::||//\\GRACE & PEACE//\\//||::
"Grace & Peace" is an e-periodical for spiritual enlightenment,
edification and encouragement.
Issue No.195 January 2023        PDF
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In this issue:-
Perspective:-

Rejuvenation and Renewal

While pondering upon the wonder of God’s creation, the Psalmist writes, “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.” (Psalm 104:30). Decay and destruction are the result of sin. Everything of this world becomes old and fades away (Isa. 40:6). However, God remains the same, and He has a process in place to renew and reform what was marred by sin.
       Not only God renews the face of the earth, but He also regenerates and transforms man from the deformity caused by his fall. The Lord taught this truth to Prophet Jeremiah with an illustration. He told the prophet to go to a potter’s house and notice the way he makes a vessel.
       As the prophet was watching, “the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” (Jeremiah 18:4) Then the Lord told Jeremiah, “Look as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My Hand, O house of Israel!” v. 6.
       What a comforting reality it is that we are in the hands of an unchanging God and He is still working on us, in spite of all the imperfections.

Human Impatience

Sad to notice, often man is so impatient with himself and even others. We write off the erring ones immediately and refuse to see any rays of hope in the midst of confusion. We act and speak with deep sense of hopelessness and finally ........>>>More


May the Lord graciously grant all our esteemed readers a blessed and fruitful Christ-honoring Happy New Year 2023


Out line:-

New Things from God

(Isa. 42:9; 43:19; 48:6)

  1. New Heart. Ezekiel 11:19
  2. New Mind. Romans 12:2
  3. New Man Ephesians 4:24; 2:15; 2 Corinthians 4:16
  4. New Strength Isaiah 40:31
  5. New Life Romans 6:4
  6. New Song Psalm 40:3; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9
  7. New Creation 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15
  8. New name Isaiah 62:2; Revelation 3:12
  9. New Heavens and a new earth Isa. 65:17

Anecdote: -

New Coat of the Communist

Some years ago a crowd of men and women were gathered on a street corner, listening to a young orator tell of the benefits of socialism. He grew eloquent as he told of all that socialism could do for men and women. In his enthusiasm, he cried out, “Socialism can put a new coat on a man.”
       In the crowd was one who had recently experienced the saving power of Christ in his life. He cried out, in answer to that challenge of socialism, “Jesus Christ can put a new man in the coat.” Better a new man in an old coat, than the old man in a new coat.

— Author: Unknown


Exhortation: -

BEING IN HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS

By James R. Nair, Rajasthan

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2: 49)
Jesus’ earthly parents did their best that they could to ‘perform all things according to the law of the Lord’ (v. 39). Yet, how tragic it is, humanly speaking, to learn that they ‘lost’ Him for about four days (cf. Luke 2: 41 – 49).
    Observing Passover was so dear to them, and probably an ecstatic moment each year; but this year, a few anxious moments awaited them coupled with a bitter truth – ‘I must be about my Father’s business.’ A few reflections in this major let down here; let us note to observe at the beginning of this New Year.

Assumption of His Presence

Seven days have been finished (v.43), now on their way back, as anyone else would be content, Joseph’s and Mary’s Passover is accomplished for this year. Yet, amidst the celebration, there lies a danger, a blind assumption, they supposed Him to have been in the company (v.44), but He was not! It is so heart-breaking to see that they went about a day’s journey, roughly 20 miles, with this assumption.
       How often we too had assumed that He was with us, while we marched ahead in our so-called spiritual accomplishments, performing everything according to the existing customs and traditions, yet failed to understand that .....More


Gospel: -

The Way to God

By Aby Kuruvilla, Mumbai

The seeker of heaven may have been taught that the way to God must be earned out of living a good life, doing good works, and visiting holy sites. While these may seem worthy endeavours, yet the seeker is not certain of the desired end.
       May we then turn our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ who declared that He is “… the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In the pursuit of heavenly things, man is declared to be "without strength" (Rom. 5:6) and can by no means attain unto the standards of God. Therefore, we must entirely look unto the Lord to show us the way.

Divinely Originated

The way to heaven could only be paved and completed by God himself. God himself took the initiative and sent His Son into the world. Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God, "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:7). Man was not involved in His conception, for this was told to the virgin that gave birth to the child, "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). Thus..…More


News & Views:1 -

The Increasing Suicide Rate in India

According to the data released by The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), suicide rate in India is increasing alarmingly. In 2021, the total death by suicide in the country was 1, 64, 033 which is 7.2% more than the previous year. This is the highest ever recorded number of suicides in the country, ever since reporting began in 1967. More


News & Views:2 -

Strict Anti-Conversion Law

On 23 December 2022, Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) Gurumit Singh approved the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2022, which was passed by the legislative assembly on November 30. Accordingly, any unlawful religious conversion in the state will be a cognizable offense and a non -bailable offense punishable by up to 10 years' prison term. Apart from the prison term, the offender will have to pay a fine of a minimum of Rupees fifty thousand and compensation to the victim of up to Rupees five lakhs. More


Worthy Quotes:-

Renewal

“Lord, revive Your Church and begin with me.”

  __________ A Chinese Christian  

“To be the people of God without regeneration is as impossible as to be the children of men without generation. “

  __________ Richard Baxter  

“The dead dry days were gone. I was all the time tugging and carrying water, but now I have a river carrying me.”

  __________ Dwight L. Moody  


Reader’s Response:

My dear brethren, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the years that you have sent me ‘Grace & Peace E-Periodical’. I can perfectly and easily read it on the website also. I will continue reading your publication and thus, in addition to benefiting from the content, it will remember me to pray for my brothers in India. With love in Our Emmanuel,

Enrique González / Zamora /Spain


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 'Grace  & Peace'is an electronic periodical, sent out monthly, aiming the overall spiritual growth of Christian Believers.You can reproduce this e-periodical fully or in part in any medium, provided it is unedited, and retain the original author / copyright information and a reference to our website - gracepeace.net For further details contact:- gracepeaceu AT gmail.com Prepared, and posted by Nelson Thomas Kumaramparampil(NTK) for the Glory of God & the Joy of the saints. Editorial assistance: Tom Jacob Pdf format Design & Layout: Jiju Mathew   Visit:- www.gracepeace.net "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1: 18, 19).