Easter Greetings

JESUS and EASTER

What is the meaning of Easter?

Easter is the day when we celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the dead. Jesus is the Son of God and heroically gave His life to die for our sins. On the third day after He died -- the day we now celebrate as Easter Sunday -- His friends went to His grave, and found that He had risen from the dead. They saw an angel who told them, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said it would happen."

Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday; now He offers to you the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. This is the true story of Easter, and how it can change your life. Here are 4 principles that tell how you can receive the gift of God for your life.

1. God Loves You!

The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"

The problem is that

2. All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God.

The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.”

The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago,

3. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."

God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

4. If you want to accept Christ as Savior and turn from your sins, you can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this:

"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Did you pray this prayer?

COURTESY : Global Media Outreach

THE LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS

Love can bring the rich and the poor under one umbrella. Love conquers where philosophy, politics and religion fail.

What exactly is LOVE?

Love is the most important value of life. To love and to be loved is what every person on earth longs for. Attraction between the opposite sexes is natural; not wrong. It becomes wrong when the boundaries are crossed.

The dictum of the 80's was 'choose three, love two, marry one.' That has changed today "choose three, love two, marry none." There are many who have fallen victims to the calf love and face mental depression.

When we travel down the annals of history we can see that there is one person living even today who loved everybody in spite of their shortcomings. Everybody includes the righteous, the sinner, the rich, the poor, and the downtrodden. All found love acceptance in this person. That person's only weapon was love. His sign was the cross. Yes, He is JESUS CHRIST.

You might ask 'How much does this Jesus love me?" JESUS says, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.'

Giving your life to Jesus is an act of faith that you can express through prayer.

Praying is simply talking to God. He knows you. What matters is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest you pray the following prayer:

"Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask your forgiveness and now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen."

Is this prayer the desire of your heart?
If yes, then we invite you to pray it out loud (if you can),
and according to the promises of Jesus,
He will come into your life.

I had a dream that I had an interview with God

 I looked at the great mountains and saw the genius of his handiwork. I looked at the incredible beauty of a sunset and with much trembling thought about what God must be like. I had one big question to ask… and you ?
 http://mahagod.jesus.net/?/3/an-interview-with-god.html

PREVENTIVE PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES

Prevention is better than cure. This proverb is rarely practised in missionary work. Only when calamities or problems strike the missionaries, we mobilize prayer for their deliverance. Why don't we have some regular PREVENTIVE PRAYER for them?

Here are five basic preventive needs of missionaries :-

Prevention from Defilement

The enemyś arrows are aimed at the missionaries to weaken their testimony. Loss of personal holiness creates hollowness both in life and work. Sex is a great snare.

Prevention from Diseases

Every other missionary becomes sick due to adverse climatic conditions, poor sanitation, lack of balanced diet, and inadequate rest. The devil rejoices to see the worker inactive because of some physical weakness.

Prevention from Depressions

Separation from children and relatives, problems of children, fruitlessness in the field, unkind and inconsiderate leadership, financial stress, lack of fellowship and spiritual food, and other such problems leave the missionary depressed. Unless he enjoys a free spirit, he cannot serve joyfully.

Prevention from Divisions

Thereś hardly a mission field where thereś no relationship problem between the workers. When unity and team spirit are lost, thereś no blessing in the work. Prayer must be constantly made that the missionaries glorify God with öne mind and one mouth¨

Prevention from Dangers

Missionaries die of accidents, snake or insect bites, food-poisoning, epidemics, etc. The promises of Mark 16:18 and such passages must be daily claimed for them. During their outstation programmes, the workers´ houses are sometimes looted. Besides all these, there are threats from the enemies of the gospel.

Courtesy : Blessing Magazine - September 2010.
                  www.bym-india.org

IN THE TIMES OF TROUBLE - PSALM – 123

PREPARE : To whom do you turn in the times of trouble?

In the time of ridicule from the proud and contempt from the arrogant, David was…

a) Looking to the LORD:

He was not looking into the problem and not trying to solve the problem on his own.

He looked to the LORD till God showed his mercy.

b) Pleading to the LORD:

He was not arguing with God about his contempt. But he pleaded to the Lord for God’s mercy.

c) Confiding in the LORD:

He confided in the Lord about his contempt.

In the time of trouble we should look to the Lord our God.

PRAY : O! LORD help me to look to you not only in the times of trouble but all the time. Amen.