This Week With Jesus

"Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart". Psalms 26:2 KJV I remember as a child in school, when we had to take the class test it was scary. there was fear, excitement and hope - hope that somehow I would pass that test and be rewarded by my father and mother with a chocolate. Years later, as a young man in graduation, taking an exam was again filled with trepidation and hope. Hope that I would clear it and move onto to a great future. When God puts us to the test, it can be scary, exciting, confusing, and, sometimes, altogether painful. There is warfare when God exposes something we are not aware of. The enemy comes to deceive us when we try to ignore or refuse to listen to the still small voice of God within us. But, as in childhood tests and exams, there is a hope which can motivate us. That hope is a life where we are mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually free - a life which God provides. Let us therefore, not argue or think to reason with...

Let week Pastor Rajiv talked about something called arrow prayers. Arrow prayers are short prayers that only take a few seconds to pray—they are “shot” up to God in a moment. They help to penetrate darkness or fear and direct our thoughts quickly to God, especially when we feel particularly weak, vulnerable, or scared. The devil hates these kinds of prayers because they reveal the faith and hope of the one praying them. Arrow Prayers remind us that prayer doesn’t need to be complicated to be powerful! We see an example of an arrow prayer in verse four of Nehemiah 2. As Nehemiah is walking toward the king, he quickly shoots off an arrow prayer. We don’t know what his prayer was, but it might have sounded like, “God of heaven, give me favor with the king,” or “God of heaven, protect me.” Another example is of Peter as he walks on the water towards Jesus, shifting his eyes from Jesus he starts sinking and cries our - "Lord Save me". Arrow prayers can form a sort of a conversatio...

God is there all the time. We need to look for His hand in all that has taken place in my life, I need to remember all he has done; be aware of times when we have been protected against all reason. We need to remember his "Rod and His stick". That is what will create our faith and keep strengthening it. It is equally important to remember those experiences. A good way to do that maybe to create a "legacy Bible" - A record of our own thoughts and experiences as we go through our daily devotional coupled with our daily experiences.  This is a great reminder not only to us but also a great gift for our children as they too will understand our spiritual journey in this material world. It is also a wonderful way to remember His blessings and answered prayers - ours as well as for others.  A way to ensure we are not like the nine who did not return to thank Jesus. 

Its Monday morning and as everyone gets busy with work at the workplace or at home, we get focused on the week ahead and the various jobs and transactions which are lined up. We get so focused on work we seldom see people or things around us; one is reminded of a popular story about a man who got marooned and prayed and hoped that God would save him. When a ship passed by, he waved it away as did he when a helicopter came. He kept waiting for God to save Him. Eventually he died and went to heaven where he questioned God on why he wasn't saved? God replied, " I sent you a ship and a helicopter, but you refused both. What more did you expect?" This is a far-fetched story, but the point is that sometimes God answers our prayers in unexpected ways and sometimes we have to take action to make things happen. We not only have to ask but also seek and knock. We have to be aware of things around us, so we recognize when God sends an answer.  Today, at the start of the week, is the...

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1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV "For the body does not consist of one member but of many". 1 John 4:7-8 ESV  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love". In the quaint town of Willow Creek, nestled amidst rolling hills, lived a solitary old watchmaker named Mr. Silas. He had a small shop on the main street, its windows adorned with intricate clocks, each ticking away with a rhythm that seemed to echo the quiet rhythm of his life. Mr. Silas was known for his meticulous craft, his hands, weathered by time, capable of repairing even the most delicate of mechanisms. Yet, he was often seen alone, his days spent in the quiet hum of his workshop, surrounded by gears and springs. One rainy afternoon, a young girl named Lily wandered into Mr. Silas' shop, her worn-out shoes squeaking on the wooden floor. Lily was new to Willow Creek, and as she expl...

 

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old war veteran, set out to raise funds for the UK's National Health Service by walking 100 laps around his garden. His initial goal was to raise £1,000, but his effort resonated with people worldwide, and he ultimately raised over £32 million. Captain Tom's determination and generosity inspired millions and provided much-needed support to healthcare workers. The Spanish Flue was another large scale disaster. The pandemic, which occurred from 1918 to 1920, was one of the deadliest in history, infecting around 500 million people and claiming at least 50 million lives worldwide. During this time, many nurses stepped up to provide palliative care, despite the high risk of infection. They worked tirelessly to ventilate rooms, administer remedies, and ensure patients were warm, nourished, and hydrated. Their efforts were crucial in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the flu. One notable example is the st...