a “more spiritually mature Christian.”

Source:  Christian Post

Following is the message delivered by Arch Bishop of Delhi Vincent M Concessaoat the Parliamentarians Prayer Breakfast meeting held on 9th August, 2012 at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption, New Delhi.

My dear brothers and sister` in Christ,

We are gathered here this morning to pray for and pray along with our Christian Members of’ Parliament as the monsoon session has begun. For our prayer and reflection, I would like to read two verses from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

This passage from the Book of Proverbs speaks to each and every one of us that whatever we do, we should do for the glory of God and thus live worthy Christian lives. I would like to take these words of the Lord a little further to see the implications it has for people with special authority and mandate, especially for you our Christian Members of Parliament. In the Bible you will see how God at various times in history chose people and put them in positions of’ authority and responsibility.  Moses. Daniel, Joseph and various kings like David are all examples of individuals chosen by God for a specific purpose. It would not be wrong to say that some of these were placed by God in positions of political responsibility so that they could play a key role in his plan to establish a kingdom of justice and love. If this is true of Biblical times, it is true for us even today. God continues to choose people to help them realize His plans. Whether religious leaders or political leaders, God can influence the lives of His people through them. What one needs to do is, as the Book of’ Proverbs says, Trust in the Lord and discern his plans and ways and follow them.

A tremendous, responsibility is placed on you, Hon’ble Members of Parliament. The entire Christian community looks up to you to uphold high moral standards and seek reforms that will overcome corruption and injustice in government and elsewhere in the country. A truly Christian approach to politics and decision-making implies a sustained effort on your part to ensure equality in all areas and just treatment for all citizens. There is plenty to be done to ensure that the provisions envisaged by the Constitution of our country become operative all over the land. You may be a small minority in the Parliament but remember what Jesus said, “You are the salt, you are the leaven.”  Both are small in quantity but can make a big difference in the food and the dough they are mixed with. You can, with the help of God, transform our political system to embody the principles of true love and justice.  It is your God given responsibility to ensure that the image of God in every human being is recognized and maintained with all its implications for the socio-economic and political spheres.

Specifically, hon’ble Members of Parliament, I would like to draw your attention to the plight of the Christian and Muslim dalits.  If God does not make distinctions, if our Constitution envisages equality amongst all people, then it should he your priority to ensure that the Christian and Muslim dalits get their rights and privileges. Here we have a clear case of injustice and discrimination on the basis of religion. To maintain this is to perpetuate the status quo and as Christians committed to the Kingdom of God, which is characterized by justice and peace, love and solidarity it is your responsibility to change the status quo. This is what Jesus did. He focused quite deliberately on those who had been pushed aside to the margins. In his compassionate outreach to the outcastes, Jesus concretely embodied God’s reign as good news for the poor; God’s reign would mean the end of their misery and the introduction of a new order of social relationships based on the principle of inclusion. He did away with alienation and broke down walls of hostility between individuals and groups. Today in the political field you, as followers of Jesus, are called upon to give leadership in fulfilling this mission, irrespective of the parties you belong to because justice is a far greater cause of humanity.

Today there is a need for political conversion i.e. a commitment to change unjust structures and systems by building into them justice and equality. Perhaps a parable of a modern factory will help you understand the implications of your mission for the millions of the suffering people in our country.

There was a young engineer who decided to put up a car factory with the latest technology available. He did a wonderful job. Everything seemed to have worked out well but for one lacuna. For lack of provision of adequate safety, the workers now and then met with accident . Some got their fingers cut, some even lost their hands. Close to the factory there was a youth group which offered its services to rush the wounded persons to the hospital close by.  In the meantime the car became more popular, the engineer installed more machines, there were better sales and more accidents.  The Rotary Club of the township felt concerned about the Increasing number of accidents and they provided an ambulance so that the youth could get the patients treated promptly after the accidents. In the meantime more demand, more cars and more accidents, The Management then felt that they too should do something about it and they put up a dispensary in the premises of the factory.  Soon the dispensary became a hospital. The number of beds increased year after year and the hospital itself’ became another industry until a new manager came and asked himself whether it was enough to deal with the symptoms of the problem or whether it is time to identify the root of the problem and deal with it. This is what change in the system and structure is all about.

The parable clearly indicates the consequences of the relief measures though we need them in certain situations and the consequences of the change of an unjust system into a just one. We need to go to the root of the problems and create more just and equitable structures so that the Kingdom of God is not just a concept but an experience of millions of our brothers and sisters who at present are deprived of the basic necessities of life.

Today, we pray for you in a very special way dear Members of Parliament.

May God the Father of, all, bless you abundantly and give you the courage to stand up and speak for justice and what is right.

May Jesus be your role model to seek out the suffering and discriminated persons in society and empower them.

And may the Holy Spirit accompany you and show you the right path in all that you do in your personal lives and also as the chosen ones to represent the people of our country.

May God make your efforts to bring about a new society, bear abundant fruit and ensure a better future for our marginalized brothers and sisters in our country.  God bless you all.

Some qualities of Mary, the mother of Jesus, seen from the passage quoted above are worthy to be mentioned here:

1. Mary believed the words of the angel whereas Zechariah who was a priest failed to believe the message for him from the same angel. It’s not how much of the Bible we know, but how much we believe makes the difference! Those who believe will see the glory of God. We must take God at His word.

2. To believe she had to raise herself higher than the physical realm and the rules and laws of the physical world. She had to rise above rationalism and human logic.

3. She had to sign a blank paper which might have included her disgrace, her banishment from society, calling off of her proposed wedding, etc. She was ready to go through anything to have God fulfil His word.

4. Surrender was unconditional. With no strings attached. She didn’t want anything in return. She didn’t have any personal agenda or selfish motives.

has never let down anybody who has surrendered to Him. Mary became the vessel that brought the saviour of this world to this earth! She became the most blessed among women. See the boat that was lent to Jesus for some time: it was filled with fish in no time! See the life of Paul: The letters he wrote to the churches became part of the everlasting Word! He didn’t know then that he was writing the unchanging Word of God. Look at John the Baptist: He didn’t even enjoy the three basic needs of life – food, clothes and shelter – as we do, yet got the privilege to baptise Jesus and to pave the path for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The champions of total surrender have made it to the list of the heroes of faith. Absolute surrender – an act of complete yielding to the purposes of God – makes the difference!

God needs everybody for Kingdom work. Shall we hesitate to surrender our time, talents, money and efforts for the Lord? We don’t know what He will use us for, but we know He will surely use us. If He uses us, it will be to alter and impact eternity!! In Mark 11 we see Jesus sent two disciples to a village to bring the colt tied there. This is what Jesus told them to answer in case someone questioned them why they were untying the colt: The Lord has need of it (verse 3). This is what we can say about ourselves – “I know my Master needs me.” In Mark 10:29 and 30, Jesus promised he will not let down anybody who followed Him. We who hold the baton in the last lap of the relay, which started off with the Apostles in the first lap, have to be more zealous than those who held the baton in the first lap. The end-time Church cannot be as effective or productive like the first century one, leave aside talk of being more effective, if we don’t live up to the demand of total surrender, which was their hallmark.

Enough we had of running for the world and its passing pleasures. Let us be Kingdom minded and Kingdom surrendered. Let the Kingdom passion consume us round the clock! Let the Lord use us in any way for His pleasure. Remember it is costly to surrender, but costlier not to surrender!! I know from personal experience that my life has undergone a great transformation and has been revolutionised since I chose to strive to make such surrender. It propelled me out of callous conventional living. There are yet miles to go to achieve the ideal that is being pursued, but the progress is inspirational. May God help each and every precious reader to make a complete surrender to Jesus!

(First published in ‘Akanksha’, a souvenir of FGC Sunday School Department, March 2009)