Thoughts for another day

May 31, 2013.

Today's verse: Rom. 8:38, 39. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)

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

There’re various things about us and our God that many of us have no knowledge of.  We’re ignorant of the fact that God is with us – ALWAYS.  There’s just the need to look around and see Him, not with natural eyes, but with spiritual.  Jesus said it Himself and besides, we also say, God is Omnipresent; so if He is Omnipresent, then He must be around us, isn’t it? 

I then ask the question, why is God always around us and why did Jesus say, ‘I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.’  I understand that it’s because He loves me that He is always around me.  See, He is invisible and Jesus knows the kind of a fool I am – I only believe in what’s visible to me and so, He tells me He is there; always.  Now if I still don’t believe then it’s my folly.  Plus Jesus knows the world we live in, particularly the grip of sin on this world and the consequent misery it brings.  Therefore, He reassures me of His Presence and that there isn’t anything to worry about.

If at all we needed to worry, it would be that we wouldn’t be able to spend eternal life in heaven with Him, which is why He worked the greatest miracle of giving us salvation, even though Father God had told Adam that on the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would surely die.  Yet, God in His mercy saved us from death and instead, sent His only begotten Son to the gallows so to say.  That’s because He loves us so much.  Yes, my friend, God loves us so much…how much I can’t say for I know, no matter what I say, it would be grossly insufficient.  Look at our Word today and know the tremendousness of His love and the fact that none can keep us from it – yea, none.  Let the devil try but he’ll fail miserably in keeping us from God’s love.  No one can keep us from the gentle and comforting hands of our Father God and rest assured, if you believe in His Son, you’ll be secure with Him in the age to come. 

Thoughts for another day

May 30, 2013.

Today's verse: Pro. 18:10. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (KJV)

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

How wonderful for us believers in Jesus Christ, the LORD, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, that when we’re in trouble, we can run to Him, Who is a strong Tower and we can be safe with Him.  This guarantee comes forth from His promise, an imperishable Word that will last even if heaven and earth pass away.  Our being in a state of righteousness is our hope that God will protect and deliver us from all trouble.

Our God has never left us alone.  There’re moments in life when briefly, we may feel abandoned by Him.  We may feel rather lonely and forsaken; yet it’s at these times when we’re most protected by our Father in heaven.  Take Job for example:  God selected him for the contest of faith when the devil held that trouble would make Job forsake God.  But did Job wilt?  No; he did feel very, very forsaken and useless; he even felt very sad and a little bitter for it was his contention that God had dealt with him a trite unjustly.  In a way he was right, although God being Sovereign, is entitled to put us through any grind He has in mind.  But loving that He is, He doesn’t and even when He does, He makes sure there’s nothing we need to go through beyond our ability to bear.

God’s Presence in our life is the canopy under which we can relax.  His warm touch is always there if we but care to feel it and that touch of His, raises us to a level where danger can do us no harm.  There may be times when there’s a trial and when we don’t see God’s hand at all; but I would urge you at this time to trust in Him more for His ear is most tuned to our cries at this time than at others.  He understands our woes and when we run to Him, He is our Tower of refuge and strength.  How blessed we are that we have a God who is for us – always.

Thoughts for another day

May 29, 2013.

Today's verse: Matt. 18:7. “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" (NIV - copy ack.)

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

Today’s Word is a stringent indictment of Jesus upon the things that cause people to sin and more so on the people who cause others to sin.  Think about it, have you caused somebody to sin?  When I think of it myself, I can see so many times I’ve caused others to sin; first of all, my daughter, when I tell her to refrain talking to so and so (because I don’t like those people).  This is how her habit of cutting people off and discrediting them begins.  This sin can go on and become a major stumbling block in having good relations with people, whether Christian or not.  Then again I remember the times when I used to tell my colleagues to not bother when pilfering stuff from the office: So what if you take a small thing, after all aren’t you working here; isn’t it your office too; etc. 

On the face of it when we cause others to do the things they shouldn’t we find the sins so small and insignificant… for example, what’s the big deal if I swipe a stapler from the office for my personal use?  Well, we must know that sin is a sin – whether small or great.  I’e seen people sowing the roots of dishonesty in their children when they are given extra cash by the grocer and the parents tell their children to not mention this and quietly walk away.

See, all the time, when we teach them these things we’re sowing the root of sin in them.  Think: how do our children learn to tell lies?  How do they learn to disobey?  How do they learn to gossip, etc?  They’re all taught by us and then we have the gumption to say, ‘my son, where did he get all these negative traits?’  Jesus casts a woe upon us all who’re conduits of sin for others.  No matter what they are, small or big for sin is a sin and is anathema to God.  It’s man who has made sin look small; but sin is a big blotch before God and He is incensed and He will require an account.  Stop thinking that if I do just this little wrong its okay; rather learn to both, refrain from sinning and causing others to sin.  You will be please Him.

Thoughts for another day

May 28, 2013.

Today's verse: Lamentations 3:25, 26. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (KJV)

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

Prayer:  What a wonderful privilege God gave us in that which is called prayer.  Oh, I just love the mention of it, for I can then recall the might of the Lord moving in favor of those that went on their knees and prayed and I can see the tremendous power of God waiting to be released by prayer; for when you pray, God moves His hand and tremendous things happen.  Prayer is for me, the lever of hope when I believe in God against all odds.

I deem when we pray, it’s essentially waiting on Him with faith.  Prayer is a statement of faith in Him for only when you believe, can you pray otherwise it’s not prayer at all – no matter what anyone says.  Prayer isn’t some abstract form of mouth movement or a magical assembly of certain words we utter meaninglessly.  Prayer is that connection with God that makes us see, how wonderful He is and then again, how powerful He is and how He is poised to reach us the moment we ask.  This isn’t adaptable to the worldly way, where prayer means using many words and babbling; rather it’s to those who render in their prayer, all glory to God, believing that He is there even as they pray and making deep invocations in Jesus’ Name to the Father in heaven, whose ears are attentive to every soul uttering the Name of His Son with meaning, seeking Him diligently.

Prayer also comprises quietness: the sense to shut our senses and tune into the frequency of God.  To just doze in the aura of the Almighty; snug in the comfort that He is there to handle it all – no matter what it is that needs handling.  It’s of utmost importance that you give in to the call to pray despite having other pressures urging you away from it.  It’s then that the entire arsenal of God is open to you to defeat the darts of the evil one and bring victory in your life.

Thoughts for another day

May 27, 2013.

Today's verse: Matt. 3:16, 17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (KJV)

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

Yesterday, many Christians celebrated the feast of the Holy Trinity, where the focus is to joy in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – the Divine Threesome who comprise the Holy Trinity and Who for mankind is just One God in three Persons.  The ultimate, in whom is all power, glory and honor.  It’s is a mystery for none can clearly say, how They can be three Persons in One: One God, one Deity, with distinct personalities and nature.  We’re too small to understand this mystery; but we believe and because we believe we rejoice in the mystery which for us means all in life.

The birth of the concept of the Holy Trinity is probably etched in our Scripture above where we see the baptism of our Blessed Lord.  At this point, earth entered the bowels of and literally mixed with heaven when the Holy Spirit, came down in the form of a dove and settled on the Son of Man and in this glorious union, the Father announced His Presence saying, ‘This is My Beloved Son in Whom I AM well pleased!’  I can imagine the entire Jordan standing still in quiet obeisance before the awesome Presence of God.  Nature was stilled in reverent worship and earth held its breath in the heavenly portals.  The Trinitarian God, Mighty, Pristine and Awesome was here!

Those around Jesus, even John the Baptist saw this and probably heard the Father’s voice but I’m sure they were too stunned to either react or even cognize the event (barring John of course) for this is seen and understood with the eyes of faith alone.  Be that as it may, when through the quivering thunder, the Holy Spirit jettisoned the atmosphere and morphed into a tender dove, showing His infinite love for Jesus while hovering around Him, the Father signed up with His glorious Presence and completed the picture, so to say.  And today when we think of how wonderfully endowed we are with Grace to appropriate this, our Divine God in His Majestic Trinity, we can only bow before and say: Glory Father, Glory Son, Glory Spirit, All Three in One.

Thoughts for another day

May 24, 2013.

Today's verse: Philip. 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV)

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

It’s indeed a wonder to discover God’s involvement in our lives.  At the beginning of our ‘born-again’ experience, we may not be able to see such a dense and active Presence of God in our everyday situations and this probably even in those who’ve had a spectacular conversion where the Holy Spirit of God dramatically touched and changed the heart of the individual toward Jesus Christ.  That itself is such a great thing, we need to look at our Gentle Lord and thank Him for His passionate touch with all our might.  But over time, our heart which was on fire because of our tremendous experience slowly starts to cool down; and then begins the real test of the disciple of Christ.

This test determines whether the soul remains with the Lord, even through many trials, temptations and disappointments.  I know firsthand how trying a life I had since the time I came to the Lord and at it can get quite weary.  Today of course, I know the reason for that and I thank the Lord for having led me on the course of my journey which has really instilled in me a deep love for Him.  I may yet not be doing all that He commanded me, but I know I’m on the way because now praying for my enemies comes so naturally and even forgiving those that hurt me isn’t too difficult or traumatic.

In all this, our Father God works in us yea, in every facet of our lives.  It’s then we discover His deep involvment with us.  When you see the beautiful sunset, He smiles at you.  When your body is wracked with pain, He gives comfort.  When the chips are down, you look at Him and cry and He consoles.  When the heart is aching because of some problem, you can see Him looking at you soothingly and you instantly remember, ‘I AM with you always.’  A plate falls from your hand and you say, ‘God how did this happen.’  At the railway station, the train you’re to catch leaves just as you arrive and you say, ‘thank You Lord, for I know You have something good in store.’  It continues, day and night, day after day.   Then what Paul says, becomes apparent, for you realise, it is God who works in you to both ‘will’ and ‘do’ by His great pleasure and it is that which keeps you in check and in Him…even many, many years after your ‘born-again’ experience.  And that’s how much He is with us; loving us deeply.

Thoughts for another day

May 23, 2013.

Today's verse: Lk. 22:28. You are those who have stood by me in my trials; (NRSV – copy. ack.)

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

What a blessed thing to hear the Savior, the Lord of all mankind, the King of the universe say this about you.  Going back to the time He walked the face of the earth and in this context, the apostles, because of their conceit that made them ponder who among them was the greatest, were aptly brought down to earth by the Lord when He defined that His disciples are not to chase after human glory.  Rather they’re to be as servants, equipped to serve His body.  He then gave them the Promise of greatness conferring on them a kingdom where they would eat and drink with Him.  And He said this, because they stood by Him in His trials. 

I will just dwell on the Words of the Savior as He says even today: ‘You are those who have stood by Me in My trials.’  Look at the gratitude on His face as He says this and He doesn’t leave it at that; He also rewards. Take our situation today; is it very much different?  There’re millions and millions of people on earth today and just as our Lord was reviled then, He is reviled today too.  Not Himself per se, but His church, His very body.  Look and see how they persecute Christians around the world and then ask: are we standing by them in their trials, viz. in the trials of the church.  Then, look at the corruption the world is caught up in, there’re so many wrongs: abortions, same sex love and marriages (sic).  Are we willing to stand by sane voices and go against them, even if we seem to be foolish in the eyes of a so called ‘enlightened’ world, where homosexuality is no longer a sin, but a third aspect of sexuality and therefore, normal! 

Are we standing by the Lord when He is tried by the media; not Him but His men, preachers who preach zealously that there’s only one God and His name is Jesus Christ.  Are we with them when they’re ridiculed and called to be ‘disturbers of the peace’?  And there are so many other situations where time and again the Lord is tried in so many corners of the world.  Are we standing by Him, even by simply praying so the situation will change?  So people who ridicule the Lord will have their hearts changed and now start worshipping Him.  If we are then one day, our ears will rise in delight when He says, ‘You have stood by Me in My trials, come home dear one!’

Thoughts for another day

May 22, 2013.

Today's verse: Mt. 7:12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (KJV)

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

As I sat by the church on the Mount of Beatitudes or the Mount on which it’s traditionally believed that Jesus delivered His sermon – Mt. chap. 5-7, I looked at the scenic panorama stretching for miles and then I looked at Him, the Man-God, sitting before the people who had come to Him with great expectation.  Many came for healing and some came to be restored; others had their own reasons but they came to Him.  They saw something in Him and they realised there’s Divinity here!  And as I sat there, I too saw something in Him – I saw a gentleness I’d never seen before.  I saw the look of love exuded from His face and realised, here is my God who loves me so much, He bends to take me in His arms and you know, I wanted to reciprocate His love…yet I couldn’t!

For remember, He said, if you love Me you will keep My Word. His Word is – love ye your neighbor.  And tell me I ask you, is it possible to love my neighbor who’s so caustic in his behavior; so rude and puts me off?  How then my Lord am I to love my neighbor, I asked Him.  He didn’t answer.  He went and said, ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’  I dropped my head sighing and it was a sharp jab as I heard, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’  ‘See, He prays for them’ I heard the repentant sinner on the cross to his right!  

The air was cold and crisp, but very comforting.  The wind blew gently and as I looked at the sea of Galilee beyond, I felt the waves were hanging on to every Word of His.  You see unlike us, they knew the time of His visitation, we didn’t.  He continued speaking and there were tears in my eyes as I saw His eyes on the Cross, they were beckoning me to come, be raised up; to listen, ‘Do unto others what you want done to you!’  This got to me and I gazed at Him.  His eyes faced mine and in them I saw His dismay for He knew I wouldn’t do that.  Like Peter, I sat down and shed bitter tears.  His hand rested gently on me, encouraging me.  He asked, ‘Do you love me?’  I was ashamed to look at Him but nodded with my head.  He said something beautiful…One day, you will do all I told you and you will be My ambassador to the nations as I send you to them with power and love.  Again I nodded.  There was silence.  For a while I didn’t know myself.  Then I realised, the significance of His Word.  I said a small prayer and thanked Him.  Yeah, I said, I will do unto others what I want them to do to me.  Amen Lord, to Your glory.

Thoughts for another day

May 21, 2013.

Today's verse: Pro. 3:5-6. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

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

How many times have you landed on a teaching on this verse; and there’re many coz this verse for many Christian brothers and sisters spells the ‘sémitam rectam’ in Latin which means, the right path.   As we move on in life, and move on we must, our senses and ways get conditioned by experiences we’ve had or the lives we lead.  So, our decisions may get skewed by our experiences and our thinking and it might be possible they’re not objective and could lead us to disaster.

Further, we make decisions or act on the basis of our learnings of the past or of today.  There’s hardly a human being who can see beyond say two, at the most, five years.  Anyone projecting beyond are the theorists (well they seem to say, I’m putting forward my theory; now you debunk it!)  So our ‘understanding’ as in our Word above is rather conditioned and not free from the pollution of the world and even our own.  Therefore, it’s unlikely that everything that we do and say would be good for us.  This doesn’t pertain to only the lesser mortals but also to great men and women, senior statesmen and even philosophers and such prima donnas, that comprise the upper crust.

Real understanding comes in when God is invited into the subject that concerns us.  Without God is like being without ‘good’.  Yeah, look at your past and see the number of times you’ve succeeded because you had God by your side.  And we can have God guide our ways without knowing what they are, but just believing He knows the best and He is there to move us on.   Many of us don’t know how to listen to God and seek illumination, but it doesn’t matter.  When we put our faith on the table, God comes into our lives…at that time, things may not seem to be really going the way we expected them for look, we’re still ordering life as seen through the human lenses.  But not to worry for here, worry, satan’s most potent weapon, itself will need to worry as by the power of God, you would have ejected it away from your life.  Yeah when in your ways you acknowledge God and recognize His Presence, life changes and even the earth you step on starts singing and this song you can take and blend with words of your own, into a song of praise unto the Most High.

Thoughts for another day

May 20, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 10:13. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (NRSV – copyright acknowledged)

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

You’re facing a trial my friend, go ahead and face it with fortitude for remember, God is there with you.  He will always be with you and He will smile at you even as you suffer because of the trial.  It could be a sickness, or a financial black hole or trouble in family or married life or whatever, but keep this in mind, God is with you.  You might be feeling bad because your prayers aren’t answered, at all rather you’re in pain and you just cannot understand what’s going on.  

At this time, even the people we trust let us down.  They hurt us more as at that time, we’re clinging to threads of hope and the effect of being let down is far more than it were normally.  Our minds get clogged with perceptions of smallness and worthlessness.  There’s hardly any strength left in us.  We turn toward heaven but all we can see are the clouds: thick and fast up there in the sky; blocking our view; it’s as if the Almighty were scheduling our downfall.  There’s darkness and glum in our lives and really, hope seems but dead to us.

Yet, remember, He is God and He is faithful and loving.  He never ceases to love us and because He is faithful, He will soon remove the cobweb of clouds snaring our paths.  As soon as we’re bent down wilting under our failed strength, God’s hand comes to our rescue.  It is but His trial He seems to say and He smiles because even in your trial you always looked to Him, not as the victimizer but as a friend and you sought His help.  He now knows you can bear all He sends you and you will always praise Him no matter what.  Then He blesses and His blessing surpasses every pain you’ve known.  Then comes the day when you’ll stand in the assembly and declare, ‘He brought me out of the horrible pit and set my feet upon solid rock.’  Praised be the Name of my God.

Thoughts for another day

May 17, 2013.

Today's verse: Ps. 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  (KJV)

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

Most Christians come upon our Word today in their time of Bible reading and some even reflect on it.  Many even sing the song whose lyrics have this Word in conjunction with what Peter says in 1 Pet. 5:7.  But I ask you, how many really believe this Word and abide by it, specifically, casting their burdens onto the LORD?  A simple and quick answer is: not many because the times we live in and the nature of the world is such that we carry our burdens ourselves.  We want to solve our problems ourselves and we don’t leave space, of even a millimeter to the Lord.  Men do all they can in their life-time in their jobs and amass wealth, so that they can retire, as they say, peacefully.  Some invest in insurance schemes, etc. to tide unforeseen crises that may happen and so on.  The whole idea, if you consider the situation carefully, is to cut out God completely from us, after all when we’re the masters of our lives, what do we need God for? 

I once told a person not to insure himself and he laughed me to scorn saying, ‘I’ve never seen a bumpkin like you.’   Mind you this person is a ‘believer’ – but he belongs to what I’d say, the special class of believers who only talk about God, but don’t really believe in Him for even a simple meal!  And such is the type which fills our churches today.  It’s a tragedy for we have an all powerful God of miracles; but no miracles and it’s so because we resolutely resist His miracles.  We’d rather have, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ But when I ask, ‘Why should God help you if you can help yourselves?’ there is no answer! 

 Look at His Word in the Bible, it speaks reams of God having worked marvelously on behalf of people who prayed to Him and were unable to fend for themselves at all.  My friend take God’s Word as deep reality and test Him at His promise.  He will show Himself powerful for you for remember, God, the Sovereign God isn’t obligated to any human being or anything else.  But He is obligated to His Word…didn’t Jesus say, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will remain.  Believing firmly, no matter what the odds, cast your burden on Him and He will lug the load for you. Your righteousness will live before Him as He works out marvelous things before your very eyes.

Thoughts for another day

May 16, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Sam. 15:22b. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (KJV)

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

Does God need sacrifices?  Of goats, bulls, or what have you?  Does He demand extraordinary things from human beings so that He may send His blessings toward us?  The straight and simple answer to this is, NO!  Even in the days prior to Christ, God didn’t need sacrifices from men.  Rather God was pleased with obedience.  In fact, throughout the Old Testament, we see God was pleased with obedience to His Word than any sacrifices that were offered.

Among the Kings, we see God always rescuing those who were loyal to Him and His Word.  Were it just sacrifice, there were many who would give Him that but they knew He sought their obedience which unfortunately they didn’t give because it meant they move away from their un-rightly ways and move into His way; and across ages, man has always strayed from the right way, going to the wrong.  It also meant God needs us to be with Him, and this isn’t to be replaced by something He Himself gave us.  In the old days though God ordained sacrifices, they were blood sacrifices to atone for sins, till the Precious Lamb of God would replace them with His One sacrifice of Himself.  After this, there would be no need of any sacrifice and that’s the way it is today.  Yet, there’re many who believe if they give to Ministries, or provide for charity or some such thing through money gained wrongly, they can please Him and they’re then free to do what they want, even disobey His given commandments and ways of life.

It goes without saying, that rebellion and disobedience are at the core of the heart of man, yet, by His Grace, today we can conquer if we’re only willing to forego the temporary pleasure of sinning.  It may please us to wrong somebody to show we’re superior but what use is it if God is displeased.  It’s better rather, to be a little lower for the sake of our Father by keeping His commands and foregoing the pleasure.  He will be pleased and His reward is wonderful – perhaps, not on earth, but beyond… yes for sure.

Thoughts for another day

May 15, 2013.

Today's verse: Is. 26:12. LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (KJV)

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

The condition of a fulfilled life is peace with tranquility; a life whose signature is harmony with all.  There’s no room for malice or hate or even anger because we think someone else is in charge of our fate, while the fact of the matter is that God and God alone is the author of our destiny, and having received our response to His call, much, much before we were even born or a day had come to be, He authored the path our lives will take on the basis of the innermost thoughts of our hearts.

For those of us who’re thickly in love with God, He will write peace – yea, a peace that passes all understanding for who can understand the calm when there’s an uproar or even fathom the stillness of a heart when everything is crumbling?  True there’ll be strife in the world, but take comfort; for He says, ‘I have conquered the world.’  As His ambassadors, don’t you think we must trust His Word?  There isn’t anything more the Lord God of heaven and earth has to do to equip us with full liberty and confidence.  While on the Cross Jesus said, ‘It is finished’, means it’s finished, there’s nothing you or I, can sit and work out which isn’t finished.  HE HAS DONE IT ALL. 

Now what he has done is for you and me and everybody and what is done, we see unfolding as we live.  Success, fame, riches, wealth, a gentle countenance, a pure heart and all the many characteristics that form us are from Him.  As we have asked and as He deigned to give, we have received; for once again I say, He has done all our works in us.  We need to perceive and watch for the things we don’t see with lenses of faith, clad with the cloak of hope.  Trust God, no matter how difficult it seems to do that at this time and surely, you will see the rainbow in the sky – the fulfillment of His promises because He loves you so much.

Thoughts for another day

May 14, 2013.

Today's verse: Romans 8:15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, (KJV)

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

While praying yesterday, the Lord nudged me into a very important concept, I never ever thought in my entire life which, has seen its fair share of ups and downs.  As I look back on the days gone by and if you too do that, you’ll realise that a good percentage of our lives are spent in fear – fear that something adverse will happen, fear that not everything is right, fear of this and fear of that even stupid irrational fear like if your eyebrows twitch, it’s a sign of impending danger, etc.

I have been fearful a lot because of these irrational and stupid thoughts and they have dragged me down.  The thought the Lord put in me was, ‘if I can be triggered to think of evil and danger just by some stupid notions or beliefs and fear something which may or may not happen, because some devilish imp put that thought in me (mind you, no one can put any thought in my mind unless I’m receptive to it), then how about me putting on the cloak of our Almighty God and be led by Him to be fearless.  What a wonderful counter to the origin of fear in us.  Just think, how much more powerful and glorious our Lord is than all other things and yet we don’t think of His Presence in our lives but rather give our mental space to the devil and cower before his stupid fearful thoughts.

Like the psalmist, if I really believe in my God, then like him, I’ll say, ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’   I thank the Lord for having put this thought so strongly in my mind; it felt as if a huge load was taken off me – now I know that no thought, intended to frighten me, can ever do that.  No matter what basis the thought springs from, like for example, because of my current financial difficulties, I may think I have a bleak future; but this thought I’ll banish quickly at the feet of the Lord for not me but He alone is my Provider.  And I realise by the Lord’s help that the devil is a liar par excellence and so I will not trust in any of his stupid lies and rather tell Him how powerful my God is and that He cares for me…really.

Thoughts for another day

May 13, 2013.

Today's verse: Hosea 11:4. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. (NRSV)

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

Here’s an image of our Father, the Eternal Emperor of the universe: a loving and doting Father, who lifts us like infants to nuzzle with His cheeks and who bends down to feed us.  Of the many images we see of our Father in the Word, this is one which should make everyone who is devoted to Him feel absolutely good, wonderful fulfilled within.  It’s an image which can give a great sense of worth to any human being who has some knowledge of God, particularly His greatness.

We sing this song with great intensity, ‘Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art…’  But rarely do we really realize how great God is.  That’s why we’re besotted with stricken images of evil and its power and are fearful.  Little do we cognize the grandeur and reality of our God who is so awesome that none, yea not even the hosts of heaven, can stand before Him for when His glory is revealed, there shall never be anything; and even beyond it, who can stand, but fall prostrate and worship Him for how can a created thing not succumb to the immense glory of its Creator?  And yet, we don’t joy in His power nor believe Him and His Word!

We have this, our Scripture before us where God says, ‘I led them with cords of human kindness and bands of love…’  Can we not see His unyielding and inexplicable love for us, who’re fallen in His sight and are as the worm of the earth?  But, see, He goes before us and He lifts us up and holds us near His cheeks, brushing our rugged faces with His glorious countenance.  What a privilege we share that God Almighty, Creator and Owner of the universe is our Father and He loves us so much.  Is there anything more that the human soul should desire or ask for?

Thoughts for another day

May 10, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Pet. 5:10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (KJV)

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

Treat not my friend, suffering as something come your way because you’re accursed or because you’re a great sinner, which all of us are.  But take the very essence of suffering and bear it with fortitude for remember, He gives the Grace that in all such things we may have the strength to bear with whatever difficulty comes toward us. 

His eyes are on the sparrow and even more so upon us and if He rescues a sparrow from the tumble of nature, how much more will He safeguard us, whom He loves so much and proved His love in that He also died for us.  It is but His Name that we must remember when our parched spirits are laden heavy and help doesn’t even seem yonder on the other shore.  With eyes of faith at that time, no matter how difficult it seems due to the pain that envelopes us, must we look up and there we’ll see the God of Ages, the Rock of Israel looking at us with merciful and benevolent eyes.

In His eyes will we find the strength to move out of the muck into which our erroneous ways have sucked us and we’ll know that He, the God of all Grace, the most sublime and beautiful God who has deigned that we be with Him eternally through His Son Jesus Christ, will establish and strengthen us, settling us into the proper domain.  Importantly, He will perfect us, even as He perfected our Vessel of Salvation, to be arrayed with beauty in abundance and become His bride, His beloved.

Thoughts for another day

May 9, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 4:7. and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (KJV)

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

Some of us are better endowed with talent, or beauty or material possessions and what a way we behave!  If we have fair skin, particularly in India where I live, we try to show as much of it as we can; if we have a car or a big home, we boast about it and make sure as many as possible know of the ‘royal’ asset in our ‘material’ stables, by which we think people will have a high opinion of us.

Gradually, our skins get thickened by following of the ways of the world and pride and other useless character attributes set in by which our outlook to our fellow human beings becomes narrow and bigoted and if we find them a little less than us in any way, we tend to down-look them, consider them plebian and don’t respect them.  In some cases we demand respect from them and if they don’t give it, we may also punish them with the little more power we have. 

One key thing we forget: whatever we have has been given to us by God.  We tend to forget there’s nothing in our control and even that which we feel is in our control is actually not in our control for example, we know that unless the Lord allows, we may go to work in the morning but never return; we may begin something but never complete it unless He wills it and so on.  Now, knowing it is by the Lord that all things are, how can we glory in the things we have absolutely no control over or how can we boast about things we ourselves have had no hand in acquiring?  It’s time we started thinking about this and understood that what we have is given by God and in all humility we accept it and use it for His greater glory. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

May 8, 2013.

Today's verse: Is. 49:13. Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. (KJV)

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

Affliction in a man has many reasons to be.  With the Jews, in the context of the above verse, it was because of their sins.  The abominations they carried out, their relentless failure to heed both His laws and His warnings, so much so that the heap of their sins were piled from the earth to heaven and then God acted, He brought such destruction upon them which they thought they’d never be afflicted with because they had the Temple, the abode of the Holy One with them.

Our afflictions too may be as a result of our disobedience to God; our sins that affront His holiness and His Sovereignty.  Some of us sin so much and btw, it’s not necessarily committing the sins stated to be grievous like murder, adultery, etc. that mark our fall from Grace, but also sins that’re as minor(!) as rumor mongering, gossiping, thinking evil of someone, lying, etc. which ruin our lives.  We may never understand the damage sin does to us, but it does and I know it well from personal experience for I remember the suffering I had to go through when I sinned and it was so that I realise my follies and revert back to the straight path.  To be honest, I thank God for it, for had God not given them to me, I wouldn’t relent from sinning and my doom would’ve been sure.

But despite this, the fact of the matter our Scripture today gives us is that, in our repentance, God comforts us.  God will revert back the grandeur we had before; He will wipe all tears from our eyes, spilled because of the pain of the trial and He will lead us to glorious terrain, raising us up to enjoy His bounteous providence.  He will have mercy and take away everything that causes us pain.  And in that will our lips give Him magnificent praise, resounding from the ramparts of heaven and shaking the very foundations of the earth. We’re glad, God has allowed us to reconcile with Him and opened the gates to move with Him into our eternal zones.

Thoughts for another day

May 7, 2013.

Today's verse: John 4:34. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (NIV – copyright ack.)

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

By far the clearest understanding of the essential ingredient in a Christian’s life is given us by Jesus Christ in our Scripture above.  Now we know Jesus was very clear about His purpose of coming to earth and that was to do His Father’s work which was being the ‘Lamb of God.’  Now in the process of being the Lamb of God, He also had the task of preaching the Good News.  This was so critical to Jesus and He was so absorbed in it that even though He had compassion for the people who accompanied Him for both His Words and His works, the reason why He multiplied the loaves and fishes, He Himself is never said to have felt hungry demanding bread.  Food for Him was just the completion of the task His Father assigned Him.

As a Christian, if I want to know God’s will for my life, I have it in our Scripture – He wants me to perform His will in my life and that would largely mean preaching the Good News just as His Son Jesus did and for that He has amply equipped me.  Above all, He has given me His Holy Spirit to ensure I don’t err and I don’t succumb to the ways of the world or the dangers inherent in my mission of preaching the Good News. 

My friend, never make the mistake that God, doesn’t want us to take the Good News to the nations.  Some of us are content thinking there’re specialized Ministers and their ministries which will do the work and I can give them some crumbs and they’ll do it on my behalf.  Some believe priests and nuns are there for the job and they aren’t required to labor.  This is erroneous as I have to do my work for every worker must do his work or he isn’t eligible for his pay.  God has ordained, in and through the command of His Majesty, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, that we take the Good News to the world.  We would be ready to do it for a king on earth but we hesitate to do it for the Greatest King ever.  Means we need to change our thinking and be of the same spirit as in Jesus Christ and over a period of time by His Grace, our attitude should be like Him in saying, My food is to do the will of my Father in heaven and be a part of His redeeming work.  Amen.’

Thoughts for another day

May 6, 2013.

Today's verse: Ps. 23:4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; (KJV)

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

Every person who’s a Christian I presume reads the Psalms and also holds certain verses from the Psalms as their favorite, just as you and I do.  For me there’re many verses that pierce my heart and cry into my being as I read them and I hold them dearly in my heart.  Among them is the above verse which is among my all time favorites because of the sheer confidence in God that David displays in it and also for the awesome blessing that emanates from this Word of God.

All men, irrespective of who they are, have an experience of what is in the Word: ‘going through the valley of the shadow of death’ an experience, both painful, fraught with unsurety and dripping with cold sweat.   When you go through this, there’s tremendous pain and misery.  To survive one needs to dig deep into the reservoir of faith and stand steadfastly believing that God will deliver; for in this state, it’s only He who can. It’s a time when deep, dark shadows envelop the entire being and fear looms large as a gigantic cloak.  Every sense veers to doom and catastrophe and the feeling is that you’re all alone in the world and there’s nothing that’s going to save you.  Well, David had this kind of experience and the poor man, anointed as the future king of Israel, had no inkling as to what was to happen the next day, even the next moment. 

But did David succumb to the situation?  I can feel the intense trepidation in David as he grappled between life and death and I admire His resolve to trust that God would bring Him out of the situation; AND GOD DID.  With a heart full of confidence, David writes, that he fears no evil because GOD IS THERE.   My friend you too might be going through your own shadow of death experience.  Don’t give up; understand that the evil one is up to his tricks and the stakes are high.  With you too God is there,  right where you are; right now.  Hold on to God and believe me the victory you will get because of His being with you will be great.  Amen in Jesus’ Name.

Thoughts for another day

May 3, 2013.

Today's verse: Col. 3:12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (KJV)

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

Among the many traits that one ‘in-breeds’ being a born-again Christian, are the above without which one may not be known as a Christian.   No matter what we are before we start believing in Christ, now this whether we were born in Christian families or not, we must change or be ‘BORN AGAIN’, the phrase Jesus uses, in His talk with the unsuspecting Nicodemus.  And it’s in being born again that we discover the ability to be what Jesus wants us to be because when we’re born again by sheer belief in Jesus Christ, we’re born again of water and Spirit.

Water, is the cleansing agent which effectively cleans us of the impurities that were once ours, even since our birth, and the Spirit is the One who helps us in living lives that’re effective and pleasing to God.  Without the Holy Spirit, there can be no soul which acts or does, in a manner pleasing to God.  In various arguments among children of God, there’re schools of thought which debate whether it’s by faith or by works that we’re saved, but I say it’s by both for remember, just as a tiger will always have stripes so will a Christian always have compassion, goodness and holiness in his DNA which is his in his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

In the light of the above, we see the picture clearly of what our lives have to be and we understand and also obey Paul’s exhortation…chiefly to be holy.  Another aspect that must be seen in us is compassion, or as the KJV says, bowels of mercy – i.e. mercy deeply embedded in our beings, for beloved, how can we say we belong to Christ and not be compassionate?  Holiness is vital in every follower of Christ, without which we shall not see our Father who created us and living itself would have been futile. As for kindness, humility, meekness and patience, we must strive to imitate our Lord in this and in doing so, will the stairway to heaven be built by which we will climb onto its portals, accompanied by our Beloved, Jesus Himself.

Thoughts for another day

May 2, 2013.

Today's verse: James 5:16b. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV – copyright ack.)

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

How to pray that we’re able to move God’s hand?  That’s the question most of us have and James today has the answer in our Scripture above.  Fasting can be very effective for its tantamount to the denial of our passion – that’s, eating.  Some of us find it extremely difficult to fast, even a single meal and then there’re some who’re unable to fast because of medical conditions.  But if we can fast I recommend we do because fasting is a heavy-weight tool in our hands, to literally force God’s hand in our favor and that’s simply because God will not ignore the prayer of someone who fasts.

What’s really pleasing to God is the spirit of obedience in our hearts that is key to righteousness.  Righteousness simply means being in a right disposition with God.  When we obey God, we’re in a right nature before Him and thus abide in the inner circle of His Grace.  When we’re able to be in this inner circle, we find answers to our prayer; moreover, our prayer life is transformed to be in line with His will for we’re transfixed on His countenance and are able to elicit His will for us. 

When a righteous person sits before God, the angels of God are attentive to accept such prayer and take it before His Majesty, the God of the universe.  God Himself is very concerned with such a person’s prayer and God sends the response.  We know He has responded because we receive what we’ve asked or we receive peace in our hearts which nullifies the desires of what we wanted.   In any case, God answers and the answer is swift and perfect.  At times, God takes time in answering and we feel terribly crushed and dry.  But that’s the precise moment when we should trudge forward in faith and lay our claims to what we have asked and He, the God who rules the universe, will always send us the answer to our prayer immediately.  Believe this.