Thursday, January 29, 2009

God smiled on us

It was an anxious day. Though I prayed and gave me and my family in God's hands, Things have to be attended by us too. We cannot just fold our hands and sit after prayer.

My grand son was returning from Nepal. While attending a camp fire at a beach in an island near Bangkok while on his travel, he got pushed into the fire by accident and his arms and part of the ear got burned. He got treatment over there and was returning home.

It was a two and a half days flight. He informed us that his dressing has to be changed as soon as he arrives lest infection sets in. The flight will arrive at an hour when all clinics will be close or even open no doctors will be there..
We had a friend who was a retired senior nurse and her daughter too was in the same field . We had lost touch with them for a few years. But at our request they offered to do the needful to my grand son . This set the whole family at peace till the news of the flight being late came.Prayer helped us again:

These two ladies proved to be real followers of Jesus. At that late hour, almost mid night, they were up waiting for us. Smiling with pleasure they attended on my grand son. It appeared as if it gave them so much pleasure to be of help to some one. It made me so happy to see that there are such true followers of Christ. Of such only the bible says, 'Jesus will say on that day , 'I was sick you visited me. Then they whey will ask Him, when did we do that. He will reply what ever you did to the least of these, you did unto me.'

We were happy about what the daughter said: Some years ago her mom was seriously ill in the hospital, she was alone with her mother and panicked that she may die. As soon as we heard it in that hour of the night we went and waited with her. We had forgotten it. But she reminded us. If every one of us could remember and be grateful for the help others do, what a beautiful world it will be.

With joy we came home. Though late, like midnight feast we were had dinner. Thanked God for all the miracles he did for us that day and for keeping us in peace and making us so happy. We even had a cake with the lettering, 'God be praised For your safe arrival.'
My youngest grand daughter had something to share, which was like the the lovely topping on a cake: She said when she was rushing to the metro station that morning she saw and old man struggling with some bags trying to cross over. She went up to him, helped him to carry the bags, took him to a sheltered place and asked him where he was going etc. He told his destination. He was very old and panting. She was late for her appointment yet asked him if he liked to go by taxi to his place. The man asked her, 'do you have money to pay for the taxi'. She said, 'I'll give what ever I have in my wallet, there may be about five Dollars'. The man said, 'no I am ok to go by metro. It is only a short walk after that. I was struggling for breath in the cold. I just needed to rest a bit on a side. So many passed by but no one stopped to help me out. Thank you so much' and he opened his wallet took 20 Dollars. and gave her saying, 'this is for you'. She thanked him and refused to take it saying 'I did not do it for money', Then he told her, 'I am old but I have money. I am rich. I want to give this to you' and gave her 40 Dollars. She refused that too. saying that it is not because it was little she didn't take it, she did not help him for any kind of payment. Yet he insisted and she took it.It was fifty dollars!
She was happy she got the money. though she really helped him because he was struggling and helpless and she was blessed.

One good turn with out expecting any return as unto God does bring it's reward.

What a happy world it will be if every day every one behaves like this I thought Recalling these incidents this morning brought such sweet refreshing thoughts to my mind.When Jesus reigns on this earth the people will be loving like this, I thought.
God has His ways of speaking to us and letting things happen to put a smile on our face and cheer in our heart. What great friend he is!

I was reminded of two bible verses: 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" [Gal. 6:9]
'Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels with out knowing" [Heb. 13:2]

Friday, January 23, 2009

Encouragement To The seekers of Righteousness

Yesterday I took a step in bridging a long standing gap,to do what is right before God.It is amazing how the Lord assists even in minute details: I was planning this in my mind. Weighing the pros and cons.I told the Lord if the weather is good and the path is not slippery I'll walk to this place. The Lord who controls the nature, made a change in it. [I think just for my sake]I was able to walk to the place. He was with me all though the happenings. I trust God to work out the rest according to His will and plan. One day at a time, one step at a time, is His leading. Even blind folded we could trust Him and walk in safety, when our motive and desire is to be right, in His sight.

This morning He encouraged me by giving me Isiah 51 verses 1-6. " Listen to me you who o gave you birth. When I called him he was but one and I blessed him and made him many The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins.He will make her desert like Eden and her waste land like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her. Thanks giving and sound of singing.--- The law will go from me, my justice will become a light to the nations My righteousness draws near speedily. My salvation is on the way and my arm will pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look at Abraham your father and to Sarah whbring justice to the nations."

Abraham was only one person but much came from his faithfulness. He was righteous. He was not perfect but he sought to obey and please God above everything else.

If the faithful few would remain faithful more could come through them. Even we a faithful few remain faithful,imagine what god can do through us!
" Heaven will vanish like smoke. The earth will wear out like a garment and it's inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last for ever. My righteousness will never fail." [Isiah 51:6]

What a great blessing!

It s needless to say that while praising God I decided to follow Him all the way and to pray for others to do the same.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Bring Life To Dry Bones

This morning the Lord encouraged me by a chapter from the old testament.
Ezekiel 37 speaks of how a valley full of dry bone came to life and became a huge army.It happened when the prophet at the command of the Lord, prophesied to the dry bones to come to life. His words had power because it was backed by God. Our words too will have power if we are led of the Holy Spirit and obey His commands,believing.

Dry bone are dead.They have no life in them.There is no hope of any life coming into them.

Spiritually we come to that state at times. I was burdened about the spiritual state of some of my dear ones and some churches. I was happy the Lord gave me the assurance that there is hope .
Who are the dead according to God's word?, I pondered. The man that walks out of the way of understanding, shall remain in the congregation of the dead. [Pro 21:16]
What a terrible state to be in!
In the parable of the prodigal son, the father told the elder brother who was displeased at the father for celebrating when the prodigal returned:
'It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again'.
Jesus referred to the prodigal who returned to the father, as one dead and come back.
Ephesians 5:14 talks of the unsaved as dead in trespasses and sin. We were like that at one time.The Lord quickened us when we came to Him for salvation.

We could go back to the dead state if we are careless.The bible says,' she that lives in pleasure is dead while she live'[1Tim5:6
In the book of Revelation He says to the church in Sardis.'I know your works that you have a name that you live but you are dead,[Rev.3:1]
Whichever way we may be dead and be like dry bones with out hope, the Lord is able to give life and breath. He is able to make us soldiers for him!

May we in faith speak to whatever area we or our loved ones are dead. The Lord is able to do the impossible.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Saved To Serve And Have A Safe Arrival

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven. Luke6:23

Do I shun from hardships, suffering and persecutions,
That come from enemies, dear and near ones alike,
Daily in some form or other, not because I did wrong?
[ though some times it is]
I know now, it is part of the the path~
The narrow way to Glory.

There was joy in heaven,
When Christ finished the work of salvation.
There was rejoicing in heaven,
When I came to Christ and accepted Him.

Now I run the race to get my prize,
I work for him to bring others to Christ.
I live for Him to show His love and light,
To the world in darkness lies.
I keep myself under, to become like Christ
The Holy,just and righteous one in all His ways.

True, at times the path seems hard,
This I consider: how great the suffering Christ went through,
To bring me to Him , when I strayed away!
Mine is light, for a short time, soon it will be over!

I know there was joy in heaven at my salvation.
There will be greater joy at my glorification,
When I reach that blissful land~
Angels will welcome me, on arrival
To congratulate me with loved ones around ,
It's Grace and Grace alone I'll shout with joy.

My savior's love filled face I long to see.
with his smile so sweet to greet me,
His arms wide to embrace me,
I'll rush to meet Him in humble adoration.

Oh I realize! Heaven's atmosphere is He.
He is there all the time, hovering, embracing every one.
His glorious presence fills all heaven!
Comparable to none.
A novel experience indeed for me,
What an ecstasy it'll be!

These thoughts of comfort,I share with you:
O drooping, humble suffering saint~
Heaven assures a safe journey for you
And a rich reward on arrival.
Be strong, short is the night and travail
Fight the good fight

Ample is the strength, power and love
[Christ gives to enhance your might]
which make afflictions light.
Take courage, You are not alone.
Millions trod this path a fore,
Await to greet you at the dawn!

Here is a verse that gives me strength,
Trust it to enhance your strength:
"Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us,
An eternal glory that far out weighs them all.[2nd Cor. 4:17]

Thursday, January 15, 2009

My Walk today

"Enoch walked with God and he was not.[Genesis6:24] Daily Enoch walked and by his side was the holy, almighty Lord directing his path. He would have consulted God about every little thing and obeyed Him. Thus he walked and he walked and walked and one day he was not to be found on earth. He walked with God into eternity! He went to be with the Lord for ever. No more trials , sorrow, pain or parting in that blissful eternity.

Enoch was not a single man. He had a wife and many children. He worked to provide for his family. He had a life like you and me. But he was doing everything to please his Lord God. His walk was with God.

He lived for three hundred and sixty five years!It is amazing that he was able to please God in such a way that God just took him to be with Him. He did not die like all humans.

This is what I desire. I want to walk with the Lord today, every day and when my walk in this world ends, I will be with the Lord for ever.

The end may be at the rapture, when Jesus comes to take away those who are waiting for His appearing or it may be my death. What ever it may be, my walk with the Lord is all I need.

That walk is a walk in the light and in truth. A walk of faith trusting in God for every thing. It is a Holy Spirit guided life filled with the fruit of the spirit.It is a walk in love. It looks as if I am aspiring very high. True. But with God all things are possible.

You and I are called for such a life, to be imitators of Christ.[Ep.5:1&2] He who has called us is faithful. He will help us to walk with Him as Enoch did and we will go with him when the trumpet sounds.

My prayer is, ' Lord, let me walk with you today. Let your presence be with me all the time.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

We need Danial's steadfastness

Daniel 6th chapter tells the story of how he was thrown into a den of lions because he refused to bow down to the statue of the king of Babylon. It was a plot by those who were envious of the favor Danial received from the king. The plot did not not work the way they planned: The lions just waited as though Danial too was one of them! Or one stronger than them that, they dare not touch him! It was the Lord's work. He miraculously shut the mouth of the lions!

Danial was eighty years old when he dared to defy the command of the king even at the risk of his life. What a great faithfulness toward the Lord God of his fathers and his childhood.

Danial was just a teenager, may be thirteen or fourteen when he was taken a captive from Israel to Babylon. None of the elders were with him. He did not go to that new civilized country to study like some youth of today. He was not a refugee or an immigrant seeking better life. He was forcibly taken by an enemy country. He had no say in it.

Danial was taught by his parents to fear God and worship Him alone. He could have become bitter and angry with the God whom he worshiped for letting this happen to him. Or he could have doubted that God and his existence when he saw the glamor and prosperity of the Babylonians who were idol worshipers.
Danial was strong in the Lord . His faith in God was firmly grounded.even as a child, so that left alone in a hostile land, he did not want to compromise!

I became anxious about our younger generation. My children and grand children facing the world of today with so many new philosophies find it not easy to not to be shaken in their faith. It's like the storm raging against the house as in the parable Jesus said in Mathew. Only the house built on the rock was able to stand. The rock is Christ and his teachings. Only those who have an intimate relationship with God and a personal revelation of who Christ is will make them with stand the onslaught of the enemy.
'Lord, make them strong in faith like Danial', I prayed.

The Lord gave me an assurance from Isaiah 49:24-25. "Can plunder be taken from warriors or captives rescued from the fierce? But this is what the Lord says,'Yes the captives will be taken from the warriors and plunder retrieved from the fierce. I will contend with those who contend with you and your children I will save."

It is our responsibility to pray for our children. While keeping our foundation firm. let us fight for our children that they stay firm and not shake and stumble. Even if they have become a prey to the enemy,and back slid, the Lord is able to deliver them. Let us believe and pray

Monday, January 5, 2009

The Joy Of The Lord

We sing ' When I am down He lifts me up.' This was my experience this morning.

Yesterday afternoon we visited some spiritual people. When I returned, some how the joy and gratefulness I had in the morning seemed to have ebbed away. A kind of void and anxiety about my stand with God clouded my mind. Instead of praising God , I earnestly prayed to show me what I should do.

My God is so good. He ministered the instruction I needed during my meditation this morning:
' That joy may remain in you that your joy might be full' [Jn.15:11] This was the Joy what I needed and this is what I am seeking after.

I read from' My Utmost for the highest,' the following: 'The full flood of my life is not in bodily health, not in external happenings, not in seeing God's work succeed.' [I remembered that I was praising God joyfully last morning exactly for these things but that did not last] 'But in the perfect understanding of God and in communion with Him that Jesus himself had.' This is what I really needed.

I also saw the things that hindered the continuity of this flow of joy: [1] The irritation of thinking of circumstances we face. [Jesus called it the cares of this world] Before we know we are caught up in the show of things.
How true what the book said: 'All that God has done for us is mere threshold. He wants to get us to the place, where we will be His witness and proclaim who Jesus is'

By being rightly related to Jesus we find our joy. It is in that place "out of you shall flow rivers of living water,' begins. We become a center for Jesus Christ to pour the living water through. My heart cried, 'I want to be there Lord.'

I was also taught how we should not hinder that kind of flow:
[1] Stop being self conscious.
[2] Stop being a sanctified prig.

I realized that I had both these failures: While at worship I become self conscious and that prevents the intimate connection with Jesus. Also a self righteous attitude comes up in me and and the enemy swells it up and prevents my corporate whole heared worship .I asked the Lord to help me out of it.

The positive thing to do is to Live a life hid in Christ.
The life that is rightly related to God is as natural as breathing where ever it goes! [ That is what I am after I cried] The lives that have been of most blessing to others are those who were unconscious of it.

I remembered how simple I was some time back, thinking of pleasing God alone. Then people have remarked, what I said or did unconsciously, blessed them. But after a certain incident in my life, self consciousness crept in. I became concerned about peoples' opinions. I told the Lord all these things.

What we used to sing as children' Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right,' is so true. As I prayed,' Lord help me to be rightly connected to you all the time. Let my cup run over and bless others with your ioy, ' God's peace and Joy filled me.
I wish and pray that all who read this will be blessed.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A Much Needed Prayer For Today

I read Philippians I verses 9 to11 . It blessed me much.
" And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in judgment; that you may prove things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and with out offence, till the day of Christ ; Being filled with the fruit of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God".[kjv]

Isn't this what we need today ?

Paul's desire was that those believers be united in love. That love, he is referring to is not carnal love or lust. It is not based on feelings. It was to result in greater knowledge of Christ and discernment of what is right or wrong, good or bad, and vital or trival. It is based on what Christ has done for us. Christ is the Truth. What He taught is to be taken as our lifes' guide line.
As we grow in him, our hearts and minds gets renewed. Our knowledge and understanding affects our judgement and discernment. This in turn has an effect on our approval of the best for us or others. Unless we pray for these we cannot maintain our Christian morals or values.

I like to quote what Henry Drummond said about this love." He who loves will rejoice in the truth. He will rejoice not in what he has been taught to believe, not in this church doctrine or that, not in this ism or that ism, but in the truth. He will strive to get at facts. He will search for truth with a humble heart and unbiased mind and cherish whatever he finds.
Love for truth includes self restraint which refuses to take advantage of others' faults; the charity that delights not in exposing the weakness of others; the sincerity of purpose that endeavors to see things as thay are and rejices to find them better than suspicion feared."

I wished that all of us had this kind of love that sees the bright side .

I prayed the same prayer that Paul prayed for the Philippian believers, for all believers and me. I said,' Lord help us to grow in Christ, the truth, and in His love every day of our lives till Christ returns'.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The New Year

We entered the year 2009, singing:
Lord the light of your love is shining, in the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus Light of the World shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth you now bring us,
Shine on me.
Lord I come to your awesome presence, from the darkness into your radiance,
By the blood I may enter your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me.
As we gaze on your kingly likeness,
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here, may our life tell the story,
Shine on me.
The chorus says:
Shine Jesus shine, fill the land with the father's glory, Spirit blaze, set our hearts on fire.
River flow, flood the nations with Grace and Mercy,
SEND FORTH YOUR WORD LORD AND LET THER BE LIGHT.

Such a wealth of, much needed, meaning in the song! God will surely answer every one who sang it sincerely.

This morning the Lord reminded me, what ever fears that lurk in our hearts about the future, we cannot see, are just like shadows. They appear scary but they have life to harm us. The loving God who created you and me is almighty. He has a plan and a future for you ans me. He says in Jeremiah 29: 11, 'I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.' Imagine He thinks about you and me and has great plans for us!

I wish to share my conviction with you: God's word is the 'food' that gives us strength to go on and grow in Him. Feed on it daily. And remember the simple fact that, this great God who gave the promises and the word, is in us and with us.
If we build our life upon this truth, we will have no difficulty or fear in facing anything that comes our way in 2008!

Let anyone say anything to scare us, the Lord and His word has more power to see us through to victory.

May we be blessed with His peace mercy and grace May He make us a blessing to others through out this year!