"DRAW NEAR TO GOD"

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF DIVYA JYOTI!

With this February Edition, DIVYA-JYOTI (the English monthly newsletter published by JEEVAN DHAM, Faridabad) completes its two years. Praise the Lord! Alleluia! We sincerely thank all those who have helped us in presenting you this newsletter every month. We request you to keep us in your daily prayers and give us your moral and spiritual support through your prayers in future.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
For articles, witnesses, prayers & suggestions, write to : THE EDITOR, Jeevan Dham, 696/Sec-22, Faridabad-121005, Haryana. OR E-mail to: justcallanthony@yahoo.com

PERSONALITY PROFILE: KING DAVID

When we think of David, we think of: shepherd, poet, giant-killer, king, ancestor of Jesus- in short one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. But alongside that list stands another: betrayer, liar, adulterer, murderer. The first list gives qualities we all might like to have; the second, qualities that might be true of any one of us. The Bible makes no effort to hide David’s failures. Yet he is remembered and respected for his heart for God. Knowing how much more we share in David’s failures than in his greatness, we should be curious to find out what made God refer to David as “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22).
David, more than anything else, had an unchangeable belief in the faithful and forgiving nature of God. He was a man who lived with great zest. He sinned, but he was quick to confess his sins. His confessions were from the heart, and his repentance was genuine. David never took God’s forgiveness lightly or his blessing for granted. In return, God never held back from David either his forgiveness or the consequences of his actions. David experienced the joy of forgiveness even when he had to suffer the consequences of his sins.
We tend to get these two reversed. Too often we would rather avoid the consequences than experience forgiveness. Another big difference between us and David is that while he sinned greatly, he did not sin repeatedly. He learned from his mistakes because he accepted the suffering they brought. Often we do not seem to learn from our mistakes or the consequences that result from those mistakes. What changes would it take for God to find this kind of obedience in you?

Strengths and Accomplishments:
Greatest king of Israel.
Ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Listed in the Hall of faith in Heb. 11.
A man described by God himself as a man after his own heart.

Weaknesses and mistakes:
Committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Plotted and arranged the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband.
Directly disobeyed God in taking the census of the people
Did not deal decisively with the sins of his children.

Lessons from his life:
Willingness to honestly admit our mistakes is the first step in dealing with them.
Forgiveness does not remove the consequences of sin.
God greatly desires our complete trust and worship.

Key verse:
“And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”(2 Samuel 7:28,29)

Mentioned in:
His story is told in 1 Samuel 16 - 1 Kings 2. He is also mentioned in Amos 6:5; Matthew 1:1, 6: 22:43-45; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:22; Romans 1:3; Hebrews 11:32.

Vital Statistics:
>>Where: Bethlehem, Jerusalem.
>>Relatives: Father: Jesse;
Wives: included Michal, Bathsheba, Abigail, Ahinoam;
Sons: included Absalom, Amnon, Solomon, Adonijah;
Daughters : included Tamar, Seven brothers.
>>Occupations: shepherd, musician, poet, soldier, King
>>Contemporaries: Saul, Samuel, Nathan, Jonathan.

NOVENA PRAYER TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially ...(place your special intention).
We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever. Amen.

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD FALLS AGAIN!

On January 29, 2006 morning, the most precious blood of our Lord (the encircled portions in the above picture) fell on the prayer books (‘Naya Jeevan’) besides on the believers, at St.Anthony’s School ground , Sec-9 Faridabad.
The Almighty God says,“I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.” (Joel 2:30)

A MESSAGE FOR LENT 2006 FROM THE HOLY FATHER
“Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity” (Mt. 9:36)
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him Who is the fount of mercy. It is a pilgrimage in which He Himself accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter. Even in the “valley of darkness” of which the Psalmist speaks (Ps. 23:4), while the tempter prompts us to despair or to place a vain hope in the work of our own hands, God is there to guard us and sustain us. Yes, even today the Lord hears the cry of the multitudes longing for joy, peace, and love. As in every age, they feel abandoned. Yet, even in the desolation of misery, loneliness, violence and hunger that indiscriminately afflict children, adults, and the elderly, God does not allow darkness to prevail. In fact, in the words of my beloved Predecessor, Pope John Paul II, there is a “divine limit imposed upon evil”, namely, mercy (Memory and Identity, pp. 19ff.). It is with these thoughts in mind that I have chosen as my theme for this Message the Gospel text: “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity” (Mt 9:36).
In this light, I would like to pause and reflect upon an issue much debated today: the question of development. Even now, the compassionate “gaze” of Christ continues to fall upon individuals and peoples. He watches them, knowing that the divine “plan” includes their call to salvation. Jesus knows the perils that put this plan at risk, and He is moved with pity for the crowds. He chooses to defend them from the wolves even at the cost of His own life. The gaze of Jesus embraces individuals and multitudes, and he brings them all before the Father, offering Himself as a sacrifice of expiation.
Enlightened by this Paschal truth, the Church knows that if we are to promote development in its fulness, our own “gaze” upon mankind has to be measured against that of Christ.
[BENEDICTUS PP. XVI]
[Contd... on the next (March) issue]

NEW BIBLE READING PLANS FOR 2006

The Holy Bible, the Divine
Word of God, the Book of Faith and Revelation, should be read regularly everyday to nourish our Spirit, to strengthen our faith, hope and love, and to guide us at every moment of our life. Last year we had presented you with the 365-Day Bible Reading Plan- covering the whole Bible, with plans corresponding to each month of the year. We believe that, although it was little stretched out, it had benefitted the readers who stuck to the schedule and read the whole Bible within the year. This year we would like to introduce two new plans, viz., the 26-Week (6-month) NT reading Plan and the 52-Week (1 Year) OT reading Plan, which would help you to read the OT and the NT daily (OT in the morning and NT in the evening or vice versa). Hence, starting from this month, we will be providing you with both the reading plans every month. Set apart some time to read the passage everyday (early morning/evening/late night) and try your best to stick to the schedule. You’ll definitely get incredible results.
God Bless You!

A) THROUGH THE POWER OF HIS WORD, GOD GIFTED ALL THESE CHILDLESS FAMILIES WITH A CHILD AFTER MANY YEARS OF MARRIAGE!

B) GOD GAVE STRENGTH AND NEW LIFE TO MY DAUGHTER!
Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
My daughter, Neeraj, who is now 3 years old, was suffering from a dreadful disease due to which she was reduced to just skin and bones. She was all right till she was 7 months old. Thereafter, her health declined day by day. She never felt hungry or showed any interest in eating anything. When forced to eat, she would sometimes throw up the food. She had an acute problem, digesting the food. I took her to several private doctors in Delhi. They could not diagnose her disease but only affirmed her weakness which could be cured with proper medication and nutritious diet. She could not even stand up on her legs which had become so weak and lean. She used to drag herself on the ground. I spent over eight thousand rupees on her medication. But nothing improved her health.
One day a lady in my neighbourhood told me about the healing prayer service held at Jeevan Dham and advised me to attend the service at least one Sunday, assuring me of my daughter being healed if I had faith in God. Last Sunday, on January 29, we all came together to JEEVAN DHAM and heard the powerful Word of God and the awe-inspiring testimonies of the believers. The first Sunday itself, Neeraj felt the healing touch of Jesus. She started regaining strength in her legs and could stand up and walk miraculously. She felt hungry that day and later started eating on her own. As she was freed of her problem of indigestion through God’s grace, her body started regaining strength. Today, amazingly, she could balance her legs well and she got the inner strength and confidence to walk on the stage without any support. Neither did the believers and nor could I believe my eyes at this wonderful miracle. The crowd applauded the wondrous work of almighty God. Praise the Lord!!
Parveen (age- 25 years),
Neeraj (daughter), New Delhi

C) TOUCHED BY GOD’S WORD, I LEFT ADDICTION TO SMOKING AND ALCOHOL!
Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
I got addicted to alcohol and smoking when I was about 20 years. Working as a mason and contractor, I smoked nearly two bundles of bidi everyday. Later, I attempted a few times to get out of this addiction but never succeeded. Nine months back when my brother brought me to Jeevan Dham to attend the Sunday prayer services, I listened to the Word of God carefully. As the weeks passed by, the powerful Word of God touched my heart and mind and I changed slowly into a man free of all addictions and bad habits, in obedience to God’s commands. Now, for the past months I have not even touched a bidi or alcohol and nor do I feel tempted to use them. I have totally left them and moreover, the almighty God has healed my cough that I had due to smoking.
Another miracle which the Lord Jesus did for me is healing me of my constant allergy to cement. For the past 10 years, my palms and fingers used to crack and gashes appeared on them due to working with cement. I took injections for this allergy. A few private doctors even recommended me to leave my job and take up some other profession. But I still carried on with my work, taking painkiller tablets everyday. However, after coming here for the prayer service, I felt a lot better. The major cuts in my hands started healing. For the past 4 months, I have not taken any medicine because my hands are no more allergic to cement. With God’s grace, I can carry on my work without any discomfort. Praise the Lord!
Karan Lal (age- 50 years)
Ballabgarh, Faridabad
“You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalms 145:16-18)