11 Candles

Issue No. 11 Please send your suggestions & Articles for the next issue of CANDLES to “Mr. Chiradeep Patra, 11A/1A, Mahendra Chatterjee Lane, Kolkata - 700 046; E-Mail: thecandles@sify.com Mobile: 09830930379

Web Site: http://candlesmagazine.blogspot.com All the articles should reach us at least one month in advance. The publisher reserves the right to edit, publish or reject the submitted articles.

Articles submitted Cannot be returned, so please keep a copy of the article sent to us.

ANDLES September - December 2007

Guest Editorial

Year 2

By Mr. Vicky Sarkar

C

hristmas is a special occasion for the Christians. But how many of us understand the real meaning of CHRISTMAS? If we don’t know the meaning then Christmas will simply be a celebration without any value in it. So it is very important for us to understand what is Christmas. Let’s consider the real meaning of Christmas, which I have given as under:

C-Christ was born to give us H-Hope for life that we may have R-Resurrection on the last day if we I-Invest our time to work out our S-Salvation and helping others in their diffculties T-Teaching the word of God that M-Messiah died for our sins and rose again A-Ascended into Heavens and is coming back S-Second time to take us to be with Him forever

Local Address ...........And that's how we need to celebrate CHRISTMAS for New Delhi My Christian Friends! Are you ready to celebrate a meaningful Christmas this year!

Contact: Rev. Joshua 109-B#Pkt - I, Dilshadgarden New Delhi - 110 095 Cell:09810364986

E-mail: seva_network@hotmail.com “For Private Circulation Only”

Wish You All A Merry CHRISTMAS 2007

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OUR FAMILY

The Condition of the Family Today Raymond & Breann Lengtat

I

t was stated in a recent issue of Candles that the divorce rate in India is at 1.1%.

Sadly, it is known that the divorce rate in the United States is at 50%! These numbers are astounding. It is our belief that the main cause of divorce and what is at the heart of the family condition today can be summed up in one word BUSY. Families are busy. As educators in the United States, we have been in heavy contact with many different families, seeing the condition through the eyes of our students.

Families have many different things pulling at them, conflicting with the need to be unified and cohesive. Usually both parents have demanding jobs that require long hours and busy schedules; children have school requirements, sports activities, friends, and family demands.

This creates an atmosphere of chaos. Many families do not even take the time to eat a family meal together. Parents grab something quickly as they run out of the door, and children are asked to feed themselves. This “busy-ness” has created the “Fast Food Nation” people too busy to cook a meal at home hurriedly drive through a fast food restaurant for quick food eaten in the car while on the go. Such a situation continues the idea of chaos within the family.

With this atmosphere being the status of our families in the US, it is no wonder that families are eroding. It becomes apparent why the divorce rate is so high. People simply do not have the time for others, including their spouses and their children. Children become independent in the sense that they must take care of themselves mothers are too busy to be nurturing. Students miss education opportunities because parents are too busy to be involved at school. Parents miss the development and growth of their children because they are too busy to notice that their child is quickly growing up. This is truly a disgrace to the institution of family that God has created.

We have been blessed by our time in India by many things, but one thing stands out. The pace of life is much different than the US. This is critical to maintaining a family unit. Taking time to notice things and relate to people is so valuable. It is, in fact, what the Lord called us to do. He commanded that we “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). In obedience to this command, we must take the TIME to love our family and others around us. We would like to encourage all readers of Candles to take some time to consider the business of your own life.

Are you too busy to spend time with your own family? And more importantly, are you too busy to spend time with God?

Page 3 Spending personal time with God is something that will inspire us to realize the importance of family. The more we get to know Him, the more we will realize just how much He loves our families. We will realize through time with God that His desire is for us to grow as a unified, cohesive family that works together to serve Him and bring glory to His name. We will learn what He is like. And we will learn that He calls us to be like Him. We are to love as He loves. Time spent with God will lead to the desire to spend more time with family. This time spent together will strengthen the bond and bring families closer together.

We often get “too busy” for our families. We must see this trend change, or the divorce rate will continue to rise throughout the world.

Happiness Mantra: 'Be opened to God’ Mrs. Asmita Patra

W

e always pour out our hearts and share all our emotions with the person we love the most on this earth. It is that belongingness and love that takes away the barrier and makes us feel like expressing our heart out to the person. We share our deepest emotion, our inner thoughts, all about our friends, whatever is belonging to us. Yet it is possible that the closest person may betray us one day and go against us within no time. We feel shattered emotionally as we feel rejected and betrayed.

But God never does the same. He never betrays us. Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If He agreed to be your friend today then He remains as your friend forever. He is faithful. Therefore, we definitely can trust God. When we choose to trust God rather than men then we need to open our heart before Him whenever we feel like.

Benefits of being open to God? 1. Clear Vision: The first thing that happens as soon as we open to God, we view ourselves in His eyes and realise that we are unworthy to even stand before God. He is a clear mirror in which we can see the real picture of ourselves. In God’s eyes we are very precious too.

2. Relief from Guilt: After realization of our self worth, we ask forgiveness for our sins and receive it immediately from God, which relieves us from our guilt. Our heart overwhelms with joy for being forgiven and accepted, not rejected.

3. Freedom from Burden: When we opened to God, God takes first Place in our life, and the faith on God leads us not to worry for anything. We give attention to God and His kingdom. Our focus changes from human and earthly things to God. We simply put our entire burden on Him knowing that He will take care and focus on our Purpose for Him. He gives us peace and we get freedom from burdens and bondage.

4. Gaining Confidence: When we open to God, God gives confidence us to stand firm before Him and before men also. He gives strength and confidence in our work place as well as to witness for Him on this earth.

So it is very important that, we should live a life of freedom. Bible says a mother who has given birth to her child can forget her child but God never forgets us. Are we open before man or before God? Because true freedom leads us to a victorious and joyous life and it is only possible when we choose to be open to God. Now “The Candles” Has Started A Website Ministry. So Don’t Forget To Visit And Give Your Comments...

Website Address: http://thecandles.wordpress.com Join the Prayer Network at: http://prayingfriends.bravehost.com For prayer requests & counseling email us: share_your_problems@hotmail.com

Amazing God Mrs. Helen Swarna ************** Lord, Help me to realise always, That you are the author of my ways; You laid the foundation for this earth, It is you who cares for me from my birth; You scrolled the sky above, You are my friend, gentle as dove; How beautifully you paint the evening sky, You are always near me when I cry; You call the stars by name, To die for me, from heaven you came; You made this flower that I smell, You know my words before I spell; You created everything that I see, My Dad you will ever be; You put a limit to the seas that roar, With limitless love, U love me to the core; Who am I Lord... to inherit this privilege so high?

Hold me close Lord. I wanna draw nigh; In all that I do help me to love you true, Coz you are my rock, I trust only in you.

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Quotes “I'm still an atheist, thank God.” Luis Bunuel (1900 - 1983)

"God loves to help him who strives to help himself.”

Aeschylus Greek dramatist (BC 525-456)

"Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity."

Saint Augustine

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”

Helen Keller

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Reinhold Niebuhr