Thoughts for another day
October 31, 2006
Today's verse: Eph. 1:22-23. And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. (KJV)
My beloved in Christ, ponder carefully upon the Word given to us today. Look at the essence of what the Holy Spirit has put within the simple framing of a few words yet, holding tremendous meaning and promise for every Christian who says, ‘Jesus is Lord!’
Jesus Christ is Head over the church, which is His body! You know that we are the church. Therefore, we are His body. Hence we who are mere vessels of earth, share His divinity. Hence we become co-heirs with Him. Co-heirs in the, heavenly realms. Co-heirs of the tremendous riches of the glory of God! Riches, not fleeting but, eternal. The value of these riches is such that it is beyond comparison with that of the world. No precious gem on earth can compare with the least of the riches of the Kingdom. And the best part is that we His body are made eligible for it.
Also, if you were to look at this aspect, all of us Christians wherever we might be, are one body in Christ. Isn’t it amazing? Imagine, white, black, brown, yellow…all one because of Jesus! I remember once on a flight, I was sitting next to a French woman. And we got talking about Jesus and soon we struck up a good conversation for the duration of the flight. And, this because our Lord, has given us the basis of a relationship. Brothers and sisters in Christ we are.
No matter where you are on earth, you will always be able to share bread with a fellow Christian. For Christ has guaranteed that. All under the sun are united in Him and with each other. But today’s verse does not stop at that. I may use a Christ-like phrase here, ‘if you have understanding, then you will understand’ what the Lord God says to us and that is, we who form the body of Christ are the fullness of Him (Father God) who fills all things in all completeness. Think if you will, we are the fullness of Him who fills all…Tremendous and awesome.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 30, 2006
Today's verse: Ro. 7:22-23. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (KJV)
Each morning as I write, it troubles me; am I worthy to write these praise thoughts? Many are the times I’ve taken this issue before the Lord and He has said to me, ‘Tell Me, who is not a sinner, and I do my work through them, for in Me all are righteous.’ Of course, the Lord is kind and gracious, but I know it hurts Him and the thought therefore remains: Am I worthy; do I live up to His expectations?
My beloved in Christ, we are to be perfect before the Father. It is but fitting that we are, because He is perfect. Yet what is the reality? For those who do not know God or have nothing to do with His ways, the situation is not of consequence. But for us who know Him and are finding our feet within His courts, it is a matter of great importance.
The moment we’re born again, the Holy Spirit makes us aware of our sinful nature. We see the wretchedness within. Try as I might, I still find it difficult to please God by not sinning. It is an intense struggle. Particularly when we have sinned and then we go and sit before the Lord in prayer, guilt overwhelms us and before the ‘Holy One’ we feel dirty. Many times, I cry like some of you do, ‘Lord, what do I do. How can I stop offending You?’ Really it eats me to know that I, a mere human, here today gone tomorrow, can dare to offend the Almighty, the Eternal One. But, the sad thing is, even after this, I go and commit sin. In truth I can echo Paul’s words, ‘O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ My friend, I have even prayed, ‘Lord if I cannot stop offending You, then take me away, for it is better I die and am with You than here and continuously offending You!’ But I know there is a task cut out for me and it is for that I need to live. That could be true in your case too.
Yes my beloved, sin is deep inside of us. Yet, we need to struggle and face it. For those of you who have tears in your eyes before Jesus Christ because you offend Him, I have Good News. He will lift you up. He will draw you close and He will deliver you. And yes, don’t forget His promise, ‘Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:24), which is sanctify you and keep you blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
October 30, 2006
Today's verse: Ro. 7:22-23. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (KJV)
Each morning as I write, it troubles me; am I worthy to write these praise thoughts? Many are the times I’ve taken this issue before the Lord and He has said to me, ‘Tell Me, who is not a sinner, and I do my work through them, for in Me all are righteous.’ Of course, the Lord is kind and gracious, but I know it hurts Him and the thought therefore remains: Am I worthy; do I live up to His expectations?
My beloved in Christ, we are to be perfect before the Father. It is but fitting that we are, because He is perfect. Yet what is the reality? For those who do not know God or have nothing to do with His ways, the situation is not of consequence. But for us who know Him and are finding our feet within His courts, it is a matter of great importance.
The moment we’re born again, the Holy Spirit makes us aware of our sinful nature. We see the wretchedness within. Try as I might, I still find it difficult to please God by not sinning. It is an intense struggle. Particularly when we have sinned and then we go and sit before the Lord in prayer, guilt overwhelms us and before the ‘Holy One’ we feel dirty. Many times, I cry like some of you do, ‘Lord, what do I do. How can I stop offending You?’ Really it eats me to know that I, a mere human, here today gone tomorrow, can dare to offend the Almighty, the Eternal One. But, the sad thing is, even after this, I go and commit sin. In truth I can echo Paul’s words, ‘O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ My friend, I have even prayed, ‘Lord if I cannot stop offending You, then take me away, for it is better I die and am with You than here and continuously offending You!’ But I know there is a task cut out for me and it is for that I need to live. That could be true in your case too.
Yes my beloved, sin is deep inside of us. Yet, we need to struggle and face it. For those of you who have tears in your eyes before Jesus Christ because you offend Him, I have Good News. He will lift you up. He will draw you close and He will deliver you. And yes, don’t forget His promise, ‘Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:24), which is sanctify you and keep you blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 27, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (KJV)
Do you know why people live wretched and miserable lives? Why there is frustration and despair? Why on occasions of happiness, there is sadness? Because of fear. I have come across so many people whose lives are driven by fear. Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of poverty and lack. Fear of this and fear of that.
That is the reason why God addresses this time and again in His Word. It must be rather amusing to God to behold fear in our hearts. Particularly because He is there. And He is able to work all things out, no matter what. What is a disease before the one who engineered the body with a word? What is death to One who can put life into stones? What is poverty to Him who has every riches under His command or who can create things out of nothing? And yes, to the one who has created every cell in the brain, what is an examination? For He can move the cells and info gathered in them to the exact place where it is needed to retrieve the info (put it into memory) or fill it with info which was never there? Ah, awesome is our God!
But there is one small problem: doubt. We do not believe. Therefore, many times in the Gospels, Jesus says, ‘Believe.’ If you believe He will work. Be it a small thing like getting rid of a water shortage as it happened with me. I prayed and there was more water!!!
My beloved in Christ, Jesus has immense power. All accessible with a Word. ‘Be still’. And it is stilled. ‘Rise’. And she rises and so on. When creating the earth, God just said, ‘Let there be’. And there was…
Now for those of you who despair, look at the verse above? Do you need to despair? Do you need to wail? Surely, not for the One before whom the clouds flee and mountains are cast asunder nothing is impossible. You may be in pain for a while but then with great love He will gather you. You only need to trust Him. Will you?
October 27, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 41:10. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (KJV)
Do you know why people live wretched and miserable lives? Why there is frustration and despair? Why on occasions of happiness, there is sadness? Because of fear. I have come across so many people whose lives are driven by fear. Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of poverty and lack. Fear of this and fear of that.
That is the reason why God addresses this time and again in His Word. It must be rather amusing to God to behold fear in our hearts. Particularly because He is there. And He is able to work all things out, no matter what. What is a disease before the one who engineered the body with a word? What is death to One who can put life into stones? What is poverty to Him who has every riches under His command or who can create things out of nothing? And yes, to the one who has created every cell in the brain, what is an examination? For He can move the cells and info gathered in them to the exact place where it is needed to retrieve the info (put it into memory) or fill it with info which was never there? Ah, awesome is our God!
But there is one small problem: doubt. We do not believe. Therefore, many times in the Gospels, Jesus says, ‘Believe.’ If you believe He will work. Be it a small thing like getting rid of a water shortage as it happened with me. I prayed and there was more water!!!
My beloved in Christ, Jesus has immense power. All accessible with a Word. ‘Be still’. And it is stilled. ‘Rise’. And she rises and so on. When creating the earth, God just said, ‘Let there be’. And there was…
Now for those of you who despair, look at the verse above? Do you need to despair? Do you need to wail? Surely, not for the One before whom the clouds flee and mountains are cast asunder nothing is impossible. You may be in pain for a while but then with great love He will gather you. You only need to trust Him. Will you?
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 26, 2006
Today's verse: Dt. 15:11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (KJV)
There are many thoughts that come to my mind when someone questions me about things in the world that are not right. One of the worst is poverty. When questioned, ‘why there is poverty?’ the answer I grope for is not entirely convincing when I speak to the secular world, which is, ‘the rich because they are rich and have the power, grab all the wealth, leaving nothing for the poor thereby creating poverty’. Some of the self-proclaimed thinkers say that those who don’t work hard become poor. In corollary, those who work hardest must be the richest. But then, is it that way?
When it comes to the spiritual, I keep asking myself, ‘Did God really want that His super creation be poor? Is He a God who on one side makes some rich and some poor? What is the yardstick He uses to make one rich and another poor. And this is pretty pertinent when you consider that some of the most wicked people are rich. Intriguing, no? Of course, God Almighty the giver of all riches and power must certainly have the answers and His Word, when read in completeness provides glimpses of why there is poverty. The chief reason is because we do not give, not so much that we grab. Time after time His Word says, ‘GIVE, GIVE, GIVE.’ Do we give? Not to my relative, but the completely unknown who can never return us the favor!
My friend, when God created us, He meant us to be rich. His Kingdom has no want. Do you know that vegetation grew of its own accord, till God cursed the ground and said that man must toil to eat bread (Gen. 3:17,18). In that instant man became poor. Therefore, God says in today’s verse the poor shall never cease and Jesus echoed that in Jn. 12:8.
The question is, what’s your answer to today’s verse? Are you going to look on when that little child on the street is begging so a small morsel of food might enter her stomach? Does your child need to beg to eat breakfast? Begging, so that she can avoid the thrashing her mother will give her when she returns empty handed. Look at the pain in the eyes of the poor my beloved in Christ. If we think that the little charity we do (more because of our guilty consciences than anything else) will help, we are sadly mistaken. I can hear Him tell me: What face will you come with, to stake your claim for that room in My mansion if you have not fed the poor and clothed the unclothed? Don’t you know that the rich man suffered hell because he did not reach out to Lazarus?
October 26, 2006
Today's verse: Dt. 15:11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (KJV)
There are many thoughts that come to my mind when someone questions me about things in the world that are not right. One of the worst is poverty. When questioned, ‘why there is poverty?’ the answer I grope for is not entirely convincing when I speak to the secular world, which is, ‘the rich because they are rich and have the power, grab all the wealth, leaving nothing for the poor thereby creating poverty’. Some of the self-proclaimed thinkers say that those who don’t work hard become poor. In corollary, those who work hardest must be the richest. But then, is it that way?
When it comes to the spiritual, I keep asking myself, ‘Did God really want that His super creation be poor? Is He a God who on one side makes some rich and some poor? What is the yardstick He uses to make one rich and another poor. And this is pretty pertinent when you consider that some of the most wicked people are rich. Intriguing, no? Of course, God Almighty the giver of all riches and power must certainly have the answers and His Word, when read in completeness provides glimpses of why there is poverty. The chief reason is because we do not give, not so much that we grab. Time after time His Word says, ‘GIVE, GIVE, GIVE.’ Do we give? Not to my relative, but the completely unknown who can never return us the favor!
My friend, when God created us, He meant us to be rich. His Kingdom has no want. Do you know that vegetation grew of its own accord, till God cursed the ground and said that man must toil to eat bread (Gen. 3:17,18). In that instant man became poor. Therefore, God says in today’s verse the poor shall never cease and Jesus echoed that in Jn. 12:8.
The question is, what’s your answer to today’s verse? Are you going to look on when that little child on the street is begging so a small morsel of food might enter her stomach? Does your child need to beg to eat breakfast? Begging, so that she can avoid the thrashing her mother will give her when she returns empty handed. Look at the pain in the eyes of the poor my beloved in Christ. If we think that the little charity we do (more because of our guilty consciences than anything else) will help, we are sadly mistaken. I can hear Him tell me: What face will you come with, to stake your claim for that room in My mansion if you have not fed the poor and clothed the unclothed? Don’t you know that the rich man suffered hell because he did not reach out to Lazarus?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 25, 2006
Today's verse: 1 Pet. 3:12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (KJV)
Jesus said in one of His discourses, ‘Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.’ The reason He said it is because it makes us eligible for the blessing that God has reserved for us; which to come must see us in a right state before Him who grants it.
God seeks to come to us and be with us. When He is there with us, our lives are completely different. There is love in abundance and peace that surpasses understanding. It’s like the three men in Daniel: Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego who, though in the furnace, felt the cool breeze from the angel. It is truly a great thing to have the Emperor of the Universe living with us.
Consider this, He being so great and robed with splendor with all authority and power, seeks us with His eyes. Like I keep saying, He is looking for that kneeling Christian who reveres His Son and prays for the world. He is looking for you when you are in a right state before Him so that He may answer every prayer of yours. For in such a state, He receives the glory, which is of Him and only for Him. He seeks to fulfill the promise He delivered when on earth: ‘I have come so that you may have life in abundance.’
Strive like Paul says for that righteousness. We all need to fight the deceiver of souls. And for that, we need to get down on our knees and pray. Travail in prayer, holding on to His garment asking Him for the Grace to keep us clean. Believe in Jesus for He imparts us righteousness. Not with the belief we had before, but the belief that comes as in knowing Him!
October 25, 2006
Today's verse: 1 Pet. 3:12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (KJV)
Jesus said in one of His discourses, ‘Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.’ The reason He said it is because it makes us eligible for the blessing that God has reserved for us; which to come must see us in a right state before Him who grants it.
God seeks to come to us and be with us. When He is there with us, our lives are completely different. There is love in abundance and peace that surpasses understanding. It’s like the three men in Daniel: Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego who, though in the furnace, felt the cool breeze from the angel. It is truly a great thing to have the Emperor of the Universe living with us.
Consider this, He being so great and robed with splendor with all authority and power, seeks us with His eyes. Like I keep saying, He is looking for that kneeling Christian who reveres His Son and prays for the world. He is looking for you when you are in a right state before Him so that He may answer every prayer of yours. For in such a state, He receives the glory, which is of Him and only for Him. He seeks to fulfill the promise He delivered when on earth: ‘I have come so that you may have life in abundance.’
Strive like Paul says for that righteousness. We all need to fight the deceiver of souls. And for that, we need to get down on our knees and pray. Travail in prayer, holding on to His garment asking Him for the Grace to keep us clean. Believe in Jesus for He imparts us righteousness. Not with the belief we had before, but the belief that comes as in knowing Him!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 24, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 30:18. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. (KJV)
When I consider the nature of my Father in heaven, I can’t but think of His Blessed face on which is the look of such warmth that I can just relax in it. In His heart is such love that I can just be washed in it and feel so happy.
There are times when I sin, yet even then, He waits that I rise from the filth and look at His face and turn back to Him. I am reminded of a song by Ralph Carmichael written in 1958 which goes like this:
1. The Savior is waiting to enter your heart, Why don't you let Him come in?
There's nothing in this world to keep you apart. What is your answer to Him?
Verse: Time after time He has waited before, And now he is waiting again.
To see if you’re willing to open the door: Oh, how He wants to come in.
2. If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend, You’ll find His arms open wide
Receive Him and all of your darkness will end, within your heart He’ll abide.
Isn’t it good my beloved in Christ that He waits for us? He yearns for us. Sometimes in the evening when I sit with Him having begun my communion late, He gently tells me how much He has waited for me. Truly it is a shame that I have time for everything except Him. Behold my friend, those eyes that look at me and then turn them up to heaven and cry, ‘Father forgive for he does not know what he does.’ What more could He have done for me; even His life He gave up for my sake.
Truly, we believe in a God who is blessed and glorious. Truly, He understands us well. Truly He comes to us in the dark of the night and gently sits besides us; communing with us and giving us strength. And believe me, if you wait for Him my friend, by Heaven’s domain you will be blessed.
October 24, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 30:18. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him. (KJV)
When I consider the nature of my Father in heaven, I can’t but think of His Blessed face on which is the look of such warmth that I can just relax in it. In His heart is such love that I can just be washed in it and feel so happy.
There are times when I sin, yet even then, He waits that I rise from the filth and look at His face and turn back to Him. I am reminded of a song by Ralph Carmichael written in 1958 which goes like this:
1. The Savior is waiting to enter your heart, Why don't you let Him come in?
There's nothing in this world to keep you apart. What is your answer to Him?
Verse: Time after time He has waited before, And now he is waiting again.
To see if you’re willing to open the door: Oh, how He wants to come in.
2. If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend, You’ll find His arms open wide
Receive Him and all of your darkness will end, within your heart He’ll abide.
Isn’t it good my beloved in Christ that He waits for us? He yearns for us. Sometimes in the evening when I sit with Him having begun my communion late, He gently tells me how much He has waited for me. Truly it is a shame that I have time for everything except Him. Behold my friend, those eyes that look at me and then turn them up to heaven and cry, ‘Father forgive for he does not know what he does.’ What more could He have done for me; even His life He gave up for my sake.
Truly, we believe in a God who is blessed and glorious. Truly, He understands us well. Truly He comes to us in the dark of the night and gently sits besides us; communing with us and giving us strength. And believe me, if you wait for Him my friend, by Heaven’s domain you will be blessed.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 23, 2006
Today's verse: Judges 8:23. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. (KJV)
My friend, there are many people of God who are put in positions of leadership. And as God would want, they usually make themselves subservient to God and raise His banner aloft every situation, never theirs. But as the needle of time moves further, a bit of the human ego sets in and sometimes, the glory that belongs to God is usurped by these people. You and I should not judge any person as God would not like that but we must sit down and reflect on whether we have done/said anything that puts God in the shade.
In His Word, God very clearly tells us that He won’t share His glory with another; for He alone is God and all glory belongs to Him. As you move ahead in your relationship with God, He will tell you why and you will understand. But now He wants to rule in your life. If I were to take today’s verse for myself, it would mean that no matter what great work, God works through me, I should never never try to take His place. In fact, each time something great happens through me, I must explain that God did it; like Peter in Acts. 3:16.
If I take the converse of it, I should not elevate anybody in this world to the status of God, like some people say, ‘he is a god to me.’ These don’t know God and anyone or anything can be like God to them. I have seen Christian people tell me, ‘Brother, that man is so powerful, he just has to pray over me and I get what I want.’ When I tell them to go to God rather than that person they tell me, ‘but isn’t God with him?’ Yes God is with him/her but what is better for you to do, to go to God or that person? Even Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in anguish when the people call them gods in Lystra (Acts. 14:8-18). My beloved in Christ, people perish, things change. Today’s great preacher may become tomorrow’s wretch. You can be sure however, that God doesn’t change. He is the same. And only to Him shall our devotion, our worship be.
October 23, 2006
Today's verse: Judges 8:23. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. (KJV)
My friend, there are many people of God who are put in positions of leadership. And as God would want, they usually make themselves subservient to God and raise His banner aloft every situation, never theirs. But as the needle of time moves further, a bit of the human ego sets in and sometimes, the glory that belongs to God is usurped by these people. You and I should not judge any person as God would not like that but we must sit down and reflect on whether we have done/said anything that puts God in the shade.
In His Word, God very clearly tells us that He won’t share His glory with another; for He alone is God and all glory belongs to Him. As you move ahead in your relationship with God, He will tell you why and you will understand. But now He wants to rule in your life. If I were to take today’s verse for myself, it would mean that no matter what great work, God works through me, I should never never try to take His place. In fact, each time something great happens through me, I must explain that God did it; like Peter in Acts. 3:16.
If I take the converse of it, I should not elevate anybody in this world to the status of God, like some people say, ‘he is a god to me.’ These don’t know God and anyone or anything can be like God to them. I have seen Christian people tell me, ‘Brother, that man is so powerful, he just has to pray over me and I get what I want.’ When I tell them to go to God rather than that person they tell me, ‘but isn’t God with him?’ Yes God is with him/her but what is better for you to do, to go to God or that person? Even Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in anguish when the people call them gods in Lystra (Acts. 14:8-18). My beloved in Christ, people perish, things change. Today’s great preacher may become tomorrow’s wretch. You can be sure however, that God doesn’t change. He is the same. And only to Him shall our devotion, our worship be.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 20, 2006
Today's verse: Jn. 14:26. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (KJV)
As I was praying yesterday, the idea came of dedicating today’s thoughts to the Holy Spirit, the Power of God who works in amazing ways in our lives. When I got this thought, I asked the Lord to remind me to carry a book on the Holy Spirit in the morning so that I may use some references there from. Then I conveniently forgot. I would have even forgotten to write on the Holy Spirit but the way God reminded me of Him, astounds me. As I was leaving home, suddenly my glance fell on another book and instantly, I was reminded! That’s the way God works.
The third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the silence of God and the torch bearer to Jesus Christ’s Gospel. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit is a teacher and reminder of all that Jesus thought to us. He is the comforter who comes to our aid in ever so gentle a manner that He doesn’t intrude but melds in us and asks us to look up to the Father. My friend, the Holy Spirit is the epitome of all that is of God. He is powerful yet completely controlled. He walks beside us as the Spirit of Jesus, holding our hands and reminding us of Jesus’ words when our world is down and the chips are low.
Even as you are reading this, He is there looking over your shoulder and comforting you. He knows your every thought and He is constantly strengthening you. If you are worried today of anything, He will remind you of taking that worry to the Father for He knows the Father has a solution. Even when you don’t know how to pray, He prays on your behalf and He prays the right things and the Father listens to Him.
Because He is so gentle and unobtrusive, don’t even undermine His power. When it comes to it, none can stand before Him. God Himself says, not by might, not by power but by My Spirit! Welcome the Spirit in your home and see the difference He will make in your life. If there is a disease in you, He will throw it out. If a problem as big as a mountain lurks around, it will be shattered. If there is some power keeping you tied, He will just swipe it away. He is so powerful my friend that even as I write, I can experience His immensity. He comes to anoint us and raise us up to new levels of comfort with our God and truly He is there for you today. Call Him now and tell Him to be with you. Ask Him to be faithful to Jesus and he will enable it. If you can, tell Him that you love Him and in truth I tell you, He will be there when you tell your eternal spouse, ‘Come’ (Rev. 22:17).
October 20, 2006
Today's verse: Jn. 14:26. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (KJV)
As I was praying yesterday, the idea came of dedicating today’s thoughts to the Holy Spirit, the Power of God who works in amazing ways in our lives. When I got this thought, I asked the Lord to remind me to carry a book on the Holy Spirit in the morning so that I may use some references there from. Then I conveniently forgot. I would have even forgotten to write on the Holy Spirit but the way God reminded me of Him, astounds me. As I was leaving home, suddenly my glance fell on another book and instantly, I was reminded! That’s the way God works.
The third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the silence of God and the torch bearer to Jesus Christ’s Gospel. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit is a teacher and reminder of all that Jesus thought to us. He is the comforter who comes to our aid in ever so gentle a manner that He doesn’t intrude but melds in us and asks us to look up to the Father. My friend, the Holy Spirit is the epitome of all that is of God. He is powerful yet completely controlled. He walks beside us as the Spirit of Jesus, holding our hands and reminding us of Jesus’ words when our world is down and the chips are low.
Even as you are reading this, He is there looking over your shoulder and comforting you. He knows your every thought and He is constantly strengthening you. If you are worried today of anything, He will remind you of taking that worry to the Father for He knows the Father has a solution. Even when you don’t know how to pray, He prays on your behalf and He prays the right things and the Father listens to Him.
Because He is so gentle and unobtrusive, don’t even undermine His power. When it comes to it, none can stand before Him. God Himself says, not by might, not by power but by My Spirit! Welcome the Spirit in your home and see the difference He will make in your life. If there is a disease in you, He will throw it out. If a problem as big as a mountain lurks around, it will be shattered. If there is some power keeping you tied, He will just swipe it away. He is so powerful my friend that even as I write, I can experience His immensity. He comes to anoint us and raise us up to new levels of comfort with our God and truly He is there for you today. Call Him now and tell Him to be with you. Ask Him to be faithful to Jesus and he will enable it. If you can, tell Him that you love Him and in truth I tell you, He will be there when you tell your eternal spouse, ‘Come’ (Rev. 22:17).
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 19, 2006
Today's verse: Mt. 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (KJV)
Conditions in life many a times leave us tired and weary. There are so many tensions and worries. Hard work at home. Endless work at office. Chaotic traffic and animal box transport facilities! Enough to drain out the best of us. My friends, believe me there are so many out there and many of you too who are heavy laden and burdened. And this labor isn’t necessarily carrying of big burdens on the back but the mind, laboring on basic issues such as, what will we do this month there’s only this much left…
When Jesus was here as a human, He noticed all these troubles of people and He had compassion. The Bible says, ‘when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep without a shepherd.’ My beloved in Christ, He understood the pain of being human. The pain of, being crushed, because of sin. The pain of, not being with God. He knew the only solution was Himself. Therefore, in a moment of truth, He looked at us and uttered the words of today’s verse. To tell you and me that when the loads of life are too heavy to bear, we must step up to Him.
Alas, too often we knock at every other door but the door of the Son of Man. And then we cry and tell, ‘The Lord does not answer prayer.’ There are some of us who call out to the Lord in desperation but receive no answer and that is because we don’t trust that He will help and therefore we have a standby ready. We have well camouflaged our lack of trust by saying that, God will help but we also need to take the help of man after all God made others to help us too, no? That’s the deceit the devil puts in our heart for he knows well that more and more of our focus will go to seeking man’s help and soon we will forget about Him. And in this world the devil has succeeded tremendously, perhaps in your life too. My friend, if today the Lord is putting in your heart the message of today’s verse, turn your face to Him and promise Him, ‘Lord, enough have I run to others now Lord, let me look only at You.’
October 19, 2006
Today's verse: Mt. 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (KJV)
Conditions in life many a times leave us tired and weary. There are so many tensions and worries. Hard work at home. Endless work at office. Chaotic traffic and animal box transport facilities! Enough to drain out the best of us. My friends, believe me there are so many out there and many of you too who are heavy laden and burdened. And this labor isn’t necessarily carrying of big burdens on the back but the mind, laboring on basic issues such as, what will we do this month there’s only this much left…
When Jesus was here as a human, He noticed all these troubles of people and He had compassion. The Bible says, ‘when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep without a shepherd.’ My beloved in Christ, He understood the pain of being human. The pain of, being crushed, because of sin. The pain of, not being with God. He knew the only solution was Himself. Therefore, in a moment of truth, He looked at us and uttered the words of today’s verse. To tell you and me that when the loads of life are too heavy to bear, we must step up to Him.
Alas, too often we knock at every other door but the door of the Son of Man. And then we cry and tell, ‘The Lord does not answer prayer.’ There are some of us who call out to the Lord in desperation but receive no answer and that is because we don’t trust that He will help and therefore we have a standby ready. We have well camouflaged our lack of trust by saying that, God will help but we also need to take the help of man after all God made others to help us too, no? That’s the deceit the devil puts in our heart for he knows well that more and more of our focus will go to seeking man’s help and soon we will forget about Him. And in this world the devil has succeeded tremendously, perhaps in your life too. My friend, if today the Lord is putting in your heart the message of today’s verse, turn your face to Him and promise Him, ‘Lord, enough have I run to others now Lord, let me look only at You.’
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 18, 2006
Today's verse: Jn. 8:29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (KJV)
Jesus had tremendous confidence in God. When you read ch. 8 of John’s Gospel, you will realize how much confidence He had in Abba Father. What about us if I may ask? How much confidence do we have in our Father? Now you may say that Jesus is God and He came from God so obviously He would know Him well and therefore be confident isn’t it? True, but that is not the whole truth. Much before Jesus walked on the face of the earth, God had communicated His parenthood to us. See the acknowledgement in Is. 63:16: Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Let us look at our lives. What is our will? If you ask me, I would like to play checkers on the net the whole day if I have a day free. And if I were to ask what Jesus would do, He would surely commune with His Father. What would my food be? Perhaps, the choicest food I can lay hands on or afford. What is Jesus’ food? This is what He says, ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish His work!’ (Jn. 4:34). And so on it goes.
My friend, this is because we are yet to taste God. Ps. 34:8 says, ‘Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Unfortunately, our taste buds have no room for the Creator of the universe. We are yet to understand the awesome joy of being within the aura of God. David says, ‘One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD…’ Ps. 27:4, because He knew God and how beautiful He is. Where do we stand as far as that ‘one desire’ in our life is concerned?
Only when we come to know Him and understand Him shall we too be confident in Him. Then when we say the Amen, to our prayer, we will believe that it is done and say just as Jesus said ‘Father I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.’
October 18, 2006
Today's verse: Jn. 8:29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (KJV)
Jesus had tremendous confidence in God. When you read ch. 8 of John’s Gospel, you will realize how much confidence He had in Abba Father. What about us if I may ask? How much confidence do we have in our Father? Now you may say that Jesus is God and He came from God so obviously He would know Him well and therefore be confident isn’t it? True, but that is not the whole truth. Much before Jesus walked on the face of the earth, God had communicated His parenthood to us. See the acknowledgement in Is. 63:16: Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Let us look at our lives. What is our will? If you ask me, I would like to play checkers on the net the whole day if I have a day free. And if I were to ask what Jesus would do, He would surely commune with His Father. What would my food be? Perhaps, the choicest food I can lay hands on or afford. What is Jesus’ food? This is what He says, ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish His work!’ (Jn. 4:34). And so on it goes.
My friend, this is because we are yet to taste God. Ps. 34:8 says, ‘Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Unfortunately, our taste buds have no room for the Creator of the universe. We are yet to understand the awesome joy of being within the aura of God. David says, ‘One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD…’ Ps. 27:4, because He knew God and how beautiful He is. Where do we stand as far as that ‘one desire’ in our life is concerned?
Only when we come to know Him and understand Him shall we too be confident in Him. Then when we say the Amen, to our prayer, we will believe that it is done and say just as Jesus said ‘Father I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.’
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 17, 2006
Today's verse: Ps 91:4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: (KJV)
One day, as you are praying and I mean really praying, look up to Him and ask Him, ‘Lord, how much do You love me?’ My friend, I can tell you, the floodgates of heaven will be opened and down will stream the choicest waves of love you’ve ever experienced. Your answer comes instantly.
God is all about love. Yes, you and I find it difficult to love; but God is about love. Where He is, there is love. All His love is focused on just one person: you. Surprised? Yes, it did to me also, but then over a period of time, He revealed to me how He spends, if I may call it, His time, loving me. The only business of God as I see it, is to love. You open your arms and embrace Him and you will experience His love. You sit focused on Him and you will be drawn into His sphere of unblemished and eternal love. The experience is mighty and awesome and even as I write I can feel His love envelope me as it is enveloping you as you read…I can imagine Mary, Martha’s sister who was bestowed with Jesus’ love. She did not want anything else for no thing of man can compare with God’s love.
My beloved in Christ, God loves us so much and He is so concerned that He constantly watches over us. We who rely on Him are never disappointed. The man who trusts Him can never be put to shame Ps. 34:22; Prov. 29:25. Today’s verse says that He is like a mother shading us with His wings and guarding us with His feathers. Truly, He is eager that no harm comes to us in any way. The Bible says, He never sleeps nor slumbers and it is true. He is always there. Always. Remember, it is you who block His love. Today, I pray He gives you the grace to let your blocks down and allow His love to flow in.
October 17, 2006
Today's verse: Ps 91:4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: (KJV)
One day, as you are praying and I mean really praying, look up to Him and ask Him, ‘Lord, how much do You love me?’ My friend, I can tell you, the floodgates of heaven will be opened and down will stream the choicest waves of love you’ve ever experienced. Your answer comes instantly.
God is all about love. Yes, you and I find it difficult to love; but God is about love. Where He is, there is love. All His love is focused on just one person: you. Surprised? Yes, it did to me also, but then over a period of time, He revealed to me how He spends, if I may call it, His time, loving me. The only business of God as I see it, is to love. You open your arms and embrace Him and you will experience His love. You sit focused on Him and you will be drawn into His sphere of unblemished and eternal love. The experience is mighty and awesome and even as I write I can feel His love envelope me as it is enveloping you as you read…I can imagine Mary, Martha’s sister who was bestowed with Jesus’ love. She did not want anything else for no thing of man can compare with God’s love.
My beloved in Christ, God loves us so much and He is so concerned that He constantly watches over us. We who rely on Him are never disappointed. The man who trusts Him can never be put to shame Ps. 34:22; Prov. 29:25. Today’s verse says that He is like a mother shading us with His wings and guarding us with His feathers. Truly, He is eager that no harm comes to us in any way. The Bible says, He never sleeps nor slumbers and it is true. He is always there. Always. Remember, it is you who block His love. Today, I pray He gives you the grace to let your blocks down and allow His love to flow in.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 16, 2006
Today's verse: Pro. 21:31. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. (KJV)
A long time ago, I was working in Dubai where I met a friend who had been rather successful in his career. Over a cup of tea, he recalled all he had achieved and how he established himself. The conversation only veered to himself and how great he was. How he was a self-made man and that he had needed no one to prop him up. How he himself sketched his upward scale and moved toward his goals. It’s all fine in that, there’s nothing wrong in recounting your success and how hard you worked in achieving it. But for us Christians, the criticality is: how much of Christ is there in it!
The world has its own philosophies and ways and many times they go against the ways of God. For e.g. it’s usually by trampling someone else that you reach further. God will never advise it but the world advocates that as the only way of success. And so because of our obsession to be successful in the world, we go by its ways and do all kinds of things that are painful to others. We may reach the top but frankly the view from there is not good because of the harshness through which the journey began and went by. Failure slowly creeps in and we cannot handle it. Sickness comes and we become vegetables; completely at the mercy of God like it happened to the friend I’ve spoken of, above. Paralyzed. Completely immobile. That’s when the senses take over. When a friend of Caesar was dying, Caesar was filled with grief. He ran into his private room and cried, telling himself, ‘what is the use of being such a mighty emperor if I cannot add a moment of life for my friend?’
My friend, in your move in life, add Jesus as your measuring stick. You may have everything ready to make your best move but do you have Jesus? Remember, its all worthless without Jesus. For you may chart the course, which you need to follow, but whether you reach there is up to Him, exactly as today’s verse tells us.
October 16, 2006
Today's verse: Pro. 21:31. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. (KJV)
A long time ago, I was working in Dubai where I met a friend who had been rather successful in his career. Over a cup of tea, he recalled all he had achieved and how he established himself. The conversation only veered to himself and how great he was. How he was a self-made man and that he had needed no one to prop him up. How he himself sketched his upward scale and moved toward his goals. It’s all fine in that, there’s nothing wrong in recounting your success and how hard you worked in achieving it. But for us Christians, the criticality is: how much of Christ is there in it!
The world has its own philosophies and ways and many times they go against the ways of God. For e.g. it’s usually by trampling someone else that you reach further. God will never advise it but the world advocates that as the only way of success. And so because of our obsession to be successful in the world, we go by its ways and do all kinds of things that are painful to others. We may reach the top but frankly the view from there is not good because of the harshness through which the journey began and went by. Failure slowly creeps in and we cannot handle it. Sickness comes and we become vegetables; completely at the mercy of God like it happened to the friend I’ve spoken of, above. Paralyzed. Completely immobile. That’s when the senses take over. When a friend of Caesar was dying, Caesar was filled with grief. He ran into his private room and cried, telling himself, ‘what is the use of being such a mighty emperor if I cannot add a moment of life for my friend?’
My friend, in your move in life, add Jesus as your measuring stick. You may have everything ready to make your best move but do you have Jesus? Remember, its all worthless without Jesus. For you may chart the course, which you need to follow, but whether you reach there is up to Him, exactly as today’s verse tells us.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 13, 2006
Today's verse: Gen. 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJV)
Our Father in Heaven is extremely awesome and delightful. By Himself, He chooses us mere mortals to make Himself known. He comes to us when we are at our weakest and tells us what wonders He can do for us. Look at some of the great people of God. He met them when they were down and out and pulled them out of the miry clay. My friend, He works things in our lives by which we are removed from the mundane and move to a higher calling. Like He did with Mary…
Mary lit a candle on the grave of her husband. She loved him tremendously and both lived in a cocoon of their own. They had their dreams and they filled their separate worlds with each other. One phone call shattered Mary’s dream. Her world collapsed. Henry was dead. In that one earth crushing moment, Mary transformed from a young woman of 24 to a widow. Between her fainting and consciousness, she went through the motions of the burial and other formalities. Her family was very supportive yet Mary had lost the foundation of her world.
Her cry to God was, ‘What did I do Lord?’ After 15 days of wretched anguish, as she repeated this question in the darkness, she heard a faint voice, ‘Mary, I am God Almighty and I love you.’ ‘Love me? No you don’t else you would not have taken Henry from me. What wrong did I do Lord?’ she blurted through her tears. Suddenly she felt a certain strength and warmth flood in her and clearly she heard, ‘Mary my child, what wrong had My Son done, that, He was crucified? But yet, it was My plan. You are saved because of His death. So also Mary I have a plan for you. Remember, death is not the end of the world. It is also the beginning of new things. Your plan will be revealed soon to you.’
The tears suddenly stopped and Mary felt engulfed in a strength she did not understand. She took her Bible and reading it, chanced upon the above verse. ‘God Almighty!’ And she remembered what God had done for Abraham. Her heart moved to the Lord and she cried before Him. ‘Father I am sorry I blamed you. Come into my heart Lord and stay. Come into my life and give me purpose Lord.’
A few days later, Mary got a call from a person who had started an orphanage to be in charge of it. Today Mary, is revered as a person who is a mother to the orphans. Her orphanage is truly a hallmark of love and service as advocated by God. Through the love of the kids there, she can feel Henry’s love and his glance on her.
My beloved in Christ, God’s ways are not our ways. He came to Abraham at ninety-nine years of age (because that’s when Abraham had lost all hope) and declares He is Almighty – El Shaddai. When you have lost all hope, He comes and will tell you the same thing. And if you accept Him as Abraham did, He will establish His covenant with you and you will tread on Heaven’s path. Great will be your work on earth and blessed will be the fruit of your hands.
October 13, 2006
Today's verse: Gen. 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJV)
Our Father in Heaven is extremely awesome and delightful. By Himself, He chooses us mere mortals to make Himself known. He comes to us when we are at our weakest and tells us what wonders He can do for us. Look at some of the great people of God. He met them when they were down and out and pulled them out of the miry clay. My friend, He works things in our lives by which we are removed from the mundane and move to a higher calling. Like He did with Mary…
Mary lit a candle on the grave of her husband. She loved him tremendously and both lived in a cocoon of their own. They had their dreams and they filled their separate worlds with each other. One phone call shattered Mary’s dream. Her world collapsed. Henry was dead. In that one earth crushing moment, Mary transformed from a young woman of 24 to a widow. Between her fainting and consciousness, she went through the motions of the burial and other formalities. Her family was very supportive yet Mary had lost the foundation of her world.
Her cry to God was, ‘What did I do Lord?’ After 15 days of wretched anguish, as she repeated this question in the darkness, she heard a faint voice, ‘Mary, I am God Almighty and I love you.’ ‘Love me? No you don’t else you would not have taken Henry from me. What wrong did I do Lord?’ she blurted through her tears. Suddenly she felt a certain strength and warmth flood in her and clearly she heard, ‘Mary my child, what wrong had My Son done, that, He was crucified? But yet, it was My plan. You are saved because of His death. So also Mary I have a plan for you. Remember, death is not the end of the world. It is also the beginning of new things. Your plan will be revealed soon to you.’
The tears suddenly stopped and Mary felt engulfed in a strength she did not understand. She took her Bible and reading it, chanced upon the above verse. ‘God Almighty!’ And she remembered what God had done for Abraham. Her heart moved to the Lord and she cried before Him. ‘Father I am sorry I blamed you. Come into my heart Lord and stay. Come into my life and give me purpose Lord.’
A few days later, Mary got a call from a person who had started an orphanage to be in charge of it. Today Mary, is revered as a person who is a mother to the orphans. Her orphanage is truly a hallmark of love and service as advocated by God. Through the love of the kids there, she can feel Henry’s love and his glance on her.
My beloved in Christ, God’s ways are not our ways. He came to Abraham at ninety-nine years of age (because that’s when Abraham had lost all hope) and declares He is Almighty – El Shaddai. When you have lost all hope, He comes and will tell you the same thing. And if you accept Him as Abraham did, He will establish His covenant with you and you will tread on Heaven’s path. Great will be your work on earth and blessed will be the fruit of your hands.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 12, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 12:9. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (KJV)
Whenever I read the above verse, I get really scared. It is a warning signal to those of us who, under the guise of being falsely secular or being a ‘good neighbor by not bringing in religion’ deny Jesus (Incidentally, Jesus is a way of life – not a religion check Acts. 9:2). Some of you would say but brother, it is not proper to speak of Jesus at all times you know. Yes, agreed, but who is asking you to speak about Him all the time. Some times you also need to do something to show Christ in your life … for instance if a small child is crying of hunger on the road, stop, buy some food and then go your way.
For me it is like this: On occasions the Holy Spirit will you keep mum. For He knows best when to talk Jesus. Our attitude must be one of always being ready to talk about the Lord. Look at people from other faiths, don’t they constantly talk about their ‘gods’? Are we are too sophisticated a people to talk about the carpenter Jesus?
Friends, we have a wonderful God. Jesus is His Name. He is the only God and He died for us. He blesses us with all gifts from Heaven. We delight in His gifts but sadly refrain from taking His Name and this happens with you; me, and the best of us. You know, many people have shed their blood to give us Jesus. Today, we know so much about Him because there have been the martyrs. They have been set ablaze to provide light in ancient coliseums, they have been crucified, burnt alive in boiling oil, had their heads chopped off, seen their families being raped and killed before their eyes and then shot dead and so on and so forth…Truly, Jesus lives in us because of them. The irony unfortunately is, we are not ready to give such a wonderful God to people. Remember salvation is, only through the Name of Jesus and no other, Acts 4:12.
My prayer to our Father above is: Abba, give us the Grace to always talk and walk Jesus in our lives. Won’t you say, ‘Amen’?
October 12, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 12:9. But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (KJV)
Whenever I read the above verse, I get really scared. It is a warning signal to those of us who, under the guise of being falsely secular or being a ‘good neighbor by not bringing in religion’ deny Jesus (Incidentally, Jesus is a way of life – not a religion check Acts. 9:2). Some of you would say but brother, it is not proper to speak of Jesus at all times you know. Yes, agreed, but who is asking you to speak about Him all the time. Some times you also need to do something to show Christ in your life … for instance if a small child is crying of hunger on the road, stop, buy some food and then go your way.
For me it is like this: On occasions the Holy Spirit will you keep mum. For He knows best when to talk Jesus. Our attitude must be one of always being ready to talk about the Lord. Look at people from other faiths, don’t they constantly talk about their ‘gods’? Are we are too sophisticated a people to talk about the carpenter Jesus?
Friends, we have a wonderful God. Jesus is His Name. He is the only God and He died for us. He blesses us with all gifts from Heaven. We delight in His gifts but sadly refrain from taking His Name and this happens with you; me, and the best of us. You know, many people have shed their blood to give us Jesus. Today, we know so much about Him because there have been the martyrs. They have been set ablaze to provide light in ancient coliseums, they have been crucified, burnt alive in boiling oil, had their heads chopped off, seen their families being raped and killed before their eyes and then shot dead and so on and so forth…Truly, Jesus lives in us because of them. The irony unfortunately is, we are not ready to give such a wonderful God to people. Remember salvation is, only through the Name of Jesus and no other, Acts 4:12.
My prayer to our Father above is: Abba, give us the Grace to always talk and walk Jesus in our lives. Won’t you say, ‘Amen’?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 11, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Ki. 19:27. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, (KJV)
Many times we suffer knowing not that God’s eyes are upon us. He knows our every breath. He knows us inside out. Proverbs 15:3 says that the eyes of the Lord are in every place. His knowledge fills every space and substance.
My friend, God’s is intimately bound to us. It is we who scatter. Jesus says in Luke 11:23, ‘He who is not with Me is against Me and He who does not gather with Me, scatters’ which means that whoever is not bound to Jesus loses his place in life. He loses the solidity of the promises of God.
God has allowed us to make choices. He has placed before us good and bad. It is we who need to take a decision. And yes we do decide but then through our decision take the short cut to trouble. Seldom do we ask Him to take decisions on our behalf. Little do we understand the ways of our Father and His purposes for us. Leave that alone, we do not even know that He is always there watching over us. Even if we sin, we must understand that He is still willing to lift us up. We may insult Him often, yet He will not turn away from us.
My beloved in Christ, He knows us inside out. He knows our body and our soul and our mind. Infinitely well. It was He who created us in the first place and He will not abandon us. When we gather with Him, He is pleased to lead us onward. His ways are safe and sure and fulfilling. Let us strive today and every day of our lives to know Him; even in the way He knows us. Truly then, will He walk with us as Ps. 23:4 suggests.
October 11, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Ki. 19:27. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, (KJV)
Many times we suffer knowing not that God’s eyes are upon us. He knows our every breath. He knows us inside out. Proverbs 15:3 says that the eyes of the Lord are in every place. His knowledge fills every space and substance.
My friend, God’s is intimately bound to us. It is we who scatter. Jesus says in Luke 11:23, ‘He who is not with Me is against Me and He who does not gather with Me, scatters’ which means that whoever is not bound to Jesus loses his place in life. He loses the solidity of the promises of God.
God has allowed us to make choices. He has placed before us good and bad. It is we who need to take a decision. And yes we do decide but then through our decision take the short cut to trouble. Seldom do we ask Him to take decisions on our behalf. Little do we understand the ways of our Father and His purposes for us. Leave that alone, we do not even know that He is always there watching over us. Even if we sin, we must understand that He is still willing to lift us up. We may insult Him often, yet He will not turn away from us.
My beloved in Christ, He knows us inside out. He knows our body and our soul and our mind. Infinitely well. It was He who created us in the first place and He will not abandon us. When we gather with Him, He is pleased to lead us onward. His ways are safe and sure and fulfilling. Let us strive today and every day of our lives to know Him; even in the way He knows us. Truly then, will He walk with us as Ps. 23:4 suggests.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 9, 2006
Today's verse: Ezr. 9:6. And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. (KJV)
The ‘grief’ of man on the sins he has committed is a pleasant offering to the Lord.
In our lives we so very often offend God that it is remarkable He allows us to be. Of His mercies, we are not consumed and we live to see another day. But it doesn’t mean that pardon for our sins is granted. Pardon can be granted only when we acknowledge our sins and confess them humbly before God.
In the context of today’s verse, the Israelites had offended God terribly and God had punished them. Yet they did not learn and kept on doing the same things. When Ezra heard about it, He was sore displeased and overcome by woe. He was afraid; very afraid of what would happen now. For, He knew about the wrath of God. But he chose to debase Himself absolutely before God and in doing so; He kept the wrath of God at bay.
With us too there are many sins that keep us away from God. Once in a while we need to take stock of our own lives and work on righting it before God. We need to do it, not because we are in a way faced with the impending wrath of God but because He loves us too dearly and we owe it to Him, not to mention of course the fact that in His presence, when cleansed, we experience the greatest delights we can.
October 9, 2006
Today's verse: Ezr. 9:6. And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. (KJV)
The ‘grief’ of man on the sins he has committed is a pleasant offering to the Lord.
In our lives we so very often offend God that it is remarkable He allows us to be. Of His mercies, we are not consumed and we live to see another day. But it doesn’t mean that pardon for our sins is granted. Pardon can be granted only when we acknowledge our sins and confess them humbly before God.
In the context of today’s verse, the Israelites had offended God terribly and God had punished them. Yet they did not learn and kept on doing the same things. When Ezra heard about it, He was sore displeased and overcome by woe. He was afraid; very afraid of what would happen now. For, He knew about the wrath of God. But he chose to debase Himself absolutely before God and in doing so; He kept the wrath of God at bay.
With us too there are many sins that keep us away from God. Once in a while we need to take stock of our own lives and work on righting it before God. We need to do it, not because we are in a way faced with the impending wrath of God but because He loves us too dearly and we owe it to Him, not to mention of course the fact that in His presence, when cleansed, we experience the greatest delights we can.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 6, 2006
Today's verse: Deut. 10:12. And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (KJV)
I wonder how many of us know the requirements that God has of us. When we go for prayer or retreats, we go with our bundle of woes and we place before Him our list of wants. Of course, the preachers play to the gallery by telling us rather vociferously that we must cast all our burdens unto Jesus and that we must trust Him to fulfill all our needs and so on…All very good for they are right about God but, rarely do we find them talking about what we need to do for God.
God being nothing but love wants to do great things for us. For sure, whatever He has said in His word He will fulfill for He is faithful. So many times, I have seen His faithfulness even to my own shame. Many are the times when I have spoken and told Him, ‘Depart from me my Master, for I am sinful.’ In deep prayer, each one of us will be led to voice at His feet, ‘Oh Lord, what am I that You are so loving to me. What is my worth Lord that you shed Your precious blood for me?’
My beloved let me tell you; sometimes when I think of His love, my heart cries within me. Oh what manner of love is this, bestowed on worthless flesh! I remember the song by Don Moen, ‘Think about His love, think about His goodness, think about His Grace; for as high as the Heavens above, so great is the measure of our Father’s love… Across ages and endless time, God’s love has filled each segment of whatever you perceive to be there. Oh, my beloved, God’s love has enveloped the very universe and held it in its grip. That is why the rhythm of the universe is uniform. But when it comes to us, we do not know His love. We do not stop to think what pain might be in His heart and very tragically we do not know that He too, great as He is, needs something from us!
My friend, when the lone leper returned to Jesus and thanked Him, He was delighted; He did comment about the others for He expected gratefulness from all. Let me tell you my friend, God yearns for us to acknowledge Him as Father. God yearns for our hearts to be melded to Him. God yearns that we serve Him, not in a human manner but by just being there with Him. Today’s verse is the sum total of all today’s thought needs to convey. Think about it.
October 6, 2006
Today's verse: Deut. 10:12. And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (KJV)
I wonder how many of us know the requirements that God has of us. When we go for prayer or retreats, we go with our bundle of woes and we place before Him our list of wants. Of course, the preachers play to the gallery by telling us rather vociferously that we must cast all our burdens unto Jesus and that we must trust Him to fulfill all our needs and so on…All very good for they are right about God but, rarely do we find them talking about what we need to do for God.
God being nothing but love wants to do great things for us. For sure, whatever He has said in His word He will fulfill for He is faithful. So many times, I have seen His faithfulness even to my own shame. Many are the times when I have spoken and told Him, ‘Depart from me my Master, for I am sinful.’ In deep prayer, each one of us will be led to voice at His feet, ‘Oh Lord, what am I that You are so loving to me. What is my worth Lord that you shed Your precious blood for me?’
My beloved let me tell you; sometimes when I think of His love, my heart cries within me. Oh what manner of love is this, bestowed on worthless flesh! I remember the song by Don Moen, ‘Think about His love, think about His goodness, think about His Grace; for as high as the Heavens above, so great is the measure of our Father’s love… Across ages and endless time, God’s love has filled each segment of whatever you perceive to be there. Oh, my beloved, God’s love has enveloped the very universe and held it in its grip. That is why the rhythm of the universe is uniform. But when it comes to us, we do not know His love. We do not stop to think what pain might be in His heart and very tragically we do not know that He too, great as He is, needs something from us!
My friend, when the lone leper returned to Jesus and thanked Him, He was delighted; He did comment about the others for He expected gratefulness from all. Let me tell you my friend, God yearns for us to acknowledge Him as Father. God yearns for our hearts to be melded to Him. God yearns that we serve Him, not in a human manner but by just being there with Him. Today’s verse is the sum total of all today’s thought needs to convey. Think about it.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 5, 2006
Today's verse: Ps 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)
There are so many ways in which we can see how good our God is. Through thick and thin, He brings us and leads us on level path. If we look at our lives, countless are the times we have fallen but the goodness of the Lord has remained with us.
In every situation of life when we offer our all to God, it is as if He tells the heavenly hosts, ‘Now I must reach out to all this person needs…’ And so God, faithful that He is continues to be good to us. As sinners, if we but reflect upon instances in our lives when we were in the pit and knew not what to do, then miraculously something happened and we were drawn out of the pit. We may not attribute it to our God but, certainly as the sun rises in the East, it was our God working silently, in our lives.
We fail to thank Him, but He works. We fail even to acknowledge Him yet He never wavers in sending us His mercy. Think my beloved in the manner in which He has moved to be with us and blessed us. Truly we are exalted people because we have God as our Father who is always there. He never sleeps nor slumbers nor does He ever forget you. How can He when you are etched on His palms? You may think He does but that is just a shade of time when as in an eclipse, the sun is not seen, so also God is not perceived by us. But surely He is there.
As David says in today’s verse, blessed is the man who trusts in Him having tasted and seen that He is good; so I believe that if you today, put your belief and your trust in Him, He will prove His goodness toward you.
October 5, 2006
Today's verse: Ps 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)
There are so many ways in which we can see how good our God is. Through thick and thin, He brings us and leads us on level path. If we look at our lives, countless are the times we have fallen but the goodness of the Lord has remained with us.
In every situation of life when we offer our all to God, it is as if He tells the heavenly hosts, ‘Now I must reach out to all this person needs…’ And so God, faithful that He is continues to be good to us. As sinners, if we but reflect upon instances in our lives when we were in the pit and knew not what to do, then miraculously something happened and we were drawn out of the pit. We may not attribute it to our God but, certainly as the sun rises in the East, it was our God working silently, in our lives.
We fail to thank Him, but He works. We fail even to acknowledge Him yet He never wavers in sending us His mercy. Think my beloved in the manner in which He has moved to be with us and blessed us. Truly we are exalted people because we have God as our Father who is always there. He never sleeps nor slumbers nor does He ever forget you. How can He when you are etched on His palms? You may think He does but that is just a shade of time when as in an eclipse, the sun is not seen, so also God is not perceived by us. But surely He is there.
As David says in today’s verse, blessed is the man who trusts in Him having tasted and seen that He is good; so I believe that if you today, put your belief and your trust in Him, He will prove His goodness toward you.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 4, 2006
Today's verse: Rom. 7:17. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (KJV)
If you are fighting a day to day battle with sin, I’d like to tell you that it is the same with me and with many other Christian brothers and sisters in this world. The deceiver is extremely good at the art of deception. Imagine him putting in the heart of Eve the desire to eat the fruit. Today, too many of us live under his thumb so to say. For me personally, it is an uphill struggle to be perfect, as Jesus want us to be.
Every evening except weekends, I have as it were, a time for reckoning when I sit at the feet of the Lord and talk to Him. But the barrier of sin comes in between the fellowship I can have with the Lord. However, as I appeal fervently, God’s Grace comes flooding in my heart. Not only that, I have seen that even when I do sin, God’s Presence does not move away from me. For He knows my heart! If you were to see my sinful condition, you would see the spots upon me. But God sees the inside. And, that my brothers and sisters is the great thing about our God. Every moment we sin, is a sad moment for Him. But each time we come to Him in humility, He looks past our sin and looks upon us freshly. It is a new beginning.
This is not to say that we should keep sinning, lest this reflection be misunderstood. But rather it is to state that many times we sin and fall. For we do not know why we sin, but the fact is: we sin. Yet on our knees when we behold His tear stained face, we know there is redemption. And today’s message is simply that, sin being a reality in our lives may cause us to fall. But do get up and go to the Master of Life that He revisit our hearts and stay therein. Do not harbor guilt – the devil will tell you how bad you look and that you shouldn’t appear thus before God – but shun His advice and go to God. Truly He who has knit us in our mother’s womb understands the follies that exist within us. And He is there to forgive. Didn’t He die on the cross for that very same reason? But just get down on your knees and plead for His mercy. It will come.
October 4, 2006
Today's verse: Rom. 7:17. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (KJV)
If you are fighting a day to day battle with sin, I’d like to tell you that it is the same with me and with many other Christian brothers and sisters in this world. The deceiver is extremely good at the art of deception. Imagine him putting in the heart of Eve the desire to eat the fruit. Today, too many of us live under his thumb so to say. For me personally, it is an uphill struggle to be perfect, as Jesus want us to be.
Every evening except weekends, I have as it were, a time for reckoning when I sit at the feet of the Lord and talk to Him. But the barrier of sin comes in between the fellowship I can have with the Lord. However, as I appeal fervently, God’s Grace comes flooding in my heart. Not only that, I have seen that even when I do sin, God’s Presence does not move away from me. For He knows my heart! If you were to see my sinful condition, you would see the spots upon me. But God sees the inside. And, that my brothers and sisters is the great thing about our God. Every moment we sin, is a sad moment for Him. But each time we come to Him in humility, He looks past our sin and looks upon us freshly. It is a new beginning.
This is not to say that we should keep sinning, lest this reflection be misunderstood. But rather it is to state that many times we sin and fall. For we do not know why we sin, but the fact is: we sin. Yet on our knees when we behold His tear stained face, we know there is redemption. And today’s message is simply that, sin being a reality in our lives may cause us to fall. But do get up and go to the Master of Life that He revisit our hearts and stay therein. Do not harbor guilt – the devil will tell you how bad you look and that you shouldn’t appear thus before God – but shun His advice and go to God. Truly He who has knit us in our mother’s womb understands the follies that exist within us. And He is there to forgive. Didn’t He die on the cross for that very same reason? But just get down on your knees and plead for His mercy. It will come.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 3, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 6:16. as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, (KJV)
There’s something wonderful in today’s verse. It’s really what God loves to do and that is to be with us in our praise of Him.
Isn’t it amazing that God dwells in us? That He walks in us!!! And more importantly, is our God? This amazing truth is exhibited in the Word time and again. From the beginning of creation till today, God has always exhibited His need to be with us. I remember Him telling Isaac, ‘I am with you’ and also Jacob and then Jesus telling His apostles, ‘I am with you until the end of age.’
I would like to tell you all situations that God is with us in. But suffice it for me to say that no matter what situation in life you are, God is with you. Even when the occasion of sin arises, God is there. Nothing is a greater truth than the fact that God is there. In my sinfulness I can tell you God is there with me. How much will He be there for all you righteous people out there? And also let me tell you that He is there with His power to use to help us. So rejoice and be glad for your Defender is there with you. Trust Him.
October 3, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 6:16. as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, (KJV)
There’s something wonderful in today’s verse. It’s really what God loves to do and that is to be with us in our praise of Him.
Isn’t it amazing that God dwells in us? That He walks in us!!! And more importantly, is our God? This amazing truth is exhibited in the Word time and again. From the beginning of creation till today, God has always exhibited His need to be with us. I remember Him telling Isaac, ‘I am with you’ and also Jacob and then Jesus telling His apostles, ‘I am with you until the end of age.’
I would like to tell you all situations that God is with us in. But suffice it for me to say that no matter what situation in life you are, God is with you. Even when the occasion of sin arises, God is there. Nothing is a greater truth than the fact that God is there. In my sinfulness I can tell you God is there with me. How much will He be there for all you righteous people out there? And also let me tell you that He is there with His power to use to help us. So rejoice and be glad for your Defender is there with you. Trust Him.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Thoughts for another day
October 2, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 126:3. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. KJV)
There is a beautiful song, composed initially by Johnson Oatman Jr., ‘Count your Blessings, name them one by one…’ It truly reminds us of the plenty that God our Father has blessed us with and the need to thank Him for it.
Right from the time we were born till today, God has sent toward us plenty of good things, many of which we don’t even know. He has kept us safe from the many tragedies that befall others. The other day I met the father of a little girl who has been severely afflicted in the brain. As I was talking to this man, he said something that really shook me. He said, ‘my friend, I thank God for my daughter. It is she who reminds me to be grateful to Him for our good health and particularly the good health of the brain of my wife and other children’. Imagine, to stand and say, ‘Thank God for this calamity!’
My beloved in Christ, many times when we see certain people, who are so happy and glorious all the time, we don’t seem to think of the pain they have in their lives. Like for e.g. the man above. Yet, being blessed by God, they thank Him for everything all the time. How I wish and pray that deep inside each one of us, there would flow the incessant spring of thanksgiving to the Almighty. God is certainly pleased with our lifting our eyes to heaven and thanking Him.
I exhort you to look up and thank Him for everything – good or bad. He sure will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over you with singing. And most certainly, the streams of His blessings will chart their course toward you and His joy will become the strength in your being.
October 2, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 126:3. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. KJV)
There is a beautiful song, composed initially by Johnson Oatman Jr., ‘Count your Blessings, name them one by one…’ It truly reminds us of the plenty that God our Father has blessed us with and the need to thank Him for it.
Right from the time we were born till today, God has sent toward us plenty of good things, many of which we don’t even know. He has kept us safe from the many tragedies that befall others. The other day I met the father of a little girl who has been severely afflicted in the brain. As I was talking to this man, he said something that really shook me. He said, ‘my friend, I thank God for my daughter. It is she who reminds me to be grateful to Him for our good health and particularly the good health of the brain of my wife and other children’. Imagine, to stand and say, ‘Thank God for this calamity!’
My beloved in Christ, many times when we see certain people, who are so happy and glorious all the time, we don’t seem to think of the pain they have in their lives. Like for e.g. the man above. Yet, being blessed by God, they thank Him for everything all the time. How I wish and pray that deep inside each one of us, there would flow the incessant spring of thanksgiving to the Almighty. God is certainly pleased with our lifting our eyes to heaven and thanking Him.
I exhort you to look up and thank Him for everything – good or bad. He sure will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in His love. He will joy over you with singing. And most certainly, the streams of His blessings will chart their course toward you and His joy will become the strength in your being.
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