WHAT DOES THE ASCENSION MEAN TO US!

  A PRAYER to MARY's IMMACULATE HEART


  O Temple of Light without shadow or stain, intercede for us with your only begotten Son, the mediator of our reconciliation with the Father. May our weaknesses be forgiven, discord be rooted out of our hearts and may we know the joy of loving our brothers and sisters.
   O Mary, we commend the whole human race to your immaculate Heart; may it know the one true Saviour, Jesus Christ; may the consequences of sin be washed away by His precious blood, and may the whole world find peace in truth, justice, freedom and love. O Queen of the Holy Rosary, intercede for us now and forever. Amen.

-NEVER TOO BUSY-

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them...” (Lk. 10:31-34)   

        If anyone could understand the temptation to let busyness distract him from the Father's activity, Jesus certainly could! He told a parable that clearly illustrated this danger. First a Levite, then a priest passed by the half dead beaten up man ignoring him completely. These were religious leaders; surely they would show compassion to a wounded person (if amidst a crowd)! But they had places to go and appointments to keep, so they passed him by. Surely someone else would come along who had more time to help the wounded man! The Samaritan, despised by the Jews, came along. Of all people, this man had reason to look the other way, since the wounded man was his enemy. But wherever he was going he could wait, for someone needed his help.
   It is easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing good things that you are of no help to people around you. God is at work in the lives of your friends, your neighbours, your family members. He may ask you to interrupt your day long enough to join Him as He ministers to them. Nothing in your agenda, no matter how pressing, is reason enough to ignore the voice of God when He tells you to stop and help. If you have become too busy to minister to those around you, ask God to re-establish your priorities so that you do not miss opportunities to serve Him. 

TEMPTATION: [SPIRITUAL NO MAN'S LAND]

“NO MAN'S LAND”

   No-Man's Land is the term used by soldiers to describe the ground between the two opposing trenches. During world War I, if a soldier entered no-man's land, the chances were very slim that he would come out alive. Some did, but they fought with all might to survive. Sometimes, when we are tempted, we may feel as though we are in a no-man's land of a spiritual battle. Although, as Erwin Lutzer states, “temptation is not a sin; it is a call to battle,” each sin starts with a temptation. This article will help in understanding the nature of temptations and how to escape this spiritual no-man's land. Here are a few verses for our consideration:
  “No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.” (James 1:13-16)
  “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”  (1Cor. 10:13)
  “Because he (Christ) himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18)
  We are created dependent on God to meet the various desires that we experience; to be loved, secure, and significant. When we experience these desires, we can be drawn away to get these desires met by our own ways and means, or we can wait on God to meet our needs in His time and in His way. The apostle Paul relates this to the struggle of the flesh against the Spirit.(Gal.5:16) These two opposing forces are continually at war with one another. When a person is stuck in the middle of these competing desires, they are in the realm of temptation. 

THE WAY OF ESCAPE
  What does a person do once he finds himself in no-man's land?  How does he find the way of escape? For many, when they are in the middle of temptation, they give in to it because they feel it is just too much to handle. They may believe they are too weak to resist. Some have rationalized giving in to temptation by thinking, “I have gone this far; I might as well go all the way.” Those lies are direct attacks of the enemy. The devil will not ‘make' us sin, but he will influence our thinking about sin that leaves us believing a lie. At the moment we give in to temptation, we believe that it is reasonable and right for us to do. However, hindsight shows us the stupidity of our sin and the destruction it causes. When dealing with temptation there are a few fundamental truths. We need to remind ourselves of them.
  1. Temptation seek to draw us away from God. Our desire to get needs met in our own way draws us away from waiting on God to meet our needs.
  2.Temptations are not unique, but common to all. Although we may be tempted in different areas, we are all susceptible to temptation. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.” (1 Cor. 10:13) We all struggle with desires that will not take ‘no' for an answer. The operative word in almost all temptations is the word “NOW”. There is a sense of urgency and immediacy that seeks to overwhelm the person who is tempted. The way to counteract this sense of urgency is to wait on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 tells us to “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”  
  3. Jesus was tempted and was victorious over the temptation. The writer of Hebrews emphasized the fact that Jesus sympathizes with us in our weakness because He was tempted in all things yet without sin. He was tempted in all things yet without sin. He was able to wait on his Heavenly Father to strengthen and supply Him with all that He needed. We, too, must rest in the Father's strength and provision of our needs.
  4. The ultimate goal of temptations is sin. Each time we are tempted we must realize that the goal of temptation is sin. The ultimate goal of sin is death. We voluntarily place ourselves on a slippery slope of destruction.

ESCAPING NO-MAN'S LAND!
  It is important to realize that whenever we sin, it is because we choose to give in to our temptations. It is an outright rebellion against God. We seek to get our needs met outside the realm of God's blessing and provision and in the realm of self-sufficiency. God's faithfulness to us while we are in our spiritual no-man's land is our escape hatch out of the danger of giving in to our temptations. The next time you are tempted - and you will be tempted - think through the followiing principles:
  1. Recognize God's presence in the midst of the temptation. He is right there with you. And because of His faithfulness to you, He limits your temptation so it will not overtake you.
  2. Realize that sin is most present when it seems most absent. 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns that if we think we are standing firm, we need to be careful that we don't fall. Sometimes when things are going well for us, we grow complacent and deceived by our own sinfulness.
  3. Cry out to God for the way of escape. God promises a way out! Do not stop fighting. Look for the way of escape. When you find it, run as fast as you can to it. And thank God for the victory He provided for you in the temptation. 

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) KIDNEY STONES DISAPPEAR THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD's WORD!!

   Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
   I, Ram Vilas (age-35 years), have been attending the prayer service at Jeevan Dham for the past 2 months. The prime reason for coming was to get physical healing because I had been suffering due to stones getting accumulated slowly and gradually in my kidneys for the past few years.  In the beginning, when I had continuous pain just below my stomach I went to the nearby doctor and had myself examined. The ultrasound report clarified that there were stones in my both kidneys (two on the right and one on the left having a diameter of 8, 7 and 5 millimetres respectively) and they could be removed only by an operation. But, as I was frightened to get operated, I tried to get rid of the stones by taking medicine only. I took it for around two weeks. However, the pain never subsided and my life became miserable. Meanwhile, my mother and my niece came home from my home in Bihar to convince me to have an operation without any further delay.

  My wife, who used to attend the Sunday prayer service at Jeevan Dham for the past one year, assured me of getting healed if I too attended the prayer on Sundays with faith in almighty God. Since then onwards, I started attending the prayer service without failure. Within the first day itself, I got little respite from my pain. After 20 days, I felt that I should have an ultrasound test again. Surprisingly, the report showed that the two stones in my right kidney had disappeared without my awareness. Only one stone in my left kidney was remaining but the pain inside was increasing day by day. We kept our faith and prayed to God at home everyday. I used to read the prayer book ‘Naya Jeevan' and drink the blessed water. Last week, one evening I felt an intense pain below the stomach for I was unable to pass urine due to complete blockage for three days. I called out to God and asked for deliverance from this unbearable pain. Within a few minutes, I went to the lavatory and applied all my force to pass urine. In my second attempt, the stone piece came out along with the urine. This way I got rid of the stones in my kidney only through God's grace. During the week, the lady had announced during the intercessory prayer service that God is healing one person who is suffering from stones (in the kidney or bladder). That person was no one else but me who was healed by God. I firmly believe that this miracle happened only through the grace of God who had mercy on me and answered my prayers without delay. I can never forget the favours He has bestowed on me. Now I can eat any food and work anywhere and anytime without feeling any pain or discomfort.
Ram Vilas, Faridabad
“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” (Psalms 116:1-2) .

B)    JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR, HEALER AND REFUGE!! 
  Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
    I have come here today to give the wonderful testimony of my family and to praise God for all His wonderful blessings bestowed on us. I, Poonam, have two children- one boy and one girl.
    i) I had continuous stomach ache for the past 15 years and had tried all kinds of treatment but in vain. One doctor said gastroenteritis, another said problem in digestion, and another said something else. Having been informed about Jeevan Dham and the healing prayer service being conducted there by my neighbour (6 months ago) at my village, I started coming here regularly for the prayer service. Through the grace and mercy of God I got rid of this pain gradually and now after 6 weeks I am completely all right.
     ii) My younger son Deepak aged 12 years was having high fever and cough for the last two months. The doctors diagnosed the ailment as T.B. I prayed for Him everyday and now, after coming here, he is feeling all right. His fever and cough has disappeared completely. Praise the Lord!
   iii) My daughter Vineeta aged 14 years was bedridden for the past 5 months. This year in the month of January she had initially fever and cough only. The doctor said after diagnosis that she had typhoid. Later, he declared that she was suffering from T.B.  Out of weakness she took to bed and was unable to even stand up on her own. Last month she started having a stomachache. On taking an ultrasound test, it was discovered that one of her kidneys is failing. She was earlier given the course for T.B., then was medicated for other ailments. Her health had declined steeply. I brought her here for two Sundays to attend the prayer service, and by the Lord‘s grace she started regaining health and is now walking today. Today she feels herself to be all right.  She has got rid of stomachache, backache and knee ache (it started 15 days back) and body weakness. I praise the Lord for all these blessings that He has bestowed on our family! I am really indebted to Him, who saved us out of His love and mercy.
Poonam(age-35 years), Delhi
“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31).

C)  THE MIGHTY WORD OF GOD STRENGTHENS THEM ALL! GOD HEALS THEIR LEGS AND ENABLES THEM TO WALK STRAIGHT! 

GUIDE MAP TO REACH JEEVAN DHAM

  And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”(Isaiah 30:21)