Building relationships: Building bridges and reaching out to parents.

Hi...

Relationships are so...important.

We need to walk an extra mile to build strong, lasting relationships with people in our life and people who we interact with on daily basis.

Today we'll take time to appreciate our parents because parents aren't around forever!

The Bible warns children will be disobedient to parents in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

But still God's word teaches us to 'obey our parents in the Lord.'

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Matthew 19:19

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Ephesians 6:2

"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Some of you may have bad memories but still it's time to forgive, forget and move on holding no bitterness.If our parents are there, let's take time today to love, appreciate, forgive them if they have hurt us and ask for forgiveness if we have hurt them.

We need to treasure them while they are!

Let's not return their love with cold indifference.

Let's wipe their tears, see their sigh, meet their needs, show them we love and care for them, when they are with us. What use will it be if after they take their last breath, we shed tears, speak volumes appreciating them ...they can't see or hear what we do and say...

Today when they are with us, let's treasure them & give them our best.

It's time to reach out to them & tell them we love them & show them we care.

Maybe some of you have painful memories of childhood. But it's time to reach out in love & let go of all negative feelings. You need to forgive and forget the past and love your parents for that's what God expects you to do.

My dad passed away in 2002. My mom lives in Coonoor (near Ooty) the least I can do now is call her once daily and talk to her. She feels so...happy to talk.

The 1st question I ask her is, "Amma how are you..?"

Do miss seeing her, but blessed to talk to her!!

Thank God for mobiles, telephone and Internet too!!

Parents are God's gift to us...

Julia

Dark but still beautiful?

Hi family and friends..

Each of us are so...unique and precious in our Lord's eyes.

No matter what caste, race, colour we are our Lord Jesus Christ loves us the same.

He created us in His image. Let's appreciate the beauty of God in His handiwork.

It was He who knit us together in our mother's womb.

Today let's thank God for making us the way we are.

Just sharing a blog (with her permission) written by our daughter Becky a few of years back, hope someone is blessed.

May this week be blessed.

YSIC

Julia

Hi,

Some one called me 'dark but still beautiful' today. You might think I'd be delighted at this comment but sadly I wasn’t. No, no…..Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of the I-don’t-like-compliments type it’s just that the words ‘but still’ worry me a lot. This one sentence has had me thinking all afternoon. I could have been called beautiful. But no, it had to be noted that I am dark ‘but still’ beautiful.  I am so stirred up; I could write a book about this. But trust me, I will keep this short!

Why should someone EVER be called dark ‘but still’ beautiful? Is being ‘dark skinned’ usually something that isn’t associated with beauty? Is it so distant from beauty that it has to ‘noted’ when the two are together? Which leads me to my next question, is beauty associated with fairness?

I’ve never heard anyone say, ‘She’s fair but still beautiful’!

Racism is often rooted deep within us and we fail to realise that beauty is in everything that God created. It doesn’t depend on the colour of your skin.

 The Bible clearly says in

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Let’s start loving each other putting aside things that matter little like the colour of our skins. Let’s stop judging people for the way the look or make fun of them because of their appearances.

We all have an image of what ‘beauty’ or ‘perfection’ is, in our heads. Let’s not judge people who don’t fit these images. Let’s not point out to people that they are dark because IT’S NOT A CRIME TO BE DARK SKINNED. The Bible says ALL were created in the image of God and no where is it said that fair skin is beautiful.

To conclude quickly as I said I would, I want to challenge each and every one who reads this mail to think about any racist ideas that we may have and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Also, let’s repent if we have made fun of people’s looks or appearances. Jesus only feels immense love when He looks into each of our faces.
God bless you all.

Dark but ever loved by Him,

Rebecca. 

 In actuality, there is only one race - the human race. Within the human race is a great amount of diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics. 

Within the human race is a great amount of diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics.

~Pastor Owen~ 

Little Blessings....(Compiled)

" The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."
(Psalm 121:8 NLT)

" I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  (Philippians 4:11)

" Trust the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
" Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night."
" Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times." (Romans 12:12)

" God's love for us is not a love that always exempts us from trials, but rather, a love that always sees us through trials."

" God does not ask your ability or your inability.
He asks only your availability "  (Mary Kay Ash)

~LITTLE BLESSINGS~

Little deeds of kindness,
Loving thoughts to share,
Warm words to encourage,
The knowing someone's there,
Gentle smiles to cheer us
When weary grows the way,
A morning sweet with dewdrops
To start a sunny day,
The love that's always with us
Whenever we must roam,
A soft glow in the window
When we're in sight of home,
The things that really matter
Are such a special part
Of all the little blessings
Most precious to the heart.

~UNKNOWN~

"Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters"

"The things that matter the most in this world,
Can never be held in our hand."

-Gloria Gaither-

"It is after all, mostly little, common things that make up our lives."
-Elisabeth Elliot-

"Every day shared with the ones we love is a gift to be thankful for."

🍀

 "SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER☘️

I find what I look for in people. If I look for God, I find God. If I look for bad qualities, I find them. I, in a sense, select what I expect, and I receive it.
A life without challenges would be like going to school without lessons to learn. Challenges come not to depress or get me down, but to master and to grow and to unfold thereby.
In the Father's wise and loving plan for me, no burden can fall upon me, no emergency can arise, no grief can overtake me, before I am given the grace and strength to meet them.
A rich, full life is not determined by outer circumstances and relationships. These can be contributory to it, but cannot be the source. I am happy or unhappy because of what I think and feel.
I can never lose anything that belongs to me, nor can I posses what is not really mine.
To never run from a problem: either it will chase me or I will run into another just like it, although it may have a different face or name.
To have no concern for tomorrow. Today is the yesterday over which I had concern.
To never bang on a closed door: Wait for it to open and then go through it.
A person who has come into my life has come either to teach me something, or to learn something from me. ~Unknown~

APPRECIATING ALL MOTHERS/ EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND MOTHERS TO BE TOO!!

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MOTHER

Mother is adored in each part of the universe. Even the Lord give due respect to the mother.

The great epic 'Bible' also throws light on the place of mother in the life of a human being.

What 'Bible' says about mother is...

Genesis 3:20
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Lev 19:3
"Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

2 Kings 4:30
But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.

Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

Isaiah 66:13 
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

Ezekiel 16:44
"Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter."

Luke 1:43
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Luke 2:51
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

~COMPILED~

M"  is for the million things she gave me,
"O"  means only that she's growing old,"T"  is for the tears she shed to save me,"H" is for her heart of purest gold;"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"

~unknown~

Hi...

APPRECIATING ALL MOTHERS/ EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND MOTHERS TO BE TOO!!

A "MOTHER" IS...

M~ MONUMENT OF STRENGTH
O~ OCEAN OF LOVE
T~ TRUST WORTHY
H~ HOPEFUL ALWAYS
E~  ENCOURAGER
R~ READY TO HELP

A tribute to all mothers a reminder to appreciate our mothers and all mothers we know.
Our mother's tender love covered us as a child.

Though we grow up they still see us as little kids.
They love us all the same...

Remember moments like this?
Doing thing together with your mom?

Reading out a story to you?

Tucking you in bed??

And..They never quit praying for you!

 

Praise God for mom and dads too!!
YSIC,
Julia

~BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE~

Hi.............

There are people in our lives who we love so...dearly and yet hardly let them know we care.

There are lovedones and friends we interact with on daily bases and who mean so much to us, but they still do not know Jesus Christ our Lord as their Savior.

If Abba Father gave us His all, it's because He loved us soo much.

If Christ died for us it's because He loved us.

Let's not just give our best to people we love and care about but tell them about "THE ONLY WAY"

JOHN 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.

 No one comes to the Father except through me.

We need to witness to our unsaved loved ones- our kids, parents, spouse, friends, our brothers and sisters- as they are special not just to us but to a God who loves them more than us.

Psalm 78:  ⁴ We will not hide them from their

children;we will tell the next generation 
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

 ⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob 

and established the law in Israel, 
       which he commanded our forefathers 
       to teach their children,

 ⁶ so the next generation would know them, 

 even the children yet to be born,
       and they in turn would tell their children.

We need to talk about our Lord, His saving grace, His goodness often.

Psalm 71 ¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness, 

 of your salvation all day long, 
       though I know not its measure.

 ¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,O

Sovereign LORD; 
       I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

 ¹⁷ Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, 

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Here's something I read long back during my college days and have always treasured it for it blessed me and is a valuable reminder even today.

So before it's too late, loved ones and friends not just how much we love and care for them but make sure they know our Savior.

Read and be blessed.

YSIC,

Julia

                               

   BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

If you have a tender message or a loving word to say,

Do not wait till you forget it, wisper it today,

The tender word unspoken,

The letter never sent,

The long forgotten messages,

 The wealth of love unspent,

For these some hearts are breaking.

For these some loved ones cry.

So show them you care for them before it's too late.

~Unknown~

Don't strew me with roses after I'm dead.
When Death claims the light of my brow
No flowers of life will cheer me; instead
You may give me my roses now!
~ Thomas F. Healey

~FULL SURRENDER~ Our Lord deserves our ALL or nothing at all...

Hi friends, brothers and sisters in Christ 

This is a poem I read many years back and it so....blessed me.
We give God our all...or nothing at all!

Be blessed,

Julia

                        

   FULL SURRENDER

My heart has a hundred rooms or more,

I kept the keys to every door;

And then one day the lord found me ,

And asked if He might have the keys.

I nodded yes and turned my back,

To take one small key off the pack,

A key to an attic room so.... small,

I thought it didn't matter at all.

I turned around thinking what to say,

But all too late He had gone away;

My heart sank deep down to my feet,

A voice called me a cheat.

Another day my Lord passed by,

I saw the hurt look in His eyes;

I flung every key at HIS wounded feet,

And O the joy inexpressibly sweet.

  By Elizabeth. M. Forstner