Thoughts for another day

February 28, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 78:20. Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There's global warming and we wonder what'll happen in another decade, will the world starve for rain and cold? There's tension brewing in almost all parts of the world, people discontented with both those who rule them and with self too. Scientists warn us of impending disasters at the threshold of the cosmos – large stones hurtling down thro space, could hit the earth and destroy large parts of it. There're medical researchers who do less research in discovering medicine and more into dangers of diseases, saying they can strike any time; talking of symptoms which if you have, you could be in major problems. You see the world is fraught with danger.

What do we do? We think of God, and maybe doubt His ability to be supreme and above these things which He can revoke or brush away? In all likelihood we're of the opinion that God will do nothing to save mankind from disasters. Although we profess God on our lips, are hearts aren't at all in sync with His character. We may have seen His hand in our lives, but in a similar problem where He had helped us earlier, we yet fret and are anxious. As for natural disasters, we take the sagacious view that mankind has broken all rules and so he deserves the disasters that earth throws up. But is there yet, a man who stands and says, 'Fret not, God is there; He is Sovereign and He will rescue and save!'

Despite all we know of God and seeing signs He gives to reassure us, we still doubt. Take my case; in my Pilgrimage service to the Holy Land, I don't have Egypt in my itinerary as it serves no purpose in fulfilling any Spiritual thirst even if some disagree. This year the Lord encouraged me by closing Egypt as a tourist destination, at least for a while. But I took this as a sign from God rather feebly, and only when He opened my mind, did I realize the truth! It's this same attitude we see in Israel whilst in the desert. Even after seeing His mighty hand doing the impossible, they doubt His ability to provide them meat for food! Such is our nature and habit. But even then, there's hope for God ignores our faults and strengthens us and we live to praise Him.

Thoughts for another day

February 25, 2011

Today's verse: 1 Pet. 2:4. Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight. (Amplified – copyright acknowledged) 

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

A long time back, my friend a Moslem and I were discussing religion, a rather dangerous subject especially with a Moslem but then I knew when to draw the line in my conversation with him.  He spoke of all the good things his book had and I spoke of all the good things the Bible has.  Finally, making no headway, we turned to things like the apparition of God and while he had nothing to say, I told him of Jesus Christ, Who they take as a prophet.  He then told me that if Jesus Christ is my God then I serve a helpless God for he told me, look at the Cross and see Him hanging rather weak and feeble and he pitied me for worshipping such a God, in a way similar to the Jews who reviled Jesus before they crucified Him. 

I recall what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:23, Jesus is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. But for us, Christ is the power and wisdom of God for when we look at Christ, we behold God's immense love which has accompanied us since He created us.  When we look at the Cross, we can think – HOPE and we can say, just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so too shall we be raised from the dead and come to reign in the kingdom of our Father along with our beloved Savior Jesus Himself.

That is why Peter says, come to Him, who is the Living Stone which men tried and rejected, who is the chosen One of God and precious in His sight.  Make no mistake, Jesus is God and tremendously Awesome.  When He came first to earth, He came as a frail man with all our weaknesses, except sin; but when He comes again, He will come in all His glory and grandeur as never seen before and He will be seen from one end of the Universe to the other and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father and He shall take us with Him to reign on high, we the sheep of His fold. 

Thoughts for another day

February 24, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 138:6a. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Many times we think as we pray – we're so sinful, will God listen. Then we say, why should the Lord even look at us, for we're not worthy. At other times, we feel, we're just like clods on the face of the earth so why should God even turn His glance at us. And over time, our prayer is not answered for the Sovereign Lord wills we not get the answer for a while to work out His purpose in our lives. We take this as a response from God for our prayer and turn away from Him. Subsequently, our prayer becomes feeble, monotonous and an unbelieving kind.

Look at our Scripture for it says, 'He dwells on high – in His glorious mansion, yet He has respect for the lowly!' Oh, when I read this, my heart is kindled with joy for I know His Word is true and He does look upon me, no matter how low I am in the esteem of human beings for the Sovereign Lord, loves me. So it gives me a lot of comfort. Then when I look at my unanswered prayer, it doesn't become a block in my relationship with God because I learn that if God hasn't answered my prayer, it is for some reason which I don't know, but when it's fulfilled, God will abundantly bless me and even more for I believed in Him and kept praying. Our God is a prayer answering God and He has pity on all of His creation. If you but keep your prayer going, even if things get worse from the time you started praying, your prayer will be answered for God values us and our prayer, even if at times we don't.

Thoughts for another day

February 23, 2011

Today's verse: 1Kings 17:4. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God is Sovereign and His writ runs across the universe. So some people think God is a master puppeteer, holding the strings of all people and creation and twirling them at will. Well, I for one say that it's okay for one cannot find a better Lover than God. Search the whole world you may but you'll not come across a single person who loves you better than God. Have a doubt? Look at the Cross and you'll understand. And even at the cost of sounding a bit unrealistic, I'd say human love has some vested interest and pure love is but a mirage; besides, even if there's great love between two individuals, whoever they be in relation to each other, that love never remains constant and could move both ways. God's love is pure and constant.

And because God is Sovereign, and His Sovereignty is unchangeable, God can and will act in our favor if we're faithful to Him. His nature is such that the faith we repose in Him makes His hand work in our favor. As you discover in our Scripture today, God works that way for Elijah who has found His favor. He deigns that Elijah move away from Ahab to be by the brook Cherith and there the LORD God says he drink the water by the brook and be fed by ravens. Look at God's immense power - He commands the ravens to feed Elijah and they do exactly as He commands.

In Scripture I note that the God of Elijah is the same God I worship (and today, we're even more dear because the Righteousness of His Son is upon us and His blood covers us) we can expect God to work mightily in our favor. Yesterday may not have been the day, He did, but know this well, if you've surrendered and are expecting Him to work in your life, today His hand will move to gladden your heart. Amen, Bless His Name.

Thoughts for another day

February 22, 2011

Today's verse: James 5:13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

You know, God controls our lives. Free-will is given to us but even before the world was formed, God knew our response to His call and how we would exercise free-will. He knew the answer that'd emerge from our hearts and hence those He knew, He controls their lives and it's essential to note that when God controls our lives, then the good or the bad don't matter. What matters is that God is in control.

Our Scripture today exhorts us to pray if there's someone sick. By extension it'd mean any problem. And also tells us if we're happy we must sing psalms which in essence mean that in all situations as Paul says, give thanks to God and pray to Him for He alone has the power to keep us afloat always. When we give the reigns of our lives to God we tell Him, 'Father, here lies my life; take it in Your Hand and run my life for me. I move out of control and beg You to take control.' When this happens, you'll notice a few things:

1. No matter what happens in life, you'll be happy. There may be chaos but your mind won't be fogged so much that it will lead you to ruin.


2. You will find a solution to your problem within a short time –you will definitely not wilt under any strain for His Grace reaches you before you reach the bottom.


3. People will look up to you to comfort them seeing you're so happy and it's proper and right at that time to praise God and thank Him and tell the people that your joy is because of God who is so merciful and gracious to you.

There're many other things which happen and were I to mention them, it will be long, but let me say, that in the aura of God and His HOLINESS which you'll be acquainted with if you seek and pray to Him, every trace of difficulty and every fear that would have ruled you are wiped away; for He the God who created you will watch over you and take care of you.

Thoughts for another day

February 21, 2011

Today's verse: Joel 2:18. Then the LORD was stirred to concern for His land and took pity on His people. (NAB – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the eschatological summary contained in the Book of Joel, God's love and mercy is seen in a most convincing manner. The background to this is God's scathing judgment on His people – because they have forgotten to love Him and worship Him. They have forgotten to obey him and so He allows bad things to happen. There's no water (1:20). The plants do not grow well and insects come to eat them (1:4). And these things are only a beginning.

Joel admonishes the people for their callous attitude toward God and aks them to mend their ways. He talks about a special day to come, 'The day of the LORD' in which God will punish their enemies and do great wonders. This, despite the fact that, His people have renounced His deity and denied His Fatherhood. In this you'll notice a love of God that's simply amazing, eventually culminating into the reality of the Son of Man hanging on the Cross at Calvary. The love of God is so great that though our sins are many and grievous before Him, yet when His love takes over, they are of no consequence before Him.

The moment we repent the LORD is stirred to concern for us. No child of His when turned aside from his sinful past will be brushed away from Him for He is a merciful God and He takes pity on His people. God is above all a great and Sovereign God and what to say about His mercy toward us. It is just incomparable. Look at it this way, we sin, we repent and turn to Him. He forgives and then we sin again. We repent and we're forgiven and this cycle continues on and on; but God never tires of forgiving us. I remember Peter's question to Jesus, 'Lord how many times should I forgive my brother…' And Jesus as much as tells Him 'always' and this is simply because He forgives - always. This truth is something I've come to realize for I know how many times I fall and hurt Him. But every time I go to Him asking for forgiveness, He forgives and I feel myself washed with His love. So amazing is God's grace that I can really empathise with John Newton when I sing, 'Amazing Grace, how sweet thy sound, that saved a wretch like me!'

Thoughts for another day

February 18, 2011

Today's verse: Gen. 22:14. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. (NIV – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Today's Scripture is where we get our Name of God, 'Yahweh Yireh' (earlier 'Jehovah Jireh') which signals the great providence of God. This is what gives me the confidence to live being assured that no matter what, God will provide.

In my many years of existence on earth, even before I came to believe in Him the way I do now, I realize that God always provided. Once, I had a job with which I wasn't too content and neither was my employer. One day my employer called me and with a choice repertoire of words tells me that it isn't working out between me and his company, signaling the end of the road for me over there. But you know God had just a few days before allotted me a job in another place and they wanted me to join them soon. So I quit and went to the new company. See the mercy and love of God, He knew and He provided. And why should it be only me, God will provide for you and for everybody so long as we keep our hope in Him.

In our Scripture, Abraham was tested and then God stayed his hand from slaughtering Isaac and provided him a ram for sacrifice. In awe Abraham uttered a new Name for God, "Yahweh Yireh", a Name which is the guarantee for our providence whenever we utter it with sincerity and belief. As I write, many of us, that includes me, are in need of God's providence and I trust this gives us a fillip in our belief and expectation that God will provide for us. As for me I take this very seriously and keep my faith in my God's providence. I trust you'll do the same.

Thoughts for another day

February 17, 2011

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 9:10b. For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

America uses the motto, 'In God we trust'. For us it may seem a wonderful thing to do, but sadly the nation neither has any fear of God nor the sense of doing right or wrong. But still the people of America live with hope – hope in God. A hope, that the bad is over and the good is round the corner. This kind of hope is what keeps millions of Americans going. Actually, I'd say, millions of people around the world going; for only hope contains despair, else a man would drown in frustration and hopelessness.

Why did I speak of America, well it's because no matter what it is in all its jingoistic fervor and the hollow halo of liberty, God makes His Presence felt in the country. Because Christians in America have pinned their hope on God and live another day hedged on this hope. Even for us who aren't from America, it's hope that keeps us going for what is life if we have not hope?

Look at our Scripture which says that anyone who does something should do in hope, for without hope there's nothing to live for. Millions and millions of people in the world have nothing else but despair in their lives and most times they cannot even control that as they're helpless but are they hopeless, NO. For hope is the ingredient they still have and trust in. We work hoping we'll get our salaries and fend for our families. We bring up our children in the hope that our children will be our crutches when we're old and our legs don't obey us. We go to church; we pray and fast with hope. And I feel that God is the only One who definitely honors our hope until the end. God wants us to hope in Him in confidence and this is clear in our Scripture. So no matter what your situation or the situation of your family, don't worry, trust God and keep hope. Pray and submit and God will live up to your hope in Him.

Thoughts for another day

February 16, 2011

Today's verse: Jer. 32:17. Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Have you realized what the meaning of 'Almighty' is in the context of God? Have you any idea what it could mean when we say, 'for God nothing is impossible'? You would most probably answer yes. Even I would and perhaps also be upset that somebody put this question to me. But the fact is we don't know this at a deep level and only know it in a cursory manner.

We have in our Scripture today, the Word from the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, who knew God closely and through whom God made known His plans to His people, Israel. That's why Jeremiah declares that God made the heaven and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm. The outstretched arm is all encompassing and over all. God's power is most amazing and I love it when St. Paul says, 'He gives life to the dead and brings into existence that which doesn't exist!' Rom. 4:17. So if you have something dead, like a business for e.g. that's almost finished or a bank account that doesn't have the money in it, call out to the God of Israel!

With God anything is possible. Have you heard of a person who's given up for dead and even a person who's dead, being either given a new lease of life or raised to life? We may not be able to conceive this for our devotion to God is minimal and so is our knowledge of Him. Even those who pray regularly find it difficult to believe that God can do the impossible. Name an impossibility and God can do it. Ask Him to summon the sun and still its fire and heat and God can do it. Ask Him to find a ring which is lost at the bottom of the ocean and God can bring it up. Frankly, we just don't have the depth in us to envisage the might of God's Hand nor can we comprehend the sheer power of Him who can call the stars to form a queue on earth (even if the stars are millions of times bigger than the earth – The Book of Revelation demonstrates this well) and the cells off a diseased or dead tissue to become as good as new. We may never understand this as it is simply too amazing and great for us and so we will restrict ourselves to just sitting at His feet and gazing in His eyes and there find that love by which He has carved us in the palm of His hands and called us by Name and tell Him, 'LORD my God, I don't know how great you are, all I know is that you love me and care for me and this day I look up to you LORD to answer my prayer.'

Thoughts for Another Day

February 15, 2011

Today's verse: Eccl. 3:11. He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (KJV) 

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

God has the right idea and perspective of all things because He Created and Owns everything.  He alone is the fount and source of all things and He alone runs the world the way He knows it's best to run.  In the context of man, God has allotted 'time' which isn't there in His realm (a day is a like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day to Him – 2 Pet. 3:8) so that man lives a finite life while on earth and then goes to live with God.  And all man does in this 'time' defines whether he will live with God or not. 

Even though man is subject to time, God uses this same time to develop beautiful things for him. Clarity of this beauty isn't completely revealed to man and while he goes about his work, he discovers God's palette of beauty before him in phases.  While he beholds the world, there're many occasions when he fails to see God's beauty and fabulous poetry in the world, leave alone Him working out His purposes. This is the acid test for man, revealing whether he is of God or not.  God doesn't reveal everything; let's say a person suffers some illness and by revelation knows that it's a test from God, there's a greater possibility he'll bear it gladly.  But God doesn't reveal the purpose for the sickness.  And man doesn't know and suffers - as Job did.  True loyalty to God arises when a man, no matter what circumstances He is in, willingly suffers, taking it as God's writ in his life and is loyal to Him, even if His whole body is rotting.  Today's Scripture is embellished in it that none can understand the work of God which He does on earth.

But what man can and should do is sit at His feet and meditate on Him, thus thwarting the devil's corrupting of our hearts with worldly riff raff.  God never reveals what we needn't know or what isn't needed for us.  But sitting at His feet and communing with Him reveals His immense love and mercy for us which we can carry no matter what the situation in life is until we reach the portals of heaven our last destination.

Thoughts for another day

February 14, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 31:17a. Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

These days I really get to both, see and hear the marvelous deeds of our God in the lives of those who trust Him and have made Him the center of their lives. There are so many good things that happen to His people and my heart is gladdened by His care and concern. For those who believe, God is there and He is always willing to work in their lives. They may face trial for a while and there would be agonizing periods of pain and despair. I know this well for I have gone through it and am going through it now; times when you feel that if things don't look up then you will be covered with shame and those who hate us will say, 'look, what a low-down character he is!'

It's important for us to know that God will not allow this to a child of His. I've seen this so often and therefore, has my faith grown stronger than ever. And when I reflect, I see how Jesus on the Cross suffered shame and ridicule. Imagine, He being the Son of God, rather, God Himself, who is so Awesome and Glorious, yet suffered He ridicule for my sake so that I may not suffer the same! When I read the Scripture today, I realize the magnificence of this prayer for hardly does it leave my lips then God grants it for it is His nature to grant it and see that His servant suffers no embarrassment nor disgrace on earth. Simply because, I believe in Him.

Thoughts for another day

February 11, 2011

Today's verse: 2 Kgs. 7:2. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The above Scripture is one of the most strong utterances a man of God can make on God's magnificence and Him being the 'God of the impossible', which means, there's nothing impossible for Him. The context in which this is uttered by Elisha the prophet is this: Samaria is besieged by the king of Aram and the situation gets so bad that there's no food at all. Only the moneyed are able to feed themselves as prices had sky-rocketed; and then there's the gruesome tale of two women eating one of their children!

Joram, the king, enraged by the incident cursed Elisha, the man of God for what had happened and meant to kill him. When he meets Elisha, Elisha tells him 'at the same time tomorrow, the prices of things will crash and be even lesser than normal.' Let me ask you, would you believe this were you in the king's place? Or shall I ask something more real to us: The real estate prices are very high in most places in the world, particularly in Mumbai where I stay; were I to say that they'd fall to a tenth of what they are, would you believe me? You'll dismiss me as mad. But, if God had revealed this to me, then there's all reason to believe for with God all things are possible which is why Elisha says what he did. It seemed impossible to the man on whose shoulder the king leaned and he scoffed Elisha with the Words in the first part of our Scripture. Elisha simply retorts saying it will happen but he would not be able to partake of it!

Consider this, something mighty had to happen for what Elisha had said to become a reality and as we read the Word further, it happened. With God nothing is impossible, yes nothing. Look at yourself today and if you find some difficult and impossible situation in your life, look up to heaven and say, 'Lord, I know You are the God of the impossible, change my situation Lord.' Trust me, if you persist with this prayer and believe in your heart, it will happen by the power of God. I too, as I am on trial these days, have raised my eyes to my God and have told Him about my impossible situation and today, it pleases me to reflect on this verse for I know the One who I have trusted and He can do all things, even that what I desire, because He loves me.

Thoughts for another day

February 10, 2011

Today's verse: Lk. 7:28. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

How great is a man who has attained heaven? The above Scripture is a perfect indication for it is from the mouth of the Owner of heaven, Jesus Christ.

Jesus knew John the Baptist was a great man. In fact, it was held and Jesus also said it - Mt. 11:14 that John the prophet was Elijah who was to come putting him on a very high pedestal for Elijah was one of the two pillars of Jewish Scripture, the other being Moses. The greatness to John was attributed not only for who he was but also because of the way John went about preparing the way of the Lord, straightening His paths. John dwelt in the desert and was absolutely fearless and passionate about his work and many approached him to know God's kingdom better.

So John ranged high in the sight of the average Israelite and also for Jesus. But, as far as it came to a person who had been considered worthy to possess residence in heaven, John though the greatest prophet was small in comparison. You know, were we to think of it, we are able to gain heaven not by our own merits but by Jesus Christ our Lord, who through the sacrifice of self paved the way for us to heaven. And though we're completely unworthy yet admitted to God's exalted dwelling, we rate far more in God's esteem than even the greatest of His men on earth. Isn't that a spectacular thought? Imagine what the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has done for us. How it has exalted our position in front of our Father. How great and beautiful Jesus is and how amazing is His love.

Thoughts for another day

February 9, 2011

Today's verse: Pro. 1:7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Think about the Scripture above. What it tells you is so precious that frankly, I never thought it this way. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: In Pro. 9:10 it says, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding! If you go a little deeper in the verse, you'll realize when a man fears the LORD, his life consists of the three elements of human success: wisdom, understanding and knowledge: which help him succeed - on the happiness meter. All success remember, if not able to give happiness is no success at all.

So what does it mean when the Bible says the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom? Is there any rationale in it? I'd subscribe to a two-way theory. One, when you fear God, you're very clear about your status in life. Your humility and most importantly the words you utter will be measured and invariably words of wisdom. They'll not be inane or inept because when in your fear of God human insanity and stupidities exit from you. Then God's Holy Spirit 'knows' you when you fear the Lord and infuses wisdom in you; a wisdom nor normal in men and relevancy and understanding, two other traits become part of your mental wardrobe. I'm not saying you'll become like Solomon, the wisest of men of his time, but you'll know how to move in life and never, I repeat, never become the butt of jokes for your foolishness if you possess it.

Now what's the 'fear of the LORD?' It's being aware of Him and revering Him all the time. Now let's say, you suddenly remember you've not said your prayers in the morning. But you've also a lot of work to do and really aren't in a position to pray. As you go to do the work postponing your prayer until you're free, the fear of the LORD in you reminds you to leave everything and pray and you do it without a qualm. When you're about to talk ill of a person, the fear of the LORD reminds you that God doesn't like it, so you refrain. These are common human situations that I speak of but the most important thing that His fear can give you is His awe which propels you, without it being an obligation, to sit in His Presence and meditate upon Him, the way Mary the sister of Martha did. Question, check if you contain in you the fear of the LORD… if not, plead to the Holy Spirit; your life will change forever.

Thoughts for another day 

February 8, 2011

Today's verse: 2 Chron. 20:6. And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? (KJV) 

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

How should a desperate heart pray?  An example is the prayer of Jehoshaphat. The Moabites and Ammonites ganged up against Judah and came to fight along with the Meunites.  It was a great army and it melted the hearts of the people of Judah because defeat loomed certain upon them.  They didn't have the capacity or the staying power to handle the multipronged attack of the enemy.  But they had the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and they could look up to Him.  The man for the occasion was Jehoshaphat who had a great zeal for God's Word.

Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly in the house of the LORD and made a prayer that's not only a direct heart-to-heart communication with God imploring His intervention, it's also a bold provocation for God to act.  And even as the prayer was uttered, it hammered God's heart such that God immediately sent His Word through a person in the midst of the assembly.  Our Scripture today is part of that prayer and I'd encourage you to go and read it fully to understand how prayer can move the heart of God and find favor in His sight.

The great thing about this prayer is its vividness in placing God atop.  Don't you love it when it says, 'art not Thou God in heaven?'  It's a prayer from the heart and may I daresay, a challenge to God who loves when we say this.  An example is the Centurion who tells Jesus that even if He commanded from a distance, his servant would be healed!  Prayer that's right before God is one which exalts and lifts Him high.  And then I also like when Jehoshaphat utters, 'in Thine hand is there not power and might so that no one is able to withstand Thee?'  Oh how wonderful and powerful this prayer is.  I pray today as we communicate with God, our lips will utter His glorious greatness just as in the prayer of Jehoshaphat.  And surely even as the sun rises in the east, God will answer that prayer.  So if you've prayed like Jehoshaphat, relax, wait for God's answer, it may be delayed, but it will come.  Amen.

Thoughts for another day

February 7, 2011

Today's verse: Hosea 11:9. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Our God is a compassionate God, that's why it pains me to sin for He is merciful and I can see the fullness of His Grace upon me when I seek His pardon. Yes, truly by experience I can say, our God is merciful. He is there when we need Him; He is there to help and look after us in whatever situation we are in. He is there when we are in the midst of the storm. He is there in every facet of our life to guide and lead us into the cherished Kingdom He has prepared in advance for us.

Pause for a moment and think about the many times you sin. You know His Holy Spirit gently tells us to not go ahead with that thing but the carnal desires of our heart quell the silent whisper of our beautiful Holy Spirit and we go ahead and wantonly sin. Now as I have said before, sin is not only doing a small wrong like lying, to which most of us are immune it is also doing the bigger things like adultery, murder, etc. Even if we think we don't do all these things, we might even sin in not doing that which we are supposed to do like, give food to the hungry. So many times when we recall we will discover that we have sinned grievously at times. Similarly, the Israelites too sinned and they lend themselves to punishment.

See the mercy and love of God in our Scripture today: He says that He will not allow His fierce anger to burn them and He will not return to destroy. See if you will with the eyes of your heart the bold love of our God; how much He is hurt and suffers due to our sins and yet, doesn't have the heart to punish. Learn of His love and weep in silence for your sins. I tell you, it hurts our God tremendously for He is holy and hates sin, yet, He will embrace you when you repent.

Thoughts for another day


February 4, 2011

Today's verse: Rev. 21:3. Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I read an article on God's holiness yesterday and about His completeness. God is absolute and complete. He has nothing that's less and there's no way anyone can benefit Him by anything. He is so great that when we say our Hallelujahs, it adds nothing to His greatness or His splendor. Further in that article, the writer mused, 'why then did He create things and specially us for we are the focus of His creation?' He goes on to say that suffused with completeness, God wanted to share it with someone and that's why He created man. Now this is probably one of the best pieces I've read in a long time as to why God created man.

When you think of it, don't you find God so wonderful and beautiful? Because He wants to share His glory with someone, He creates us. While creating us, He does not make us dummies to dance to His every tune rather, He gives us free will by which we can also exercise the flavor of our minds and God promises us great things if we but choose Him over everything else. There is such purity in God and His thinking that I can't help but ponder upon His goodness and His love. Which is why when I choose the devil's mirages, I hate myself.

And when I read today's Scripture, I can't help but marvel at the magnificence of my Creator. See how much He loves us men. It says: 'God's dwelling is with men.' Dwelling with men? Dirty and abominable creatures!!! But that's His way. God is so awesome, simply awesome. He wants the best for us and He wants us to be a part of Him. What more can He do than saying that He will live with us and we will be His people and He Himself will be with us and be our God! When He is there with us, we would not need anything else for He will be our sufficiency. Indeed, our good fortune is God Himself. He has given us Himself as our good fortune and how privileged you and I are to have a God like Him, who chooses to dwell with us and be our God for ever.

Thoughts for another day

February 3, 2011

Today's verse: Pro. 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We know God has given us freewill and we exercise our freewill as we desire. Some of us do it for God's interests and others towards their own selfish interests. I say selfish because we do not do it for God's glory which we need to do, simply because God has given us life and sustains us day by day. Now as we exercise our freewill for our own selfish reasons, God moves away from our lives and I've seen this in people who just a few months earlier were on fire for God. And soon these people do not speak the wisdom of God; because they can't for remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and since they do not fear Him, they lack this wisdom.

Now they start using their own little puny wisdom in the way they think appropriate. They do their own thing, if I may say, thinking that it will lead them to great riches, prosperity and fame. They thus choose a way which in their opinion is right and feel it will lead them to much success. However, they soon discover that what they did has only lead them to disaster and death. They suffer even when alive on earth and are in pain. And that's where our Scripture is so right. Yes, we feel a particular way is right for us to take, thinking there's a pot of gold at the end of the road, rather there're poisoned rattlers waiting to strike us and we die.

As for me, I chose the way of God. I fell umpteen number of times as I don't know how to walk on it, but beloved in Christ, God bends down and picks me up and He says, 'you chose My way, you will live and I will be your guide at your side.'

Thoughts for another Day 

February 2, 2011

Today's verse: James 4:17. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (KJV)  

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

As Christians, God has given us innate rationale to see what's happening around us and do the good we can.  God has encouraged us in this and Jesus Himself did it at the cost of His life.  When Jesus saw the crippled, paralyzed or withered people and even on a Sabbath, extended His arm and healed them.  This infuriated the self proclaimed righteous to the extent they bayed for His blood and even said, He cannot be God's Son, since He doesn't keep the Sabbath and He uses the power of beelzebub to drive out demons which is to say the least, rather atrocious.

Just as Jesus did not bother about them and did the good that He should, so too we're called to do good.  This good can extend to talking to our neighbor though they be hostile to us; even giving of the little that we have to those who have nothing.  This means taking time out to visit those in prison and the sick and aged in hospital.  This means getting out of our comfort zones and moving into uncharted territory for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Though this be difficult to do, it's yet possible and after doing it, there's a sense of satisfaction that's amazing.   

If we're to reflect in our own lives whether we've done any of the things mentioned, we'll find we're grossly inadequate in this very important Christian pre-requisite for we don't see others before self.  We feel we must look to our needs and our families; the poor and under-privileged be damned.  But really, shouldn’t we bend a little toward our Scripture today and listen to it?  And honestly, I can say that when we know the good that we ought to do and do it, it's a great thing in the sight of the Lord who is pleased and will grant us what we then ask of Him.

Thoughts for another day


February 1, 2011

Today's verse: Is. 45:3. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

To understand and appropriate this Scripture, let us establish some things first. Am I known by God that He calls me by name? Am I a part of the Israel (we believers in Christ belong to the New Israel)? Am I eligible for the treasures of darkness? Will I use the wealth to glorify Him?

Let's first learn what the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places mean. They're the wealth that's stored in unknown places of which we are not aware. While this Scripture verse was given to me yesterday night while in prayer, God's confirmation came as I read the news today morning that some workers dredging near the pier of Mumbai docks discovered a large cache of gold blocks; cargo of a ship that caught fire 67 years ago and sank. This is what one could call the wealth of darkness or secret places. There's much wealth like that stored in the bosom of the earth. Even wealth that the wicked have stashed up somewhere, hoping to retrieve it someday but never do as they die and the secret of the wealth is lost with them.

God knows the location of all such wealth which could make His people rich and bring glory to His Name. God has promised He will give the treasures of darkness, hidden riches of secret places to us who qualify by virtue of the conditions above. If our answer to the questions is yes and if we have prayed sincerely to God then we can be sure He will give us these riches. Particularly to us whose focus He is and who worship Him and are interested in serving Him as well as enabling others to serve Him, being comforted by the wealth He gives. This is difficult to believe but what God has said that He will do. Just pray and believe while you wait on Him.