THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS

By Pastor Suresh Dass Joseph
[email protected]

Dear reader, it is with much joy we bring you the word of God. This is the last month of 2023, and Christmas is on the lips of everyone. All over the world, families, friends, and neighbours are coming together to celebrate Christmas. Christmas is always associated with peace as much as it is associated with love and joy. In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace.
And when Jesus was born, angels sang of peace. Luke 2:14 – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Here are 3 ways in which the coming of Jesus into the world brought us peace.
1. Jesus brought us peace with God by coming into this world.
Romans 5:1 says, ‘Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Because of Adam’s (the first-person God created) sin (disobedience to God), we naturally are not at peace with God. Our sins separate us from God. We did not have easy access to God, the Father. But we are brought into a peaceful relationship with the Father through Jesus’ death on the cross and our Faith in Him.
How can anyone who puts their faith in Christ be at peace with the Father? One simple answer: it is because of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”
Since He took away that punishment, we have peace with Father.

2. Jesus brought us peace with ourselves by coming into this world.
Though peace is a Christmas message, peace is not just limited to the Christmas season—our inner beings constantly long for peace.
Jesus promises peace in all seasons of our life. The Prince of Peace is ready to reign in all areas of our life.
In John 14:27, Jesus says: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
And Jesus also said that we could find this peace only in Him.
John 16:33 – I have told you these things so you may have peace in Me. The verse continues, you will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
The peace that Jesus gives is contrasted with the problems we may have in this world. The peace that he gives is not comparable to anything.
Thus, Paul writes in Philippians 4:7 – Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

3. By coming into this world, Jesus brought us peace with others
By bringing peace with self and God, the Lord Jesus also helps us have peaceful relationships with others.
In Romans 12:18, Paul says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
One of our many challenges is when our relationships are broken or in chaos. And when we find it difficult to mend the fractured relationship, we need the Prince of Peace to intervene and bring peace and restoration to our relationships.
Jesus came to bridge the gaps, unite people, and restore broken relationships.
As followers of Jesus, we can live in peace with others. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Let the peace of God rule our hearts, now and forever. Amen!
I wish you a blessed, happy, and joyous Christmas on behalf of my family and church family.

How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation

By Nimisha Modi Hetvi Hair & Beauty 0412350013

Hey Girls,
Hyperpigmentation of the skin can cause uneven color and dark patches. Excessive production of melanin is responsible for this condition. Hyperpigmentation can occur on almost any part of the body, including the face, neck, hands, arms and legs.
The root cause of excess melanin production is generally attributed to internal factors like hormonal changes in the body, pregnancy and various health problems. External factors like excessive sun exposure, skin injury, burning, emotional stress or contact with certain chemicals can also cause hyperpigmentation.
You can get rid of hyperpigmentation naturally with the help of some simple and easy home remedies. Here are some ways to get rid of hyperpigmentation.

1. Lemon: Lemon contains citric acid that helps bleach the skin, making it a popular home treatment for hyperpigmentation. This natural bleaching agent can effectively fade dark blemishes on your skin.
Extract fresh lemon juice and rub it on the skin using a cotton ball. Leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash it off with water. Follow this remedy twice daily for a few months until you notice improvement.
Alternatively, you can prepare a facial mask with equal amounts of lemon juice and raw honey. Mix the ingredients well and then apply it to the affected skin. Cover the skin with a warm towel for 15 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do this once a week for a few months.
Note: Those who have sensitive skin must dilute the lemon juice with a little water before using it.

2. Raw Potato: -Raw potato works very well to help lighten hyperpigmented skin as well as other spots and blemishes on the skin. Potatoes contain catecholase, an enzyme that is believed to help lighten skin tone.
Peel a potato and cut it into thick slices. Put a few drops of water on the surface of a potato piece and then rub it on your skin for five to 10 minutes. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do these three or four times a day for at least a month.
Grate one medium-size potato and squeeze the juice out of it. Add an equal amount of lemon juice to it and mix well. Apply the solution on the pigmented area and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off. Do this twice daily for a month.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is simply miraculous when it comes to reducing the appearance of dark patches on the skin due to hyperpigmentation. It has excellent skin lightening as well as astringent properties that can help restore your skin’s natural color.
Mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water. Use this solution to rinse the affected area. Leave it on for two to three minutes, and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy twice a day for a few weeks.
Alternatively, add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to half a glass of warm water. Then mix in one teaspoon of honey. Drink this solution twice a day, morning and night, for a couple of weeks until you notice improvement.

4. Vitamin E: Often referred to as the skin vitamin, vitamin E is an obvious treatment for skin hyperpigmentation. Being an antioxidant, vitamin E neutralizes the effects of harmful UV rays of the sun and repairs and protects the skin.
Puncture one vitamin E capsule and put the contents in a bowl. Add three or four drops of castor oil to it and mix well. Apply the mixture on the affected skin before going to bed. Rinse it off the next morning. Follow this remedy daily for two to three weeks.
You can make a homemade mask with one-half cup of Fuller’s earth, one tablespoon of blended papaya and the contents of two vitamin E capsules. Mix the ingredients together to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture evenly on the affected area, leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this regularly, once a week.
You can also massage vitamin E oil into the affected skin for 10 minutes twice daily to reduce hyperpigmentation. Follow this simple remedy for a few weeks until you get positive results.

5. Turmeric: Turmeric has bleaching properties that can help get rid of the symptoms of hyperpigmented skin. Plus, turmeric can keep the skin free of infection.
Mix one teaspoon each of turmeric powder and lemon juice. Apply it on the affected area. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. Avoid going out in the sun for an hour after following this treatment. Do this once daily before showering to maximize results.
Alternatively, you can make a paste by mixing five tablespoons of turmeric powder with 10 tablespoons of milk. Apply this paste on the affected skin and gently massage for five minutes. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.

6. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera works excellently on hyperpigmented skin due to the presence of mucilaginous polysaccharides in the gel. It can remove the dead skin cells and promote regeneration of new skin cells. Before going to bed, apply some fresh aloe vera gel on the hyperpigmented skin and leave it on overnight. Rinse it off in the morning. Follow this remedy daily for a few weeks to get positive results. Combine two tablespoons of aloe vera gel and one-half tablespoon of raw honey. Mix well and allow it to settle for 10 minutes. Now apply the mixture to the pigmentation and let it dry naturally. After 20 minutes, wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy once daily for at least two weeks and every other day thereafter until you get the desired results.

7. Orange peel: Next time you eat an orange, keep the peel. It contains citric acid that has bleaching properties and can help get rid of dark patches on skin. Add one teaspoon each of lemon juice, milk and honey to one tablespoon of dried orange peel powder. Mix all the ingredients well to get a smooth consistency. Apply the paste on the affected skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes, and then massage gently. Finally wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow this treatment at least three or four times a week to encourage cell renewal and reduce dark skin patches.

8. Avocados: Enriched with fatty acids, vitamin C and oleic acid, avocados can effectively help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Plus, the various enzymes and high amount of vitamin E in avocados can also reduce pigmentation. Mash one ripe avocado into a smooth paste. Apply the paste on the affected area. Leave it on for half an hour, and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy twice daily for at least one month to get positive results. Alternatively, mash half of a ripe avocado into a smooth paste and mix in two teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of milk. Apply the paste on the affected area. Allow it to dry on its own and the rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do this once daily for a month.

9. Sandalwood: Sandalwood is known to enhance skin complexion and it also works effectively for hyperpigmentation or other types of skin blemishes. It is a stimulant, cooling agent and blood purifier. All these properties work together to reduce the appearance of dark patches and give your skin a natural, youthful tone. Mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder with enough rose water to form a thick paste. Apply this mask over the affected skin area. Leave it on for half an hour, and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy twice daily for a few weeks to get positive results.
Alternatively, make a paste using two tablespoons of sandalwood powder, one tablespoon of turmeric powder and three to four tablespoons of milk. Apply it as a mask on the affected skin. Allow it to dry on its own and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy on a daily basis to reduce discoloration.

10. Almonds: Being a rich source of vitamin E, almonds are good for skin and especially hyperpigmented skin. Soak five almonds in milk overnight. Next day, remove the almonds from the milk and grind them, adding milk to get a fine paste. Add one teaspoon of honey and few drops of lemon juice to the paste and mix well. Spread the paste over the affected skin before going to sleep. Wash it off in the morning with cold water. Follow this remedy every night for two weeks, and then do it twice weekly. You can also eat almonds on a regular basis to minimize hyperpigmentation.
Along with these remedies, there are many preventive measures that you need to bear in mind. For instance, to prevent hyperpigmentation, avoid excessive sun exposure and if required to go in the sun then apply a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. Also, reapply the sunscreen every three hours. Plus, to enjoy healthy skin you must follow a proper skin care routine – cleansing, toning, moisturizing and exfoliating.

Healthy Men, Healthy World

The 19th of November is International Men’s Day. The Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF) have declared the theme for 2023 is ‘Healthy Men, Healthy World’.

All men are encouraged to make time to take care of their health. This includes:
• Seeing your GP for regular check-ups if needed. Men normally die earlier than women, one of important factor is that men avoid doctors (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6142142/).
• Maintaining a healthy weight – being overweight increases the risks of many health conditions
• Eating a healthy diet which is low in fat, sugar, salt and processed foods and rich in healthy choices including plenty of vegetables, fruit, lean meats/seafood, healthy dairy and grains
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol
• Not smoking
• Getting regular exercise.
Many conditions can be improved by following the above.
It is also important to check for common chronic conditions that may affect your heath. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver etc.
You should also check for other conditions such as blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections. Many people may have these conditions including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and STIs and not know as they often do not have any symptoms until the conditions start to cause damage to the body such as the liver.
It important to talk to your doctor and ask for these tests if you have not been tested before, or if you have been told you have these infections before but have not been having regular check-ups – for most people with chronic hepatitis B this is every 6 months.
Think of it like you do to look after your car, you get it serviced, change the oil, check tyre pressure and make sure it is running well so it doesn’t break down – you should think the same way about your body and health.

For more information, please see our webpage www.eccq.com/bbv or contact us at ECCQ. Either call 07-3844 9166 or email us at [email protected]