A New Year Prayer: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths you would have me go this coming year. Show me your vision for me a d Guide me in your truth and teach me. for you are God my Savior, my provider, and my protector and my hope is in you all day long, every day. Your thoughts and plans for me will give me an expected end.

Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old and yet are new every morning, in your great faithfulness. So I do not lose hope.

Do not remember the sins of my youth, of past years gone by, and my rebellious ways, but forgive me my transgressions, according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.

Yet, even as I am your work in progress, help me, in all things shewing myself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and good speech.

Fill our homes with your presence, for me and my house, have and will, serve you. And in this coming year, and years after that, renew our strength and that of our children, and let them soar on wings like eagles; let them run and not grow weary, let them walk and not be faint. Let their future and thier hope not be cut off. As The New Year brings a new chapter in their life — they know that you will always be THE main character in their book.

"Certainly, the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly, God’s compassion isn’t through! They are renewed every morning and every year. Great is your faithfulness."

***This prayer is based on Psalm 25 4 to 7 and other Bible verses***.

I don't know about tomorrow: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

 

As we near the end of 2022, we cannot but recall the horrid years the world has spent since 2020, those dark Covid times. And every now and then, even now, we see that pandemic raising its ugly head. We cannot forget the mass graves in New York, the mass of funeral pyres in India, the daily death counts in China, Europe and the world, and the constant fear of death looming over our heads. No one in this world was spared loss, directly or indirectly.

Sadly, some did not survive. They went on ahead to prepare a place for us.

For those who did, that time was spent in fear and or heartbreak. 

Today, in retrospect, what do we feel and think? What have we learnt?

The past defines the future and There is one truth which has kept many of us going -

1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

The truth is that we all have come through the worst, with the Lord’s help.

Each one, anyone of us can confidently say this for our life. Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!”

If you are reading this today, you are blessed. And as we write this, we are blessed. We each need to fall on our knees and thank the Almighty, for hitherto He has helped us. Each day, He has protected us. Each day He has provided for us, Each day He has participated in our lives.

And because of this, as this year ends, we can look forward with confidence to 2023 in the surety of that one line – “hitherto our Lord has helped us”. Let us prepare ourselves for the New Year, looking back on His Blessings and looking forward to living with His help. 

 

 

 

It’s our 1st Anniversary and a very special reflection today.

 

It’s our 1st Anniversary! Yes, we are ONE year old.

It’s been a year since Pastor Rajiv and his team started sharing his messages and other reflections. We wish to thank our readers and contributors through the year and on this occasion share a special reflection.

In the Upper Room today, Terrie Hellard-Brown recounts a miraculous Christmas experience which we would like to share here -

"As worship leader in my church, I always planned the Christmas worship services with great care and excitement. One year I asked a soprano named Rebecca to sing “O Holy Night” during the last Sunday morning service before Christmas.

As the date approached, Rebecca called me and said, “I keep feeling like God wants me to sing ‘O Holy Night’ in French. Is that weird?”

I told her I thought it would be glorious, and that if God was leading her to do it, then she should. Our church had an English-speaking international congregation with 15 countries represented weekly. We were not aware of any attendees from French-speaking countries, but we both felt certain this was God’s plan. We had no idea just how beautiful God’s plan was.

That week in our Sunday service, a French businessman was depressed because he had to spend the holidays far from home. He was feeling discouraged and alone until Rebecca sang. As he listened to the hymn, he was flooded with the love of God and knew he was not alone. God encouraged and blessed that man through our simple act of obedience. That Christmas will forever remind me that Jesus truly is Immanuel, God with us".

This exemplifies the mission of This Week with Jesus. We will never know who will be touched by one of our reflections or messages. We will never know who needed to hear it or read it. Like Rebecca we are directed to write and share. Nothing is planned.

In the last 365 days, we have put out 172 posts and 24 videos of Pastor Rajiv with his message. Stats show more than 3600 readers, spread across America, India, France, Germany, Australia, Russia, Holland, Jamaica & the Caribbean, U.K., Sweden, Brazil, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Peru and a few more. Yet we have a long way to go. This world has 195 countries and 8 Billion people! 

As Pastor Rajiv shares his weekly message, other anonymous writers also share their reflections, thoughts and experiences. We are all stakeholders, and anyone can contribute, including you. You can write to us or simply share this with your friends and family. Together we can reach the world. Together we can reach that one person who needs the message. God can move the whole universe for us, even for just one of us. Even when we are going through the worst, rest assured, just like in the story, God moved a whole church because He cared about what this one man was going through, He cares for each one of us.

Today, we also have a New Year gift for you as well. We have made an app envelope for Android so that you don’t ever have to login or browse. You can download it here:

http://www.appsgeyser.com/15357662

Once again, we thank you and request you to continue your support by contributing your reflections and/or sharing in your network. God Bless you all and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

He Stooped to Conquer

People who are alive today, possibly are witnesses to the biggest tragedies the world has seen. The world wars, epidemics, nuclear accidents and the latest being Covid. During this covid time I doubt there will be a single person or family who has not lost a friend or a family member, near or far, or has not been affected in some way. But the very fact we are here today is because of the grace and mercy in our life. When one journey ends, another begins. For some maybe on their second journey, but for us we can only say "Father, thank you for your grace and mercy in our life today. Truly we have walked through the shadows of death, but your grace has been with us throughout"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".

As we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate that this day God came down to be with us. Today He stooped to conquer () so that we could have a life. 

So let us not only celebrate Christmas Eve but celebrate Life with Christ. A life of Joy, of Peace and of everlasting love. 

Give or Take: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

In continuation to our post of yesterday, another thought that comes to mind is - is Christmas all about giving or is it about receiving?

There is not one human in this wide world who has nothing to give. Everyone has something and everyone has time.

Time for children, for parents who live their life now through you, for the elderly who are lonely, for the sick who need some care. Each one of us has a need and each one has something to share.

Our needs are known to God. God has given us His gift. But what will we share? What present will we lay at the manger? 

If we come to him with gifts, then we put him in the position of a needy person, and we become the benefactors, which is incorrect. We live on His grace, His provisions and His protection. 

Therefore, the only gifts that we can bring Jesus are gifts of praise, thanks, longing, and neediness. And out time for His creation. 

The Gift: Our Daily reflection

Come Christmas, and the business of gifting starts with a bang. I know the excitement one gets when we receive a gift, but I have also seen the excitement and love of people when they give a heartfelt gift.

From their childhood, my children have loved to give something, from time to time. Maybe a piece of candy wrapped loosely, or a drawing made at school, some pastries when they were older. Thier excitement knew no bounds looking at our joy. Even today, they do the same things, surprise gifts, surprise visits and more. Their eyes still shine, and their delight is in seeing the joy of their parent.

As I sit thinking about them and the joy, they bring to us nearly every day, in terms of the love they share, I wonder what God would have felt when He gave us the priceless gift of His son' life? Was He excited that He would save mankind? If I am called upon to gift Him something, what would that be?

Today, the Advent season calls from us a spirit of generosity that is often not seen in our actions during the rest of the year. In fact, there is a song written about this that repeats in the refrain how nice it would be to have Christmas all year long. What else should be present in our lives throughout the year?

As Ms. Francis Taylor so rightly has written -

"Perhaps we need a spirit of forgiveness, a spirit of compassion, a refraining from judging others, a willingness to speak our truth without fear". 

The Wise Man: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.


1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

There's a story about an abbey in a forest where the monks were so happy they sang while they worked and prayed and people flocked to them. Then something changed, and the cook started fighting with the gardener and the shepherd with the houseman and the singing stopped and people stopped coming and the Abbot didn't know what to do. 

So he went to visit the wise man in the woods. He said to the Abbot, tell them the Lord is in their midst. He went back and told them what the wise man said.

The cook thought to himself, what if it's the gardener. The shepherd wondered if it was the houseman. Everyone began to treat everyone else as if he was the Lord. Soon the joy returned to the Abbey and the singing and then the people.

God is in our midst, today and every day and we need to bring back the joy of seeing Him in each of us. Then only will we have peace, love, joy and hope. 

Do you have a Vision: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

Proverbs 29:18

"Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law"

Every life is unique. Every person is different. Every profession needs a unique skill set and a unique personality.

As we prepare celebrate Christmas, maybe it's time to think about who we are and our personal vision for our life. As a person, who would I like to be? Where do I see myself? What does God want to accomplish through me? What tools or talents has He equipped me with?

Let's understand this. God has a vision for Every follower of Christ.

So, What does it mean to run with the vision God has given you? First of all, it means to see the picture that God sees for your life. Know the plan He has for you, and then go after it with full force, giving it everything you’ve got. It means to be committed to God’s call with your whole heart, not halfheartedly.

This also means we will need to o be able to overcome our personal vision and accept Gods vision. The question is how do we get to know Gods vision for ourselves?

There are three questions we can use to shape a God given vision -

A. What has been my past? Am I proud of it (legacy, including talents etc.) and what would I have done differently (regret) . What is a dream I dream of (ideal)

B. What have been the various influences or influencers who have helped me shape that dream (role models)

C. Is that dream, minus the regrets plus the legacy, in line with the life of Christ? Does it reflect Biblical principles?

Once we have answers to these questions, answers which have been well reflected on and reflect the truth about us, we can start building a vision. Do note that this vision will evolving over time. Becoming better and better, reducing the gap as we continue to reflect, maybe daily, on our progress towards it.

Example of a personal vision statement could be

“My vision is that people whose lives are limited by poverty, lack of education, or deficient training will experience the love of Jesus through me as I give them employment, encourage their education, and offer them training so they feel successful and are able to support a family.”

See, right there is a vision - where one is reflecting the light of Christ to make someone's life better, showing the world what a Christian life is all about.

This Christmas shall we reflect and create a Personal Vision for ourselves? 

For more examples and details, please do visit https://www.faithward.org/how-to-discover-gods-vision-for-your-life/

Between Christmas & Easter: Our Daily reflection

1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 John 2:3-6 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ...

In one week it will be Christmas Eve and then another Christmas day. Christ was born, Christ lived, and Christ died. Three important milestones. The world celebrates His birth and mourns His death, but do we celebrate the life of Christ?

Jesus life on earth is a picture of how God wants mankind to live. He was and is an example before us. World over we celebrate His birth and death, but true followers celebrate Him by following His life throughout the year.

BBreon Wells, in Life for Leaders, says - "The best way to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is to live how he lived every day. Jesus’ life was not comfortable, and sacrifice was the theme of his existence. Every action he did was on behalf of others. He was not building for himself, not trying to achieve success (after all, he was already successful), nor was he lording his status over anyone. At all points he was a servant, driven by his mission to reconcile humanity back to the Father. Those of us who are Christ followers must commemorate Christ’s life by living our lives totally for God, and not for ourselves. As disciples, let’s celebrate Christ correctly."

And that is the tough part. The truth is that following Him leads to difficult choices. Sometimes turning back may seem very appealing, or "practical" in our heads. Not only big things, small as well. As small as overlooking spending time with God because we have more important stuff to attend to. Or not paying attention to work that we may have been called upon to do so in our respective jobs. Making excuses, and so many more. 

We need to ensure that we are true followers in small and big things - integrity at our place of work, making tough decisions even at the cost of being unpopular or maligned, not gossiping, politicking and so much more. When we follow Jesus, we need to showcase Him in our lives and the way we live. 

The first step to ensuring the above is to sync up our plans with Gods plan for us and we shall cover this tomorrow.  

Peace: Pastor John Muhhamad

One of the central themes of the Sermon on the Mount, as well as the core message, is Christ's expectation that His followers be characterized by peace—not violence or war. In the famous opening to this great sermon known as the Beatitudes, Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Today, pastor John talks about Peace of Jesus Christ and what we can do about it. 

My Way or the Highway: Our Daily Reflection

Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

No matter how much we have experienced Gods hand in our lives, man's character is to primarily depend on himself/ herself for counsel and any work. Few are the people who are​​ 100% truly dependent on God, right from the start.

And then there are folks who decide their path and then pray to God to help them travel that road. They don't realize it may not be the same road that God has planned for them. Yet it is their way, their will, they choose until forced to turn back, causing much hurt, sadness and disappointment.

What we don't realize is that man's foreseeable future is limited to a moment. But God sees a lifetime and beyond.

So why is Gods way better? the Lord’s ways are the result of wise deliberation; they are proactive whereas Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, is reactive and is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but Gods nature does not change. He is the creator: no external forces can change His way. Whereas anything we do according to our own will has a force majeure clause attached.

Man’s ways are variable, but God’s ways are everlasting.

We need to stop demonstrating to God that it's my life and my decisions and my way. Faith and trust are an outcome of this simple, yet difficult truth.

God is second: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

Read Malachi Chapter 1

This passage summarizes the basic spiritual problem facing Israel: apathy. God has shown His love for them, but they don’t recognize it anymore. To show how He has loved them, Malachi points to the destruction of Edom. Israel has suffered, but God has kept them through those struggles. Edom, on the other hand, has been obliterated. (Like us) God's chosen people have sinned, but they haven't been destroyed, which is an act of God's love and mercy towards them.

Today we are pretty much the same. Just as He did in Moses' time, He leads us out of destruction to creation, both figuratively and literally. Think back and remember all those times we were on the brink but got pulled back. Above all God gave His only son for our sake, a gift of His love, we are about to celebrate. He was born as a sacrifice, to be sacrificed for us.

But, inspite of all this, does He take priority? Do we walk with Him and talk with Him, just as it was intended?

Do we bring the best as a sacrifice to God? Or do we hold back. Do we offer chicken roast to a hungry stranger or offer stale vegetables. Do we offer our tithe prior to expenses or offer it post expenses, giving it the second place. Who lives in the altar of our hearts? Jesus or we ourselves?

As we celebrate Christmas with Christmas dinners and celebrations, lets be sure to invite the birthday child to the party, and not relegate him to second place. He stands at the door and knocks. Let Him in this Christmas. 

After all, it's His birthday.

The name "Malachi" literally means "My Messenger," so this might not be the name of a specific person. The choice of this name is interesting, for several reasons. First, the priests were meant to be the messengers of God to the people. As this chapter explains, they are failing in that regard. So, for the message to come from God's self-titled "messenger" highlights the difference between those who do and do not follow God's will.

Second, this will be the last prophetic lesson given to Israel for four centuries. After that will come John the Baptist, the "messenger" predicted in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. This long period of quiet is bracketed on both ends by people specifically referred to as God's messengers.

This verse also begins with an interesting word, mas'sa, translated as an "oracle" or "burden." The Hebrew word implies the idea of "raising" something, as one would raise an alarm. Or, of "carrying" something. This is a word often used in Old Testament prophecies (Habakkuk 1:1; Nahum 1:1; Isaiah 13:1). Typically, this word is used to set up a message that is threatening or dangerous (Zechariah 9:1; Isaiah 14:28).

Chapter Summary

​How do you spend your money?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Mark Chapter 10 42- 44

Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. 43 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. 44 Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all....

Money is the mechanism with which we satisfy needs and wants. One can have just enough or can have it over the top. One can also have so much you don't know what to do with it.

Money is so important to us that most people are in a race to earn money, whether as individuals or organisations. If you don't earn in your prime, you are considered a failure.

It is tempting to get caught in the race to become wealthy and successful – and when we do, somewhere pride comes in as well, maybe through our lifestyle or possessions. That pride is almost always based on a belief that we have achieved what we have, through our hard work, intelligence and knowledge. These days specially, with social media replacing physical interaction and extending reach, it is very easy to show off a holiday, or a possession or an achievement. Some people even show where they are- "on a flight to xyz" or "at so and so hotel" etc. Etc.

Think about who gave us that intelligence or knowledge to achieve? Who made us able bodied? Who gave us opportunities? As believers, do we know and realize that if we gain riches, it is only because God has given us the ability to gain riches.

If we believe and understand this, that belief will influence how we spend that money as well. Will we spend it on earthly possessions, holidays, clothes etc., which show the world how well I am doing, or do we spend it only on our needs and look to use the rest to make a difference in someone's life? Maybe support someone's education, or feed someone who is hungry or enable someone to earn a livelihood.

When we understand everything, we've made comes from God, including our life itself, it makes a difference how we spend our money and our time and how we live our lives. This does not mean we don't enjoy the blessing God has provided, but we don't indulge. 

We remain humble and grounded to be connected to people who need you.

Between Desire and Reality: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

It is part of a human mind to desire and make plans to fulfil that desire. We build for ourselves a dream. But not every dream becomes a reality as we all know.

I am sure A pregnant Mary never expected to birth Jesus in a Manger. At the same time, we would not expect a king, and that too a heavenly king to be born in a stable.

Just as the disciples expected Christ to be a king on earth and build His kingdom where they all would be His "team". I am sure disappointment ran deep in their minds.

The problem is sometimes we create our own heartbreaks through expectations. just as the disciples did. 

Disappointments dot our lives — failed business ventures, broken relationships, lost loved ones, rejected job applications, unanswered prayers. When things do not go as we expect, we usually face dejection or worse, depression. 

But this is and can be also an opportunity. 

Firstly, we can choose to learn how to manage an expectation. It's simple. Pray it as a request to God and leave the rest to Him. If it is for our good, it will happen. When we do this, it shifts the burden of the responsibility of achievement, to blessings according to Gods will for us.

Second, we can choose to learn to trust the eternal King who was born in a stable. God is always with us. Remember, a lowly stable sheltered a king. Nothing is beyond God, including our dreams and provisions. Trusting God does not only mean He will deliver on our "dream" request. It also means that when we don't receive, which also means that our "trust" relationship does not end but deepens because we trust Him to provide a solution best for us.

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God" . James 4:2

it is that simple!

Know Joy. Show Joy: Pastor Rajiv's Midweek Message

Christmas is not about stress but about joy. But are we really joyful or are stressed with the shopping, Christmas eve dinner planning, gifting decisions etc. Christmas is not only supposed to be all about spending time with family and friends, eating good food, and sharing gifts, there are many things one can do to create joy in us as well as around us.

The Mind of God: By Pastor Francis Taylor

Who knows the mind of God.

By Francis Taylor.

As published in   KJV Daily Devotional

If we had any understanding of the mind of God, we wouldn't be so surprised when things happen that we can't comprehend. 

I have a feeling that the question we ask God the most is, "Why?" Why this disaster, why do people kill, why did the tornado take my house and none of the others on the street? Why me? Why didn't you stop/prevent that from happening? Even when we know that it was not God who caused whatever it is we're questioning, we question! 

If you're anything like me, you have a list of things you want answers to when you meet God face to face. 

I have sometimes heard it said that life is like a tapestry. We only see the bottom of the tapestry, the side with all the crisscrosses of threads and the hanging pieces. God sees the top side, the finished product. We don't know why things happen the way they do, and we never will. What is most important is that we trust in God, that we trust God, that we have faith. This is what gets us through the difficult times that we don't understand. 

Faith is also what keeps us from taking credit for the good things that happen or thinking that we are just lucky. God's hand is in everything. He can't prevent the bad things that people do as he has given us free will and sometimes, we use it in the wrong direction. Then, God gets us through it. 

In many ways the problems with weather are human's fault as well, as we have not taken good care of the planet we were entrusted with. When we trust God, we can have peace of mind even in the bad times and know that one day we will see what God sees and our questions will be answered.

The 4th Wise Man: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Long ago in the late 1800s a man named Eric Van Dyke wrote a short story about a "fourth" wise man (accepting the tradition that the Magi numbered three), a priest of the Magi named Artaban, one of the Medes from Persia.

Like the other Magi, he sees signs in the heavens proclaiming that a King has been born among the Jews. Like them, he sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give as gifts to the child - a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price".

However, he stops along the way to help a dying man, which makes him late to meet with the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed the caravan, and he can't cross the desert with only a horse, he is forced to sell one of his treasures in order to buy the camels and supplies necessary for the trip. He then commences his journey but arrives in Bethlehem too late to see the child, whose parents have fled to Egypt. He saves the life of another child at the price of another one of his treasures.

He then travels to Egypt and to many other countries, searching for Jesus for many years and performing acts of charity along the way. After 33 years, Artaban is still a pilgrim, and a seeker after light. Artaban arrives in Jerusalem just in time for the crucifixion of Jesus. He spends his last treasure, the pearl, to ransom a young woman from being sold into slavery. He is then struck in the head by a falling roof tile and is about to die, having failed in his quest to find Jesus, but having done much good through charitable works. A voice tells him "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)[4] He dies in a calm radiance of wonder and joy. His treasures were accepted, and the Other Wise Man found his King.

This is a story but isn't the fourth wise man like us? We want to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth but miss the bus so many times. However, as the wise man did, we can still use our time to be of service to our Lord, using the gifts we have, to lay at His feet, in His service.

Give Peace a chance: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Yesterday we lit the 2nd candle of advent, the candle of peace, reminding us that with the birth of Jesus Christ, God gave us the road to peace.

One of the central themes of the Sermon on the Mount is Christ's expectation that His followers be characterized by peace—not violence or war. In the famous opening to this great sermon known as the Beatitudes, Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

One can't think of a better practical demonstration of peace than of a time in the darkest moments of modern history: I am talking of World War I.

World War I, also known as the Great War, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918. During the conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan and the United States (the Allied Powers). Thanks to new military technologies and the horrors of trench warfare, World War I saw unprecedented levels of carnage and destruction. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

Yet in these four years, we demonstrated commitment to peace on Christmas of 1914, when a truce was called from Christmas Eve through Christmas, recognizing the fact that what we were doing was not Gods will. Imagine, one day in 1465 days ! 

Stephen Nichols describes that day so vividly-

"As darkness settled over the front like a blanket, the sound of exploding shells and the rat-tat-tat of gunfire faded. Faint carols, in French or English voices on one side and in German voices on the other, rose to fill the silence of the night.

By morning, soldiers, at first hesitantly, began filing out of the maze of trenches into the dreaded and parched soil of No Man's Land. There was more singing. Gifts of rations and cigarettes were exchanged. Family photos were passed around. Soccer balls appeared. Up and down the Western Front, soldiers, who only hours before had been locked in deathly combat, now faced off in soccer games.

For one brief but entirely remarkable day, there was truly peace on earth. Some have called the Christmas Truce of 1914 “the Miracle on the Western Front.”

Anxious to print some good news, The Times of London reported on the events of the Christmas Truce. Here’s a line from the diary of a German infantryman: “The English brought a soccer ball from the trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued. How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it." Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.

Today, we are in an era where countries are constantly at war with each other, whether economic or military. People hating other people, religious antagonism, race, color, nationality and so on.

In the words of John Lennon, we need to give peace a chance. And the decision to do that is not a country's or a nation but all the people, like you and me. We need to demonstrate peace to everyone around us. Slandering, backbiting, fighting, complaining, jealousy needs to stop. Peace will grow upwards, not downwards. 

Just lighting a candle won't make the cut for sure. We light the candle in faith. But faith without action is dead. Heed the words of James

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14–17).

Today let us do our bit: Rise above our unpeaceful human traits and adopt the peace of Christ which He left us.

I am Hungry : Our Daily Reflections

"Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others". Mark 12:43

We have just about finished Thanksgiving with the Turkey et all. And have entered into Dec to prepare for the 24th Dinner/supper. 

While we get into the festive spirit, what about all those people who don't know where their next meal is coming from? 

As followers of The Christ, it is our bounden duty to help those who need our strength. Why?

Because every man and woman is a creation and extension of God. So do we respond when someone reaches out or do we ignore the cry for help. 

Some days ago, I wondered as to what our reaction is going to be when a poor hungry man comes to our door asking for food. 

In our refrigerator there is a fresh chicken roast, vegetables as well as some left-over food from three days ago. Will we offer that person the chicken roast or will we dump the 3 days old left overs on him? Let's answer this question in all honesty!

If Jesus had come home that day would we not have offered the chicken roast and much more? The question is did we see Jesus in him that day? Did we see Jesus in him or did we see someone who had to be fed with just about anything, but definitely not roast chicken.

It's not really about chicken, it's about anything we are called upon to give. Our time, knowledge, money, food etc. If we truly believe this verse from Matthew chapter 25 - verses 35 and  36, we would have treated that hungry man with equality and sat him down with us and offered him the best we have. 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,(A) 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me,(B) I was sick and you looked after me,(C) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

These verses not only tell us our duty, but something much beyond that. We have a two dimensional relationship with God, vertical (man to God) and horizontal (man to man),  because in the next verse Jesus says in verse 40-

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

We should consider it our bounden duty to God, to care for our fellow men with a open heart, not grudging, nor boasting but in humility, treating each one as an extension of God Himself,  because in any case what we have is God given which we are called upon to share, not to  hoard. 

God Bless all this Christmas season. 

5 Loaves & 2 Fish: Our Daily Reflection

John 6 verses 1-15: The feeding of the multitude

We are all familiar with the story of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, which fed 5000 hungry people. It's a wonderful story and a fantastic miracle. 

Yet, have we ever wondered about the boy who gave his up lunch of the loaves and the fish? What must he be thinking when he did? He obviously realized his resources were not enough to feed 5000 so, what made him do it? 

On the other hand, Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and how He would feed these people, though the disciples expressed doubts. But Jesus was only testing them as we learn in ver 6.

But what about the boy?

A. He was ready to share what God had provided

B. He had confidence in Jesus

C. Deep in his heart he probably knew Jesus would do something to multiply the food. And He did.

So many times, in our lives we come across someone who needs our help but what we can do is too little. So, we stop short and give up, thinking, what I have is too small to help this person. 

But with the confidence of the little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish, and prayer, we can make that little bit we have, to multiply through God and make a difference. We must realize though that it is not we who multiply blessings but God, so we need to have the confidence in Him. 

Today, can we learn a lesson form that little boy and be ready to share a little, with prayer, depending on God to multiply it and make a big difference.

Hope: Pastor John Muhamad's Mid-Week Message

 

PROVISION, PROTECTION AND PARTICIPATION.: Our Daily Reflection

Why is it important to give thanks? 

Human beings are prone to covetousness, and we tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things, we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God. We can have thankful hearts toward God even when we do not feel thankful for the circumstance because there is a lot to be thankful for. 

When we make thanksgiving a lifestyle, we don't have to wait for the third Thursday of November but make it daily, hourly or transactional. It creates confidence in the future, strength to face challenges and overall happiness.

The Bible clearly instructs Christians to fix our eyes on the Heavenly Father, the true source of every good thing in our lives. He is the One who graciously gives us “good things” of all kinds, and our natural response should be thank Him specifically.

An interesting aspect is - should we thank God for failure? Yes. Even failure, because out of failure emerges learning and out of learning comes a solution and strength the next time we face it. More importantly, the failure we see maybe part of Gods plan to give us some much more than we expected.

The best part is we don't need to reserve a time or place. We can do it as we sit in the train or bus, or when we wake up and spend some blissful moments in a cozy bed or anytime and anywhere.

I like to call this a triple P approach - PROVISION, PROTECTION AND PARTICIPATION.

Thank Him for 

Provision for our or someone else's daily needs or special needs.

Protection - from evil, like disease, accidents, enemies, etc.

Participation by the Father in our lives. He loves us and wants to be part of His children's lives (just as we do with our children), wants to talk to us, hear us, commune with us. If we let Him.

After all, if a lifestyle of thanksgiving was good enough for a King, it is good enough for us.

Psalm 103

2 Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s...

Therefore ...

Psalm 50:14-15

14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,

fulfill your vows to the Most High,

15 and call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

Hope: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

Today is the first Sunday of the advent and which is dedicated to hope.

Our religion is based on faith and hope. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". So faith is pretty much clear but what is hope?

Hope is always in the future tense. It could be immediate, intermediate or long term. "Give us this day our daily bread", a hope in the immediate future of fulfilment of our immediate needs, our wellness and health and the wellbeing of family and friends. 

But we must keep in mind that the destination of a follower is beyond this world and hence that hope we have extends into a life beyond what we have, to a New World, established by the Son, described so vividly in Revelations. The “city of the living God,” will be a spectacular place according to God’s perfect design. And, as one writer put it, "the heavenly Jerusalem will be “a place of unimagined blessing.” 

Where All Nations and People Will Worship Jesus - Revelation 7:9-10, and where Heaven Will Be Filled with Peace, Joy, and Praise - Revelation 7:15-17. Where we will be united with loved ones, where no disease or sadness will exist and "The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the LORD. Isaiah 65:25 (NASB). 

Therefore, our hope is that after our physical death, we will experience all of this.

Today our hope may be for a job, children or a life partner or wellness; but the larger picture is beyond the apparent; my hope is that one day I will be reunited with my wife, my children, my brother and sisters, my parents, my grandparents and all those whom I have loved and known; my hope is the peace and rest I will experience in my Fathers mansion with Jesus Christ. 

All this I can hope for because of a Jesus Christ, who is the bridge to my relationship with God and citizenship in Heaven. 

I therefore, hope and believe that the Biblical prophecies will become a reality and that we will prevail with Jesus. With this hope we look forward to the birth of Jesus Christ, who made it all possible. 

4 Faithful Sayings: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

It is a faithful saying. — 2 Timothy 2:11

Paul has four of these “faithful sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptations, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God. 

The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” Here it affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation — of time and of eternity. 

The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying—If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him”; this shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” 

and the fourth is in Titus 3:3, “This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” This last one sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. 

These sayings or statements are interconnected. They are more like principles of our beliefs.  Let these principles be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction so, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. 

we can sum these up simply as - Christ gave us free grace, being doubly blessed in this life and the next, because having suffered with Christ we will also reign with Him and meanwhile performing the good works we are called to do. 

Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house.

Giving is part of "Thanksgiving" : Pastor Rajiv's Reflection

As Thanksgiving approaches, we may consider submitting a part of our blessing to God, which, in todays world which is tantamount to sharing His Blessings with others as well. Pastor Rajiv talks about the importance and more, of sharing God's Blessings with others who may need what we will share. 

Lets us thank the Almighty for deliverance from a pandemic which hit the world after a century; for our deliverance from it and other evils which may have befallen. From hunger, as even today 345 Million People Are in Hunger Crisis while the haves waste food (40% of the food produced in America is never eaten and. if just half of the food waste worldwide were recovered, we could end World Hunger). 

In this context and background, Pastor Rajiv's message is ever so important. 

 

The Original Thanksgiving: Our Daily Reflections

Nehemiah 12:43

43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Over a period of time, maybe the past year, we all have worried about various issues that may have surrounded us. I can recall no bigger terror as when Covid surrounded us, invaded homes, offices, shops and families. I have seen families wiped out, destroyed. People falling like flies. Businesses were decimated and collapsed. Or maybe the terror of financial losses, business losses, homes destroyed and so much more evil that surrounds us.

Yes, we all have experienced that terror.

Much like the terror that the Israelites may have felt when Moses led them out of Egypt and as they were chased by Pharaoh and his men.

And at the end of it all, we can only be thankful to God we are saved. But how do we show that we are truly thankful? Or is it just a lip service. Is it just a day of the "observed Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner"?

Looking to the Bible, in what may be the first ever Thanksgiving, we read what Moses instructed the people of Israel to do, in observation of Thanksgiving -

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

1 Once you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and are settled there, (Upon receiving this “inheritance” which could be anything – food, clothing, shelter, new homes, material possessions, spiritual possessions, protection, good health and so on…)

2 take some of the early produce of the fertile ground that you have harvested from the land the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the location the LORD your God selects for his name to reside (take a portion of our blessing or a token thereof and take it to your church since the Church is God’s)

3 Go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him: “I am declaring right now before the LORD my God that I have indeed arrived in the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” (Openly Declare the Blessing that we have received from God)

4 The priest will then take the basket from you and place it before the LORD your God’s altar (Offer our token to the Lord – maybe share it with the lesser fortunate after we have offered it to God. It could even be a prayer if we have nothing else)

5 Then you should solemnly state before the LORD your God: “My father was a starving Aramean. He went down to Egypt, living as an immigrant there with few family members, but that is where he became a great nation, mighty and numerous. (In all sincerity, declare how God’s blessing helped each one)

6 The Egyptians treated us terribly, oppressing us and forcing hard labour on us (Think of all that could have gone wrong if the Lord had not intervened)

7 So we cried out for help to the LORD, our ancestors’ God. The LORD heard our call. God saw our misery, our trouble, and our oppression. ( Recall how we prayed and pleaded with God to spare us, and how He responded with compassion)

8 The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with awesome power, and with signs and wonders. (Recall how God carried us in the palm of His hand)

9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land—a land full of milk and honey. (and finally delivered us from our trouble and terror, and blessed us over and beyond)

10 So now I am bringing the early produce of the fertile ground that you, LORD, have given me.” Set the produce before the LORD your God, bowing down before the LORD your God. (And now, therefore we offer this token of our gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord)

11 Then celebrate all the good things the LORD your God has done for you and your family—each one of you along with the Levites and the immigrants who are among you. (Celebrate our blessing with friends, family, Neighbours etc)

Yes, the practise of Thanksgiving did not start in 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag shared an autumn harvest feast and which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. Thanksgiving started much before that as we have seen.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, can we celebrate it as was prescribed Biblically by Moses (Prescribed and not just described)? Or will we just carve that same old Turkey once again.

Moses said, “[God] brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” - Deuteronomy 26:9-10 (NIV)

Nehemiah 12:43

In the midst of my worry, my pastor read Deuteronomy 26 before our church’s offering, and I was struck by its perspective. Many Bible passages about tithing assure us that God will provide. In this passage, the giver declares what God has already done.

As I think about this change in perspective, I realize that God has done great things in my life. God is my Creator and Redeemer, so I can trust that God’s provision will extend into the future. God has called me into full-time ministry. Of this, I am certain. And because God called me, God will provide.

Of course, I have financial needs. But God has been and will be faithful. When I declare how the Almighty has already provided, my heart finds certainty in an uncertain time.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear God, help us to remember how you have provided for us in the past and to trust you with the future. Bless our tithes so that they may bless others. Amen.

LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL

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Grieve Not the Spirit : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

All that we have must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to us through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of us in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in us, yet it lies dormant except he works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure.

It is important for us to better understand the person of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people think of the Holy Spirit as more of an “It” than a “Him.” But according to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is not only God, but He has a will, a personality, and can even be offended!

One of the places in Scripture where we read about grieving the Holy Spirit is in Ephesians 4:29-32. The apostle Paul writes:

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not grieve God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live…. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

We need to understand that the Holy Spirit is part of God, embedded into each one of us.  

He is what Jesus left behind to be with us. He is God in us.

If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.”

The Possibility of the Impossible: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Read: Exodus 2 Verses 1 to 10. 

Most times familiarity breeds a state of mindless recitation leading to zero consciousness. The story of Moses in the Bible has been heard so many times we probably cease to think about it anymore. But pause here to examine the scenario:

Moses is born in a scenario, where the king has passed a judgment to kill every male Jewish child. He is therefore destined to be put to death. He is floated into the river as a desperate attempt by his mother to save him. She probably thought it was better for the river to take him than the violent death he faced. The river, instead of swallowing him as it should have, floats him to the kings' daughter swimming nearby, and who is attracted to the baby. She protects him and brings him up and finally Moses saves and leads his people, according to Gods will and wish, out of Egypt to a new land.

Can you see the possibilities of the impossible? That Moses should have escaped Pharaoh's diktat: Impossible. 

That he was not drowned: next to impossible. 

That of all people, Pharaoh's daughter funds him. Incredible. 

That the king's daughter goes against her father and protects an adopts him: Impossible.

Yet, out of all these impossible situations, God brought Moses to finally achieve the purpose God had for him. The appearance of Pharaoh’s daughter and her discovery of the baby were not mere coincidences; they were acts of God, part of an amazing plan to save Moses.

It's the same God who is working in our lives today. He chose us before we were born (Isiaah 49:1) so we are not an accident. He has a purpose for us and will make the seemingly impossible, to be possible to achieve that purpose.

We can never be in a worse position than Moses, yet in every adverse situation we find ourselves in, be sure God will use that same situation to turn our life around.

Moses’ story encourages us to think of all the acts of God in our own lives. It invites us to ponder if and how we show appreciation for God’s saving grace upon our lives and the lives of our loved ones. How do we explain God’s love for us and God’s work of salvation through Jesus Christ? The amazing acts of God are limitless in the Bible but more importantly in our own lives.

So, no matter how impossible it may seem, pray foolishly for God to turn it around, and in our foolishness God will listen. He will act. And He will make the impossible to become possible.