Thoughts for another day

June 30, 2009.

Today's verse: Lk. 8:25. And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Yeah, what manner of Man was Jesus Christ?

He could choose to be born anywhere, yet He chose the most depressing and shall I say dirty place to be born in. He could choose to be anything, but chose to be a carpenter. He could be a great Rabbi, but remained an itinerant preacher and never mind the truth and power of His teachings, they were always side-lined. He could’ve befriended, the high and mighty and royalty, but had the scumbags, and the strays of society for company and His closest companions reeked of fish smell…ugh! He could’ve destroyed the marauding crowd baying for His blood when He stood, head bowed down, before Pilate, but chose rather to be ridiculed, spat upon and insulted in every sense of the word. He could’ve chosen to be raised to the highest position in the country for wisdom in its entirety took birth in Him, yet he was raised on the Cross, helpless, disheveled, marked as a cursed criminal; a man whom none would even look upon.
Yeah, what manner of Man was Jesus Christ!

When death hit people, He commanded it out; ask Jairus’ daughter or the widow’s son or even Lazarus. All ailments known at that time flew away when they encountered Him. The fishes obeyed and died in the nets of Peter and the others and one fish had even swallowed a coin! The roaring waves of the Sea of Galilee shut up at His command and food just increased in His blessing. Human hearts changed when He touched them and eyes and ears opened at His order; even evil and the devil’s angels flew out of men at His simple Word of authority. Water transformed into wine and death transformed into life. Such was the power, the enigma and persona of the Son of Man.

My friend, nothing is impossible for Jesus Christ. He strides across time and walks on the circle of the earth. He decides when it should rain and how much wind should blow. He places the thunder at a point in the sky and from there stokes the lightning. He rules all things and there is none He’s not aware of, whether you’re doing good or quietly giving in to your immoral side. He looks at each one of us and beckons us. Blessed are we if we move toward Him, marveling at His Word and sitting at His feet saying, ‘Lord, speak to me.’

Thoughts for another day

June 29, 2009.

Today's verse: 1 Cor 10:13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

See this verse and read it for God gives you an assurance here. There are many trials God sends our way. There are solid spiritual reasons attached to them, but the fact of the matter is God allows us trials. They are not so we crumble under their weight but that they strengthen us and bring us to God’s abundant life we know and long to be a part of.

When we look at the distress in our lives, we who pray regularly for self, squirm and cringe from it, rather than face it head on. Trials have a way of putting a man down and the usual feeling that comes with a trial is one of defeat and surrender. That’s exactly what the devil intends when he accuses us before God in enforcing a trial. But though God allows it, we aren’t left alone; in our verse today, we are given a clear message: that God allows us only those trials which we face regularly and being faithful, He doesn’t allow us to be tempted beyond the threshold of our tolerance.

And oh Child of God, know that with every trial He sends us a measure of equivalent Grace to bear it and not succumb to it. Our good and awesome God wants that we overcome just as His Son did and being a model for us, we too must emulate Him and grow in His Grace and become victorious in all aspects of life even if there are moments of intense pain or grief or misery. Be steadfast in your relationship with Him who has the power to redeem you and God will prevail in your life.

Thoughts for another day

June 26, 2009.

Today's verse: Job 23:13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I’ve seen many sins of man, including mine. I know of plans we conceive and many actions we think of in our efforts of becoming famous and powerful. But you know something, the Lord it is who decides whether that can happen or not. He decides what you become or what you achieve. Vainly do you labor, for unless the Lord will it, it shall not be built! Put this deep into your heart and listen to what He has to say, particularly when you think something big.

The LORD God planned all things for us long before the world came to be. He decided what each one of us will be from the response our hearts gave and it’s deep in the heart where your personal will, allowed by God, is exercised. This place harbors the real you, and also where you make your choice, albeit, sometimes even without your knowledge. And here, there’re some traits which we don’t even know as existing in us which is why, we’re shocked when they’re revealed; don’t we know of the ‘darker aspects of our lives’ or even the ‘angel within us’; traits rarely discovered except in extraordinary situations?

Having learnt this, I marvel at our thoughts: Our imaginations are so stupid; forever cooking up great things which seldom materialize. They don’t because they didn’t appear in our life books prepared long ago. Sometimes we may try to fight our destiny assigned by Him but it’s like banging your head on the wall. Its better we realize it soon avoiding us much grief. Our job in the world is to glorify and praise our Lord and Creator for which He has created us. So let’s wait upon Him for everything and as we get to know and understand His plan and will for our lives, we live accordingly. For of a surety I can tell you, He is the LORD and what He desires, He does…even with your destiny. Approach Him as a little child and ask; He will render you your heart’s desires.

Thoughts for another day

June 25, 2009.

Today's verse: James 1:14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The key the devil uses to help us sin, is temptation. And what really is temptation? I’ll not try to work out the meaning as you’d all know it but rather the process that’s important for us to know. It begins with desire, whatever it be, perhaps maybe to look good before someone (so we lie) or desire a car (so we cheat and save money) or own a big corporation (where we destroy lives of people). Any desire that doesn’t work in tandem with moral values or spiritual gain and if I may add, to giving God glory, is the devil’s enticing. We know how David desired to number his men, even though it wasn’t what’d grant him victory nor the genius or might to go to battle. It was detrimental, in fact to God getting glory; but the intensity of his desire, made him forget God and go ahead with the execution of his desire. It was simply the process of a desire giving birth to sinful action.

The devil always strikes in our domain of desire. All he needs to do is increase its intensity. Take a married man who sees his neighbor – a lady with good looks. If he harbors any desire for amorous flirtation, he’ll be inclined to woo the woman. The devil intensifies the desire saying, what’s the harm in getting to know her, perhaps having a cup of tea with her… See! Then from one thing it leads to another and eventually to ruin! We’ve seen this before and we’ll see it again. It’s likely to happen in our lives too provided we learn to bridle our desires.

Temptation arises from the base of our desires and if not bridled, it’ll lead to sin. So I’d say, we implore the Holy Spirit of God to help us know our unsacred desires and also give us the Grace to put them on a leash. Let me also say that repeatedly giving in to our desires will in all likelihood strip us of our citizenship in heaven. But fear not, the Blood of the Lamb will provide us a way, not only in keeping our status as Children of the Kingdom, but also overcoming our ‘desiring selves.’

Thoughts for another day

June 24, 2009.

Today's verse: Rev. 4:11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I read this verse, it pleases my heart tremendously. Why? Because, it speaks about our Lord’s worthiness to receive all glory and honor and power. That’s because He’s created all things and why? That they may work for His pleasure. And yes, He is the only One who’s worthy, none else.

Humans are created not because they can make a goal for themselves and try achieve it in their lives (which is what most people think), but that they work to give glory to God and bring pleasure to Him. When I once spoke of this, someone contested me and said, if all human beings only sat before God and glorified Him, what would we eat? I told Him, if that’s what He wants and we do it, then doesn’t He know how to meet our need of hunger? How did the Israelites in the desert meet their food requirements? Also, as regards their footwear and clothes, the Bible tells us, they didn’t wear out for so many years! So I tend to agree if we were to give God our time and our efforts He will bless us with all things that we require. Only here I’d like to clarify that we sit before Him giving Him glory, and not do as the Thessalonians did, which is just sit and do nothing!

Then there’s another thought this verse put in my mind. Imagine, God has created us for His pleasure! Imagine us, the scum of the earth coming to be a pleasurable thing to God! How awesome and beautiful is He who sits in Heaven, looking at us with fondness considering our little acts toward Him as things of pleasure. And then my mind says, how much more we need to be with Him to actually give Him all pleasure and glory and honor. We know, how little we do for God. In fact, I feel if we are praying for an hour, we need to pray at least one hour more. If we sing thanks alone, we need to sing praise and glory and honor and worship to Him, the Lord of Hosts. Someday, having done this, I’m sure, in the portals of heaven, a place would beckon us and welcome us to our eternal abode to be in joy with our Lord and Maker and Husband.

Thoughts for another day

June 23, 2009.

Today's verse: Mk. 6:34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I want to take you today to a deserted place, close to the Sea of Galilee and like you to meet our Lord. He’s already sitting on a rock and around Him are His apostles and disciples and there are many others who’ve followed Him for various reasons. Some, because they’re astounded by His speech, some because they like the way He admonishes the ever so righteous scribes and Pharisees. Many are following Him because of His great power of healing. And there are a few who just want to listen to His Words. They seem so soothing for their souls.

And now that you are here, think of the reason that’s brought you here. Tell that to Him. Remember, even if He is sitting very far from you, He can hear you just the way He heard the cry of Bartimaeus even though there was so much noise! It’s possible you got a problem, so tell Him. See, when the storm came at sea, He rebuked the winds and they obeyed; perhaps, you are beaten badly by a situation…go ahead, tell Him about it: Listen, His Word says, He is moved with compassion toward them (and that includes you,) because they are as sheep without a shepherd. Don’t you feel many times that you are just floating around with no one to lead you? Now’s your chance to let Him know you want Him to lead you. Go on…talk to Him.

Remember that Jesus is keenly interested in you. Now you’re hungry and very far from a place of food. But, just look, there…there’s some food coming your way and if you’re wondering how, He’s just worked a miracle. Eat your fill and know how much He loves you. My friend, there can never be a lover who can love like Jesus Christ. He loves you the way you are and He doesn’t make any demands. Just meld into Him and relax. Heaven will certain fawn over you and make you feel at Home when you are in His arms. And continue looking at those eyes…they look so gently at you…

Thoughts for another day

June 22, 2009.

Today's verse: Philm. 1:14. But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We all want to do good. But does someone have to force us to do the good. In this brilliantly crafted letter, Paul is putting forth an idea to Philemon that he would have favored Onesimus to be with him and ministering to him, but he is sending him back so that the favor he gets currently might be bestowed by Philemon both knowingly and willingly.

So it is with our relationship with God. Does someone have to stand up and tell us or rather coax us to have a relationship with God. Has God not touched us enough to be able to relate ourselves to Him at all points in our lives, except in the case of little children where God would not have given them enough experiences as yet, to live them another day.

My friend, God has spread so much beauty and good things in our lives that were we to sit down and calculate how many they were, we would be stunned. Let’s approach Him today with confidence as a child does toward his father and let Him know that we too love Him, though our love be marred by doubt and stubbornness. Be that as it may, let us also learn to spend time with Him learning His beauty and His love and experiencing His power in our lives so that this earth turns to be a better place. Spend time my friend with God and someday like the psalmist, you too may say, ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good!’

Thoughts for another day

June 19, 2009.

Today's verse: Ps. 139:1, 2. O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Is there a vein in your and my body that the LORD doesn’t know? Do you think it’s possible He doesn’t recognize an architecture of the air sacs in your lungs. Is it possible, there’s anything within you or for that matter outside you that He isn’t aware of? Does that possibility exist…Could it be true that the One, who fashioned us, doesn’t know us in detail?

Banish the thought, for the LORD God the Mighty One of the patriarchs, knows all. He knows the whole of your life from the time He thought of you, eons before you could be born, to the time you will be in eternal life. As for this short sojourn on earth, He knows all about your flesh or about the various cells in your brain or each cell in your body. He understands the reason for each emotion we have or for the way we behave.

For me it is a great thing because I know that when I’m in need He knows. When I’m faced with a problem or danger, He is aware. When people talk ill of me, He is in the know and when the devil has planned to do me harm, God is completely aware of the details much before. This sets my mind at rest for I know there’s nothing that can happen, which will come as a surprise for Him and in everything, He will only allow that to come to pass that will be beneficial to me. I can rest assured that since He knows what’s going to happen with me at any time, He will block the dangers and filter the favors to me. Even if there is a trial I need to go through, in Him, it ceases to be a trial but an opportunity to sing His praises. And this much I know, because He knows me well, I have the opportunity to be heaven based since He will bring about events that will make me fall into His arms even when evil drives itself toward me trying to smother me. And in His arms I will find peace and help. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

June 18, 2009.

Today's verse: Ro. 1:20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Looking beyond the attitude of taking things for granted, can give rise to a magnificent vision of the glory of our God, particularly when you get out of your home and perhaps walk toward a garden or a natural oasis. Looking at the unsullied beauty, created by the Master of the Universe, a story unfolds in our minds: No words spoken, just a grand understanding of His grandeur and that by His Own power and might He has designed the world so fabulously even in what we consider as trash, for instance, a dry leaf!

Take a look at a dry leaf and see the architecture in it. Is there another like it? Look at the flowers that adorn a tree and make it look so beautiful; can we humans with all our understanding create even one like that. Or the wonder of the deep blue sky, mirroring the magnificence so gently of an otherwise brash basin of tumultuous water packed with awesome latent energy as to birth fear in the most solid of human hearts. And if you are anywhere near a waterfall, then let your eyes tell you how the water dances down the mountain face cascading into a massive spray at it hits the bottom, creating as it were, an incessant chant of praise to the Lord Most High, God of the Universe and I add, your Father and my Father, the glorious and great I AM.

In it can’t we find the picture of our invisible God talking so much to us of His closeness and His being with us? And for sure, there are many things He keeps telling us, speaking and communing with us. When we are scared, His gentle whisper brushes past our ears saying, ‘Do not fear for I AM with you.' Or when we are low, He says, ‘Hey child, cheer up…I’ve got something good coming your way today!’ You know He talks so much to me that sometimes, I wonder, what kind of a fool am I that I don’t hear Him. Has the cacophony of the world with its stupid ways, blunted my hearing and my vision too, that I don’t see His munificent hand blessing me all the way!

I pause here and I say, ‘Oh God, what a wonder You are. So gentle, so kind and so true. You forgive my sin and You lift me up. You walk with me and talk to me and You tell me You are with me.’ I remember Your Words of comfort Oh LORD, and I can only say…Depart from me LORD for I am a sinful man! But, LORD, you’ve washed me clean and made me new and I can’t help but scream…Praise You LORD.

Thoughts for another day

June 17, 2009.

Today's verse: Eph. 1:12. So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory! (Amplified Bible. Copyright acknowledged. Thank you)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When in school, teachers asked, ‘what will you become when you grow up?’ Relatives asked the same things at different times. Friends did that in high school and I did it to self when in college. Each time the answer was manager, doctor, scientist, acamedician, etc. I now realize is that what I had thought to become then had no room for the Lord because all of these were meant for personal gratification and exaltation. And I now know the reason for that. It’s simply because no one had instilled in me that we should be God focused all the time, every time. Then whatever we plan will be for the glory of Him who created the world.

Today’s verse clearly tells us that we live for the praise of His glory. But how many of us Christian people know this. In fact, most of us live for selves, with God somewhere at the fringes of our existence. God enters our sphere only when there is a problem which cannot be handled in the human dimension and needs supernatural intervention and that my friend is sad. Someone may say, so what if we live for ourselves? To that I’d answer, in the lab or factory, we create things like robots, washing machines, etc. Now do they exist for themselves? No, in fact they work at our beck and call. We press a button and they are into work doing that which we wanted of them. So also God who created us, has decreed in His Word that we are to live for His Praise. And so it should be. Realize this and make it a part of your life. This whole world will seem a brighter place then.

Thoughts for another day

June 16, 2009.

Today's verse: Mt. 13:14. By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Looking at the lives of people I’m in contact with and my own, I often find the veracity of our verse today proved in the way we live. Often in my own life, I find I work at cross purposes to the purpose God has assigned me. By that what I mean is walking the way He wants me to, dictates I walk in a particular fashion, which I don’t. Yeah, to be fair to self it usually seems ‘the walk of God’ is a little more difficult and needs a little more effort and sacrifice. But whoever, said that God wants us to do easy things? Didn’t He say walk the narrow way! When I contemplate all this, I realize a paradoxical thing at work in us humans; which is: knowing the right way to move we often end up moving the wrong way…Why? Guess, very few know.

Now, to what the Lord is saying, we know there are certain things we hear are right and we need to keep to those. But we don’t do that; to our own detriment. Even from the beginning when God commanded Adam to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and bad; he did. Look at the situation – there would have been thousands of trees with far more luscious fruit. Yet, because God commanded, Adam yearned to eat of that tree, that’s the reason why after Eve’s seduction and fall, Adam too ate of the fruit; his excuse was: Eve gave it to him…typical human response.

To conclude, I’d say, in many aspects of life, we know what’s good for us. We have heard the good and we’ve seen that those who keep to it are blessed of God and also, man. The Word of God says, ‘We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us’ (Rom. 8:37). So, while our carnal senses impel us toward doing the opposite, yet by His Grace let’s strive, nay struggle, to keep to the narrow way... following not the path of the horde, but going God’s way and someday, walk straight into Paradise; harboring not the fear that He will ever use the above sentence to describe our behavior.

Thoughts for another day

June 15, 2009.

Today's verse: Heb. 11:6. for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I’ve been thinking about our God for a good amount of time for the last few days and truly been discovering what a tremendous God He is. He is all that we have to hold on to, all that we can talk to and explain our difficulties and our troubles. A friend we can chat with when the chips are down and a friend we can share our ups and victories with. The wonderful thing is that He is always there…no matter when we want Him and where we want Him. He is there.

My friend, think about this. Just because He’s invisible there’re many times we disbelieve the presence of God. Take the apostle Thomas called Didymus, who didn’t believe the others when they told Him about the Lord and the Lord was rather upset with Thomas. We also know that to those who believe that He exists without seeing Him, He granted a blessing. My friend, it is the same today. God is willing to work the best in our lives provided we believe. Yes, there are such excruciating times when honestly the presence of God, seems so vague, yet remember that He is there…just as when the sky is very cloudy and gloomy there is no shred of sunlight. Yet, we know that beyond the clouds, the sun is shining just as brightly as ever!

Put your trust in His presence and He will redeem you. He is a God who revels in giving us both our needs and our desires and He loves to hold us as little children in His arms. Are you ready and willing to cast yourself at Him?

Thoughts for another day

June 12, 2009.

Today's verse: Mt. 19:26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When God created us, we were completely in Him and He gave us all power. In the lack of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man possessed everything God wanted him to and therefore man had all without even as much as lifting up a hand. Only when he ate of that tree and sinned, did he come under God’s curse. All his power was stripped from him and he became helpless as it were.

Since then many things remained out of man’s reach. Jesus even as a man was sinless and so He possessed all the power that man could have possessed. That’s why Jesus could work all those mighty deeds. For Him nothing was impossible, simply because He was so rooted in God His Father. You may say Jesus was God right? Yes, He is God, but when on earth, He was strictly man and yet He worked all those great miracles because He was so much in God and God was so much in Him. For Jesus, calming the roaring winds and the boisterous waves of the sea was just a Word going forth telling them to shut up and they had to obey. This stunned the people who marveled at what He did but for Jesus it was just another day’s work.

Jesus knew what we are made of and that’s why He made the above statement. Sin was the barrier that prevented man from being in command of all God’s creation which power God had given Adam in the beginning when He told him to have dominion over all things but later revoked. Jesus had to remind us that in God we can make the impossible happen for He is the God of the impossible. Every illness has to move when God commands and every financial malady has to vanish in His Name.

My friend, if you’re afraid of anything and lose your peace, just turn to God praying that He take away your anxiety. Tell Him His Son has told us to ask and in His Name we’ll get whatever we ask. Trust Jesus in His Word and in His Name and you will see what God can do in your life; particularly, in making the impossible become a reality.

Thoughts for another day

June 11, 2009.

Today's verse: Ps. 11:7. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. (NIV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

How is the Lord our God; the Most High, God of Hosts, Creator and Maker and Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth: He is righteous and holy. He is the creator and keeper of justice for He loves justice. He can’t bear ‘unholiness’ and doesn’t exist in it. He loves them with a pure heart and His Word says, they’ll see Him, not that man can be pure by himself, but it is granted of Him to those who wait upon Him in earnestness.

God’s dwelling place is on High in the seventh heaven. He is far removed from any stain of sin. Through every layer, purification is needed to behold His blessed face. But for us who dwell on earth, He has given His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Righteous Lamb of God, the reflection of the ultimate holiness of the Father Himself. Which is why when Philip says, Lord show us the Father and that is enough for us, Jesus tells Him, ‘Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

Yes beloved child of God, Jesus has made it possible for us to behold God. The very God who’s laid the foundation of the earth. Who dwells where no man can even think of going among the depth of the frost and the brilliance of light. Who knows the border of every ray of light and can separate it from darkness. Who holds the clouds in the sky, pregnant with water, defying as it were the law of gravity and brings down the rain in a silky smooth downpour upon the face of the earth, by which is birthed life. Oh, the Awesome Lord God, the highest of the Highest, God who is ever so splendid and sublime is seen by us in the face of Jesus and today, experienced by us in the person of the Holy Spirit. How blessed are we in Jesus? Can there be anything better?

Thoughts for another day

June 10, 2009.

Today's verse: 2 Sam. 5:10. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

A Christian, or shall I say believer in Yahweh God and then His Son Jesus Christ, should always be rooted in God, depending and living on everything that He sends his or her way. There are people who do that and it’s not necessary that they’re impoverished or not doing well materially. Many think that following and being with God means you need to forego all riches. This, perhaps because Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had then to follow Him. Be that as it may, Jesus I’m sure meant that the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who pre-eminently have God in their lives and not anything else.

In this context, one man instantly comes to mind; he had all the riches and yet had God as the basic DNA of his being: his name is David. When your read the Bible, you can’t but help notice that David understood God and His ways and was always alive to God’s will in his life except a few times when he overrode God’s will and wrote his own e.g. when he asked for a census of Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 24), etc.

David became a great man and he could also like other men who became great attribute his greatness to self, like they say today, ‘I am a self-made man.’ But David did not do that. He always acknowledged God as the reason for his greatness. In fact when God promised him great fame and name, David in an act of meekness, sits before Him and speaks to Him of his smallness… 2 Sam. 7:18. There are many other examples where David always attributed his riches, his stature and his glory to God; which is why the verse today says that David moved on and grew great and in all his adventures or ventures if you please, God was with him. Is God with you in your ventures?

Thoughts for another day

June 9, 2009.

Today's verse: Jer. 2:11. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the days before Christ, particularly the period of the Kings prior to the exile, the people of Israel did many evil things to provoke God. The most obnoxious thing they did was to worship the gods that some of the pagan people, living with them worshipped and follow their customs. They took our God for granted and did as they wished, primarily because they felt that God would not take it seriously as He loved them and His covenant was there with them. But God did take it very seriously because He is a Holy God and has no space for anything impure. They therefore had to bear the consequences.

But our fair and just God didn’t do anything without warning them of the disastrous consequences of their behavior. Yet, they didn’t heed the warnings He sent through the prophets. One can imagine, the pain God underwent when the people He loved and did so much for worshipped idols and no gods. Our verse today, brings out the pain in His heart as He mentions how the Jews changed the glory they possessed in Him for duds and that which would do them no good.

It’s not very different today. We may not have idols in our lives, but we have things we idolize for e.g. wealth and riches or children or ambition, etc. These become our gods whom we worship and to whom we give our whole lives, lock, stock and barrel. I’ve noticed even among us Christians that we have no room or time for God in our lives and we live projecting this. You can imagine what God must be thinking. Think, He who is so benevolent and majestic and such a great provider is shunned and ignored! What is your situation today? Do you give Him, pride of place in your heart or is He someone you go to only when in trouble, expecting Him to help you? It’s time we took our God as seriously as He wants us to and forge pleasant and reverent atmospheres so that His kingdom begins on earth.

Thoughts for another day

June 8, 2009.

Today's verse: Deut. 31:6. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Last week, I had to take a flight for personal work and my tickets were booked etc. Now, air travel we hear is very safe, but then what do you do with your fear that creeps on you? To compound my normal fear, the news of the Air France Atlantic crash was top of mind. Besides, just the previous evening, when watching geographic channel, I landed on a short where they showed how an aircraft ran out of fuel mid air (the satisfaction being that it landed safely but for the underbelly of the aircraft getting completely ruined). The fear just increased.

I remembered the previous night I had a pretty dreadful dream and my satisfaction was that even in that dream, I held Christ to be the Lord of my life, saying, ‘Jesus is there.’ Besides, two other things happened, which usually dwell in the realm of superstition, but honestly, put a chill up my spine. But I had to go. My mind went to Bible passages which lead to encouragement and really the Lord God is a wonderful God and my friend, He guards you and clears your mind of fear and He did that for me.

I’ll tell you what He did in a moment. Truly, the verse above is one which must be engraved in our hearts for in a position of crunch it’s enough to just say it aloud. Relief from fear will instantly come in. Jesus used the same Word just before He ascended into heaven, albeit, a little differently.

As soon as I woke up, God showed me a star in the night sky. He did that because He knows that whenever I look into the sky and spot a bright star, I refer to Jesus as the Morning Star and am very encouraged. So He encouraged me. Then suddenly God put into my mind a thought mentioned in Jer. 31:35, 36. When this thought came into my mind, I did not remember where in the Bible it was, but I prayed to the Lord to take me there and He took me. With this I was so comforted that I could make the trip in reasonable confidence. You know, this is not about me but how the LORD God, the maker of Heaven and earth comforts us with His Word. Imagine, with just His Word, He comforted me and lead me on. He will do it for you too. Praised indeed is our God!

Thoughts for another day

June 4, 2009.

Today's verse: Ps. 121:1, 2. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When the perils of living become real, there is the One who created us and keeps a watch over us to turn to. I love what the psalmist says in our verse above. It’s so simply put, ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help comes and yes, not to forget, my help comes from the LORD, the One who made heaven and earth.’

Friend, our Omnipotent God is not just One who is far away to whom we pray in an unattentive manner; rather He is close to us and He pleads a communion with Himself; nearer than any human being can be, that is why Paul says: ‘In Him, we live and move and have our being.’ Now you can imagine how close that is! Outside of Him there is no life and in Him is all. This is a little difficult to understand but yet we know that ‘it is’…Just as ‘He is’, though invisible. The God of heaven and earth, our dearest Friend and Brother, is interested in us a lot more than any other human being and even closer than the closest of humans. You may not agree but it is a fact. You know, He even knows the pattern of the heaving of our chests because of our breath as well as the flow of blood in our veins.

God is there to help you my friend even if you do not believe and even if you are yet not part of the flock. You know, of all lepers in Israel, God chose to cure Naman an Assyrian warrior! God will take care of you and heal you and He will heal your wealth and grant blessings innumerable; but today, choose to look up at the hills acknowledging Him and praying that He help you. He will not disappoint.

Thoughts for another day

June 3, 2009.

Today's verse: 1 Kings 8:42. (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Oh Israel, the place where the Lord of all the earth, the Most High, Almighty God chose to dwell, of all places on earth, truly a blessed land, beckoning the peoples of the earth and to become the dwelling place of the same blessed God whom we serve, what is it in you that the nations come to you, that people around the world yearn to know, etc.

Now, having gone to the holy land and seeing it before my eyes, I can but wonder at the place which God chose of all places on earth to house His own people the Israelites. You know when you see the place, you can’t help but realize that without His help there’s nothing the people there can do. It’s amazing how the country is… Hot and fiery. Today of course human ingenuity has transformed the place into an oasis and again it’s God who has given His blessings for such. Nestled among mighty Arab nations and other hostile nations like Iran and Iraq, Israel lives in fear day by day, yet, defended only by Yahweh God, the Great I AM. While the Jews there may rely on their weaponry and sophistication, they are but trite if real time war were to begin. But it is God who is their stronghold just as He was when David was king.

From the air that blows in the country to the fierce heat of the mountains the nature and character of our God comes forth. I can remember His telling them in the Bible that He has kept them in the midst of hostility so that He can prove He is God. He has made them His people, peculiarly His own so that they will always keep Him in mind, not only for those times, but even today. Just now I spoke to a guy who lives there and he said that they never know when they will die and that is why, being faithful helps. Even today, for us who follow Christ, being faithful helps.

As for our verse today, I pray that all men everywhere come to know Him, the God of our fathers and of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and obey His Word so that life now and later will be blessed and we strive to praise Him always.