A visit to a hospital or a graveyard brings before us certain realities of life we otherwise tend to neglect. In the midst of our busy schedule, such instances exceptionally touch our consciences. It is wise to make use of those rare occasions for our learning and transformation.
      After attending half a dozen funerals within a span of one month, this writer is deeply exercised to consider the brevity of human life afresh and ponder upon related truths. No wonder the wise man in the Bible suggested to visit the house of mourning rather than a house of feasting. For it’s there the living can think and learn from the depth of their hearts (Ecc. 7:2).

Startling Statistics

Look around and see the number of deaths that are taking place in India:

• The Covid19 pandemic took away 5, 33,295 lives in India.
• In 2021, the number of suicides in India was 1, 64,000 and it rose to 1, 68, 491 in 2022.
• In 2021, the number of deaths due to road accidents in India was 1, 53, 972 but in 2022 this number also rose to 1, 68,000.

Now, add to these figures the number of demises caused by various other factors, like calamities, diseases, old age-related ailments, etc. You will see that it is innumerable indeed. When countless lives are leaving this world every moment, never forget.....>>>More

NTK

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Outline:-

Shortness of Human Life

1. Like a shadow, Psa 102:11
2. Like a weaver's shuttle, Job 7:6
3. Like a hurrying messenger, Job 9:25
4. Like a flower that fades away, Job 14:2
5. Like a sigh, Psa 90:9
6. Like a shepherd’s tent, Isa 38: 12
7. Like a weaver’s web, Isa 38:12
8. Like a vanishing vapour, James 4:14

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Anecdote: -

The Nobel Peace Prize

One morning in 1888, Alfred Nobel the inventor of dynamite awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as a result of a simple journalistic error. It was Alfred's brother that had died, and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother.
      Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances, but to Alfred, the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him: The "Dynamite King," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Alfred's life.
      None of his true intentions to break down the barriers that separated men and ideas for peace were recognized or given serious consideration. He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone he would be remembered.
      As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune.
      His last will and testament--an endowment of five annual prizes for outstanding contributions in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology, or Medicine, Literature, and Peace (the sixth category of Economics was added later) – would be the expression of his life's ideals and ultimately, this would be why we would remember him.
      The result was the most valuable of prizes given to those who had done the most for the cause of world peace. It is called today, the "Nobel Peace Prize."

— Source: Unknown

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Prophetical: -

A Gaze into The Biblical Gaza

The Israel-Gaza conflict began on 7th October 2023 when militants invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack was met with an Israeli counter-offensive, and Israel formally declared war on Hamas a day later. The war is part of the decades-long Palestinian–Israeli conflict.
      There are a lot of discussions and debates happening about the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip territory occupies 140 square miles along the Mediterranean Sea just northeast of the Sinai Peninsula.
      The Gaza Strip is unusual in being a densely settled area not recognized as any other country. Not only in secular history, surprisingly, the Gaza city is also mentioned several times in the Bible. The Gaza that is in the news today is the same Gaza that was mentioned in the Bible, nothing has changed! At least in 13 Old Testament books, Gaza is mentioned and 1 time even in the New Testament.
We will consider...>>>More

By Bro. David Manchala, Hyderabad

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Exhortation: -

UNCERTAINTY TO CERTAINTY

God has created this universe beautifully and wonderfully. He has done everything properly and in order. This is why man is not ready to leave this world even though their days are numbered.

Moses’ prayer is a pattern for all of us, “Teach us God to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12).

Moreover, godliness, fear of God, and wisdom equip us to face uncertainty first and then that which is certain. In fact, nothing in this world is permanent; however, God is preparing eternal things for those who wait for Him.

Let’s compare certain uncertain and certain things and look.....>>>More

By Joy Murickal Issac, Kerala

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Meditation -

Footprints in the sands of time or Footholds in the Rock eternal?

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain”. (1 Cor. 15:58 [NIV])

Henry W. Longfellow, an American poet of the 1800s, wrote the following lines in his immensely popular poem, A Psalm of Life:

“Lives of great men all remind us,  We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.”

However, one wonders how those dissolving footprints in the sands of time would help a forlorn and shipwrecked person to see and take heart. Lives of great men of the world do leave footprints, albeit, on the sands of time. And when the great waters flow over them, the place remembers them no more.

Let's not look for footprints in the sands of time but at the footholds in the Rock of Ages cleft for us at Calvary. Those gaping wounds of the Savior are footholds for us, and assuredly neither our feet will stumble nor will our steps slip anymore. ... More

By  Biju Itty, Surat

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Practical -

HOW TO PREPARE FOR OUR DEPARTURE?

In view of the truths, we discussed earlier-

• The reality of death – unexpected and increasing,
• Nothing happens for believers before the appointed time,
• For a believer death is a gain, not a loss, it’s a promotion -

How do we prepare for this unavoidable occasion?

1. Value life and live in its fullness.

Never underestimate the life and privileges that we enjoy today, which are the gracious provisions of God. The health, resources, and favorable circumstances at our disposal today may disappear within no time. The wise man put it poignantly, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Ecc. 9:10). So, ... More

NTK

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Gospel -

Do all Good Things have to End?

Another year-end (of 2023) is fast approaching. We are awaiting the dawn of a brand new year (2024), hoping that things might get better concerning our finances, careers, education, health, relationships, etc.

This is also a time when some of us wish to pause a bit, introspect, and reflect on what went wrong, where, when, and how? We like to determine what we should have done differently so that we don't have to face the outcomes of our failures and avoid repeating them in the year ahead as we did this year. All this helps us to come up with certain resolutions for the year ahead.

 On the other hand, for some of us, this year, 2023, was really good as we could experience success and see progress in several spheres of life, while this may not be the case for others. However, without any exception, we all desire that only good things should happen in our lives, and this trend should keep continuing. Nevertheless, the world says, "All good things come to an end"; sadly, we tend to think... More

By  Tom Jacob, Mumbai

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Worthy Quotes:-

Death

“It is a poor thing to fear that which is inevitable.”

  __________ Tertullian  

“Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”

  __________ Anon  

"I am so weak. I can't read my Bible. I can't even pray. I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child and trust."

  __________ Hudson Taylor  

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Grace & Peace - Online

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