tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64929212252636270482024-03-13T06:44:29.570-07:00kosarajurajRaj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.comBlogger391125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-52120078945274974602022-01-21T10:21:00.001-08:002022-01-21T10:21:19.271-08:00<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SIRIDHANYALU (Millets) Food that heals</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg38xpkCLfBi0KqZ8yM-bKKdqEeU0vN2t4554eZQpCmxvi_EYMXe2r1MsnktEppi-eATGtKBzSiZqAhgEA-AXQuIVonm8B8N71c1gHzO5TmtbGp4-cFfzNzkk1JfQcDOtVAK6D9yiizP9cG7hoPS3DjwPWDryAlT1CRf3zbzVEJ7S8aWgV6tWy16po6=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="394" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg38xpkCLfBi0KqZ8yM-bKKdqEeU0vN2t4554eZQpCmxvi_EYMXe2r1MsnktEppi-eATGtKBzSiZqAhgEA-AXQuIVonm8B8N71c1gHzO5TmtbGp4-cFfzNzkk1JfQcDOtVAK6D9yiizP9cG7hoPS3DjwPWDryAlT1CRf3zbzVEJ7S8aWgV6tWy16po6=s320" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;">Is it true that ailments like most cancers, are being healed through you with 'siridhanyalu ' like Foxtail, Kodo millets, etc?</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Yes, it is true. For the previous twenty years, we have acquired effects through what I have believed in and recommended. In fact, taking safe/healthy meals offers us a wonderful deal of suitable health. In the hobby of people's proper health, God has created a massive range of ingredients in distinct components of the world. But, we are hit by means of a disaster by sticking to simply paddy rice and wheat.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">In order to get out of this disaster, we ought to stroll in the direction of Nature. By bringing about modifications in our day-by-day diet, we can obtain whole health. It is solely siridhanyalu that has medicinal homes and can provide actual fitness for people. It is common to construct this focus, as we started out practicing 'JUNGLE FARMING' and have been working with farmers and sufferers for the previous twenty years.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">There is a faith that most cancers and diabetes are hereditary. No, ailments like most cancers and diabetes, are no longer inheritable. They are the end result of the consumption of unhealthy meals and the adoption of incorrect way of life habits, mainly. Eczema and a few types of illnesses associated with intellectual retardation solely are hereditary. In the previous, most cancers and diabetes instances had been very rare.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Now, such sufferers are all-pervasive. The modifications introduced via the commercialization of meals are making humans diseased. Does it imply that overseas meals gadgets are the culprits? We are now not discovering fault with overseas foods. That N Move returned to Nature meals gadgets are fabulous and proper to be fed on in these places. Browntop millet is referred to as American millet. In fact, Americans used to devour them in the past. They additionally used to consume pumpkin. Cardiovascular illnesses have been there as long as human beings ate them. Only due to the fact that Americans stopped ingesting herbal ingredients and began ingesting industrially grown meal, genetically modified foods, the range of ailments went up . They do no longer recognize as many exceptional sorts of grains as we do. We used to have 108 special sorts of Foxtail millet.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Americans no longer have the understanding of conserving meals diversity. Foxtail millet is referred to as Italian millet. Americans used to devour it until a few generations ago. The crop has been wiped out, barring any hint of the seeds now. Had I now not labored on reviving the cultivation of siridhanyalu by means of gathering these seeds after returning from the US twenty years ago, they would have long gone extinct right here also. How are extraordinary 'siridhanyalu' and natural decoctions capable of treating ailments like most cancers and diabetes? What is the scientific motive at the back of this? siridhanyalu (which encompasses Foxtail millet, Browntop millet, Little millet, Barnyard millet, and Kodo millet) are herbal grains with medicinal houses presented by Nature.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Herbal decoctions have been an indispensable section of our typical lifestyles for lengthy now. Depending on the person's circumstance of ailments, eating siridhanyalu for about 6 months to two years will convey lower back entire health. This has been similarly proven by means of the recovery of lots of unwell human beings affected by means of quite a number of illnesses for a lengthy time. Five kinds of millets have been named as siridhanyalu by using you. How have they bought medicinal properties? To locate out the fitness giving houses and the extent of medicinal features meals gadgets possess, the fiber and carbohydrates they include want to be looked at. Fiber and carbohydrate content in paddy rice are 0.2 shares and seventy-nine shares, respectively. In other words, their ratio is 395. Even in whole/raw paddy rice, the ratio of fiber to carbohydrates does now not vary much. Whereas in the 5 siridhanyalu grains, fiber content levels from eight to 12.5 share and carbohydrate content material are in the vary of 60 to sixty-nine percentage. Their ratio of N Worship and Reveal Nature11 varies between 5.5 and 8.8. Those ingredients in which the carbohydrate to fiber ratio is beneath 10 have proven medicinal properties. Glucose is launched into the blood in a regulated manner between 6 and eight hours after consuming such foods. The capability to no longer launch glucose extra than the required extent into the blood, the presence of many micro vitamins and proteins make siridhanyalu extraordinary.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">When humans with continual illnesses like diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc. devour siridhanyalu rice for 6 months to two years relying on the situation of their ailments, they can get rid of them totally. Besides offering vitamins in inaccurate amounts, siridhanyalu takes away the disorder inflicting factors from the physique and making it clean. Since siridhanyalu have proper fiber content material in them, they must be soaked at least for a minimum of two hours earlier than cooking. Great millet(Sorghum), Finger millet, Pearl millet. Proso millet, and corn are collectively referred to as impartial millets. Fiber content material in them is in the vary of 1.2 to 3.6 percentage. Glucose enters the blood within two hours of ingesting them. Hence, the fitness giving siridhanyalu are actual and herbal foods. Can the drugs prescribed through physicians be used while ingesting 'siridhanya'. Yes. But, there is an exception here. I no longer recommend allopathic medicines. Those who are on Ayurvedic or Homeopathic remedy for any illnesses can proceed to take their drug treatments by means of bringing about sure adjustments in their dietary habits and way of life to reap whole accurate health.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Why have we devoured siridhanyalu? How do they fill our existence with fitness and happiness? It is via the enduring and dedicated efforts of the famous scientist cum fitness and meals expert, Dr. Khadar Vali, the ingredients of our preceding generations, known as siridhanyalu, have viewed the mild of the day. He is additionally publicizing extensively the function of siridhanyalu in the prevention and eradication of present-day diseases. This is a boon for us, our future generations, our soils, our surroundings, and our health. Siridhanyalu is set to exhibit a route for the complete world. Let us recognize why we need to consume siridhanyalu in a scientific and quick manner. Many adjustments have taken place to our existing day paddy rice and wheat. Owing to the hybridization of paddy and wheat vegetation for the previous few generations, the nutrient content material in them has been reduced. Paddy rice and whea, devoid of the utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, have long gone scarce. Moreover, the use of toxic herbicides has additionally risen.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The herbal dietary fiber current in the meals regulates the launch of glucose into the blood. Whether a giant extent of glucose be launched all of a sudden or a little extent of it be launched over a lengthy length of time is decided through the fiber contained in the meal's grain. The fiber content in paddy rice and wheat is down to 0.20 – 1.2 percentage points. Therefore, simply within 15 to 35 minutes of ingesting ingredients made of paddy rice and wheat, they are transformed into glucose (sugar – the stop product of digested food).</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">When one hundred grams of such meals are eaten 35 grams of glucose (sugar) from it would abruptly enter into the blood. Imagine what would take place when this occurs three to 4 times a day; when sweets are additionally eaten in addition to this; and when biscuits, burgers, pizza, 'naan' made of 'maida' (refined wheat flour) are eaten furthermore. Huge portions of glucose would abruptly enter the blood and motive harm. The fat extent in the physique would shoot up.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Diabetics would get into serious trouble. Moreover, it would lead to many different problems as well as diseases. Glucose is launched into blood horribly in simply about 15 minutes when 'maida' primarily based meals are consumed. The chemical substances used in making 'maida' adversely have an effect on the pancreas. The whole volume of glucose contained normally in the blood (4 – 5 liters in all) is solely 6 to 7 grams. The meals getting digested after eating, the digested meals being transformed into glucose earlier than getting into the blood,, and then the glucose getting circulated all through the physique is a very ordinary phenomenon. But, excessive volume of glucose coming into the blood all of sudden in simply about 10-30 minutes is in no way precise for health. This is especially damaging for elderly, diabetics, and different sorts of sufferers with the following ailments: constipation, fits/epilepsy, piles, hemorrhoids, 12 thirteen triglycerides, hypertension/blood pressure, kidney, heart, etc. It is for this reason, fiber-less meals have to be prevented, and as an alternative fiber prosperous siridhanyalu ought to be integrated into our each day diet. These launch glucose into the blood slowly and a little at a time over a lengthy length of 5 to 7 hours.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The kinds of rice of Foxtail, Kodo, Barnyard, Little, and Browntop millets incorporate dietary fiber in the vary of eight to 12 percentage. These are definitely organic. The 5 unpolished 'siridhanyalu' kinds of rice are very healthy. Various dishes like Indian flatbread, 'upma', 'Pongal', 'idli', 'dosa', 'biryani', 'bisibellabath', etc. ought to be made out of this rice. The uniqueness of 'siridhanyalu' The unique function of 'siridhanyalu' has to no longer be attributed solely to their proper dietary fiber content. In fact, excessive or lots are no longer splendid in this context. The balanced availability of herbal dietary fiber inherently makes 'siridhanyalu' very special. Out of the whole fiber requirement of 38 grams per character a day, ingesting 'siridhanyalu' thrice a day can make a contribution about 25 to 30 grams. The closing 10 grams of fiber can be derived from greens and greens.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The exceptional association of carbohydrate interwoven with the fiber in siridhanyalu does the trick of regulating glucose into the bloodstream. Each of these 'siridhanyalu' caters to the wants of precise necessities of the physique and possesses ailment eradication capacity. Even though paddy rice and wheat have 0.2 and 1.2 proportions of fiber, respectively in them, as the fiber is existing in the outer layer (bran) of the husked grain. Even that small extent is misplaced when polished.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">However, fiber is current from the core of the kernel to the outer layer in 'siridhanyalu'. Since fiber is contained inside one-of-a-kind layers of carbohydrates present in 'siridhanyalu' they totally allow in offering correct health. Knowing this vital piece of statistics helps us in defending our health. For instance, Foxtail millet rice is a balanced food. Besides containing eight shares of fiber, it additionally holds 12 shares of protein in it. It can be encouraged as proper meals for pregnant women. Even constipation in pregnant women, which naturally arises out of developing infants in the womb, can be cured by means of feeding them with Foxtail millet rice. When teenagers get excessive temperature, they trip an assault of epileptic fits. These assaults would proceed for some years.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The proper meal that can get rid of epileptic fits, apprehensive weak points, and convulsions is Foxtail millet rice. Besides, it additionally helps in the recovery of positive sorts of pores and skin disorders, mouth cancer, lung cancer, belly cancer, Parkinson's disorder, and bronchial asthma (along with Kodo millet rice). After having come to be aware that there is no fiber in their food, the westerners started out taking two-three fiber tablets. This is unscientific. Only meals with fiber current in them can adjust the launch of glucose into the blood effectively.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Kodo millet rice works properly in cleaning blood, boosting the effectiveness of bone marrow, curing asthma, hostilities and a range of sorts of cancers like kidney, prostate, blood, intestinal, thyroid, throat, pancreatic glands, and liver. Acute diabetic sufferers with wounds and accidents main to gangrene additionally can take succor from consuming Kodo millet rice. It additionally helps in purifying the blood of these humans who come to be susceptible after getting affected with the aid of dengue, typhoid, viral fever, etc., and thereby reinvigorates them. Little millet rice treatment options problems associated with male and lady reproductive systems.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;">It controls PCOD (Polycystic Ovary Disease) in females and enhances sperm relying on men. Besides these, Little millet rice performs a wonderful position in cleaning human lymphatic devices and combating brain, throat, blood, thyroid, pancreatic gland cancers. Barnyard millet rice correctly controls stipulations pertaining to the thyroid, pancreatic glands, and diabetes. It is efficacious in cleaning the liver, urinary bladder, and gall bladder. This rice range now not solely works nicely in recuperation jaundice, however, additionally strengthens the liver after the illness. Moreover, liver and uterus cancers can be healed with Barnyard millet rice. Browntop millet rice roots out troubles with the digestive system. Besides, a huge vary of prerequisites like piles, fistulas, hemorrhoids, ulcers and brain, blood, breast, bone, stomach, intestine, pores, and skin cancers have an advantageous reply in Browntop millet rice. HIGH FIBER14-15 You want to not be slaves to diabetes: shield your health. About 7 to 10 crore human beings in India are affected by kind two diabetes. Some professionals estimate double this parent by way of being inclusive of pre-diabetics. Just think about how a great deal of cash is spent on drug treatments by means of these patients.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">They would have to pass from drugs to insulin injection and then in the direction of very high-priced administration of aspect consequences if diabetes-like gangrene kidney purposeful failure, retinopathy, and neuropathy, etc. A few elements that provide upward shove to kind two diabetes Consuming 'maida' (refined wheat flour) primarily based foods; sugar-laden foods; consuming fiber-less gadgets as staple meals which encompass meat; immoderate consumption of alcohol; taking chemically grown packaged food; main a stress-filled lifestyle; suits of rage and anxiety; poor emotions; losses in business; love failures; infections that have an effect on pancreatic glands; the destructive results of antibiotics are some of the tremendous motives that purpose kind two diabetes. Importantly, it ought to be remembered that diabetes ought to set off a range of different diseases.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">It even influences the eyes, kidneys, bones, heart, reproductive gadgets, and brain. 10 pointers to stop and remedy kind two diabetes 1. 'Siridhanyalu' which have dietary fiber content material in the vary of eight to 12.5 share,, ought to be bumped off as staple food. Because paddy rice and wheat have solely 0.2 and 1.2 shares of fiber, respectively, in the, and as the fiber is existing in the outer layer (bran) of the grain, that is misplaced when polished.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">But, in siridhanyalu fiber is existing from the core of the kernel to the outer layer. Since fiber is contained inside exceptional layers of carbohydrates current in 'siridhanyalu' it absolutely permits in presenting suitable health. Knowing this critical piece of data would assist us in defending our health. Only one variety of siridhanyalu has to be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Similarly, the relaxation of the siridhanyalu must be alternated. Everybody in the household has to be added to these grains from a younger age. two Walking for about 50 to 70 minutes each and every day. three Eating vegetables generously and taking natural food in its herbal form. four Increasing the consumption of drumstick leaves, vegetables, fenugreek seeds and leaves, aloe vera, bitter gourd, okra, guava. Drinking guava leaf, mango leaf 'kashaya' (herbal decoctions) first element in the morning. 5. Giving up ingesting milk. Add curd and buttermilk. Keep away from packaged meals offered in the market. 6. Avoiding 'maida' and 'maida' based foods, subtle cooking oils. Using natural cold-pressed oils. 7. Checking for rage and anxiety. eight To begin with minimizing, ingesting paddy rice and wheat and then warding off them completely. 9. Safeguarding ourselves from excessive fructose corn syrup and white sugar-delivered foods. 10. Stopping to count on that kind two diabetes is very frequent and now not taking it lightly. Taking preventive measures as nicely as altering food regimen and way of life when affected by using kind two diabetes.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Instead of checking the blood sugar degree readings one hour earlier than and one hour after consuming food, it is beneficial to get HbA1C degree readings checked scientifically each and every four or 6 months. Human beings get happiness from freedom. Freedom from fitness-associated troubles and ailments is usually desirable. Earning a dwelling via tough work while loving our family, environment, and united states of America is no longer a hard venture for anyone. In the process, happiness additionally can be gained. But diseases–especially continual ones–destroy our happiness. It is so because when the medicinal drug is sought, a lot of investigations end result in getting caught sixteen 17 up in very difficult and mysterious illnesses with no remedy in sight. This would eventually lead to the loss of peace of mind. For this reason, our health has to be preserved nicely via ourselves proactively via the consumption of exact food. Besides imparting us with energy, 'siridhanyalu' additionally provides our true health.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">This way, ailments should be checked and our energy may want to be superior in all feasible ways. In general, diabetes is brought on due to the fact of incorrect meals habits of humans in present-day times. The onset of diabetes is a signal of terrible matters to come. Gradually, this circumstance ought to have an effect on eyes, kidneys, bones, blood pressure, reproductive system, coronary heart, etc. Our fitness relies upon appropriate rules for the launch of glucose (the cease-product after meals are digested) into the blood. Because of the presence of a sufficient quantity of dietary fiber, it is solely 'siridhanyalu that efficaciously modify the launch of glucose into the blood. Dishes made of 'maida', paddy rice, and wheat incorporate nearly no fiber or have very little of it. They do not assist in preserving true health. Varied ailments like diabetes, hypertension, knee joint pains, obesity, excessive triglycerides in the blood, extra cholesterol, gangrene, cancers of special kinds, kidney-related, uterus related, low sperm matter related, pores and skin problems, etc. may want to be efficaciously cured by using the balanced vitamin contained in siridhanyalu. By consuming unpolished siridhanyalu bone marrow would be invigorated and blood would be purified.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Moreover, many different prerequisites associated with the thyroid, liver, pancreatic glands, reproductive structures of guys and women, brain, digestive machine, and so o, would disappear. Among many dishes that may want to be made out of 'siridhanyalu', a few are as follows: 'upma', 'Pongal', 'idli', 'dosa', 'biryani', 'bisebillabath'. According to Dr. Khadar Vali, lethal ailments like exclusive cancers ought to be stored at bay with the aid of ingesting positive 'kashaya' (herbal decoctions) alongside ingesting siridhanyalu. Many humans are getting their lives revived. siridhanyalu for whole health. Let's eradicate contemporary ailments with siridhanyalu. Methods to triumph over anemia with siridhanyalu.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">A giant variety of humans in India, specifically women, are struggling with anemia. siridhanyalu rice works splendidly nicely in overcoming this issue. • To enhance blood flow. Kodo millet rice and Little millet rice have to be eaten one day each. • These kinds of rice have to be soaked for a minimum of two hours earlier than cooking them. • They must be eaten up three instances a day. Alongside consuming siridhanyalu three instances a day as the major food, juice made of carrot, beetroot, and guava or gooseberry ought to be taken as the first component in the morning. The recipe for the juice is given below. Take 25 grams of carrot pieces, 25 grams of beetroot portions, and 5 grams of guava or gooseberry pieces. Blend them all the usage of a mixer via including enough water.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Collect the juice after straining the liquid. Add 200 ml of water to the juice and combine it nicely earlier than drinking. Curry leaf buttermilk is to be taken in the evening. Grind about 20 curry leaves and combine the paste with a glassful of buttermilk. Consume the drink after about 20 minutes. This drink needs to be taken an hour earlier than ingesting dinner. Blood would enhance if this drink is taken constantly for a month.18-19 Stop taking tea or espresso with milk. Drink Kodo millet husk tea or natural tea. Instead of consuming tea made of cattle milk and tea leaves, consuming homemade natural tea is very healthful. Drinking a number of sorts of natural teas made of lemongrass, mint leaves, basil leaves, Kodo millet husk every week is suitable for health.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Tea made of coriander leaves and palm jaggery at domestic ought to be taken periodically for a week at a stretch. Palm jaggery syrup ought to be used as a sweetener as a substitute for sugar, or jaggery or honey for such natural teas as it makes the drink healthier. Four or 5 leaves of one of the types stated above ought to be boiled in about 200 ml of water for roughly four minutes earlier than it is strained and under the influence of alcohol, either warm or warm. It has to be ensured that the natural tea needs to be taken on an empty bell, and the first factor in the morning. Water saved in a copper vessel solely ought to be used to make natural tea. Herbal tea organized with Kodo millet husk is extraordinarily excellent for health. The husk that is obtained after milling the uncooked grain has beneficial nutrients. Palm jaggery is endorsed as a sweetener for this tea as well. Let's win over most cancers with siridhanyalu. Cancer can be overcome by using siridhanyalu as a staple meal and ingesting 'kashaya' (herbal teas/decoctions). When following the West in meals habits and life-style is checked, fitness can be regained in a span of 6 months to two years.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The following is the precis of the experiences of the impartial food, and wooded area agriculture('Kadu krishi') scientist, Dr. Khadar Vali. "Let thy meals be thy medicine..." Hippocrates, the historic Greek health practitioner historically viewed as the father of medicine, uttered these phrases a few thousand years ago. In spite of notable 'development' technologically in society, this thinking of Hippocrates nonetheless acts as a benchmark to achieve. Owing to extra chemical infection of food, environmental pollution, aping western lifestyle, and many different reasons, an alarming expansion in ailments like cancer, diabetes, etc. is witnessed of late. Despite plenty of development in allopathic medicine, the lives of sufferers are nevertheless turning distressful. The number of humans who are getting affected by way of most cancers and the wide variety of humans who are the death of the ailment is growing manifold. Is there a way out of this predicament? Dr. Khadar Vali, an unbiased meals and agriculture scientist, firmly believes that there is an exact treatment for cancer. He says, through experience, that most cancers can be fought efficaciously via ingesting siridhanyalu, consuming 'kashaya' (herbal decoctions), and taking both home and ayurvedic medicine.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Most cancer sufferers who have taken and are taking remedies from Dr. Khadar Vali are witnessing gloom vanish from their lives and turning into very hopeful. Dr. Khadar's views in his very own words... "A younger man visited me alongside his mom about 4 months ago. He had carried out submit commencement in Biotechnology. His mom used to be struggling with uterus cancer. She had passed through radiation and chemotherapy. After the therapy, she received emaciated and grew to become weak. The medical doctors gave up hopes in her. In that country of despair, she visited me with his 20 sons as the ultimate resort. I inquired about the records of her illness. After speaking to her for lengthy I provided her solace with the aid of telling her that she would emerge as higher gradually. Besides asking her to proceed taking drugs prescribed via her docs earlier, I cautioned her to devour siridhanyalu as a staple food. In addition, I suggested she drink 'kashaya' made of peepal tree leaves, guava leaves for three-four months. Both the son and the mother left me optimistic. Since it is frequent that many such sufferers see me, I simply forgot about the son and the mom quickly after they left me. But, they met me once more two days ago.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">On seeing me the son fell at my feet in reverence. I understood that his mother's fitness had improved. She had strictly applied modifications in meals as encouraged via me. Actually, they went and met the physician who had handled the girl, and apprised him of the medicine counseled by way of me. He reacted to that by pronouncing as if they had been mad,, and additionally regarded and laughed at them in an insulting manner. A lot of human beings affected with deadly illnesses like most cancers, both come and meet me or seek advice from me over the phone. But, I have by no means stored a document of their cases. I have been advising them of an easy medicinal drug that consists of siri dhanyalu and 'kashayas'. Though this remedy appears unscientific, it works effectively.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Therefore, it will become quintessential to discuss, in detail, the aggregate of siridhanyalu and natural decoctions. Drinking natural decoctions has been a very historical exercise traditionally. Grandmothers used to advise special 'kashayas' relying on the signs of patients. After doing in-depth research on such natural decoctions and validating their efficacy, I commenced suggesting them for patients.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The siridhanyalu that have medicinal homes in them are 5 in number. They are Foxtail millet rice, Barnyard millet rice, Kodo millet rice, Little millet rice, and Browntop millet rice. Depending on the disorder and kind of cancer, two sorts of millets must usually be eaten. Besides these, the different three types of millet rice are additionally to be consumed. During the duration of most cancer treatments, an affected person needs to consume a sesame dumpling as soon as a week. If this is not possible, one has to devour a teaspoonful of gently fried (in an iron pan bearing oil) sesame seeds as soon as a week. Poisoned meals Before the Seventies, the incidence of most cancers used to be very low.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Cancer sufferers have been much less in numbers, possibly one in a lakh of the population. The data posted on the World Health Organization (WHO) website, a few years ago, disclose that by means of 2030, nearly 14 to 21 million human beings will be affected by means of this disease. The motive for this is the poisonous meals that we are eating day in and day out. Now, the primary factor is – used to be the meals we ate until now did no longer have any toxins in it. Or, how have the meals turned out to be greater toxic? There are many poisonous materials in nature. The toxic materials discovered in animals like snakes, scorpions, and flowers like Datura are solely fat-soluble and no longer water-soluble. Therefore,, when these organisms die they do no longer cause any damage to creatures in the surrounding environment. The risks of pesticides and herbicides (weed-killing chemicals) The want for producing greater meals vegetation accelerated with the developing population. This led to the utilization of chemical fertilizers for higher yields and pesticides to defend plants from diseases.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">The pesticides produced these days have been in emulsion form. But, scientists desired to produce water-soluble ones. The foundation for this thinking was once the scan carried out in America for the manufacturing of genetically modified soya beans. In order to smash the weeds that grew in the soya bean fields, scientists located a weedicide. But, when used, this weedicide destroyed fundamental crops, too. This herbicide, two-four – D (also known as Agent Orange), was once used as a defoliating agent in Vietnam War.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">To stop the loss of the soya bean crop, scientists produced genetically modified soya beans. Thuis,, the chemical determined its way into the soybean crops. Gradually this chemical took the shape of a phenolic compound which grew to be barely soluble in water. From this event, scientists developed water-soluble weedicides like glyphosate. Dr. Khadar opines that the 'birth' of most cancers took the area around this time. The manufacturing of herbicides Rice SUGAR refinds oil Non-veg 22 23, which dissolves in the wate, started out on a giant scale. The chemical substances steadily determined their way into the ecosystem. It has been determined that these poisonous supplies have been traced to penguins dwelling on the South Pole. Indian farmers are no longer some distance behind.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">They have additionally adopted these cutting-edge methods to make bigger crop production. The use of these dangerous chemical compounds has been so good size that they have been discovered their way into the human system. Genetically modified plants Another aspect that is one of the fundamental motives for the upward thrust in most cancer instances is the manufacturing of genetically modified corn. This was once developed through the identical chemical corporation which developed genetically modified soya beans. This range of maize had a higher extent of fat (normally the fat content material in maize is 1 mg/100 mg) in it. This genetically modified maize was once fed to cattle and poultry.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Apparently, the water-soluble poisonous chemical compounds discovered their way into the human-machine via the consumption of dairy products, meat, pork, eggs, chicken, etc. Even, veggies are no longer spared from chemicals. Vegetarians, however, are not unaffected with the aid of the lethal chemicals. The bakery enterprise makes use of animal fat in its products. These fats are made from remnants sourced from the meat industry. One way or the other, both vegetarians and non-vegetarians are ingesting poisonous chemicals. Adulterated cooking oils Yet any other necessary cause for the explosion of most cancers is the cooking oil industry. Many factors get launched in the manner of crude oil refinement. Those ingredients that have fractions greater than C – eight devices are used as fuels. Mineral oil is derived from aspects that have fractions much less than C – eight devices in them.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;">This mineral oil, alongside different artificial chemical compounds, is blended with sunflower and coconut oils earlier than they are packed and bought in the market. This way, toxic chemical compounds are coming into the human physique in the shape of cooking oils. So, there is a pressing want to make meal manufacturing strategies and meal processing methods chemical-free earlier than banning the use of chemicals. If the use of such noxious chemical substances is no longer banned, it would be very challenging to forestall and manage the huge assignment of quite a number of sorts of most cancers that are rampantly unfolding all over. Things to be averted "Those who have efficiently overcome most cancers or taking remedy for most cancers or do now not favor to get affected with most cancers ought to keep away from ingesting paddy rice, wheat, sugar, non-vegetarian meals and consuming milk", says Dr. Khadar Vali. However, curd, buttermilk, and ghee can be consumed. "These meal gadgets launch chemical substances in our body. By getting gathered (bioconcentration) progressively in our physique cells these chemical substances lead to disease.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">So, these ingredients should be eradicated from our weight loss plan if we have to combat most cancers successfully," says Dr. Khader. "People appear at me in unbelief and shock questioning whether or not is it feasible to observe such meals restrictions. What I strongly say is without a doubt possible. This regulated lifestyle can be implemented. I comprehend of many sufferers who observe this strictly", affirms Dr. Khadar. Our bodily and intellectual fitness is decided via the meals we eat, the water we drink, our profession, ordinary bodily exercise, walking, yoga, desirable habits, meditation, and awareness. However, we have without problems forgotten our very own meals habits by blindly imitating the western diet. We have picked up the addiction to premature consumption and ingesting unhealthy and nutritionless food. In order to increase milk productivity, cattle are being injected with oxytocin and estrogen hormones. Alloxan, a chemical bleaching agent, is used in changing wheat flour into 'maida' (refined wheat flour). Biscuits and a number of bakery merchandise are made out of 'maida'. The beta-cellphone-producing capability of the pancreas will be destroyed when such meals are eaten.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Beta-cells play a crucial position in storing insulin and releasing it in the required quantity. This is the cause for turning into a diabetic.24-25 Kashayam (herbal decoction) A fitness drink. 'Kashayas' is the usage of both the leaves or twigs or roots of plants/trees. About 5 leaves or the required range of twigs or portions of roots are to be taken. They must be boiled in a hundred and fifty – 200 ml of water for about four minutes. This 'kashaya' must be under the influence of alcohol after straining the boiled liquid. It ought to be under the influence of alcohol warm or cold. But, 'kashayas' must be taken on an empty stomach. Moreover, water saved in copper containers solely must be used for getting ready natural decoctions. Two extraordinary types of 'kashayas' every day for most cancer sufferers Generally, humans struggling from any form of most cancers must drink two kinds of 'kashaya'. One is to be taken earlier than ingesting meals once in the morning and as soon as at night. Another kind of 'kashaya' has to be taken earlier than ingesting lunch. These decoctions ought to be taken frequently and as a rule for about four months.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">They can continue to be taken even after that period. The 'kashayas' that are to be taken in the morning and at night time are three; and those to be taken in the afternoon are two types. Three kinds of 'kashayas' need to be taken – every day for a week in succession – twice a day (once in the morning and as soon as in the evening) day by day earlier than ingesting a meal. 'Kashayas' made of Night-flowering jasmine plant (Parijata). Peepal tree leaf, and Guava tree leaf must be taken every week in succession. Besides these three sorts of 'kashayas', depending on the kind of cancer, one must drink two extra kinds of 'kashayas' – for one week, every – in the afternoon.</span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">We can guard ourselves against contemporary ailments by ingesting siridhanyalu. A good quantity of dietary fiber current in them guards our health. Smoking cigarettes and ingesting alcohol need to be abstained from. Respite for most cancer sufferers As a section of his lookup on siridhanyalu, primarily a meal, Dr. Khadar carefully discovered how these kinds of rice ought to rescue humans from the discomfort of exceptional diseases. Besides, while he defined the importance of siridhanyalu to many most cancer patients, he additionally counseled that making simple adjustments in meals habits would carry some respite for their pain.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="p"><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Dr. Khadar additionally saw some enhancement (as an end result of ingesting siridhanyalu for a certain length of life) in their fitness which led them to acquire a nation the place they may want to lead a regular life. Beyond that, comparable to the domestic redress of Yesteryear his grandmothers, he designed a protocol of treatments, as a treatment for distinct kinds of cancer, the use of leaves of distinctive plants/trees, and some sorts of kitchen groceries. After noticing the decline in the severity of ailment with many sufferers and enhancement in their condition, Dr. Khadar commenced compiling these strategies of remedies and propagating the information. Dr. Khadar no longer thinks that these strategies would treat cancers. He is propagating these methods, while telling sufferers to proceed to take their drugs and treatments, in the hope that most cancer sufferers may want to get some respite from their agony.</span><span style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-font-kerning: 0.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></p><h5 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-left: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt;"><b><span class="15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0pt;">Citation preview</span></b><b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h5><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top: 1pt solid windowtext; margin-left: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt;"></p><hr align="center" size="3" width="100%" /><p></p><p align="justify" class="p" style="background: rgb(255,255,255); margin-bottom: 5.0000pt; margin-left: 0.0000pt; margin-right: 0.0000pt; margin-top: 0.0000pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.0000pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">https://pdfcoffee.com/book-english-siridhanyalu-pdf-free.html</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">SIRIDHANYALU (Millets) Food that heals</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><br /></span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">The small millets that bestow real richness - health & wealth! Methods of healing modern lifestyle diseases (Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Thyroid, Obesity, Arthritis, Anaemia and 14 types of Cancers) through DESI FOOD</span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><br /></span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;"><br /></span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">Dr. Khadar Vali, Phd Renowned Independent Scientist Expert On Health & Food Father Of JUNGLE FARMING </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">Compiled By </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; letter-spacing: 0pt;">Panthangi Rambabu</span></p>Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-34818314705903241482020-01-12T09:57:00.000-08:002020-01-14T11:35:17.500-08:00University of the People<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">President Shai Reshef. (Pic by James Duncan Davidson)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The University of People was formally
announced in January 2009. The next day, the New York Times published an
article about the university, followed by numerous other media outlets. From
there, tens, then hundreds, then thousands of people joined the university as
professors, advisors, volunteers, and of course as students. It was their
effort that realized the university and gave me the privilege of leading this
institution and a movement for accessible and affordable education."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Shai saw the potential
of technology and the internet to revolutionize higher education to serve
people wherever they are around the world. For Shai Reshef, "The timing
was right: the tools needed to make online education universally accessible
were already in place, including open source technology, open educational
resources, and a growing social network culture where national boundaries were
being erased, and people everywhere were connecting, teaching, and learning
online from one another."</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Bringing these tools
together and applying his experience in education and business, Shai conceived
and established UoPeople to provide quality higher education that would be
accessible and affordable to all those who lack it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">It always strikes the point when it comes to Online learning that enables students greater
flexibility and convenience when it comes to studying and completing
coursework, and encourages innovative, original thinking. You can make use of
your problem-solving skills and develop amazing solutions to real-life problems
using complex algorithms, in industries ranging from IT, Internet of Things,
Cloud, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Networking, Blockchain,
mobile, cybersecurity, games development, healthcare, and even data science.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">UoPeople’s pedagogical
model is based on an online collaborative learning environment that promotes
peer-to-peer learning and utilizes open-source technology along with open
educational resources (OER).</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Peer Learning and
assessment has something to do with the communication that takes
place in your environment. It involves changing the way in which you
communicate and operate in your everyday life. You may have to express your
feelings more openly, assertively and instead of bottling all your feelings it
is better to express them up. A long-term goal is something you want to
accomplish in the future. Sometimes it takes many steps to complete
a long-term goal. Education, work experiences, self- study, training, complete
MBA, manage programs and portfolios of projects lead the PMO. Buy a house,
Travel the world, start a business, have good returns for long-time investments
and so forth. Long-term goals are usually at least several years away.
Long-term goals require careful time and planning. UoP provides students with
instruction by some of the top university lecturers worldwide. Online learning
enables students greater flexibility and convenience when it comes to studying
and completing coursework, and encourages innovative, original
thinking. This provides students with instruction by some of the top university
lecturers worldwide. Online learning enables students greater flexibility and
convenience when it comes to studying and completing coursework, and encourages
innovative, original thinking.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Perhaps, the most important feature that UoP has come up with is a new and innovative UoP which
has been instrumental for entering into a partnership with Unicheck
– which is a cloud-based plagiarism detection tool, on a
Zero-Tolerance for Plagiarism Policy which is to assist the
university’s efforts to strengthen, consolidate and innovative measure of UoP
that upholds higher standards of academic honesty and rigor. With the
introduction of this great tool it will enable Unicheck to enable cross-check
each and every document submitted by UoP through the unique plagiarism
detection software and scan and will detect all papers to automatically look
for any copied work. This is a surprise move by UoP and is a very appreciated
one, especially when there are hundreds and thousands of colleges all over the
world who have still not any plagiarism detection software in place. Since UoP
always stands for transparency, higher quality, and mission this innovative
tool has been functional as of today, the first day of Term 2 for
UoPeople.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">UoP partners with New
York University (NYU), University of California (UC) Berkeley and The University of Edinburgh to accept students. UoPeople also partners with
educational foundations including the International Baccalaureate (IB) for the
Master of Education. The university is supported by The Gates Foundation, Ford
Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Fondation Hoffmann, and companies such as HP,
Google, Microsoft, Intel, Western Union, Estee Lauder and many more. Learn more
at www.uopeople.edu. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In closing, “The higher education system failed…exactly as it is failing millions of potential students, millions that graduate high school, millions that are qualified for higher education, millions that want to study yet cannot access it for various reasons. First: Financial. Universities are expensive, we all know it. In large parts of the world, higher education is unattainable for an average citizen.” -Shai Reshef, TED 2014. </span></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-12122181897122181202014-12-12T09:24:00.002-08:002014-12-12T09:24:21.703-08:00Ukraine Plane Crash<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhgzMfV_G0s/VIskUQrdWGI/AAAAAAAAC7M/lOO1oFT8I-Q/s1600/Ukraine%2BPlane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhgzMfV_G0s/VIskUQrdWGI/AAAAAAAAC7M/lOO1oFT8I-Q/s1600/Ukraine%2BPlane.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Four
children were engaged in the timeless "My Dad" argument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Tim said,
"My dad works for the largest computer company in the world, and he
travels everywhere."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Kip
replied, "Well, my father owns a shipping business with hundreds of boats,
and even airplanes. I get to ride on boats and planes whenever I want."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Darryl
chipped in, "My father works for the government, and he even gets to talk
to the president sometimes. We have security men at our house all the
time."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Stanley
stood quietly for a moment, because his father had died not long before.
Finally, he said, "My dad is in Heaven, and gets to see God every
day."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The other
boys tried to think of something to say that could top that, but nothing came
to mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Nothing can
top the Lord our God! He is above all else. Nothing compares to Him. Therefore,
nothing else in this world is more worthy of our worship and devotion. Great is
the Lord, and greatly to be praised. His glory endures forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In closing.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">(I read
about Dr. David Jeremiah quoting about a real life story that happened
recently:)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> Last February, John Allen, a British lawyer
living in Holland, smiled across the supper table at his wife and three sons,
ages eight to fourteen. Someone snapped a picture. They were happy. A family
vacation to Indonesia was in the works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Five months
later the five Allens boarded Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, but somewhere over
Ukraine the plane was blown out of the sky. The whole family perished in an
instant, along with their fellow passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">We can’t
comprehend the evil and calamity in the world. Such tragedies deeply upset and
depress us, but they also represent a poignant reminder. Take every opportunity
to cherish your loved ones. If you’re peeved with a family member, forgive
them. If you’ve neglected them, give them a call. If you’ve rebelled against
your dad or mom, go home with the humble attitude of a repentant prodigal. If
you’ve been tense with your kids, give them an extra hug. If you live far away,
work harder to stay in touch. Whatever it takes, take care of your family as
well as you can. It’s at the core of God’s plan and provision for the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Raj
Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-21252684332161369692014-12-05T07:53:00.002-08:002014-12-05T07:53:59.832-08:00Sincere. Uncertain. Afraid.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGytsQKdbbg/VIHU5P-67JI/AAAAAAAAC6c/ytRPsO_Tb9I/s1600/Lost%2BBewildered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGytsQKdbbg/VIHU5P-67JI/AAAAAAAAC6c/ytRPsO_Tb9I/s1600/Lost%2BBewildered.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
One-word descriptions of my condition? Disillusioned.
Stretched. Learning. Lonely. Determined. Sincere. Uncertain. Afraid.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But how can we live that pure life when our sin nature
continues to tempt us so strongly? Our struggle is even harder because of the
sinful world that surrounds us and presses in on us every time we turn on the
TV or the radio. Even going to work, school or sport presents struggles if the
people we’re with are worldly.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God will often call us to face difficulties because of our
obedience to Him. But it’s in those times that we must remain steadfast in our
faithfulness and, like Joseph, trust God to bring us through it. Face any
hardship with faith and trust God!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From time to time I have seen people pour out their heart to
the Pastor because their sins had been discovered and they were in serious
trouble. They wept bitterly because they had devastated their marriage or
ruined their reputation.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But later someone
would tell me they were back in the same situation. They had not learned from their experience,
and seemed determined to bring even more chaos into their lives.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What was the
problem? The problem was lack of repentance. Their tears were tears of self-pity---but not
of repentance. True repentance is a
turning from sin---a conscious, deliberate decision to leave sin behind---and a
conscious turning to God, with a commitment to follow His will.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He knows how we function, and He knows the pitfalls and
dangers we face. If He didn’t love us,
He wouldn’t try to guide us in the right path.
But He does! As Billy Graham says
we can be just as certain and just as
worry-free about God's love and protection. What is the evidence? It is the Cross, where God fully expressed
His love for us. The Bible says,
"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will
he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). His love is certain. He has never gone back on a single promise, and
He never will. - <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raj Kosaraju</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-51015156804768793862014-11-27T07:50:00.000-08:002014-11-27T07:50:39.708-08:00Wisdom of the World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I will . . . lie down in peace . . . for you alone . . .
make me dwell in safety” – Psalm 4:8<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Billy Graham says, by
any measure drug and alcohol dependence has become one of our greatest social
problems. The issue isn't just illegal
drugs; many depend on alcohol or over-the-counter or prescription drugs just to
face each day or to get to sleep at night. We are not the masters of our
fate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We think we control our
lives---but we don't. In an instant life
can radically change---a car accident, a heart attack, a pink slip, a child's
raging fever. Frustrated researchers
conquer one deadly virus, only to discover one even more lethal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not a doctor, of course, and I fully realize some drugs
have a legitimate place under careful medical supervision. But in my experience far too many people turn
first to drugs or alcohol instead of to God.
Rather than face their problems and deal with them (with God’s help),
they use drugs or alcohol to escape.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opportunities never look as good coming as they do going.
And they wait for no one, so you need to be attentive and grab them. They come
in many forms, and they can come from any direction. But one thing's for
certain: they can be seen and seized only in the present. Whatever has happened
in your life, has happened. And since you can't undo it no matter how hard you
try, wipe the slate clean and go on to what's next. We all make mistakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lastly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it comes to choosing friends, Author Dr. Charles Townsend says look for: (1) People
who influence you to be the person God intended. 'As iron sharpens iron,
friends sharpen the minds of each other' (Proverbs 27:17 CEV). Relationships
are the tools God uses to do this. When you're with somebody, ask yourself, 'Do
I like who I am when I'm around this person? Am I more open, loving and honest?
Or do I not like what I see in myself?' Choose people who make you a better
person. (2) People who provide grace for the energy drain. When you're empty you
need to be refuelled physically, spiritually and relationally. So surround
yourself with friends who will listen, encourage and be there for you. (3)
People who let you be real. 'A friend loves at all times' (Proverbs 17:17
NKJV). The best relationships are those where you know you're loved, you're
free to be yourself, you don't have to put on an act and you can be honest
about the difficult aspects of life. There's comfort and normality in
friendships where you can be authentic. (4) People who help you grow in faith.
You need friends who encourage you to pray, read the Bible and help you to see
the 'big picture' concerning what's important in your life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raj Kosaraju</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-47930662791875524832014-11-15T07:55:00.000-08:002014-11-15T08:03:20.488-08:00 Heroes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are no stranger to trials. The lab report came back
malignant. The school called, demanding that you pick up your child who has
just been expelled. Your husband informed you that he no longer wants to be
married to you. Your boss called you into his office to let you know that you
are being fired. Financial disaster seems certain while dependable friends seem
to vanish. Yes, storms will come, and bad things will happen – even to fully
devoted followers of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No one would call George Smith a coward. Smith was a daring
jet test pilot in the 1950's when the sound barrier was first being broken. He
could face anything - until he had to bail out of a jet going 805 miles per hour.
Smith survived, but was hospitalized for weeks. Smith shared his fear of ever
flying again with one of the nurses who had become a friend. The nurse smiled
and said, “I have an antidote to fear. It is courage. To have courage is to
know the worst, and to discover that, in God's economy, the very worst can't
really hurt you." Exactly!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God's Heroes <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Few
of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called
you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame
those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame
those who are powerful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
—1 Corinthians 1:26–27<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I liked what Greg Laurie talks about heroes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In many ways, we have
lost the meaning of the word hero. We throw it around so casually. If you can
put a ball through a hoop, you're a sports hero. If you can play eight chords
on a guitar, you're a rock and roll hero. If you can pretend to be something
you're not, you're a Hollywood hero. We have a strange concept as to who our
heroes really are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember watching a well-known journalist interview an
actor about his recent movie, which featured a politically troubled region of
the world. When the journalist asked the celebrity what he thought should be
done about the political situation there, the actor responded, "Who cares
what I think?" and went on to point out that he was just an actor. All too
often, we mistakenly think actors really are the people they portray. We think
they are heroes when, in fact, they're just people like you and me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A hero is someone who does something sacrificial, something
courageous. There are heroes today, of course. We saw many of them in action on
9/11 and in the days that followed. But often, today's heroes are operating
behind the scenes, and we never know about them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we look at heroes of the faith, those in Scripture and in
contemporary history whom God put His hand on, one thing stands out: it seems
that God has always gone out of His way to find individuals who did not
necessarily look like heroes. And that is precisely the point. God isn't
looking for a strong man or woman per se. Rather, He's looking for someone who
will walk in His strength. (1)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(1) Today's devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus
by Greg Laurie, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raj Kosaraju</div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-87219544050782988842014-11-07T00:45:00.000-08:002014-11-07T00:53:06.385-08:00A lot can happen over a Cup of Coffee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Let’s create a culture of kindness where acts of generosity and compassion permeate our days. These small acts of kindness are the force that will change the world. How might you contribute to that change in your “world” today?<br />
<br />
While most people walk through life asking how they can be blessed, the question we ought to be asking is, “How can I be a blessing to others?” Here’s why: When we bless others, it means that we have so much blessing in our own lives that we can share with others; we can lend and not borrow.<br />
<br />
When we bless others, we receive a joy that ironically is even greater than when we are the recipients of blessings from others. Most significantly, when we bless others, we please God, and God blesses us even more in return. We should start every day asking how we might be a blessing today.<br />
<br />
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Explaining what it means to be a social entrepreneur, Kosaraju said,“Being a social entrepreneur means leveraging business principles and sensibilities to create solutions that combat social issues.”<br />
<br />
Advertisers bank on the idea that people really think this is as good as it gets. Modern man engages in ceaseless activity and amusement to distract himself from considering what comes next. Ethical living – and leading – takes courage and conviction. It means doing the right thing, even when the right thing isn't popular or easy. But when you make decisions based on your core values, then you tell the world that you can't be bought – and you lead your team by example.<br />
<br />
Once you identify your company's core values as well as your own, you can start to set the tone with your team and your organization. Actions always speak louder than words, so make sure you do as you would wish others to do.<br />
<br />
It's what you do, not what you say, that demonstrates to your team what you care about. So, if your company values honesty above all else, then make sure you demonstrate that by being honest with everyone around you.<br />
<br />
"I am passionate about the possibilities that occur when individuals see the world around them differently, and believe they can actually make a difference," he added.<br />
<br />
"A lot of people have great vision and ideas but are held back by fear of failure and other people’s opinions. You have to inoculate yourself against those internal and external voices. You have to arrive at a place where you think you have a limited time to make your mark on this world".<br />
<br />
Recently I came across three short stories about being a blessing to others. In the first story, a woman recalled finding an anonymous note on her front door that said, “Don’t worry; you were created awesome, not perfect.” This woman was going through a hard time, and these words were just what she needed. Years later, she “paid it forward” by placing encouraging notes on other people’s doors.<br />
<br />
In the second story, a man was in the hospital with his sick wife when the person in front of him in line at the cafeteria paid for his meal. When he asked the woman why she did that the woman responded that she wanted to make his first day easier. It gave him the boost he needed to get through the day.<br />
<br />
In the third story, a woman decided to anonymously send her new neighbors a pizza lunch wishing them a nice day.<br />
<br />
What struck me about all three stories was how easy it is to be a blessing – and also how rewarding it is.<br />
<br />
How might you be a blessing to others today? What small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day? When you focus on blessing others, God will concentrate on blessing you.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b>Just a small thought...</b><br />
<br />
-1 Billion people lack access to clean, safe drinking water<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Right now, almost 1 billion people on this earth do not have access to clean, safe drinking water.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-The water they do have comes from unprotected sources, and often carries bacteria and diseases such as E. coli, Cholera, and Hepatitis A.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-63 Children die in Uganda each day from lack of clean water</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-The small bodies of many children aren’t prepared to deal with the various bacteria, parasites, and diseases in unclean water. Many children die from diarrhea and dehydration.</div>
<br />
<b>A Four mile walk for water</b><br />
<br />
In many countries, including Uganda, it is the job of young girls and women to collect water for their families. This often times means walking 4 miles or more to the nearest water source, and returning with a 40lb jerrycan full of water. And not even clean water. In addition to missing school, young girls and women often face the risk of assault while collecting water.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b>Water is hope</b><br />
<br />
Clean water gives a village hope. Young girls are able to attend school instead of spending hours collecting water. Young boys and girls are no longer too sick or weak to attend school. A better education leads to an opportunity to earn a better living. Clean water is the first step to education, to the economy, and to ending poverty. Clean water is hope.<br />
<br />
<b>SUPPORT CLEAN WATER WITH YOUR COFFEE </b><br />
<br />
Three Avocados is a non-profit organization that was founded in February of 2010 as a creative solution to ending the global water crisis and educating children, starting with Uganda. 100% of our net proceeds provide clean water in Uganda and education in Nicaragua, with hopes to expand in the future. We aim to provide coffee lovers with a product that enables them to make a 100% socially responsible choice when purchasing coffee.<br />
<br />
<b>How Much of My Purchase Provides Clean Water</b><br />
<br />
The simple answer is that anywhere between $0.50 and $3.00 per bag provides clean water. This amount is dependent upon the retail channel the coffee is purchased through. Purchases made online through our web site provide the most support for clean water.<br />
<br />
You too can make a difference.<br />
<br />
Please visit:<br />
<br />
http://www.threeavocados.org<br />
<br />
Blessings,<br />
<br />
Raj Kosaraju</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-48087670326124237722014-10-31T04:43:00.000-07:002014-10-31T04:46:36.226-07:00Where our restless Hearts will be<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of
God" - Hebrews 4:5''</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Billy Graham says, we are the most entertained generation in history. Television sets pull in hundreds of channels;
professional sports teams and pop music groups take in (and spend) billions of
dollars; million s of people own second and third homes for vacations; our
children are upset if they don't get the latest computer games for Christmas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe this frantic search for entertainment is a symptom
of something deeper. Some have suggested
we are the most bored generation in history--and perhaps they are right. Down inside is an empty place in our
hearts--a restlessness, a search for inner peace and tranquility--that will not
go away. The irony is, the more we try
to satisfy it, the less content we become.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know little
about nuclear fission or uranium and other elements used in making nuclear
explosives. Yet I believe in the atomic
bomb, and so do you. But how can we
believe that it exists, if we don’t understand it or have any scientific
knowledge about the way it works?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The answer is
obvious. Others understand nuclear
fission even if we don’t, and other have seen what happens when a nuclear
reaction takes place, even if we haven’t.
We read what they say, and we accept it as the evidence of reliable
witnesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spend much of my
time pursuing the pages of a book---the Bible.
In it I discover that centuries ago God acted and spoke, and reliable
witnesses have written it down. God even
guided them as they wrote, so that now i read the very words of God Himself.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the same way, Christians don't fail to live as they
should because they are in the world; they fail because the world has gotten
into them. We don't fail to produce the
fruit of the Holy Spirit because we live in a sea of corruption; we fail
because the sea of corruption has gotten into us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It can happen
almost without our realizing it. At one
time we were dedicated to Christ, surrendered to the will of God.But little by
little the chilling waters of the world crept in. We became preoccupied with the things of this
world rather than the things of Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only Christ can fill that empty space in our hearts, and He
will as we open our lives to Him. But
God's Word also points us to the future--to Heaven, where our restless hearts
will be at peace. "There remains,
therefore, a rest for the people of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raj Kosaraju</div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-17898441539189592492014-10-30T08:26:00.000-07:002014-10-30T08:26:50.694-07:00Best ways to overcome adversity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPS8ewN2YQ/VFJYcPFp5_I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/rsOub_nNC74/s1600/Overcoming%2BAdversity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPS8ewN2YQ/VFJYcPFp5_I/AAAAAAAAC2Q/rsOub_nNC74/s1600/Overcoming%2BAdversity.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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Suffering is the common lot of the human race. We see pictures on television of people
ravaged by war or famine, and our hearts are touched (as they should be). But all around you are people who suffer in
others ways: loneliness, fear, rejection, disability, grief, poverty,
discrimination, addiction, or a multitude of problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But God has compassion on us--He suffers with us. He knows what we are going through, and He
cares. The greatest act of compassion in
the history of the human race was the Cross, for there Christ suffered for us.
He endured sin's penalty so we would not have to endure it ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now He calls us to have compassion on others, for His
sake--suffer with them, and to point them to the One who suffered for
them. The Bible says, "Be
sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble" (I Peter 3:8)
- Billy Graham <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Neither death nor life,….nor things present not things to
come,….shall be able to separate us from the love of God” – Romans 8:38-39<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are two
ways to respond to adversity; discouragement or trust.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with
giving in to discouragement is that it only makes things worse, for with it may
come bitterness, anger, jealousy, revenge, and so forth. We may even try to escape through drugs or
alcohol. But do any of these solve the
problem? No!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God has a better
way---the way of trust. Sometimes He may
show us that we were in the wrong. When
that is the case, we need to confess it, repent, and seek His forgiveness. Sometimes, however, we can only accept what
is happening and ask God to help us endure it and triumph over it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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One of the best
ways to overcome adversity, I've found, is to praise God right in the middle of
the turmoil. Turning to God’s Word will
also encourage us, many of the Psalms, for example, were written in the midst
of suffering and adversity. Follow the
Psalmist’s example. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His
benefits” (Psalm 103:2) – Billy Graham<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessings,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Raj Kosaraju</div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-1513861101415556652014-09-30T09:27:00.000-07:002014-10-05T10:38:40.601-07:002014 marks the 13th anniversary of the horrific attacks on WTC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbPftRWG4aw/VCrVpsW1KvI/AAAAAAAACzk/4rNcieCeHwc/s1600/World%2BTrade%2BCen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbPftRWG4aw/VCrVpsW1KvI/AAAAAAAACzk/4rNcieCeHwc/s1600/World%2BTrade%2BCen.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The year 2014 marks the 13th anniversary of the horrific
attacks by al-Qaeda terrorists on the U.S. Memories of the day that saw thousands
of deaths and injuries and loss of pivotal infrastructure will always remain
engraved in the hearts of Americans. Sept. 11, 2001 was one of the saddest days
in the history of the world. On Thursday, the world will remember the day that
changed the life of millions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This date of September 11 will be engraved on the memories
of people everywhere for generations to come.
On that terrible day when terrorists commandeered several passenger
planes and killed thousands of innocent people in New York and Washington, we
began to realize the true depths of evil in the human heart, and the
uncertainty and fragility of life itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> What lessons
would God teach us from such an appalling tragedy? I confess I don't know the
full answer. Many people, I know, for
the first time faced the shallowness of their lives, and turned to God as a
result. Millions came together to pray. -Billy Graham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>You say you will never forget where you were when you heard
the news on September 11, 2001.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Neither will I.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man
who called his wife to say "Goodbye." I held his fingers steady as he
dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it is OK ... I am ready to go." I was with his wife when he called as
she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand
his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried
out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50
years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe on Me now."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering
to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in
Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was with the Firefighters, the Police Officers, the
Emergency Workers. I was there, watching each brave step they took.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every
prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of
the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you
when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But one lesson
God would teach us all is this: Our only lasting hope is in Him. Life has always been uncertain; September 11
only made it clearer. Where will you
turn for your security? Put your life in
Christ's hands, for only He offers us "a kingdom which cannot be
shaken". - Billy Graham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sent people trained in dealing with earthly disasters to
save those that were injured. And he sent in thousands of others to help in any
way they were needed. And He brought people together across the world in a way
that moved thousands to tears and hundreds of thousands to prayer—and caused
millions to turn to the one true living God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He still isn't finished. Every day He comforts those who
lost loved ones. He is encouraging others to reach out to those who don't know
Him or believe in Him. He is giving the leaders of our great nation the
strength and conviction to do the right thing, to follow His will, not a
popular poll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if anyone ever asks, "Where was your God on
9/11?" you can say, "He was everywhere! And, in fact, he is
everywhere today and every day." Without a doubt, this was the worst
catastrophe most of us have ever seen. I can't imagine getting through such a
difficult time without God at my side. Without God, life would be hopeless.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uowv4eEpbho/VCrrzP9fDzI/AAAAAAAAC0I/0XaVX2mTjvA/s1600/9-11%2Bmemorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uowv4eEpbho/VCrrzP9fDzI/AAAAAAAAC0I/0XaVX2mTjvA/s1600/9-11%2Bmemorial.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did 9/11 change you? We asked our Facebook fans—but tell
us your story in the comments below.</span></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I pay more
attention to the people around me when I am in a crowd. Jane Carder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We now avoid
air travel because of the hassles involved. Terri DuVal Riffle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I honor
military, police, firefighters, and other service people and try to remember to
say thank you when I see them. Andrea Pandeloglou Smolin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was 14 and
could not wrap my mind around the tragedy. Years later, we went to see Flight
93 in theaters, and I finally cried. Stephani Blair</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I had been to
the Twin Towers in 1984, so I often think it could have been that day I was
there. I moved closer to my family. Dorothy Elizabeth Pine Mets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My partner
and I were on duty as paramedics. We watched a man pass out hundreds of U.S.
flags to drivers on the street. I saw something I had never before seen
personified: pride, love of country, solidarity, determination. Tears ran down
my face. I knew America would not only survive but recover, overcome, and
thrive. I’d always loved my country, but that day I fell in love. Tammy R.
Musgrove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We don’t
travel far from home anymore. Sheila Halet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I realized
life can never be taken for granted. Nancy Shaftang, Sabah, Malaysia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It helped me
meet my husband. Partly because of 9/11, he was inspired to join the Army.
During his first deployment to Iraq in 2006, we met online. We married in 2007.
Angela Metcalf, Tucson, Arizona</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My wife and I
joined the St. Peters, Missouri, Community Emergency Response Team to help both
our neighbors and the brave men of the fire and police departments in case of a
disaster. Arizona Scott Epstein, St. Peters, Missouri</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My eyes were
opened to the cruel, scary world that existed outside the safety of my small
town that day. Being in only the sixth grade, I felt like a huge chunk of my
innocence was taken by the terrorists. Miranda Reid, Ackerman, Mississippi</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was a
reminder that we should not wait to say “I love you” to our loved ones. Pamela
Madrid, Manila, Philippines</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It opened my eyes to the fact that America is
not invincible, which was a very scary feeling. Kate Nessler, Cincinnati, Ohio</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I found myself examining what freedom really
means to me. I realized we are not one world, as much as we would like to be.
Stephen Greg Legat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I became more world-aware instead of
self-aware. I’ve lost a lot of my self-entitlement. Annamarie Cardinal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I have learned that Muslims in other countries
were also horrified and grieved on 9/11. It is past time we understood that
fact. Susan Diane Cain</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">References: <a href="http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/remembering-september-11-america-changed/6/#ixzz3EoQ2MSJK">http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/remembering-september-11-america-changed/6/#ixzz3EoQ2MSJK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-17536354078102384512014-09-29T10:20:00.003-07:002014-09-29T10:20:36.335-07:00Choosing to trust God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLp737eDb88/VCmGz-x_roI/AAAAAAAACzQ/N4w4AY5y3t0/s1600/Trusting%2BGod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLp737eDb88/VCmGz-x_roI/AAAAAAAACzQ/N4w4AY5y3t0/s1600/Trusting%2BGod.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Choosing to
trust God is so daily, isn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I only
looked at the "what-ifs" of Tom’s job situation – the possible
unemployment, the grueling process of job-hunting, the financial strain unemployment
would bring, and the uncertainty of the economy – my faith and God-confidence
shook and waned. Fear and doubt knocked on my heart, suitcases in hand, wanting
to move in and take up residence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On the other
hand, when I fixed my eyes on God, looked at His character and at the ways He
had brought us through hard times in the past, my faith was strengthened.
Courage, confidence and joy knocked on my heart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This reminds
me of Chuck Swindoll’s article’’ Fighting
the Fast Fade’’ he says.... Jesus illustrated this struggle so vividly in Mark 4. Do you
remember? The seed is carefully sown. Yet shortly after God's Word is heard,
the enemy of our souls, Satan himself, comes and snatches away the biblical
insights that have been deposited in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Isn't it the
truth? Before the freshly baked cake is cool, he comes and licks off all the
frosting. Before the new bike is ridden, he sneaks up and lets all the air out
of the tires. Before the dress is worn, he slips up and jerks out the hem and
jams the zipper. Before we crank up the car at 12:20, he's stolen the stuff we
heard at 11:45.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Amazing! But
you gotta remember, he's been at it since he winked at Eve in the garden. He's
the first when it comes to rip-off experts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are
others who follow in his train. Like a basketball fan discovered at the
Portland airport awaiting the arrival of the Trailblazers following a victory
over the Lakers. He was attempting to scalp a couple of tickets to the next
game—for a hundred and fifty bucks each. As he wormed through the crowd, he
located a well-dressed man who listened to his offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"How
much?" asked the gentleman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"One
hundred fifty," he replied under his breath. "Not a cent lower."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Do you
realize you're talking to a plain-clothes officer of the law?" the man
asked the scalper. "I'm going to turn you in, fella."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Suddenly the
seller began to backpedal. He talked about how large a family he had . . . how
much they needed him . . . how he'd never ever do it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Looking both
ways, the well-dressed man said: "Just hand over the tickets and we'll
call it even . . . now get out of here
and I had better never catch you here again!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But the worst
was yet to come. The well-dressed man was no officer at all. Just a
quick-thinking guy who used a little ingenuity to land two choice seats to the
next playoff game. He anonymously admitted it in the local newspaper several
days later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Satan's
strategy is just as ingenious and effective. He hears what we hear and in the
process plans his approach. He baits the rip-off trap, then sets it up with
just the right hair trigger.</span> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here
are several:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">an immediate
argument in the car after church is over on where to go for dinner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">lots of
activity, talking, and needless noise Sunday afternoon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">preoccupation
with some worrisome, plaguing problem during the message.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a personality
conflict with another church member.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">irritation
over how far away you had to park.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">pride—that
says, "I'm so glad Doo Dad is here. He really needs to get straightened
out."</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All those
(there are more) are satanic rip-offs. Like a lion, he prowls silently,
camouflaged in the garb of our physical habits and our mental laziness, seeking
to devour. At the precise moment when it will have its greatest impact, he
snatches away the very truth we need the most, leaving us with hardly a memory
of what God said earlier. It occurs every Lord's Day in every language on every
continent . . . at every local church where the Scripture is declared.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So many
people are like the walking dead. They exist and breathe but they aren’t really
living. Some people spend their days angry, depressed, resentful, and bitter.
They refuse to give life a chance; they refuse to be grateful, loving, or kind.
Some folks simply waste their lives and resources on things that have no
meaning or purpose at all. This is not living! This is not the kind of life
that God wants for us. God wants us to choose hope, faith, obedience, and
kindness. God wants us to embrace Him and those around us. How can we dare ask
God to select us for the Book of Life, if we ourselves have not chosen life?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blessings,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-63697282679994413502014-09-27T08:16:00.001-07:002014-09-27T08:24:45.069-07:00A True Servant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6s76BLTnaMo/VCbWqY164SI/AAAAAAAACy4/Ktpr6hS5UYQ/s1600/Nelson%2BMandela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6s76BLTnaMo/VCbWqY164SI/AAAAAAAACy4/Ktpr6hS5UYQ/s1600/Nelson%2BMandela.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Billy Graham once said: Our modern philosophy of self-reliance and self-sufficiency has caused many to believe that we can make the grade without God. “Religion,” they argue, “may be all right for certain emotional people, but you can’t beat a man who believes in himself.” But this self-confident generation has produced more alcoholics, more dope addicts, more criminals, more wars, more broken homes, more assaults, more embezzlements, more murders, and more suicides than any other generation that ever lived. It is time for all of us to take stock of our failures, blunders, and costly mistakes. It is about time that we are putting less confidence in ourselves and more trust and faith in God <br /><br />Paul writes, 'Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?...If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ' (Galatians 1:10 NIV). A true servant of God is content to work quietly in the shadows. They know that in Heaven God will openly reward people we've never even heard of - people who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after the incontinent, nursed AIDS patients, and gave their lives in a thousand unnoticed ways. 'Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.'<br /><br />During World War II, when England needed to increase its coal production, Winston Churchill called together labour leaders. He asked them to picture in their minds a victory parade which he knew would be held in Piccadilly Circus after the war. First in line would be the sailors who kept the vital sea lanes open. After them would come the soldiers who returned from Dunkirk, then went on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Next would be the pilots who'd driven the Luftwaffe from the skies. Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miners' caps. Someone would shout from the crowd, 'And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?' And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, 'We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'<br /><br />Not all jobs are prominent and glamorous. But those who serve God with their 'faces to the coal' play a vital role in fulfilling His purposes in the earth. -Bob and Debbie Gass<br /><br /> But when such times come (and they come to us all). God still loves us. He does not abandon us. Remember: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27) <br /><br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br /> Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-86021134862669911632014-08-30T04:57:00.000-07:002014-08-30T04:57:31.587-07:00Being Wanted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PWyLfC93ms/VAG69W47cnI/AAAAAAAACw0/1hYVRhJzVDc/s1600/Being%2BWanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PWyLfC93ms/VAG69W47cnI/AAAAAAAACw0/1hYVRhJzVDc/s1600/Being%2BWanted.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy Graham once said our modern philosophy of
self-reliance and self-sufficiency has caused many to believe that we can make
the grade without God. “Religion,” they argue, “may be all right for certain
emotional people, but you can’t beat a man who believes in himself.” But this
self-confident generation has produced more alcoholics, more dope addicts, more
criminals, more wars, more broken homes, more assaults, more embezzlements,
more murders, and more suicides than any other generation that ever lived. It
is time for all of us to take stock of our failures, blunders, and costly
mistakes. It is about time that we are putting less confidence in ourselves and
more trust and faith in God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if you've ever thought about the incredible number
of messages that rain down on us every day; television ads, e-mails, phone
calls, magazines, junk mail. Videos, billboards, conversations—the list is
almost endless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> How many of those
shape our thinking? How many of them
subtly convince us that the road to happiness is really paved with possessions,
or beauty, or money, fame, or any of a hundred other things? How many of them persuade us that the most
important thing in life is financial success, or the esteem of others, or
power, or sex? It’s hard to resist the
cumulative impact of so many messages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But God says our
thinking must be shaped by His truth.
What this world calls valuable, God calls worthless. What this world scorns, God exalts. “My
thoughts are not as your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” (Isaiah 55:8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What would need to change for you to honour God with your
life?</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes our hearts are so foolish. Even though when we
have been walking with God and tasting His blessing on our lives, still we so
easily turn from Him and put ourselves first, honouring ourselves instead of
Him. If you find yourself wandering away from God today, remember the blessing
in your life when you were walking with Him. His nearness in your heart, a
sense of peace and rightness about your life, His voice speaking to you through
His word, Him working through you in the lives of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God allows us to do valiantly. Things we never thought
possible become almost commonplace. God will enable us to do things we never
even dreamed of. Rely upon the Lord, and He will help you conquer the enemies
of your heart and mind that threaten to make you less than He wants you to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-61775888251076923252014-08-29T09:02:00.000-07:002014-08-29T09:04:42.935-07:00The Choices We Make<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xujLnuYvlvc/VACjsjkJYiI/AAAAAAAACwg/bVgOvl3QnQI/s1600/Made%2Bmy%2BChoices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xujLnuYvlvc/VACjsjkJYiI/AAAAAAAACwg/bVgOvl3QnQI/s1600/Made%2Bmy%2BChoices.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life, we have a choice. We can expose the weaknesses of
others, or we can look away and help cover it up. Likewise, we can expose the
goodness of others or look away and ignore it. All too often it seems that
people uncover the bad and bury the good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strange though it may seem, these are often the people most
difficult to love. Why? Because they feel unwanted, they are convinced that
their lives are wasted, useless, and a bother. They wrestle with inferiority,
thoughts of suicide, a twisted self-image, and a loss of self-respect. This
results in all sorts of unattractive and unappealing responses. Because they
entertain such a repulsive self-image, it is only natural that they act
repulsively. This unpleasant lifestyle isolates them even more, of course,
"confirming" their gutter-level opinion of themselves. What a sad,
sad cycle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of loving these people, we usually label them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of caring, we criticize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of getting next to them, we react, we resent, we
run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of "kissing the frog," we develop ways of
poisoning it—or, at best, ignoring it completely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you done any serious business with God lately? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got any problems?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you dealing with any difficult people? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you faced with any seemingly impossible situations?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were all created for one another. There is not sense in
trying to deny it. Those who attempt to stand on their own two feet find that
they tire before long, and they wish they had someone to lean on. God created
us equal, so that we can adequately fill one another's needs. He hopes we will
share our lives with one anther and with Him. People who feel they are above
needing others will be shown the error of their ways in due time. It is better
to admit our need and wander this wilderness with companions who make the
journey a lot more enjoyable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we all know that real life in the workaday world is
often complicated, frustrating and unfulfilling. Work problems are real:
stress, job dissatisfaction, unemployment, the question of fair wages, and
other ethical concerns demand careful consideration that moves beyond the
mandate of Genesis 1, but without losing sight of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life, we have a choice. We can expose the weaknesses of
others, or we can look away and help cover it up. Likewise, we can expose the
goodness of others or look away and ignore it. All too often it seems that
people uncover the bad and bury the good. But we have to act like Shem and
Japheth and turn away from the bad parts of others, and then act like Isaiah,
revealing the good in others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, try to see the good in every person that you meet.
You won’t just be looking at a more pleasant view; you’ll be looking at the
truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-25467466471386941572014-07-29T07:46:00.000-07:002014-07-29T07:50:15.920-07:00We can never truly arrive anywhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpu3tRXrGno/U9e0erZbCFI/AAAAAAAACtg/OCsYULsnGLs/s1600/Success+is+a+journey...jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpu3tRXrGno/U9e0erZbCFI/AAAAAAAACtg/OCsYULsnGLs/s1600/Success+is+a+journey...jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We all have a
dream. For some people it might be finding the right mate and living happily in
a nice house with a white picket fence. For another person it might be
achieving a certain level of success in a career and getting that corner office
in a high-rise building. But, whatever your dream, all our dreams have
something in common — as we achieve one dream, another appears and we are on
the move once again. This is because, as the saying goes, “Life’s a journey,
not a destination.” We can never truly arrive anywhere. We will be forever
traveling, forever on the journey of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Money and
prosperity not only have the ability to create conflict between family members
and friends, they can also wreak havoc in the Christian community. In many
ways, nothing has a greater ability to derail ministry work than a rich
endowment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Some
Christian leaders may balk at this statement, but the truth is not hard to
discern. Many of America's universities were founded on Christian principles
and values, but have since abandoned their faith. When their endowments grew
larger, their commitment and devotion to godly education grew smaller. They
adjusted their ethics to reflect the views of their contributors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Instead think
of what you’re missing when you don’t put God first in your life! When you go
your own way, you miss the very best part of life. In fact, walking with God is
so much better than a worldly life that one day spent in fellowship with God is
better than a thousand days out of fellowship with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When we react
to circumstances with bitterness and resentment as a result of unmet
expectations, we are saying that we know better than God, and that God has made
a mistake in not meeting our expectations. The process of resolving unmet
expectations may require full disclosure to the individual who was the source
of the unmet expectation, and of how the unmet expectation made you feel. This
is not to make the person feel obligated to meet the expectation, but simply to
share your feelings about it. If God was the source, then it is important to
share this with the Lord. However, once we have done this we must let go of the
situation and allow God to work in our hearts the grace that is needed to walk
in freedom from the pain of the unmet expectation. If we do not do this, we
will allow the seed of bitterness and resentment to enter in. This seed of
bitterness will create leanness in our soul and eventually will spread to
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are
many worries and fears in this life. So many things pull our focus onto the
trials at hand. Some push our minds into the future, considering all the things
that could go wrong. That's when we need to look back to the past, where God
has shown his love and grace for us at the cross. Like the stones that Joshua
laid on the other side of the river Jordan, the cross stands as a testimony for
all time that God can deliver us from our greatest fear, the greatest evil, and
the greatest obstacle of our life. Like Jeremiah and the Psalmist, when the
cares of this life weigh us down, we need to look back and remember his grace.
For it gives us confidence and assurance that he will sustain us in the present
and carry us into the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Therefore,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" -
Philippians 2:5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> We Christians are not to be conformed to
this world in the way we think. The
world by its advertisements, its conversation, and its philosophy is engaged in
a gigantic brainwashing. Not always
consciously but sometimes unconsciously, the Christian is beset by secular and
worldly propaganda, calling us to live for ourselves and to put things and
selfish pleasure ahead of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> There is no place we can go where He does not
see our every move. Those people who think they have God fooled are only
fooling themselves. God sees all things, He hears all things, and nothing
escapes His attention. For those who live in sin, that is a very frightening
thought. For those who walk in righteousness, there is no problem. Let the Lord
watch. It is good to know that He is here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.4pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Raj Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-74820270760096954992014-07-28T01:08:00.001-07:002014-07-28T01:08:58.851-07:00No Matter How Hopeless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ewUgJM2hH98/U9YCz3HV7VI/AAAAAAAACss/BXyQ3zUOhPc/s1600/Happiest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ewUgJM2hH98/U9YCz3HV7VI/AAAAAAAACss/BXyQ3zUOhPc/s1600/Happiest.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I see people in pain, hurting, broken, and feeling as though they
are without hope. I’ve seen all of these things within just a few minutes
of scrolling through the news feed of my Facebook page posted within the past 8
hours. I see broken people who need healing and restoration who are searching
for real hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">God can heal a heart no matter how paralyzed, no matter how dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And when I see the hopeless, and I feel I have nothing to bring
relief, Do I believe that they can find comfort and peace and maybe even
purpose again? I do. Isn’t that why I believe in a Savior? It’s the sick, it’s
the hopeless that need one. It’s all of humanity really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s the worst thing watching someone you love in pain. But it’s
this feeling that drives me to fight for their life. Because it makes me hurt a
little less when I can bring a smile to their face. And I’m not the savior of
the world but I can be a part in the healing process. I can be the hands and
feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As a Christian I know the only place that they will find true,
everlasting hope is in Jesus Christ. He is our hope (1 Peter 1:3, 1
Timothy 1:1, Psalm 39:7, Titus<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aqj">2:13</span>). I believe that we are to point others to the only true
and living hope and we have an opportunity to do that in a digital age that can
reach more people than we could ever imagine through the use of social media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“The joy of
the Lord is your strength” – Nehemiah 8:10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Some people have a warped idea of living
the Christian life. Seeing talented,
successful Christian, they attempt to imitate them. For them, the grass on the other side of the
fence is always greener. But when they
discover that their own gifts are different or their contributions are more
modest (or even invisible), they collapse in discouragement and overlook
genuine opportunities that are open to them.
They have forgotten that they are here to serve Christ, not themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Be like the apostle Paul and say, “None of
these things move me.” Few men suffered
as Paul did, yet he learned how to live above his circumstances—even in a
prison cell. You can do the same. The key is to realize you are here to serve
Christ, not yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> God does not promise us an easy life, free
of troubles, trials, difficulties, and temptations. He never promises that life will be perfect.
He does not call His children to a playground, but to a battleground. In the midst of it all when we serve Christ,
we truly discover that “joy of the Lord is (our) strength.” – Billy Graham</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Raj Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-87810518600241380302014-07-25T05:04:00.002-07:002014-07-25T05:11:26.144-07:00Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pO2c4kmP1Sk/U9JCgbwQg3I/AAAAAAAACsE/LmVCc1LZyzk/s1600/Change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pO2c4kmP1Sk/U9JCgbwQg3I/AAAAAAAACsE/LmVCc1LZyzk/s1600/Change.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all have a dream. For some people it might be finding the
right mate and living happily in a nice house with a white picket fence. For
another person it might be achieving a certain level of success in a career and
getting that corner office in a high-rise building. But, whatever your dream,
all our dreams have something in common — as we achieve one dream, another
appears and we are on the move once again. This is because, as the saying goes,
“Life’s a journey, not a destination.” We can never truly arrive anywhere. We
will be forever traveling, forever on the journey of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading an interesting article - “Is Change Really a
Problem?” By Dr.Jack Graham. He rightly says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only that, but look at the number of options we have
today. When I was growing up, we had two channels we could watch on television.
Today, we can turn to hundreds of channels without finding a single thing worth
watching!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I’ve noticed over the past 40 years is just how
much life is changing. Here’s what I mean: On the highway, the speed limit used
to be a standard 55 miles per hour. Today, you’ll find places with limits of 80
miles per hour or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our society has developed a habit of pushing the limits.
Now, in some ways, that’s beneficial. But in many other ways, it’s become a
detriment. It seems like every month now we hear about this or that person who
pushed the envelope a little too far. Then there’s a backlash from some, and
the whole incident is forgotten until someone tries to go further next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Change itself isn’t bad. But all change can really be placed
in two categories: progress or decay. Change is either for the better or for
the worse. So in our ever-changing society, strive for and support the changes
that are beneficial. Make things better by being a cultural catalyst for the
things of our never-changing God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the book Experiencing God, authors Henry Blackaby and
Claude King say that one of seven important steps to experiencing God in
everyday life is how God speaks to us. "God speaks by the Holy Spirit
through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His
purposes, and His ways." [Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Experiencing God
(Nashville, Tennessee: LifeWay Press, 1990), 225]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can examine the life of every major character in the
Bible and see this principle expressed in the way God worked in each of their
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the ways God speaks is through others. God often used
others to speak to individuals, especially in the Old Testament when God often
spoke through the prophets. This is still one of the ways He speaks today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You must believe what God says about you, over what everyone
else says! Stop listening to those who claim you'll never amount to anything.
You might've had a bad childhood, or a failed marriage or career.
'...Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before [you]' (Philippians 3:13 KJV). The Bible doesn't say
that we call those things which are not as though they are. Nor does it say
others have the power to speak things which are not as though they are over
your life. No, it is God, through His Word, Who speaks into existence His will
for your life. And you should be glad about that. You wouldn't want anybody
else to have power to determine your destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For He knoweth our frame...." - Psalm 102:14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is significant that our first astronauts, while being
trained for their moon flights, were required to give twenty answers to the
query, “Who are you?” Take the same test yourself. When you have made your list
and run out of things to add, ask yourself if you have truly answered. Do you
really know who you are? Scientists agree that our desperate search leads all
humans to seek heroes and to imitate others, to “paste bits and pieces of other
people on ourselves.” We make love as some actor would. We play golf in the
style of Jack Nicklaus. Part of this process is natural, for we learn by
imitating others. The tragedy is that the person we assemble is not genuine.
“Who am I?” you cry as you roam the world looking for yourself. Consider this:
there are three of you. There is the person you think you are. There is the
person others think you are. There is the person God knows you are and can be
through Christ.- Billy Graham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many times in our lives, the very things we fear are acts of
God Himself. These are things that perhaps God has brought into our lives so
that we can run to Him… to find our strength in Him, relish His love, and
experience His awesome grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.4pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-491036719012312532014-07-25T05:04:00.000-07:002014-07-25T08:20:36.809-07:00Life is filled with Highs and Lows<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Life in
general is filled with highs and lows, but it can especially be apparent for
those in Christian ministry leadership positions. Just look at how many
pastors, youth ministers, and worship directors eventually leave ministry. The
work wears on a person. The constant complaints of doing too little of this or
too much of that can drain anyone. As a leader, you are expected to be there
for everyone at every moment of the day. No one is able to be there at all
times. Still, guilt fills the mind and causes you to doubt your ministry and
your effectiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Malachi
preached after Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah—about 430 B.C. The Temple had
been rebuilt for almost a century, and the people were losing their enthusiasm
for worship. Apathy and disillusionment had set in because the exciting
messianic prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah had not been fulfilled.
Many of the sins that had brought the downfall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. were
still being practiced in Judah. This complacency gradually led to blatant sin,
such as marriage to those who worshiped idols. Ezra and Nehemiah also had
confronted this problem years earlier (Ezra 9–10; Nehemiah 13:23-31). Divorce
was common, occurring for no reason other than a desire for change. People
acted as if they could do anything without being punished. And they wondered
why God refused to accept their offerings and bless them (Malachi 2:13)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">God has made
provision for the Christian to fulfill the requirements of the Law through the
Holy Spirit’s power. “In order that the requirement of the Law might be
fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit” (Romans 8:4). What could never be accomplished in the power of the
flesh—the meeting of the righteous standards of the Law—can be achieved in the
power of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend in Christ, Whitt Madden, from Treasuring Christ says: Sometimes I
have to break down scriptures in order to see it laid out for myself. The law of the Spirit of Life has set you
free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Basically God did what the law could not do,
by sending Jesus to die for our sins, so that the requirement of the law might
be completed in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This changes
everything for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For those who
live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but
those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the
Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh
is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Let’s
understand this today:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You, however,
are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in
you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But
if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is
life because of righteousness. (Romans
8:9-10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The flesh
cannot please God for several reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(1) First of
all, the flesh is hostile toward God. “Because the mind set on the flesh is
hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is
not even able to do so” (Romans 8:7).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(2) The flesh
is incapable of producing righteousness. That is surely the conclusion we must
draw from Romans Chapter 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(3) The flesh
can only produce death: “For the mind set on the flesh is death …” (Romans
8:6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Spirit is
the source of liberty and of life: “However you are not in the flesh but in the
Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Paul says to
the Christian,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“If you are a
true Christian, then the Holy Spirit indwells you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Holy
Spirit that indwells us is a life-giving spirit. Do you believe this? He has power over death. The same power that raised Christ from the
dead lives in you, if you are saved.
This is truth. If you have the same Spirit living in you that raised
Jesus Christ from the dead, don’t you agree that this Spirit should have power
over sexual sin as well?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When things
get tight, the problems don't seem to go away, and we struggle with guilt--the
false guilt of not being able to be there for everyone--God will comfort us. He
shields us even during the assaults of bitter people and harsh words. He will
always lead us in a path meant to protect us and keep us strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When the road
is dark and tough, God will guide and protect you. When you feel overwhelmed
with loneliness, the Lord is close beside you. When your heart is asking hard
questions and you feel beaten down, God will sustain you. We don't need to live
in fear, for God is always with you. He is willing to comfort and protect you.
He guides you through every mountain and valley of life. He is your true
Shepherd. And the more you trust him as Lord, the more you will experience the
wonder of having a Shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Raj Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-10520377042013532842014-07-18T18:48:00.000-07:002014-07-19T10:49:23.514-07:00 The Law of Karma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a lot of misunderstanding around this word. Karma simply means
action. Every action has consequences. Conscious choice making is the most
effective way of creating future consequences of karma. Karma creates the
future, but it is also an echo from the past. Karma conditions our soul through
memory, desire and imagination. Most people are prisoners of Karma, because it
becomes a conditioned reflex and produces predictable outcomes in their lives.
The goal of enlightenment is to break the in shackles of Karma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every person is responsible for his or her acts and thoughts, so each
person's karma is entirely his or her own. Occidentals see the operation of
karma as fatalistic. But that is far from true since it is in the hands of an
individual to shape his own future by schooling his present.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hindu philosophy, which believes in life after death, holds the doctrine
that if the karma of an individual is good enough, the next birth will be
rewarding, and if not, the person may actually devolve and degenerate into a
lower life form. In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life
according to dharma or what is right.</span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First things first,</span></span></strong></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I came across an interesting article, titled "<i>Christianized Karma</i>" by Katherine Britton:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the hope that is in you…”– 1 Peter 3:15<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christians give really good hugs during trials and
tragedy. As my own family has experienced recently, the body of Christ has long
arms to embrace those in need, easing the burdens of bad times. The church at
work offers silent – and strong – evidence of grace when we pick each other up
off the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, imagine for a moment that your community didn’t
provide any support during a trial. Imagine that instead of offering
encouraging words and providing meals or other support after a tragedy, the
whole community pulled away. Imagine if they acted like you were a disease they
didn’t want to catch while you shouldered the burden alone. And not only that
-- they believed that your problems were your own fault, pure and simple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s karma at work. And it’s a lonely road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A missionary couple recently visited our church before
heading to London, where they planned settle in an immigrant community that’s
mostly Hindu. The wife expressed her desire to see people set free from the
bonds of karma. That caught my interest. I’d slipped into viewing karma through
an Americanized lens, as a pseudo-Christian philosophy of reaping what you sow
(Galatians 6:7). Faithfulness and selfishness often have their rewards in this
life, after all, and good deeds are often repaid with a smile and expression of
gratitude if nothing else. Karma may not be the full picture, but it seemed
like an innocuous truism to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The missionary went on to describe the ugly side of
karma, in which the community pulls away from its members who are suffering.
Lose a job? It’s a karmic effect – you must have cheated your employer or at
least talked badly about him. Did you – heaven forbid – lose a child? Somehow,
that’s your fault too, as the universe balances out some evil you’ve done. If
such horrible things are somehow your fault, it would also make sense for
people to pull away. That’s the bond of karma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christians rely on the promise that “all things work for
the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28). We fight to believe that, while
“no discipline seems pleasant at the time… later on it produces a harvest of
righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Like Job, we may never know the reason for our
earthly suffering. But we know that, because of grace, suffering is not a
quid-pro-quo retaliation for our sins. Even our suffering has been redeemed by
God’s grace through Christ’s supreme act of love. (1)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senior pastor William Graham Tullian Tchividjian says,
Westerners are understandably reticent to embrace the notion that the universe
is paying us back for a prior life of boozing, spousal abuse, or tax evasion.
We believe in the inherent goodness of human beings, after all! We prefer to
keep the cycle within the confines of a single life. But the appeal of this
perspective should be fairly obvious: no one gets away with anything. If
someone harmed you, she will suffer. If you do good, you will have a good life.
Karma puts us in control. The problem in this worldview comes, as it always
does, when we flip it around. If you are suffering, you have done something to
merit it. Pain is proof.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No doubt many of us would object to the accusation that
we share or agree with such a mind-set. That's simplistic nonsense, we might
think. No one with any education or experience would ever hold to such a
juvenile relational bartering system. But hold on for a moment. Think about the
last fight you had with your significant other-was there an element of
deserving tucked into the conflict? "You hurt me, so now I'll hurt
you"? I can't tell you how much self-abuse I've come across in my years of
ministry that had some element of inward-directed retribution at its core: the
teenage girl who punishes herself by cutting her arms; or men who sleep around
to prove that they deserve the contempt of their wives. If we cling to quid pro
quo when dealing with others and ourselves, why wouldn't we project it onto God
(or the universe)? We are all helpless moralizers, especially when it comes to
suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the opposite end of our natural tendency to moralize
life and suffering stands the counter-intuitive affirmation of Christianity.
Christianity affirms that Jesus severed the link between suffering and
deserving once for all on Calvary. God put the ledgers away and settled the
accounts. The good news of the gospel is NOT that good people get good stuff.
It's not that life is cyclical and that "what comes around goes
around." Rather, it's that the bad get the best, the worst inherit the
wealth, and the slave becomes a son (Rom.5:8).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the truth is, that it's just misery to try to
keep count of what God is no longer counting. Your entries keep disappearing.
(2)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">References:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (1) Christianized
Karma - Crosswalk the Devotional - April 4, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (2) You Believe in
Karma, BY TULLIAN TCHIVIDJIAN, CHRISTIAN POST COLUMNIST.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/you-believe-in-karma-79037/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-56585773468922465742014-07-18T07:45:00.000-07:002014-07-18T07:45:35.553-07:00Kingdom First<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another biography that has influenced my life is that of
Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China. Taylor was on his knees
before God, asking Him to provide for the work of the gospel in China. And God
answered Taylor’s prayers by touching the hearts of Christians who had the
wealth to give. Remarkably, God even touched George Mueller’s heart to become a
prayer partner with Hudson Taylor. That’s another example of how one person’s
obedience can affect many others.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Scripture teaches that your giving has kingdom-sized
implications. It affects not only you and the people around you, but the whole
worldwide kingdom of God. When you see your giving from God’s perspective, what
a grand vision it is! I have always believed that as long as God knows where I
am, He can cause anybody in the world to know where I am. That is the only way
that people I have never met could feel compelled to give to my ministry. There
is a much bigger picture than we are able to see. It is not just that you give
your little gift and hope God will be pleased with it. No, when you give, even
if you cannot see it, you send ripples out through the whole kingdom of God.
You contribute to process by which people see the faithfulness of God and come
to trust in Him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have great wealth, it is important that you have a
deep sensitivity to God. You are a co-worker with God in a much bigger picture
than you can see. Consider what would happen if you simply decided to do as you
like with your money. You would be completely outside the will of God, using
your wealth to work at cross purposes with His kingdom, which is a frightening
prospect. Many times I hear people say, “I would really like to do this or that
with my money.” And my immediate response is, “That’s all fine and good, but
how does it square with what God wants to do with your money?” Ask yourself
that question. How do your goals square with God’s goals? How are you
responding to His leading? God has many servants who are stepping out in faith,
trusting Him to provide for their needs. And the apostle Paul tells us that
those people will praise God because they know that He will move the hearts of
those who have the resources to give.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God says His Kingdom is like seed time and harvest. Do
what the farmer does. Plant good seed (not corrupt money from illegal gain) and
plant it into good soil. (ministries that are well grounded in the Word, have
reasonable administration costs, are not corrupt, have abundant fruit from
their charitable efforts etc.). Then the farmer waters, fertilizes and weeds
his crop. (Give praise to God, pray over your seed, bless it, call it forth
into a harvest, use faith i.e. call things that be not as though they were,
(Romans 4:17), do not speak any kind of negatively over your seed, etc.)
Finally, the farmer goes out and gets his harvest. (Be prepared to receive.
Just as you would prepare for the birth of a child by getting his/her room
ready, buying clothes etc., keep standing in faith and believe for your
harvest. Do what you would do as if the harvest had already been received)
(References: Gen. 8:22, Gal. 6:7, 2 Cor. 9:6, 2 Cor 9:10)<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part
of everything your land produces.” (Proverbs 3:9 NLT) To honor God is to show
our regard, esteem, value, respect, and prizing of him. When we give to the
Lord, we demonstrate to him, to others, and to ourselves that he is supreme in
our lives. When we give, we attest that
he is our most valued treasure. Giving shows that our hearts are set on him and
not on our money or belongings. Giving honors God as supreme. Giving to him is
an act of worship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is both a non-giving and a giving that
dishonors God. Not giving simply fails to honor God. Not giving demonstrates
that our wealth and possessions and not God are truly what we treasure most.
Not giving to God withholds honor from him and hoards that honor for us. By not
giving, we elevate our wealth and possessions above him. So, not giving dishonors God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The world is not impressed when Christians get rich and
say thanks to God. They are impressed
when God is so satisfying that we give our riches away for Christ’s sake and
call it gain.” – John Piper<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kingdom work is similar. Building the Kingdom requires
financial investment. It requires effort, commitment, good decision making and
sacrifice. One of the main differences, however, is that until Christ returns,
our job as Kingdom Builders is never finished. Therefore, giving to God’s
Kingdom is an ongoing effort, an ongoing commitment, and ongoing sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How well you build the kingdom by investing your time,
talent and treasure will be determined by who or what rules your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“God wants your heart. He isn’t looking just for donors
for His kingdom, those who stand outside the cause and dispassionately consider
acts of philanthropy. He’s looking for disciples immersed in the causes they
give to. He wants people so filled with a vision for eternity that they
wouldn’t dream of not investing their money, time and prayers where they will
matter most.” Randy Alcorn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></span></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-23364995760222107942014-06-28T09:36:00.001-07:002014-06-28T09:37:05.976-07:00I am still not all I should be<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are quick to give God praise when the blessings flow:
when the checking account is full and running over; when the job is secure, and
a promotion is on the horizon; when the salary is good; when our health is
fine. But we have a tough time believing when those things aren't true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I confess to you, at times I've doubted God's purpose and
promise. I say that to my own embarrassment. When things hadn't worked as I
thought they would, when I received a no instead of a yes or a yes instead of a
no as an answer to prayer, when I couldn't unravel a situation and fit it with
the character of God . . . those have been times when I've said, "I know
down inside this isn't right."<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was touched by reading the devotional "Three
Obstacles" by Bob & Debby Gass : They say Bible days marathons weren't run on smooth tracks, but
over pathways filled with obstacles that could cause a runner to stumble and
lose the race. Here are three obstacles you need to look out for as you run
your life's race: </div>
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(1) <i>An unforgiving attitude</i>. '...If you do not forgive,
neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses' (Mark<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><span data-term="goog_626289889" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span class="aqj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">11:26</span></span></span></span>NKJV).
When the mention of someone's name triggers resentment, stop and pray, 'Father,
I forgive them as You've forgiven me. Whatever I ask for myself in blessing, I
ask for them in double measure.' When you retaliate, you deny God the right to
show mercy and deal with the situation His way. Don't play God. You've received
mercy - pass it on!<o:p></o:p></div>
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(2)<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><i>An
unhealthy relationship</i>. Paul writes, '...Bad company corrupts good
character' (1 Corinthians<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><span data-term="goog_626289890" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span class="aqj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15:33</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span>NLT).
On the journey of life, you get to choose your travelling companions. If you
give your time to those who aren't worthy of it, you've no right to complain.
Become more selective. Choose your friends from among those who share your
values, understand your God-given purpose and strengthen you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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(3)<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><i>An
undecided heart</i>. Paul writes, '...I am still not all I should be, but I am
bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and
looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and
receive the prize...' (Philippians 3:13-14 TLB). A decided heart is the result
of a made-up mind. It's what separates the winners from the losers. Pour your
life into something more than self-interest; commit to a purpose that will
outlive you!</div>
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One very practical blessing is
that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us
that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are
given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting
to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the
same Greek word--<em>pneuma</em>. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy
and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.<o:p></o:p><br />
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When we are facing a difficult
decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that
tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights
them on our behalf (2 Chron.<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span><span data-term="goog_626289910" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span class="aqj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">20:15</span></span></span></span>).
We are to be patient and trust in Him.</div>
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Blessings,</div>
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Raj Kosaraju<o:p></o:p></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-22519906816989920262014-06-14T18:14:00.000-07:002014-06-14T18:17:11.447-07:00Success can make you lonely<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Psalms 1:1</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A time for starting over. A new beginning. A wonderful time
to take stock of life and look for ways to improve and grow. Too often,
careless resolutions are made that are never kept, and so one year blends into
the next with little change. The fact is, all of us have areas in our lives
that could stand some improvement. As this new year begins, let us look at our lives
with honesty and candor. Let us approach change with a positive spirit, and
work toward finding ways to become the people that god wants us to be. Most
importantly, ask the Lord to guide and strengthen, for it is through His power
that we are able to conquer our failings and turn them into strengths. God is
able to see us both as we are and as we can be, and we need that sight in order
to truly change. He will steer us away from the ungodly. He will liberate us
from the way of sin. He will lead us from scorn to joy. The Lord will do all
this and more because of His great and abiding love for His children. Rejoice in the love of God. he has given us a new year, and desires to give us a new
life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, believers can experience loneliness. I believe the
Holidays are the loneliest time of the year. People are told everywhere they're
supposed to be happy and they realize they're not. They see everybody else
acting happy, and they feel so lonely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Death, divorce, desertion—even travel can make you lonely. Success
can make you lonely. You often hear “it's lonely at the top.” Old age makes you
lonely. You can be lonely in a big crowd. You can be lonely in a mall.
Loneliness is one of the chief maladies of our age, but Jesus promised, "I
will never leave thee nor forsake thee."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I am saying, my dear friend, is that when I am
discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I am lonely, His presence
cheers me up. And when I am worried, His presence calms me down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The road to success is cluttered with detours, problems and
disappointments. And if you don't have the right mindset, your dreams can die
there. Indeed, there are days when the needle on your passion meter will be on
empty. On those days you need to remember that God gave you your dream to begin
with; go back to Him and ask for the strength to keep moving toward it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Psalmist wrote, 'For You will light my lamp; the Lord my
God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God
I can leap over a wall' (Psalm 18:28-29 NKJV).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who gives you the power to run and leap? God! But you can't
sit back, fold your arms and think that He will do it all for you. Between your
dream's inspiration and its manifestation, there's going to be a lot of
perspiration. As every new parent finds out - it's much harder having and
raising a baby than conceiving one. But if you have the passion for your dream,
the price tag won't stop you. You'll get up every morning, draw on God's grace
and take one more step in the direction of the thing you know God put you on
this earth to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God’s blessings in your life are sometimes conditional. God
withholds blessing to get your attention and bring you to repentance. But even
that is an act of love. Sometimes God lets you go through difficulty when you
don’t need to repent. He is giving you the opportunity to grow closer to Him,
or to minister to someone.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But His love for you is unconditional and unchanging. You
can always rely on that truth. Is God asking you to trust Him about something
today?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is: We serve a generous God. He delights in giving
us opportunities beyond our capabilities. He has promised to equip us, and
remain with us through each bend in the road. Although we may not know what is
around the corner, we can trust the One who called us. He is our comfort and
courage, sustaining us through difficulty and rewarding us generously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-40489254786352899602014-06-06T08:47:00.000-07:002014-06-06T08:47:06.883-07:00Need to re-identify who they are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep_l88cnDH8/U5HiPqu7sXI/AAAAAAAACn0/SCYL_LLK1T8/s1600/Heroes+and+Legends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep_l88cnDH8/U5HiPqu7sXI/AAAAAAAACn0/SCYL_LLK1T8/s1600/Heroes+and+Legends.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people want to be well remembered when they die. We
want to leave a legacy of some kind. What will our legacy be? Will it be money,
or a building, or a statue? Will it be something that will last a short while,
then be done? Why can't we leave something truly important?<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The greatest legacy we can leave is a life well lived. As
Christians, we need to be an example of how wonderful Christ can be. We can
honestly usher in the Kingdom of God on earth if we will devote ourselves to
leading Kingdom lives. There is profit in the blood of a Christian. Christ's
own blood was shed that we might all inherit eternal life. If God was willing
to shed His own blood for us, should we be willing to do any less? God's legacy
to us is life eternal. What will our legacy to others be?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most Christians need to re-identify who they are. We
still see ourselves as mere human beings, children of the age with the
albatross of the world hanging around our necks. That is who we once were, but
are no longer. We have been adopted by God and are now His children. We are
newly created in Him in holiness and righteousness. We have been given an
inheritance in heaven that includes wealth and power. We have been changed; we
are no longer what we were. When that truth "sinks in," we begin to
act like who we really are rather than who we were.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes circumstances can be painful. But even when situations
seem overwhelming, believers can trust that our sovereign Lord knows all, is in
control, and lovingly works everything for His children's good. We can rest
confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of
us.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A word of caution and clarification is due at this point
because there are many people who have misconstrued and terribly misunderstood
Jesus’s promise. They view Christ and His kingdom as a means to an end, a tool
to get what they want in life. They have come to Jesus because they see Him as
a way to become healthy, wealthy, and wise. They have believed a humanistic
version of the gospel that emphasizes the last word of Matthew 6:33: “All these
things shall be added unto you.” Although there are wonderful fringe benefits
to serving God, if those benefits become our motivation, we have missed the
point completely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is not looking for spiritual “gold diggers” who use
Him and His kingdom to get rich, or to become popular or powerful. On the
contrary, God is looking for people whose eyes are so fastened on Him and Him
alone that none of the peripheral attractions are even in view. It is those
with consecrated hearts to whom He says, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of
everything else you need.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-84446835931224066742014-06-05T08:15:00.000-07:002014-06-05T08:38:01.328-07:00Nick Vujicic is in the inner circle of Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Wikipedia Nicholas James "Nick"
Vujicic who was born 4 December 1982 is an Australian Christian evangelist and
motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder
characterised by the absence of all four limbs. As a child, he struggled
mentally and emotionally as well as physically, but eventually came to terms
with his disability and, at the age of seventeen, started his own non-profit
organisation, Life Without Limbs. Vujicic presents motivational speeches
worldwide which focus on life with a disability, hope and finding meaning in
life. He also speaks about his belief that God can use any willing heart to do
his work and that God is big enough to overcome any disability.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why God, was I born this way?" That's the question
Nick Vujicic wondered after being born without limbs. Nick discovered God's
miraculous plan for his life as a worldwide evangelist sharing the message of
redemption through Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Nick was born his father was so shocked he left the
hospital room to vomit. His distraught mother couldn't bring herself to hold
him until he was four months old.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His disability came without any medical explanation - a
rare occurrence called Phocomelia - and Nick and his parents spent many years
asking why this cruel trick would happen to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'My mother was a nurse and she did everything right
during pregnancy but she still blamed herself,' he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It was so hard for them but right from the start they
did their best to make me independent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'My dad put me in the water at 18 months and gave the
courage to learn how to swim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My experiences with bullies left me feeling intimidated,
depressed, anxious and sick to my stomach. If you know my personal story,
you'll remember that most grade school days ended with tears and on one
occasion led me to a failed suicide attempt. I didn't tell my parents when I
was picked on because I didn't want to upset them. I thought I could handle it
myself, but I was wrong. I should have told them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I travel around the world talking to tens of thousands
of young people, it is evident that no one is immune from being bullied. This
epidemic is not unique to North America. Bullying is a global issue.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt cold and bitter. I hated God for doing this to me
and was terrified of what would happen when my parents weren't there to look
after me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I could brush my own teeth with a wall mounted brush and
wash my own hair with pump action soap, but there was so much that was
impossible for me.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At age ten Nick, tried to drown himself in the bath but
luckily the attempt was unsuccessful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I felt there was no purpose when you lack purpose and
strength it is hard to hold on,' he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a young boy, Vujicic was teased by other children
because of his absent limbs. He recalled contemplating committing suicide at
one point in his life by flipping himself off a kitchen bench and hoping to
break his neck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I used to think that I needed my circumstance to change
before I had any hope," he said. "I wanted to know that there was
someone else out there in my position, to know that there is hope, that there
is more than just the little box that I see in my life."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But with the help of his religion, friends and family,
Nick managed to pull through to become an international symbol of triumph over
adversity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'When I was 13 I read a newspaper article about a
disabled man who had managed to achieve great things and help others,' said
Nick, who also plays golf with the club tucked under his chin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I realised why God had made us like this - to give hope
to others. It was so inspirational to me that I decided to use my life to
encourage other people and give them the courage that the article had given me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I decided to be thankful for what I do have, not get
angry about what I don't.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I looked at myself in the mirror and said: 'You know
what the world is right that I have no arms or legs, but they'll never take
away the beauty of my eyes.' I wanted to concentrate on something good that I
had.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1990 Nick won the Australian Young Citizen of the Year
award for his bravery and perseverance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'When kids run up to me and ask 'what happened?' I just
lean over and whisper 'cigarettes', he laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And once I was in a car and this girl at traffic lights
was giving me the eye. She could only see my head so I decided to do a 360 in
the car seat to freak her out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Her face was like woooooooah what is going on? She sped
off really quickly.'<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick began travelling the world and in 2008 he went to
Hawaii and met surfing master Bethany Hamilton, who had her arm bitten off by a
shark when she was 12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'She was amazing,
said Nick. 'She taught me how to surf and I was terrified at first, but
once I got up there it felt absolutely fantastic and I caught some waves pretty
well.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick quickly learned how to do three 360 degree spins on
his board - a feat that got him on the cover of Surfer magazine within 48
hours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'No one has ever done that in the history of surfing,' he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'But I have a very low centre of gravity so I've got
pretty good balance.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He moved to Los Angeles two years ago and plans to
continue to travel the world - this year he will visit South America and the
Middle East.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I tell people to keep on getting up when they fall and
to always love themselves,' he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'If I can encourage just one person then my job in this
life is done.' (1)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through his ministry, Life Without Limbs, Vujicic travels
around the world to share his inspiring personal testimony about how he found
joy and hope in Jesus Christ despite his difficult and painful circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traveling extensively to over 44 countries with millions of people attending and still
counting, says Vujicic I have been extremely humbled by the continuous
opportunities that the Lord has given me to share my testimony. My greatest joy
in this life is to introduce Jesus to those I meet and tell them of His great
desire to get to know them personally by allowing Him to become their Lord and
Savior. That’s what Life Without Limbs is all about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Psalm 139:13-14, the Bible says, “For you created my
inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I
am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full
well.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because of the ministry of Life Without Limbs, God has
used me in countless schools, churches, prisons, orphanages, hospitals,
stadiums and in face-to-face encounters with individuals, telling them how very
precious they are to God.</span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today this dynamic young evangelist has accomplished more than most people
achieve in a lifetime. He’s an author, musician, actor, and his hobbies include
fishing, painting and swimming.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is our greatest pleasure to assure people that God
does have a plan for each and every life that is meaningful and purposeful, for
God took my life, one that others might disregard as not having any
significance and He has filled me with His purpose and showed me His plans to
use me to move hearts and lives toward Him. (2)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">References:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196755/The-astonishing-story-man-born-arms-legs--world-famous-swimmer-surfer-footballer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2)
http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/about-life-without-limbs/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></span></div>
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Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492921225263627048.post-4670191842108978002014-06-01T17:04:00.000-07:002014-06-01T17:47:32.788-07:00Jeremiah 29:11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsaZ3KQxLNA/UzU7O1ShcaI/AAAAAAAACcs/nu70Igt8RDQ/s1600/Jeremiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsaZ3KQxLNA/UzU7O1ShcaI/AAAAAAAACcs/nu70Igt8RDQ/s1600/Jeremiah.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For I know
the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for
evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s very
easy when thinking about God’s plan for our lives to have the attitude: “it’s
all about me.” Yes, it’s true that God
cares about every intricate detail in our lives. In fact, Jesus said that even the hairs on
our heads are numbered. We can also
mistakenly think that God’s plan is always going to be a “feel good” plan with
the intent to make us happy. Jeremiah’s message in these verses is actually
radically different. He’s writing to a
group of people who are being held captive, and are in exile from their
homeland. He’s writing to let them know
that although they’re not where they would have expected, nor where they would
have asked God to place them, God has not forgotten them and He still has a
plan for their lives. Even in the midst
of a difficult situation, God wants them to know His plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We often read
Jeremiah 29 like it is good news, plain and simple. But to the first people who
heard those words, they were a tremendous disappointment. God’s people had
suffered terribly. They had lost their land, their throne, their temple. Before
Jerusalem fell in battle, the people had given in to cannibalism. They were
then force-marched 800 miles and paraded (literally) through a pagan city in
which they were now considered as the living symbols of the power of that
city’s god.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was into
this kind of despair that Jeremiah offered God’s promise: “I know the plans I
have for you … plans for your welfare and not for your harm, to give you a
future and a hope.” They were not easy words to hear. Jeremiah promised that
God had a plan that was certain and inevitable. But it would not unfold on
Israel’s timetable. It would not simply undo Israel’s hardship. Yet the promise
stood: God would fully restore His people and bring them out of their desperate
situation, but He would not do it in the way any of them would have planned it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like God
spoke hope to the prophet Jeremiah thousands of years ago, His Word speaks hope
to us today, and every day, reminding us of the beauty available to all in
Christ. A beauty that ultimately brings Him glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are forgiven and made righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are justified and have peace with God. (Romans 5:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are his workmanship - created to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are chosen and made holy to proclaim his excellency. (1 Peter 2:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are a child of God. (John 1:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are a fruit bearer. (John 15:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 1:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are to be his witness to the world. (Acts 1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are given a spirit of power, of love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are equipped to live out his Word. (James 1:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you can choose peace over anxiety. (Philippians 4:6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you can boldly approach God in prayer knowing He hears. (1 John 5:14-15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you can be content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether in
plenty or in want – and do all things. (Philippians 4:12-14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Christ,
you are an overcomer. (1 John 4:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At some point
someone needs to say to us, “Who ever told you life was going to be fair?” God
didn’t. In James 1:2, he didn’t say, “If you have many kinds of troubles,” he
said, “When you have many kinds of troubles.” Troubles are part of the package.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said,
“My kingdom does not belong to this world. My kingdom is from another place
(John 18:36).”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When all of
earth turns against you, all of heaven turns toward you. To keep your balance in this crooked world,
think of home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Raj Kosaraju</span></div>
Raj Kosarajuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13417914500755981564noreply@blogger.com0