Who is the Deceiver?

Mohit sat silent, on the backseat of his father’s Chevrolet unaware of the wedding procession, with its bright light and colorful people that were passing by. The noise of music and laughter failed to penetrate into the confused and disoriented mind of Mohit.
Mohit was just returning from the Doctor after a thorough check up of his body.
He was just about to celebrate his 20th birthday on the coming Sunday but instead of joy and anticipation he was remorseful and shocked. He still could not believe what the Doctor has just told him. Mohit was suffering from some liver problem. The doctor said it was serious enough but not life threatening as such. Mohit has to really undergo through medical treatment now. He has to be very careful with his habits and lifestyle.
Mohit’s Daddy sat dejected in the care beside him. There was shadow of sadness, and anguish on his face. He did not say anything to his son, but Mohit knew that his father was shocked and also angry to hear from the Doctor that his only son was a smoker.
As Mohit closed his eyes to shut out the outside image he went back to those days when he had started smoking only at the age of twelve. Suresh and Binu were his other friends who had encouraged him to try a cigarette. They used to meet every evening near the stadium. Though Suresh and Binu were not from the same school, Mohit had befriended them in a inter school competition. From then onwards they always met regularly. Unfortunately they were not the only friends. Their friend circle grew when other boys too became friendly with them. They used to sit and chat under a Bunyan tree and also play cricket together. Cricket actually extended the friend circle but while playing clean cricket, Mohit got into the habit of smoking unawares. At first it was a curiosity, then developed into a challenge among the friends and then smoking became the mark of manliness. Mohit wanted at any cost to be counted a Man so he regularly smoked with his friends. Before going home he would eat a strong flavor chocolate in order to camouflage the cigarette odor. Mohit always thought he was very smart because he could fool his mother and father. Before long, Mohit became an ardent follower and slave of Smoking. He realized that without cigarette he was not bale to concentrate in anything. His pocket money seemed very less for his expenses.
On the way to deceive his parents, Mohit actually was being deceived himself.
What he thought was smartness, was actually destroying his health. His bad health now stood as a barrier for him. He was not certain about his future. His dream to join the school of Defense lay shattered all because of a tiny yielding to the deception. With a wreaked health, and not able to join in the Defense Academy would he be now counted as a Man? Now as he sat on the car, he was realizing that indeed he has been deceived
But who was the deceiver? Was it his friend circle, was it the cigarette or was Mohit himself?

Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house… my gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

From Deception to Trust

Jacob was the younger of the two sons of Isaac and Rebecca. Esau was the elder one who was the rightful heir to his father’s blessings according to the Hebrew culture at that time.
Esau and Jacob were brothers with different temperament and talents. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the open country while Jacob was a quiet man staying in the house.
One day Jacob overheard his old father asking Esau to go into the forest and hunt some wild game for him and cook it for him. Isaac wanted to bless Esau before his death as was the culture at those days.
Jacob was the pampered boy of Rebecca. So mother and son decided to play a trick and get Esau’s blessing from Isaac through deception. Now Esau was a hairy man whereas Jacob had less hair on his body. Isaac was an old man with weak eyesight so together they planned to deceive Isaac.
As soon as Esau left for the forest, immediately Jacob brought a young lamb and his mother cooked it very deliciously, then Jacob took some animal skin and covered his hands and face which would give an impression that he was Esau.
Then quickly he went near Isaac who was lying in the bed and presented the deliciously cooked dish to his father. Old and worm Isaac was surprised that Esau could make it so quickly. When he asked, Jacob lied to him saying that his skill made it easier for hunting in less time. Then Isaac was doubtful about his voice. Once again Jacob lied to his father saying that he was having a cold, therefore his voice was different. When Isaac touched Jacob’s shoulder, Jacob pretended to be Esau and finally succeeded in convincing Isaac that he was indeed Esau.
Isaac, enjoyed the food and then he laid his hands on Jacob and pronounced on him with all kinds of blessing for prosperity, health and happiness. Jacob felt great. Then before Esau’s return, Jacob quickly packed his bag and left home. His mother sent him faraway to his bother’s village. He must have congratulated himself for being a smart guy. Jacob went on his way happy and feeling secure.
Jacob settled down in another place. Jacob used his deception tactics a few times to gain more wealth. He succeeded too and thought that he can get away with it. His health anf family grew.
Years passed then one day, his deception was uncovered by his uncle with whom he was living with his big family. Fearing that he would be punished by his uncle and his household, Jacob, ran away from that place along with his family, servants, money and cattle. But on the way, he started feeling afraid. He was frightened to meet his own brother Esau whom he had deceived years ago. Jacob lost his peace and was worried to death.
In the middle of his journey, God met him but Jacob did not realize it. He mistook the divine form to be a mere human being and started wrestling with him. After wrestling for a long time, Jacob realized that he was indeed in the presence of supernatural power. Jacob lost his confidence. He was already paralyzed with fear and anxiety so he cling to God and pleaded Him to bless him.
God was merciful to him because he had asked Him for bless him instead of deceiving people for his gain. From then on Jacob’s name was changed. He went and asked forgiveness from his brother. He was called “Israel”. Jacob changed his ways and trusted God for his blessings and he went on to become a great nation chosen by God.
________________________

God and Me: Jesus my Saviour

I am born and brought up in a Christian family yet I was never keen about my personal relationship with Jesus. I was very keen in acquiring all the worldly status of LIFE! My friends who studied and grew up with me went passed ahead in all affairs. I felt so gloomy. I never was happy about my circumstances neither I knew what it was to trust in God for happiness and success. I silently questioned Lord Jesus as to why I always lagged behind from others. God was silent! Then God provided a soul mate for me. But usual marriage adjustments retarded me more and I started breaking under depression. I prayed …..But God was silent!
On 8th March’ 08 during a Bible study program on the book of Daniel in the Church, I prayed to God to cleanse me with His Holy Word. I repented and prayed (Psalms 22:24) and begged Lord Jesus to touch me and break me free from all sins and to pour into me His Holy Spirit! The Bible says that God does not overlook a broken and contrite heart. True to His Nature, God answered………My lips began to shiver….. My folded hand started to clap in His praise……….and I instantly fell flat on the ground……..God was touching me. My whole body began to fill with His GRACE! My murmuring lips were only thanking God for the GREATEST GIFT I have received from God ……..SALVATION. I found all my inner sufferings, past agony, impure thoughts and pride melting down like ice. The utmost peace, joy, love of Christ began to envelop me with His mercy. I no more felt lonely or negative about life. After encountering the power of Lord Jesus in my life, every area of my life was changed. I was no more the same. He gave me courage to look at life and at others from His prespective. I thanked Lord Jesus for choosing me for His Glory. When I look back I see the strange heavenly coincidence of God’s design for my life. My engagement was finalized on 8th Sep – my Engagement on 8th Nov – my Marriage on 8th Jan and my Holy Birth on 8th Mar 08! Today I am a new being and very happy and thankful to Lord Jesus for answering all my prayers. Now I am happy that I have found a true friend in Jesus who loves me more than anyone else. Therfore, I know for sure that God is not meant to be somewhere far away and silent. He is mindful about us human beings, but we need to listen to His voice and respond to Him. God is never silent………..HE LISTENS and CARES. God Bless.
-by Christina Michael Madhu
Christina is happily married and lives with her family in Jamshedpur. She is now actively sharing her new relationship with Jesus to everyone.

Editorial: Deception is a dangerous disease

Dear Prajapati Friend,
Greetings. Certainly you must be very busy getting new admissions in different Institutions. Prajapati-the Butterfly team wish you God’s choicest blessings, wisdom and guidance for every moment of your life.
It is also our heartfelt prayers that you may be protected from every kind of snares and deception which can destroy your inner beauty, affect your self-esteem and bring many barriers on your road to success and clean life. When God first created this beautiful world, HE called it “good” but as we look around us, how much goodness and beauty do we perceive? Unfortunately, our world is being destroyed. There are wars, bomb blasts, crimes, floods, global warming and so on. More serious is the decaying of the human heart. Our heart which was supposed to be filled with good thoughts, clean attitudes, and noble ideas is gradually being replaced by many negative emotions.
One such negative attitude is “Deception” which is also the theme for this issue of Prajapati. Deceiving others has become a norm which is very dangerous and sad. God’s Heart breaks to see His created human beings, so deceptive and beguile. In that case those who deceive are actually failing Gods’ purpose in their lives.
The articles, stories are written in order to help us understand the traps of Evil force and let us recognize that deceiving people is detestable. Let us also grow wise and not be deceived by the fake promises, pleasures that the world offers at the cost of holiness and clean life.
Wish you happy reading and good health during the rainy season.
God Bless!
Swapna

The Master Deceiver

Deception is one of the symptoms of an evil mind. It can really make a relationship go sour and also result in down fall. The story of deception began in the Garden of Eden after the Creation.
God who is Holy, Loving created the whole world along with all its elements and then at last He created human beings. The first humans were Adam and Eve. God gave them the ownership over the Earth and blessed them to enjoy and multiply. He also gave them a command. It was to eat of every tree except for one. God said that if they disobey and eat of that tree they would certainly die. Adam and Eve were very happy and they were enjoying themselves in the Garden.
Now, Satan was very cunning. He had and still has big problem with God and Godliness. He never could tolerate that Adam and Eve were living happily like in fairy stories and they were enjoying the fellowship of God. Their contentment and happiness was hard for Satan to digest.
One day as Eve was relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery and listening to the music of the birds in the trees, Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent. At first he planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s heart. It was against God. Satan tried to make Eve think that after all, God’s rule about not eating a specific fruit was too restrictive for them. Satan subtly made her to think that God was not thinking for their good but that He was selfish. Eve foolishly believed Satan’s lies.
Then Satan also deceived Eve by saying that eating the forbidden fruit will bring knowledge, power and freedom. At that vulnerable moment, Eve forgot God’s word that disobeying His law would bring death and disaster. Suddenly, the fruit looked too good to her eyes. She felt that God’s law was too heavy to obey and too restrictive. Instead Satan’s words seemed true, affectionate and sensible.
In one week moment Eve stopped to weigh her thoughts and went on to make the biggest blunder of her life. She believed that God was wrong, His plans are not for her benefit and the forbidden fruit was indeed wonderful and attractive.
In fact, the fruit was of no special value, but Satan was only trying to make Adam and Eve disobey God and loose their happiness and he won. Eve ate the fruit and also gave to Adam. But in the next instant she realized that she had been deceived. The fruit did not bring anything that Satan had promised rather she felt lonely, guilty, sad and very far away from God.Satan is still on his old business of deceiving people and turning them away from God. When we listen to him, like Eve, we think that godly rules are too restrictive, we doubt against God’s goodness and want to have our own way in life.
Deception is Satan’s character and so when we are deceiving someone in any form, we are actually reflecting Satan- the evil power.

Health is Wealth: DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

- By Mr. Soumendra Bobby Jena, | Head – Delivery and Information Systems | International Education Business | e-Mail: soumendrabj@niit.com

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water. …..interesting!
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.
The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure – 30 days
2. Gastric – 10 days
3. Diabetes – 30 days
4. Constipation – 10 days
5. Cancer – 180 days
6. TB – 90 days
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards – daily.
This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.
Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

From Deception to Trust

Jacob was the younger of the two sons of Isaac and Rebecca. Esau was the elder one who was the rightful heir to his father’s blessings according to the Hebrew culture at that time.
Esau and Jacob were brothers with different temperament and talents. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the open country while Jacob was a quiet man staying in the house.
One day Jacob overheard his old father asking Esau to go into the forest and hunt some wild game for him and cook it for him. Isaac wanted to bless Esau before his death as was the culture at those days.
Jacob was the pampered boy of Rebecca. So mother and son decided to play a trick and get Esau’s blessing from Isaac through deception. Now Esau was a hairy man whereas Jacob had less hair on his body. Isaac was an old man with weak eyesight so together they planned to deceive Isaac.
As soon as Esau left for the forest, immediately Jacob brought a young lamb and his mother cooked it very deliciously, then Jacob took some animal skin and covered his hands and face which would give an impression that he was Esau.
Then quickly he went near Isaac who was lying in the bed and presented the deliciously cooked dish to his father. Old and worm Isaac was surprised that Esau could make it so quickly. When he asked, Jacob lied to him saying that his skill made it easier for hunting in less time. Then Isaac was doubtful about his voice. Once again Jacob lied to his father saying that he was having a cold, therefore his voice was different. When Isaac touched Jacob’s shoulder, Jacob pretended to be Esau and finally succeeded in convincing Isaac that he was indeed Esau.
Isaac, enjoyed the food and then he laid his hands on Jacob and pronounced on him with all kinds of blessing for prosperity, health and happiness. Jacob felt great. Then before Esau’s return, Jacob quickly packed his bag and left home. His mother sent him faraway to his bother’s village. He must have congratulated himself for being a smart guy. Jacob went on his way happy and feeling secure.
Jacob settled down in another place. Jacob used his deception tactics a few times to gain more wealth. He succeeded too and thought that he can get away with it. His health anf family grew.
Years passed then one day, his deception was uncovered by his uncle with whom he was living with his big family. Fearing that he would be punished by his uncle and his household, Jacob, ran away from that place along with his family, servants, money and cattle. But on the way, he started feeling afraid. He was frightened to meet his own brother Esau whom he had deceived years ago. Jacob lost his peace and was worried to death.
In the middle of his journey, God met him but Jacob did not realize it. He mistook the divine form to be a mere human being and started wrestling with him. After wrestling for a long time, Jacob realized that he was indeed in the presence of supernatural power. Jacob lost his confidence. He was already paralyzed with fear and anxiety so he cling to God and pleaded Him to bless him.
God was merciful to him because he had asked Him for bless him instead of deceiving people for his gain. From then on Jacob’s name was changed. He went and asked forgiveness from his brother. He was called “Israel”. Jacob changed his ways and trusted God for his blessings and he went on to become a great nation chosen by God.

The Master Deceiver

Deception is one of the symptoms of an evil mind. It can really make a relationship go sour and also result in down fall. The story of deception began in the Garden of Eden after the Creation.
God who is Holy, Loving created the whole world along with all its elements and then at last He created human beings. The first humans were Adam and Eve. God gave them the ownership over the Earth and blessed them to enjoy and multiply. He also gave them a command. It was to eat of every tree except for one. God said that if they disobey and eat of that tree they would certainly die. Adam and Eve were very happy and they were enjoying themselves in the Garden.
Now, Satan was very cunning. He had and still has big problem with God and Godliness. He never could tolerate that Adam and Eve were living happily like in fairy stories and they were enjoying the fellowship of God. Their contentment and happiness was hard for Satan to digest.
One day as Eve was relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery and listening to the music of the birds in the trees, Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent. At first he planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s heart. It was against God. Satan tried to make Eve think that after all, God’s rule about not eating a specific fruit was too restrictive for them. Satan subtly made her to think that God was not thinking for their good but that He was selfish. Eve foolishly believed Satan’s lies.
Then Satan also deceived Eve by saying that eating the forbidden fruit will bring knowledge, power and freedom. At that vulnerable moment, Eve forgot God’s word that disobeying His law would bring death and disaster. Suddenly, the fruit looked too good to her eyes. She felt that God’s law was too heavy to obey and too restrictive. Instead Satan’s words seemed true, affectionate and sensible.
In one week moment Eve stopped to weigh her thoughts and went on to make the biggest blunder of her life. She believed that God was wrong, His plans are not for her benefit and the forbidden fruit was indeed wonderful and attractive.
In fact, the fruit was of no special value, but Satan was only trying to make Adam and Eve disobey God and loose their happiness and he won. Eve ate the fruit and also gave to Adam. But in the next instant she realized that she had been deceived. The fruit did not bring anything that Satan had promised rather she felt lonely, guilty, sad and very far away from God.

Satan is still on his old business of deceiving people and turning them away from God. When we listen to him, like Eve, we think that godly rules are too restrictive, we doubt against God’s goodness and want to have our own way in life.
Deception is Satan’s character and so when we are deceiving someone in any form, we are actually reflecting Satan- the evil power.

True Stories that Inspire: Michelangelo wasn’t satisfied

There is no question about Michelangelo’s secure position in the history of art. He stands head and shoulders above the sculptors of all time. His many masterpieces, including David, Day and Night, Madonna of Bruges, twilight and Dawn, La Pieta, Medict Madonna and Child, and his towering statue of Moses, have inspired mankind for four hundred years.
Yet Michelangelo was never satisfied with his work! After completing his Moses, acclaimed as his greatest work, the master sculptor surveyed his work and then suddenly in anger struck the knee of his statue with his chisel, crying, “ Why dost thou not speak? Here was a man whose ideal was to make cold marble come to life!
Today, we can see the long narrow dent on the knee of Michelangelo’s Moses. It is the trademark of a man who never realized the perfection of his dream. It is the mark of a man who had set his ideal among the stars. It is a symbol of the fact that men becomes masters by attempting the impossible, and by never permitting themselves to be lulled to sleep by the ether of self- satisfaction. Only little men are ever satisfied with their accomplishments- that’s why they remain little. The big men are never satisfied- that’s why they become great.
By- The Friendly Adventures in Sunshine Magazine