The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. "There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"1 : You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"2 : You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"3 : You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"4 : The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And 5 : On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
. . . . . . . . . . .

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

1 : You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

2 : You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

3 : You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

4 : The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And 5 : On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

sunday thoughts mailed by Bro Jogy

Worship of the Wise men Text: Matthew 2:1-12 The wise men's coming from East to worship the king of the Jews is a beautiful event which Matthew narrates. Matthew selected this particular event in tune with his purpose to show how the gentiles do have a place in the kingdom of God. What we would be noting here is the passion, preparation and presentation seen in the worship of these wise men. 1. Their passion for Worship. They came from 'east' of Palestine. That can be from any place in Iran or in India or as far as in Afghanistan. They were apparently astronomers. The rise of the star signaled to them the birth of no one less than a king. Jewish people's hope for the Messiah was not a secret for the people around. Merchants and travelers who happened to visit Israel had access to the hope of the Jews for their king. Once they recognized the birth of the king somewhere, although they did not have to bother that so much, still they had the passion to set out in search of this king to pay homage to Him. Their passion drove them to ignore the tediousness of the journey whatever might be the distance and the hassles involved! They went with passion to worship the king. How much is our passion to go to the place where the people of God gather together for worshipping God? 2. Their preparation for worship. They had a purpose in the journey. That was to see and worship the King. They started from home with that preparation! It is not form Palestine they bought some gifts for the king. They carried it all along. Their purpose led to their preparation to worship the king. They never came empty handed to meet the king. As the day of church's worship approaches each week, what is the preparation we make to join God's people to worship God? Are we so casual in our preparation to worship the King? They came with preparation to worship the King. 3. Their Presentation in Worship. They carried with them special gifts that were precious and had predictive significance. When they saw the King, they opened their treasures and presented to Him those gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They presented their best as they worshipped the king. Moreover, they showed their noble attitude to present themselves to the King in worship (cf. v. 11-they fell down and worshipped Him). What do we have to present to God when we approach him in worship? Ought not we to present ourselves as a living sacrifice according to Paul's estimation? (Rom.12:1-2). Was their worship accepted by God? Definitely. The record of this event in the Scriptures attest that. Further divine direction they received (v. 12) also confirms this. They presented themselves and their valuables to worship the king. They definitely did it with rejoicing. What valuable gift we have to present to the king at our worship? Do we present ourselves at worship?

“They shall go hindmost with their standards.”

"They shall go hindmost with their standards."

- Numbers 2:31

The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the march. The Danites occupied the hindmost place, but what mattered the position, since they were as truly part of the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Come, my heart, cheer up, though last and least; it is thy privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare who lead the van. Some one must be hindmost in honour and esteem, some one must do menial work for Jesus, and why should not I? In a poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street, among degraded sinners, I will work on, and "go hindmost with my standard."

The Danites occupied a very useful place. Stragglers have to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.

The rear guard is a place of danger. There are foes behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering, souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business of well-taught saints to bear their standards among the hindmost. My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day.

"Let not one of them escape."

- 1 Kings 18:40

When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly cried, "Let not one of them escape." He took them all down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins-they are all doomed, not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt, as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. The fine gold of the Christian is oft becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not one of them escape.

Best Lovers & their Love Story

Sent: Jul 17, 2008 10:19 AM
Subject: Best Lovers & their Love Story

Today I have decided to narrate my love story to all of you. I want you
people to know what I have got for being a sincere lover.

There was a girl in my life. We were very close. Use to roam around. I
use to take care of her every need. I was madly in love with her. I
never wanted her to face any problem in her life. Now she is successful
in her life. She doesn't need me any more. She doesn't love me any
more. In fact she tries to ignore me. She pretends that she doesn't
know me. She blames me and curses me if anything goes wrong in her life.

I don't understand what's my fault. I don't know where did I go wrong.
Still there is no change in my love. Still whenever in trouble she
calls me and asks for help. I am more than willing to help her out of
trouble. I know for sure that once she is out of trouble she doesn't
acknowledge my presence in her life or success. But I love her. I want
to give her my everything and make her happy.

What do you people say about it? Am I stupid? Am I behaving Idiotic? Am
I wasting all my energy and resources for her?

Well, dear friends for a change lets replace some characters. Lets all
take the role of SHE and lets put our Lord God in the place of ME. How
does this story sounds to you?

Aren't we selfish? We want His blessing. We want Him only in crisis.
Still He loves us and gives His best. He will never leave you not
forsake you.

But are we giving Him what He is due for? He doesn't want our money or
fame. He only want us to be a true Christian.. that too only to ensure
that we are there with Him after our death.

God Bless you all.