Quick and Easy home-made summer drinks

Summers usually reminds me of vacation, play time and heat. Its also a season to munch on my favorite fruit - Mango. I usually don't like summers as its very hot and sometimes the temperature gets really tough to handle. With the advancement of technology and companies launching various appliances, we have off course found our ways to beat the heat through air conditioners and prefer having aerated drinks, concentrated fruit juices and packed flavoured powders like tang, rasna, etc. We always prefer the short-cut way and don't want to spend time making anything at home. 

Weekends have become "rest- days" for us and we unwind ourselves either by shopping, going to malls, eating out, visiting friends, spending time with family or simply resting at home. Finally I decided to try something new this weekend and learnt some simple drinks that would help me and my family beat the heat this summer. All thanks to my mother in law for sharing some of these ancient, old traditional ways of keeping our selves cool this summer. I hope you all will try and enjoy making these at home.

1. Aam Panna

Since its the season of mango, lets start with Aam Panna. This is made out of raw mango (popularly kown as kairi).

Ingredients

1. Raw mangoes (7-8)

2. Jaggery (1/4 to 1/2 kg) - this depends on the quantity of raw mangoes taken and the amount of sweetness required.

3. Cinnamon powder (2-3 teaspoon) - as per the taste

4. Salt (1 1/2 teaspoon)

Method

1. Peel off the skin from raw mangoes and slice them into medium pieces.

2. Pressure cook them for 4-5 whistles ( or till are cooked and soggy) add water while doing this

3. Once the cooker has cooled down, add jaggery ( first add 1/4 kg of jaggery). Allow the jaggery to melt in the cooker along with the raw mangoes.

5. Once the mixture has cooled down completely, grind it together to get a fine paste in a mixer. Taste the mixture to check its sweetness, if required add more jaggery and grind it again till you get your desired sweetness.

6. Add cinnamon powder and salt to this mixture. (Jaggery also contains some amount of salt, hence please add salt accordingly)

Pour the mixture in a bottle and store in refrigerator.

Serve

Take tall serving glass and fill 1/4 of the glass with the concentrated mixture, squeeze half a lemon, salt if required and fill remaining 3/4 of the glass with cold water. Stir well and serve chilled. Add ice cubes if needed.

2. Pudinah Syrup

Never knew that pudinah would make such a lovely drink.

Ingredients

1. One to two bunches of pudinah

2. Sugar 

3. Water

4. Salt

5. Lemon

Method

1. Clean and wash the pudinah leaves and store it in a big bowl. The bowl should be filled with the pudinah leaves up to its brim.

2. Depending on the size of the bowl in which the pudinah is stored, take half its quantity of sugar in another vessel.

3. Add water just to cover the sugar and give it one boil.

4. Allow the mixture to cool. Grind the pudinah leaves and sugar syrup together in a mixer.

5. Take another vessel, place a thin cloth over it. Allow the mixture to pass through the cloth to separate it from its residue. What you collect beneath is the syrup.

6. Add salt to this syrup and store it in a bottle in the refrigerator.

Serve

Take tall serving glass and fill 1/4 of the glass with the concentrated mixture, squeeze half a lemon, add salt and fill remaining 3/4 of the glass with cold water. Stir well and serve chilled. Add ice cubes if needed.

The minty sweet sour and salty flavors just refreshes you in no time. Also remember pudinah has loads of medicinal values and is the best form of coolant for the body.

3. Curd delight

Ingredients

1. Home-made curds (2 cups)

2. Sugar (2-3 Tbsp)

3. Salt (1/2 teaspoon)

4. Mango syrup /Roohafza (2-3 tbsp)

Method

1 Take curds, sugar, salt and mango syrup or roohafza in a mixie and whip them together. Serve in a tall glass. Adjust the ingredients as per your taste.

Note: You can use strawberry syrup or any other syrup as per your preference.

4. Matta (buttermilk)

This is a slightly different version of our normal buttermilk.

Ingredients

1. Home made curds (2 cups)

2. Sugar (4 tbsp)

3. Salt (1 teaspoon)

4. Ginger (1 inch)

5. Chillies (2 )

6. Cumin powder (1 teaspoon)

7. Pudinah leaves ( few leaves)

8. Cold water

Method

1. In a mixer grind together curds, sugar, salt, ginger, chopped chillies, cumin powder and pudinah leaves. Add cold water to this and keep it in the refrigerator.

Adjust the taste as per your preference. You can add more sugar if you like it to be sweet or more chillies if you want it to be a bit spicy. The texture of this drink is semi-liquid.

Remember this drink taste better when the sweetness and spiciness is balanced well. Serve chilled.

5. Minty Watermelon 

Ingredients

1.Watermelon

2. Pudinah (few leaves)

3. Salt (1/2 teaspoon)

4. Chaat masala (1/4 teaspoon)

5. Ice cubes (3-4)

Method

1. Remove the seeds from the water melon. In a mixer add water melon slices, pudinah and ice cubes. Mix it well. The texture should be semi-solid like a thick thick paste. 

Remove it in a tall serving glass. Add salt, chaat masala to the drink and stir well Top it with some pudinah leaves and serve chilled.

Note: All the above recipes could have some or the other variations as per each individuals preferences and taste. 

Please wash and clean the pudinah leaves and other necessary ingredients before using them in the drinks.

So keep aside those aerated drinks and try some natural healthy drinks this summer. I hope you would try and enjoy these drinks at home and let me know how it was.

Happy Reading.

PS: Images are taken from shutterstock.com

FINDING PEACE

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6 NKJV

I thank God for choosing me to write this at His appointed time. For most of you reading this, I would like to share that this is the perfect time that He has chosen me to right this. At this point of life, I know I am dejected and shattered, but I know that Gods most divine peace is upon me which will help me stand strong amidst every such situation.

Firstly to be carnally minded is to have a mind of the world than of Christ. When our mind is too focused on the things of the world, how will it ever think of Christ? How will Christ ever be a part of our busy mind and how will we ever Find Peace.

Firstly I would like to share an interesting thought. Just imagine that all of us have been created with an Empty space in our heart and mind. It’s during our day to day life that we keep giving the people who are a part of our Life, a little (or may be more) space to live in those spaces. Sometimes we give that someone The Most Important Space, leaving no space actually for God to dwell. And it’s the most prevalent fact that people are bound to disappoint you and break away from that space which they were dwelling for sometime. And the result is you feel crushed and heartbroken, because the most important person of that space himself has broken you. Today let’s realize that God is the only deserving person who should live in that space and I tell you, YOU WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED. If He lives in that Space forever, you will never be heartbroken or crushed in your mind and spirit. Go ahead make some important SPACE for Him, He only deserves it.

This season let’s focus our mind on the Giver of Peace and I guarantee you, You will find Peace. Let God be on our mind and see how your Life will change. We may have been so caught up with the worldly things, that it’s time to seek God and His peace in our Life. Few things which we can do our Best not just only for this season, but let’s say we will do these things from this season onwards.

Your Personal Time: Prayer and Worship

It is very necessary to spend the first part of your day with your creator. As we give monetary tithe, it is very important to offer our time as a tithe each and every day. If God has given us 24 hours in a day, then just calculate how much time we need to spend with Him. It’s important that we get up early in the morning just to pray and have a beautiful time with Him. You will see a great difference in your Life.

Kingdom Seeker | Soul Winner

Your Life should be based on seeking lost souls for His Kingdom. Won’t it be exciting if there will be many souls entering heaven and you may be responsible for it? Just imagine of that one person who was once in a horrible stage in Life, but today you see that same person praying, leading and being successful in Life. Won’t that give you PEACE? Be a Soul Winner!!!

Tithe Appropriately | Be a cheerful giver

It’s one of the most important things to do. Give!!! If God has blessed you with the Best of things, it is your duty to pay your tithes in the most appropriate manner. God isn’t expecting too much. But all He is expecting that you learn to give for His kingdom, because there are His servants and His ministry waiting to be supported by your giving. Let me also tell you the secret behind successful men of God, one of the reason is that they tithe appropriately. Actually it’s the most satisfying feeling when you see the Kingdom of God growing and ministries supported and doing great work. Won’t that give you PEACE?

People find peace in the worldly things and various mantras in Life. But I tell you, nothing in this world can give you that peace other than the Prince of Peace.  As it says in John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

And lastly I just want to share with you all this verse from Psalms 119:165 “Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.”

Can we say a small prayer

Loving Heavenly Father

I Thank you for this Life that you have given. I Thank you for overcoming everything of this world and becoming a source of our Strength and Hope. We pray that you help us to overcome every situation of our Life and follow you. We pray that we may give you the authority to Live in the space of our heart and mind. Let our Life be in your hands and authority and bless us with your divine peace. In Jesus name we believe and pray. Amen.

God Bless you all and may His Peace be with you and your Family Forever.

 Author - Joshua Navalkar

Eternal Life

Owing to my basic understanding of the words ‘Eternal Life’, which I actually never gave a thought of in the recent past and majorly picked up only from verses in the Bible and/or my Sunday School teachers (and yes Comic too) as a kid. My broadest and general perception of the word ETERNAL LIFE was

a LIFE afterlife

where all things seemed white, with golden gates, endless trail of peace, harmony, music, WINGS. Basically, I amassed everything that could fit into that single moment of imagination when Priyanka asked me to pen down a few words on it.

Google and many other website (almost all) had biblical references and definition not a bit surprising, but Wikipedia provides a biblical definition and also a loose reference on a synonymous word called Immortality. 

The definitions as are follows –

Biblical definition - In Christianity, the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, as outlined in Christian eschatology. The Apostles' Creed testifies: "I believe... the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." In this view, eternal life commences after the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, although in the New Testament's Johannine literature there are references to eternal life commencing in the earthly life of the believer, possibly indicating an inaugurated eschatology.

Immortality (Synonym) - is eternal life or the ability to live forever. Biological forms have inherent limitations that medical interventions or engineering may or may not be able to overcome. Natural selection has developed potential biological immortality in at least one species, the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii. Certain scientists, futurists, and philosophers, have theorized about the immortality of the human body, and advocate that human immortality is achievable in the first few decades of the 21st century, whereas other advocates believe that life extension is a more achievable goal in the short term, with immortality awaiting further research breakthroughs into an indefinite future.

Well guess I was partially right even as a child to think and believe in Life afterlife – believe in Christ. It may not sound profound or foundational to many simply because people do not know what the Bible tries to tell us when it speaks of Eternal life.

Excerpts from the Bible indicating Eternal life –

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
John 6:40 “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

So what exactly is Eternal life?

Many people have mistakenly thought and linked Eternal life with Immortality, the mythical exploration of Fountain of Youth said to restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters and even in some recent advances of science such as Plastic surgery, Botox injections in face, Chinese medicinal herbs, Cryonics (the low-temperature preservation of humans who cannot be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future). But that’s not the thing.

Eternal life is living forever, yet no one ceases to exist when they die. Everyone lives forever in heaven, that’s the beauty of accepting Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. The choice of going to Heaven or hell is with YOU and me. Eternal life begins the moment a person exercises his faith in Christ. Believers don’t have to “wait” for eternal life, because it’s not something that starts when they die.

It is clearly written in the scriptures, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” John 3:36. As you read this you know Eternal life is a present-tense, you and I have this readied platter served with the word of God and all you need to do is guzzle it down your gullet.

For this reason, eternal life can be thought of as something that Christians experience now.

  

How can I have eternal life? Where do I Begin?

John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

This Lenten season, use your time to come close to Lord our Savior Jesus Christ. Confess your sin before God. Repent for all your sins. Turn away from evil by putting God’s will before our own earthly materialistic desires. Put his word into practice. Make God your primary focus and you take a lesser role. And YES, unless you read the Bible for yourself, you will NEVER come into contact with certain truths of God.

FINALLY, talking from one’s point of few and sharing my opinion is rather easy and even easier is reading what I expressed and understand it. The hardest part is to imbibe them into oneself, into your daily time table and follow through it, stick to it like glue, making it like your gym time, your shopping time, your daily sob soap time, your party time, your friend's time just with little more Importance and commitment.

Sometime ago when I was in search of the meaning of lent and how I found it difficult to totally give into above mentioned steps, I came across an article from Rev. Penny Ford, a pastor of UMC church at Carrollton, Alabama. I figured she knew the so called next gen Youths and their lack of commitment towards all things biblical and hence she urged young minds to start at a snails pace and try social fasting and converting that time towards God to get closer to Him.

Go ahead pick one or pick a few. Get started today so you know the true meaning of Lent tomorrow and in the bargain achieve ETERNAL LIFE.

THINGS YOU CAN TRY FOR THE LENTEN SEASON

10. Try an electronic fast. Give up TV, Guitar Hero, texting, tweeeting, e-mail and all things electronic for one day every week. (or everyday of Lent!) Use the time to read & pray.

9. Start a prayer rhythm. Say a prayer every time you brush your teeth, or check your e-mail. Before you text someone, pray for them.

8. Read one chapter in the Bible each day. (Matthew's a good book to start with. Psalms, too.)

7. Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it (maybe even yourself.)

6. Give up soft drinks, fast food, tea or coffee. Give the money you save to help folks in crisis.

5. Create a daily quiet time. Spend 30 minutes a day in silence and prayer.

4. Cultivate a life of gratitude. Write someone a thank you letter each week and be aware of how many people have helped you along the way.

3. Be kind to someone each day.

2. Pray for others you see as you walk or drive to and from work.

1. Volunteer one hour or more each week with a local shelter, tutoring program, nursing home, prison ministry.

Happy Reading

Author - Richie Kamble

Joyful Giving

Generosity is central to our Christian faith, "For God so loved the world that he GAVE . . .”

As Deuteronomy 15:10 Says “You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.”

There are many reasons for giving but one of the main reasons is if you want to be blessed in your works and whatever you do, you should give without grieving.

There are so many people who offered GOD joyfully but my personal favourites are:

3 Joyful Givers in Bible:

1. ABEL - Always offer Best for Him as Abel did.

“And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. (Gen. 4:4 – NIV).

2. POOR WIDOW – Give Everything as the Poor widow gave.

“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12: 43-44 – NIV)

3. SMALL BOY – Give whatever you have (In Kind or Cash) as this small boy gave.

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9 – NIV)

It does not matter how much you give but it is important to give with full heart.

The Lord Jesus expects and requires us to give. Jesus said to His disciples, "when you give" not "if you give" (Matthew 6:2) Hence, Christian giving is not optional, but rather essential. We often hear folks say: "in the Old Testament they had to give, but not in the New - now we only give if we want to." This is clearly not Jesus' teaching. He expected all His followers to be givers. 

Always offer the best, give everything that you have and give in cash or kind. 

Are you giving?

Author - Shashank Patel

The Loveless Church : Repentance of the Congregation

Revelation 2:5 says “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent”.

During my bible theology class our professor always asked us to read above and below verse mentioned to understand the context and relate to the verse.

The Greek meaning of ‘Revelation’ is “Apocalypse” which means “Uncovering” or “Disclosure”. John had the Revelation of the coming of Christ to take his “Bride” the Church

So we must read Revelation Ch 1 onwards to know what all John saw when he had the Revelation on the island of Patmos.The voice told him to write all he saw and send it to  the seven churches in the province of Asia.

Now our Human mind would wonder how does this apply to us when it is sent to the seven churches in Asia. 

Revelation 2:7 says “He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches”.

The Church of the Ephesus: - The Loveless Church

The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands says this church has been known for its works, labour, patience and has not tolerated evil and have tested those who are apostles and found them to be liars.

In doing this they have persevered and not become weary.

Irrespective of them doing everything that is required and appreciated they have missed on the most important element which is ‘LOVE’, the divine nature of God.

Revelation 2:4 says they have forgotten their first love. Let’s contemplate and look at this verse. God is telling us you have forgotten your first love. Repent and come back.

God has shown us the express image of love by sending his only son and Jesus has shown his love by dying for us on the cross. What a crazy step our lover has taken for us so that we should be saved and dwell with him for eternity.

We need to repent and come back to our first love, because if we don’t he will come quickly and remove the lampstand from its place unless we repent.

1 Corinthians 13 talks about Love “Must Read”

For Eg : - A young girl who is in love will always keep thinking of her lover and wants to spend maximum time with him. She would long to be with him. If she is surrounded with people she would want to escape and be isolated with her Lover. He is always on her mind. Listen to this song by Sheldon Bangera (Pyaar toh Andha Hai)

Now each of us have been in Love and experienced being there and would know what the feeling is. More than gifts and service your Lover first would want u to give him complete attention and spend time with him. Being in love is the best thing that can ever happen to a person. The Beauty here is that Jesus is our lover and you are in love with your creator.

In this letter Paul is telling the Church to get back to the first love. So we must do first things first. God wants his church to first Love him and then work towards the extention of his kingdom.

1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love”

Hence all of us as a bride of Christ should Love him and do the first thing first and the rest shall follow.

Now you must be saying I am giving my tithes and offering, I go to Church regularly and do all charity, I attend worship seminars, concerts. All this sounds good but if you are not spending time with your lover and expressing your love to him in Worship and praise, not reading his word, meditating on the word or just lingering in is presence - All the works you do will go in vain. Because Jesus is the word which became flesh and dwelt amongst us. His word is life and spirit.

For Jesus is coming with the clouds to take his bride. A loving bride who will Love him and live with him till eternity.

Just want to describe you how the Bride and Bridegroom are seated in the Wedding where the bride is on the left and we know that Jesus is seated on the right hand side of the father. So we the church will be seated between the Father and Jesus. 

Ohh!!!! What a glorious Day it will be, to live with him for everlasting to everlasting.

Stay Blessed!

Author - Shannon Sarote

Walk By Faith Not By Sight ….

‘God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.’

Jim Elliot

According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘faith’ means ‘having complete trust or confidence in someone or something’. While addressing the Church at Corinth on the issue of imminent physical death and the hope of resurrection that we have as believers, Paul declares that believers ‘live by faith and not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7). 

Today’s world is a realm of uncertainties. On one hand, the rate of crime and unemployment is soaring, while on the other, there are no absolutes any more – no moral binding. Fidelity runs low in marriages and corruption seems to be the only way to get work done. Faith is questioned and ridiculed and believers are considered to be haters of the progressive world. Many a times, we face unimaginable challenges at home, at our place of work and even within our churches. Our walk of faith is challenged every step of the way and at times, it may seem like a lonesome battle.

But be of good courage! You are not alone! Those that have gone before us have shown that unwavering faith in God is rewarded albeit in God’s perfect time. The Bible talks about a number of ordinary men and women who exhibited extra ordinary faith in their lives when faced with testing circumstances.

Abraham had a promise, yet was now walking up a mountain to sacrifice his beloved son. Joseph had a dream, yet found himself in a prison charged with sexual offense. Moses had a mandate, but found himself constantly harassed by an unbelieving and grumbling people. David was anointed, yet found himself being chased by the King. Daniel enjoyed a good position in the king’s palace, yet was constantly plotted against by his colleagues. The apostles were diligent in their service to the Lord, yet their journey was replete with persecution. Inspite of all this, the Bible records that they continued their walk of faith. They never compromised nor ever grew weary of doing what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord and the Lord showed himself to be faithful in their lives in due time.

Dear friends, whatever may be the challenges you are facing today, continue to trust that God is faithful! Rejoice knowing that God is with you and on your side. He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. His birth, suffering, death and resurrection, that we so intensely meditate on during this season of lent, are proof of His eternal goodness and faithfulness. And so, as Paul says, let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4: 18).

‘I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ 

(Ephesians 3: 16-19)

Author - Jennifer L. Sumitra

Thanksgiving

“I have a thankful heart,

That You have given me,

And it can only come from You”

These are the first lines from a song called “Thankful Heart” by the Legendary Gospel Band ‘Petra’.  It clearly indicates that the ‘Thankful Heart’ only comes from God alone. Going back to the times when King David writes in his Psalms about his gratitude and love for God, it is indeed more astounding to see that even if times changed, the love for our creator can never be expressed as much as He has loved us.

The Psalmist, in Psalm 100:4 writes, “Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with Praise; give thanks to Him and Praise Him.” Often we go through situations in our lives where we feel we might not be able to thank someone enough for their goodness or love shown upon us. It could be a random stranger who did a good deed or it could be the ones we love. We try to think of a way to give back and thank them and maybe succeed at times. We tend to tell about the goodness to the others we know. Here’s where the Bible clearly tells us – Enter his gates with thanksgiving and Praise.

Have we ever thought how thankful we should be to God for what he has done for us in our lives? When we come to the presence of God, many times it is just when we need something. The Psalmist reminds us that when we come to his sanctuary, come with thanksgiving and praise. Why can’t we just go to God thanking Him for all the beauty that he has added in our lives? It is said that in Heaven, the angels and all the heavenly hosts keep singing of God’s glory and sing praises to God endlessly. How marvellous would that be to join the angelic choir! Here’s what we are reminded of again, when you go to God, when you come to his presence, let it be with Praise, let your heart be filled with Joy, let the innermost thank God first for all that he has done. 

Most of us, right from our childhood know the song --

I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart

I will enter his courts with Praise

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made

 I will rejoice that he has made me glad

Though we are reminded of it time and again, for most of us, we remember God in our troubled times. Let us leave that aside, and let’s go to Him, rightly with all the love we have for Him and give Him thanks for all he has done for us. Not only for the good, but also the other experiences that teach us in different ways. Know that God is in control.

Vs.5 – “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; His faithfulness continues in all generations.” Indeed, his plans are to prosper. In all his goodness, we have found grace, because of his faithfulness, we can go on. There is nothing more than this breath that we have every second that we could be thankful for. In every step of our way, he’s our guide. Even though we drift away, the shepherd searches for us and it is said that the heavens rejoice when that one lost sheep is found. His love indeed endures forever.

Let’s commit to God our paths and give Him all we have. There’s nothing more we could give Him in return to thank Him enough for his enduring love and his faithfulness in our lives.

I would like to conclude with the lyrics of another beautiful song by Casting Crowns, a song called

‘Who am I?’ The pre-chorus read –

Not because of who I am

But because of what you’ve done

Not because of what I’ve done

But because of who you are

You and the life that you have been given isn’t yours, it is the Master’s.

Give thanks in everything.

Author - Gladson Peter

Jesus Light of the World

As a child, I have always been afraid of the dark. When the lights turned off, the darkness would overwhelm and leave me scared due to insecure and unsafe feelings of not been able to see where my parents were in the room. However, when my mother would light the candle or turn on the ‘dim lights’ then that would make me smile instantly. This ‘light’ is the physical light that takes away the darkness in the room through its rays thus either allowing us to sit at peace and perform the little duties while the candle lasts, or the ‘dim light’ at night calls in for a good night rest.

Let’s discuss about the ‘divine light’, the first part of John 8:12 speaks about ‘Jesus being the ‘light’ of the world. Scientifically we know, ‘light’ is neither proven to be a wave or particle, but rather light is divided into different colors. ‘Light’ has many functions including: it guides our travel, promotes life and growth, comforts and warms, prevents crime in dark places, etc.

Therefore, in reflecting about Jesus been the ‘Light’ of the world reminds us that in accepting and believing in Him, he works in our life graciously and miraculously by introducing ‘colors of rainbow’ that light our life with joy, hope, peace, happiness and much more. In accepting Him, He transforms our life and removes all the darkness related to past sins, un-forgiveness, living in pity, depression, worry, stress etc. His divine presence in our life channelizes us because he promises to guide our path. He then takes care of our spiritual well-being by promoting growth and mental development by nourishing us through his daily word overloaded with promises. He comforts and warms us making us feel cozy under his shelter accepting us with our wrongs, and the super divine work of His spirit prevents and convicts us from doing wrong.

Lent Season is all about reminiscing Jesus’ life on earth and the ‘Victory’ we have attained through His sacrifice and atrocious death on the cross. I am reminded of some conversations with my friends about ‘Lent Season’.  Most of them would say, why did Jesus have to die? Was there no other alternative? Why such a big sacrifice? I would smile and say, it is so that we could live and not die to sin and darkness in this world. 

Friends, today the fact is right in front of our eyes, on news channels, we hear and read every day about people been killed, women been raped, children been sold, there is no end to debt everywhere, war amongst religions, war within families and much more, so the world is actually turning to be a  ‘disastrous’ place to live . The darkness in the world has made people less secure, unsafe and fearful. Therefore, amidst this darkness, we are reminded of this ‘divine light- Jesus’ who  came into this world, lived like a human being, He was tortured, blamed for wrong, judged and pierced to death on this earth. He went through it all to ‘die in flesh’ but then to be resurrected in spirit.  The victory on the cross reminds us that though we may live in the dark world but his resurrection symbolizes the power of light that is in work within and through us each day.

HAPPY LENT SEASON!

Author - Stuti Pardhe