Let's get regular

A Lady asked Billy Sunday, who was a famous revival preacher.
"Why do you keep having revivals when it doesn't last?"
He asked her, "Why do you keep taking baths?"

Psalm 85:6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?   

Christian life is about being regular. Probably we are doing the same thing, every other day. But that doesn’t mean it's not important and exciting. Most of us do the same kind of lessons at school, same job in the office and same activities at home. But that doesn’t stop us from doing them in all the respective areas. Sadly with things of God, we are laid back and get bored very easily.

It’s high time that we, the Children of God would enjoy our walk with the Lord. We would be excited to know more about HIM, and serve HIM faithfully. Let us enjoy in the Lord. The task entrusted to us is great and unless we trust and receive from HIM regularly, It won’t work. So let's get regular.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Do you trust THE best?

Some of us limit God to Church and its four walls. We feel that God has very little to do with my studies, struggles, and career. So even after singing the best song and praying our hearts out, we trust in our own abilities to make it big in life.

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

My New Testament professor would often remind us of God as the orchestrator in the authorship of Scriptures. It helped me understand how God is involved in even the smallest details of my life. Most of us walk with the fear of not making it big in life. It is mostly because we are still trusting in our own abilities whereas God wants to lead us from strength to strength and victory to victory.

Let us be able to invite God even in the smallest decisions of our life. Someone said: “Fear God and then you have to fear none. “Let that be our story. Do you trust THE best?

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Gratitude as our attitude

It's easier said than done because many times we don't express this attitude of thankfulness externally. Thanking and showing gratitude has become a very common feature in our generation. So, are we doing it the way we should? Or is it just a namesake thanks?

Psalms 118: 1:- "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Psalms 118 starts and ends by thanking God. There is the emphasis on gratitude for the love of God. The psalmist is sure about what he is saying. It almost seems as if he is sharing his testimony. A story of redemption; of deliverance; of happiness; of hope; more than anything, a story of love. The overwhelming, never-ending love of God which covers everything. Each sentence is written marveling at this amazing love. Over here, they are thanking God for salvation amidst misery, for being their stronghold and the pillar of trust and refuge. This was particular to them.  The psalmist is sure about how, why and for what to thank God for.

Now, think about it in terms of our situation; about how much we are to thank God for each and every second of our lives. Often we go with the flow without acknowledging about how good He has been to us. Maybe they are left even unnoticed. The change should begin with us.

Today, let's reminisce our past and thank Daddy for His love that endures forever. Gratitude must not be a one day exercise, rather it must become our attitude.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Ansu Susan Oommen

Ansu is a student of Delhi University and a youth leader in Crossway. She can be reached at ansususan9828@gmail.com

Let’s enjoy the journey

Ted W. Engstrom, in the book, The Pursuit of Excellence shares about a man who once made an investment in a large piece of ranch real estate which he hoped to enjoy during his years of retirement. While he was still active at his job, he would take one day off each week to go out to his land and work. But what a job! What he had bought, he soon realized, was several acres of weeds, gopher holes, and rundown buildings. It was anything but attractive, but he knew it had potential and he stuck with it.
Every week he'd go to his ranch, crank up his small tractor, and plow through the weeds with a vengeance. Then he'd spend time doing repairs on the buildings. He'd mix cement, cut lumber, replace broken windows, and work on the plumbing. It was hard work, but after several months the place began to take shape. And every time the man put his hand to some task, he would swell with pride. He knew his labor was finally paying off.
When the project was completed, the man received a neighborly visit from a farmer who lived a few miles down the road. Farmer Brown took a long look at the preacher and cast a longer eye over the revitalized property. Then he nodded his approval and said, "Well, friend, it looks like you and God really did some work here."
The man, wiping the sweat from his face, answered, "It's interesting you should say that, Mr. Brown. But I've got to tell you -- you should have seen this place when God had it all to Himself!"

Philippians 2: 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

We often don’t realize that God is always at work in our lives. We might be only concerned about the results and the final picture, But God enjoys the process, because that's where God is making us what we ought to become, and it just goes on. Let’s enjoy the journey.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

HE will not hold back

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Love of God is such a deep and an amazing topic to ponder on the greatness of our God. At the end of it, one will simply realize that HE is so amazing that you and I can’t just comprehend it fully. But for sure we can understand HIM effectively. Bible reminds us that God the Father gave the best in the heaven for you and me. HE kept nothing for HIMSELF but gave JESUS that HE may die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin and we may attain a new life of abundance.

When HE has given us the best, will HE hold back any good things from us? Some of us are so low in confidence regarding the fact that I don't have this, I don't have that and I am really unfortunate to have missed out on so many things. But let us be encouraged by the powerful reminder that when HE has given us the best, HE will not hold back any good thing from us. HE will not hold back.   

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Forgive and Forget

What really makes people satisfied with their lives? Amazingly, the secret may lie in a person's ability to handle life's blows without blame or bitterness. These are the conclusions of a study of 173 men who have been followed since they graduated from Harvard University in the early 1940s. The study, reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry, noted that one potent predictor of well-being was the ability to handle emotional crisis maturely.

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

        We are often carrying so much of bitterness and hatred in our lives, that it doesn't help us think straight. These unnecessary baggage only tend to distract us of the real purpose of God in our lives.

        Most of us have been hurt by someone in some or the other way. But if we are unable to forgive them, then we haven’t understood the Cross yet. Unless we forgive and let it go, our lives are not going to be the way, God wants. So let's make attempts to forgive and forget.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Are you ready for the makeover?

There is this common statement by everyone. Irrespective of whatever the talk is about, the recurrent excuse cited is, "I'm not equipped for this task'.

Exodus 4: 2:- "The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff."

There are times when we speculate upon something and come to the conclusion that we are not experts in it. This makes us say that the most common excuse of 'I'm not good enough'. But let's look at how things can be different.

Now, we all know about Moses. He was just a shepherd when God appointed him to deliver Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. He declined to go for this task saying, 'I'm not the right one for this. I'm a shepherd with just a staff with me to heed the sheep.' And this basically means I don't have the right equipment to perform your assigned task. I just have a staff with me.
But miracles were performed with that staff; miracles that made the Pharaoh tremble before Moses, miracles that made Israelites believe in him.

Think about it. A staff? That's his armour to free the Israelites? Moses was right in saying that he was not equipped to lead the Israelites. This staff becomes the rod of authority only when Moses submits himself entirely before God.

God will use what is there in your hand. Maybe it's not the right tool in our sight, but it can always be changed to the right one by God. So just let yourselves and everything you have unto God. Place yourselves in Him; things will start to change.

So, what is there in your hands? Are you ready for the makeover?

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Ansu Susan Oommen

Ansu is a student of Delhi University and a youth leader in Crossway. She can be reached at ansususan9828@gmail.com

HE will not hold back

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Love of God is such a deep and amazing topic to realize the greatness of our God. At the end of it, one will simply realize that HE is so amazing that you and I can’t just comprehend it fully. But for sure we can understand HIM effectively. That's when the Bible reminds us that God the Father gave the best in the heaven for you and me. HE kept nothing for HIMSELF but gave JESUS that HE may die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin and to attain a new life of abundance.

When HE has given us the best, will HE hold back good things from us? Some of us are so low in confidence regarding the fact that I don't have this, I don't have that and I am really unfortunate to have missed out on so many things. But let us be encouraged by the powerful reminder that when HE has given us the best, HE will not hold back any good thing from us. HE will not hold back.   

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Living with a purpose

Ed McManus, editor of The Jokesmith newsletter, has put out a booklet of humor about folks in human resources. It's called What is a Human Resource? and in it, he explains how people get assigned to particular jobs.  You leave them in a conference room for four hours. Then, you go back to see what they're doing.
If they don't look up when you enter the room, assign them to the Security Department. If they're counting the butts in the ashtray, put them in Finance. If they've taken the table apart, put them in Engineering. If they're screaming and waving their arms, send them off to Manufacturing. And if they've left early, put them in Sales.

Mark 6:43 - And the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

Our God is the smartest. When He creates something or someone, He always has a purpose. God doesn't like wasting things away. After feeding the 5000 with fish and bread everyone was so happy. But the plenty that came should not go waste. So it was collected and it came up to 12 baskets. Probably it could be used on the way or can be given to the poor or something could be done with it always.

    Many of us in the body of Christ have termed ourselves useless. Maybe it's, because of our negative attitude and perhaps lazy nature. Its high time that we realize that God has created us for a purpose and let's be at it. As we continue in the presence of God and in the things of God, we shall surely get an idea of what we ought to be doing in and FOR HIS KINGDOM. Living with a purpose.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Slow and steady

In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?"
The old man replied, "Nope, only babies."
A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes--whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

         Several times we are not patient in our walks with our Lord. A few days into our calling and we want to hit the right note in everything. We are ready to wait for good food as it is being cooked and do all the things needed. But with God and things of God we want it like now and right now.

           The call placed in our lives is progressive in nature. As we continue to walk with the Lord and be faithful in the things entrusted to us, HE will use us and lift us up. But if we are not ready to walk and only waiting to fly then we haven't got it. It doesn't work that way. Slow and steady.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Attitude matters

There are many characters with fleeting roles in the Bible. They come for a very short role, those might even be unnoticeable. Epaphroditus was such a man, who had a very short but significant role to play.

Philippians 2: 30:- because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.   

The idea or the concept of Christian love and humility is what Apostle Paul is expressing in the second chapter of the letter to Philippians. He talks about the attitude of Christ, who regarded the interest of other people important than himself. With all the theoretical explanation in the beginning, we are presented with a practical example by the end of the chapter. Epaphroditus; he was a believer from the church in Philippi. Now, this person is not mentioned just as a believer. Paul presents him as 'my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need'.  Sounds more like a model of example, right? Well, hold on because there is more to come.

The striking fact about Epaphroditus does not end with the description. Apparently, he had come all the way from Philippi to Rome to be of help to Paul. He served and took care of Paul, and also brought the gifts that the Philippians kept aside for Paul.

Moreover, the serving attitude of Epaphroditus was such that he was inclined to taking care of Paul though he himself became fatally ill, even to the point of death. All in all, he was a representative of the Phillippe church dedicated wholeheartedly to the service and care of Apostle Paul.

This attitude of Epaphroditus is the brotherly love that we as 'followers of Christ' are supposed to have; a shoulder of help to those in need. Fellowship with God and fellowship with believers around us are both important in our Christian walk.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in/

Ansu Susan Oommen

Ansu is a student of Delhi University and a youth leader in Crossway. She can be reached at ansususan9828@gmail.com

Prioritized

Someone once asked Tom Landry why he had been so successful as a football coach. He said, "In 1958, I did something everyone who has been successful must do, I determined my priorities for my life — God, family, and then football.”

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

More often than not most tend to stick to one's own knowledge and understanding for most of the decisions. Perhaps when it comes to terminal disease we may invite God to heal and provide. Where a Bible teaches us to give the topmost priority to God and then everything else shall fall in its own place.

Most today seek God at the 11th hour or at their convenience. But God Is interested in all of our lives. Every bit of it and the complete control. That's when HE can have HIS way and make our lives the most beautiful as it ought to be. Let God be our top most priority in every facet of life. Prioritized.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in/

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

Walk like a champ

In February 1980, the U.S. Olympic hockey team slipped its foot into a glass slipper and walked away with a gold medal at Lake Placid, New York. Those collegians had shocked the world by upsetting the powerful Soviet team, and then they grabbed the championship from Finland while the crowd chanted, "U.S.A.!"  Before his team's victory over the Soviet Union which advanced them to the finals, the coach of the U.S. hockey team told his players, "You are born to be a player. You are meant to be here at this time. This is your moment."

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

More often than not we are waiting for a victory, a deliverance and a breakthrough in our own life. We keep looking out of the window into the lives of other and just stare at their success and amazing life. We are like when will my time come. But we just forget that God has already given us the secret of success through Jesus Christ. We might be smiling on the outside, but in our hearts, we are like a lost warrior.

Most of the times we tend to be thinking with drooping shoulders and such poor thoughts about ourselves. Whereas we just forget that we are already victorious in Christ Jesus. But we haven’t accepted it. In Christ, our victory is not earned but received. It has to be translated into our behaviour, thoughts and walks. We already have it, Let’s just enjoy living the life given to us by God. Walk like a champ.   

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in/

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com

God is Love

Watching a trapeze show is breathtaking. We wonder at the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up and bounce back to the trapeze. In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, "Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren't they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?" That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for ALL our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are works of God's grace. Of course, we cannot be continually sleeping on the net.

Mark 14:19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

Jesus was about to be arrested by the Romans, then the unfair trial and the cross to follow. But before all that, Jesus says that one of you will betray me. It's interesting that all of the twelve disciples responded, “are you talking about me ?”. Plainly speaking everyone had some or the other issue which was kinda betraying Jesus. But even then they were called the disciples of Jesus. The apostles who were chosen to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Isn't that fantastic to realize that we have a God who knows our weaknesses and yet lets us walk with Him. That’s His love. For sure the love of God will accept us the way we are but won't let us remain the way we are. God is Love.

http://xfiloz.blogspot.in/

Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com