Jen Tan: Where is God in the Cancer?

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

In our association with Cancer Companions, a Global Cancer prayer support organisation, we have come across so many suffering with this dreaded illness. The overarching emotion is one of dread - for everyone involved and sometimes a fatalistic attitude for those suffering. The overriding question is " why me? I pray, I believe in God, what sin have I committed to suffer? Why do I have to suffer?

Cancer is not from God. Cancer is a tool of Satan to swing our mind away from God. Even if we are non-believers, it has the potential to trap us into despair and hopelessness which Satan wants us to believe.

Where is God in all this? He is the miracle provider. The healer. Our shield and buckler.

As prayer partners, we ourselves have seen and are the beneficiary of so many miracles every day. But the one top observation we have is this: While we expect or demand in our prayers that the Cancer disappear, we must remember God does not work like that.

He will not gloriously produce a miracle like healing. He does heal but not in the way we expect. Like in the quoted verse, He will speak healing in the silence, in an unnoticeable whisper. He will orchestrate the healing through His angels, people like you and me, doctors, nurses, correct medications, through grace to bear the emotional and mental havoc and the strength to bear the side effects. Like with Jonah, God did not stop the crew throwing him overboard, but he did save Jonah: by using a fish! Healing will not be instantaneous and painless - but His grace and power help us through. All this through His angels on earth who pray for us, who provide for us and who administer to our needs - medical, emotional and spiritual. People like you and me. 

Jen Tan speaks from her experience when she says- 

"Reading the Bible has changed my perspective on what an honorable life truly is. Before I started reading it, my life was centered around myself - my job, my earnings, my home, what I could accumulate, my hobbies, my family and my friends. Everything revolved around "me" and "mine". I measured life by what I could gain, control or enjoy.

This transformation does not happen overnight. It is a daily commitment to surrender and trust God even when we do not fully understand His plans and allowing him to guide us through our journey. I am learning to fully rely on him and that His will is not something to be feared, but something good, pleasing, and perfect, even in the midst of challenges".

So where is God in my cancer? In my trust of His word!

In the context of Psalm 91 and other scriptures, here is where God is found during such a difficult journey:  He is the "Secret Place of the Most High," a spiritual refuge where your soul can rest even when your body is weary. In addition, depending on one's situation, He caters to different needs as we see below: 

1. Presence in the Shadow: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Not an Observer, but a Companion: He is not standing at the edge of the valley waiting for you to get out; He is walking the dark path alongside you, providing "rod and staff" for comfort and support.

2. He is in the Tears and the Brokenness (Psalm 34:18) "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle." God is so present in your cancer that He notices every tear shed in a hospital room or in the quiet of the night.

3. He is Your Strength When Yours Fails (Isaiah 41:10)

When treatments take your physical strength, the Bible points to a different source of power.

The Right Hand: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Sustaining Power: He is the one "upholding" you, meaning when you feel you can no longer stand on your own, His presence becomes the floor beneath your feet.

5. He is the "Great Physician" and the Comforter (Matthew 11:28)

In summary: According to these verses, God is not absent from your cancer. He is in the hospital room, He is in the science of the medicine, He is in the hands of the caregivers, and most importantly, He is "under whose wings you have come to take refuge" [Psalm 91:4].

The Strategy of the Mountain.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

Matthew 14:23 (KJV)

Have you ever noticed how a phone battery drains faster when too many apps are running in the background? 

Our souls work the same way. We spend our days "running apps"— responding to demands, managing family, and navigating the noise of the crowd—until our internal "charge" is nearly gone. Many believers live in a state of chronic spiritual exhaustion because they have forgotten the strategy of the mountain. Jesus understood that public effectiveness is birthed in private stillness. He didn't just pray when He was in trouble; He retreated to pray so He could stay in tune with the Father. Solitude isn't about being lonely; it’s about being "apart" long enough for the dust of the world to settle so you can see clearly again. When you intentionally "send the multitudes away," you are protecting the most valuable thing you own: your connection to the Source.

Friends, your strength is renewed in the quietness of the secret place; do not neglect the "mountain apart" for the busyness of the plain. Spiritual maturity is found in the believer who recognizes that their soul needs intervals of silence to remain sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. As you shut out the voices of men, you open your heart to the counsel of God. Yield your schedule to the necessity of solitude today, and watch how He restores your soul and sharpens your vision. Let your life be anchored in the depth of His presence.

Prayer point: Heavenly Father, teach me the beauty and the power of being alone with You. Forgive me for being consumed by the noise and the crowds of this life. Restore my soul in the quietness of Your love and give me fresh strength for the journey ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright @Watchdis Media

The Mantra of Success: Pastor Rajiv

 

The mantra of success today is everything we gain in life is through hard work and self discipline right?

And that is why the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith can be a challenge for works-oriented people. 

Pastor Rajiv's message this morning is a message of introspection to answer the question:   are we faith-oriented people or are we works-oriented people. 

Notice: 

Pastor Rajiv is shortly going to start a weekly podcast series of his messages. We shall keep you informed so please watch this space!

An Existential Inquiry

"I will be their God and they will be my people"

Humanity has long grappled with an existential "Telos"—a question of ultimate ends. We ask not only what will become of the physical cosmos, but where we, as individuals and a community, sit within the divine architecture of time. When we turn to Holy Scripture, we find that history is not a series of random events, but a purposeful progression toward a specific resolution.

The Apocalypse as Rebirth: Beyond Judgment

While the Book of Revelation is often colloquially reduced to a manifesto of divine judgment, a deeper theological exegesis reveals a more profound narrative: the Ontological Transition. It depicts the passing away of the statu quo—the "old-world order" corrupted by sin—and the emergence of the New Jerusalem, uncorrupted and designed to be incorruptible. This is not merely the destruction of the earth, but its radical "Restoration." Revelation paints a picture of a world where the boundary between the Divine and the Human is finally dissolved.

The Covenant Formula: "I Will Be Their God"

The linchpin of this entire biblical narrative is a recurring theological motif known as the Covenant Formula: "I will be their God, and they shall be my people." This phrase is the "Golden Thread" of Scripture, appearing in the foundational promises of Genesis (17:7), the liberation of Exodus (6:7), the internal transformation of Jeremiah’s New Covenant (31:33), and finally, the climactic vision of Revelation (21:3).

Key Theological Pillars of the Formula:

Covenantal Intimacy: This is not a legalistic contract, but a formal, binding, and intimate bond—often interpreted through the lens of a "Sacred Marriage" (Hosea 2).

Universal Inclusion: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Particulate covenant (with Israel) is expanded into a Universal covenant. The "Citizenship" of the New World is offered to all who respond in faith to the "Christ-Event."

Divine Immanence: The formula guarantees "The Presence." It signifies that God is no longer a distant observer but an indwelling companion, walking among His creation as originally intended in Eden.

The Citizen-Mission: Populating the New World

Theologically, we must conclude that if a "New World" is emerging, it requires a "New Humanity." Jesus Christ, the Architect of this New Creation, did not leave the population of this Kingdom to chance. He issued the Great Commission—a divine mandate that transforms every believer into a "Recruitment Agent" for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Stewardship of Talent and Character

Our responsibility is twofold:

Missional Stewardship: Every gift—whether it be intellectual, financial, or creative—is "Kingdom Capital." We are called to invest these talents into the "Great Work" of populating the New World by sharing the Message of Christ.

The Christ-Model (Imitatio Christi): The most potent tool for mission is not our words, but our "Ontological Witness"—the way we live. By modeling our lives after the character of Jesus, we provide a visible preview of "New World Citizenship" to a broken world. We live today according to the laws of the world that is coming, so that others may be drawn into that same hope.

Friends, history is moving toward a Covenantal Fulfillment. We are not merely observers of the end of the world; we are active participants in the birth of a new one. Through our faith and our imitation of Christ, we secure our citizenship and invite the world to join us in the New Jerusalem.

I will be their God, and they shall be my people. — 2 Corinthians 6:16

What a sweet title: “My people!” What a cheering revelation: “Their God!” How much of meaning is couched in those two words, “My people!” Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and he reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom he hath chosen, whom he hath purchased to himself, he saith what he saith not of others—“My people.” In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the “Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” All the nations upon earth are his; the whole world is in his power; yet are his people, his chosen, more especially his possession; for he has done more for them than others; he has bought them with his blood; he has brought them nigh to himself; he has set his great heart upon them; he has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, “My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with thee when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world?” Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus’ garments, and say, “My Christ”? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, “My people;” for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of his choice, accepted in his beloved Son.

Monday Reset: The Prudent Check

"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps."

Proverbs 14:15

In a world that moves at the speed of a notification, we are constantly bombarded with "facts," urgent requests, and split-second opportunities. The temptation is to react instantly—to believe the first report we hear or to say "yes" before we’ve weighed the cost.

Proverbs 14:15 draws a sharp contrast between two ways of living:

1. The Simple Path: This isn't about a lack of intelligence, but a lack of boundaries. It is a life lived on "autopilot," where we let external noise dictate our internal direction. When we believe everything without testing it, we surrender our agency to whoever speaks the loudest.

2. The Prudent Path: The "prudent" person isn't cynical, but they are intentional. They understand that every decision—no matter how small—is a seed planted for the future. They "give thought to their steps," meaning they slow down long enough to ask: Is this true? Is this wise? Where does this lead?

The "Reset" Strategy

As you start your week, don't just rush into your "to-do" list. Apply the Prudent Check:

Audit Your Information: Before reacting to a stressful email or a piece of news, verify the source. Don’t let unexamined "facts" rob you of your peace.

Pause Before the Pivot: If a new project or demand arises today, don't commit immediately. Give yourself the space to "give thought" to how it aligns with your long-term goals.

Walk, Don't Run: Haste is often the enemy of wisdom. True progress is measured by the quality of your steps, not just the speed of your stride.

Ask for a  discerning heart this week; to filter the noise around and to seek the truth before taking action. Walk with intention rather than impulse. Let your steps be guided by His wisdom so that you may move with confidence and clarity. 

Focus Question for the Day

What is one area of my life right now where I have been moving on "autopilot" instead of giving thought to my steps?

Compose:

New Message

Sabbath Vespers

                                               

(Dear Readers, we bring our Sabbath prayers and requests to you for inclusion of people who need you to pray for them. We have seen the power of prayer working in the lives of a number of these people for whom you have prayed in the past and we earnestly request you all to continue). 

Gracious and Eternal Creator, As the sun sets and the shadows lengthen, we pause at the threshold of Your holy Sabbath. We lay down the tools of our labor, the anxieties of our hearts, and the burdens of a week filled with striving. In this golden hour of Vespers, we welcome Your peace that passes all understanding.

Lord, we lift up our brothers and sisters in this community. For the weary: Grant them the deep, restorative sleep that only You can provide. For the lonely: Let them feel the warmth of Your presence and the embrace of Your spiritual family. 

For the sick and suffering: Be the Great Physician; bring healing to their bodies and quiet to their minds.

For the World

For those in conflict: We pray for the "Sabbath of Peace" to fall upon war-torn lands.

We pray for the forgiveness of our sins, both in omission and commission and while we are not worthy, we look to Jesus for this salvation. 

As we enter these sacred hours, sanctify our thoughts and our conversations. May this Sabbath be a foretaste of the eternal rest promised to Your people. Let our hearts be a sanctuary where Your Spirit dwells undisturbed.

As the sun sets, we lay down our burdens and pick up His peace. 

We thank you for the healing you have provided Samira, Joan and Lisa's daughter who is stable. We pray for Lisa as she negotiates a tough court case and looks at restarting her own life after cancer.  We thank you for the healing of mind you have provided Jen and we pray for her chemo sessions. We also pray for Alison's daughter, for relief from her disease and peace for Lisa and Alison. At this time we pray very specially for Puja, for her medical tests and earnestly request that all her tests show she is fine. 

We pray for Kim whose husband has suddenly passed. We pray for her strength and your grace.  We pray for Rach who is in a very desperate situation after domestic violence. Please provide for her and her children, as they are not getting any help from the government. We pray for Ms. Floyd as she is checked for cancer. 

We look toward India and lift up Your servants. Be with Pastor Ben and his family, covering them with Your protection. We especially pray for the family facing a father’s serious illness. Guard his heart against despair; let him feel the tangible weight of Your grace. Empower his daughter as she cares for him—give her supernatural stamina and a peace that surpasses the gravity of the situation.

As we go through this day, may this Sabbath be defined by: Rest that mends the weary.

Peace that silences the storm. Gratitude that births new joy.

Light that makes the next step clear.

Amen.

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing. 

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Vision & Mission - Jen Tan

In this weeks post Jen Tan says- 

"I have learned that if we want to successfully accomplish God’s mission for our lives, we should stop looking for a vision and start looking for a verse. God does not write our mission in the sky; He has already written it in His Word."

So what is our purpose? Looking deeper and delving into the Word suggests that humans were created for a specific set of roles that connect the earthly and the divine.

Here is the breakdown of that purpose:

1. To Reflect the Divine (The Imago Dei)

The very first chapter of the Bible (Genesis 1:26-27) states that humans were created in the "image and likeness" of God.

The Purpose: To act as "mirrors" in the world. Just as a statue of a king might be placed in a distant province to represent his presence, humans are intended to reflect God's attributes—such as creativity, justice, love, and rationality—to the rest of creation.

2. To Exercise Stewardship

Part of being in that "image" involves a specific job description often called the Dominion Mandate.

The Purpose: To be "sub-creators" or stewards. Humans were tasked with "subduing" the earth and "ruling" over the animals. In the original Hebrew context, this wasn't an invitation to exploit, but rather a royal commission to cultivate, protect, and bring order to the world, making it flourish.

3. To Experience Relational Intimacy

The Bible suggests that God did not create humans because He was lonely or "needed" anything, but rather to share existence with others.

The Purpose: Vertical and horizontal connection.

◦ Vertical: To walk with and enjoy a relationship with God (symbolized by God walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve).

◦ Horizontal: To exist in community with other humans ("It is not good for man to be alone").

4. To Give Glory

A recurring theme, particularly in the Psalms and the writings of the Apostle Paul, is that humans exist "for the glory of God."

The Purpose: To recognize and celebrate what is truly valuable. In this sense, "glory" isn't about God having an ego; it’s about humans finding their ultimate joy by aligning themselves with the highest possible good.

Editors Note: 

Today we want to very specially ask you for your prayers for Jen. She is undergoing chemo therapy and we need to pray, and pray hard, that it has minimal side effects and maximum efficacy. God Bless you all. If you want to send a message for Jen to bless her and encourage her, please add it in the comments section.  

Happiness & Joy: Pastor Rajiv

 

Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes whereas joy is an attitude that comes and grows.

It is piped into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
The world does not give us joy nor can the world take it away.
So why and how is joy different from happiness? Learn about this and more from Pastor Rajiv in this message. 

Satan's Convention: A Short Story

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted. "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!"

It was quite a plan! 

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families and friends. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives. (Author unknown)

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge!

Monday Reset: Tuning into the Still Small Voice

"And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice". 

1 Kings 19:12

The world started moving fast the moment your alarm went off this morning. By now, the "noise" of the week—emails, deadlines, and the mental checklist of responsibilities—is likely already competing for your attention.

In the rush, we often pray for God to move in spectacular ways. We look for the "earthquake" of a sudden breakthrough or the "fire" of an undeniable sign to tell us which way to turn. We imagine that God’s presence is reserved for the dramatic.

But Scripture tells a different story.

When the prophet Elijah stood on the mountain, he witnessed the spectacular: a wind that shattered rocks, an earthquake that shook the ground, and a fire that lit the sky. But the Bible tells us the Lord was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire.

Instead, Elijah found God in a “still small voice.”

God has the power to thunder, yet He often chooses to whisper. Why? Because a whisper requires proximity. You have to be close to someone to hear them whisper. You have to be quiet, humble, and deeply attentive.

When our lives become cluttered with the "noise" of distractions and the "wind" of our own anxieties, we lose our sensitivity to the Spirit. We miss the gentle promptings because our hearts are too loud.

This Monday, don't just ask God for a sign; ask Him for a listening heart.

Pause: Take five minutes before the workday truly begins to sit in silence.

Reflect: Open the Word not just to read, but to listen.

Attend: Be sensitive to the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit in your interactions today.

The Lord still speaks to those who seek Him. Draw near to Him today, and as you quiet the world around you, you will find that His voice is clearer than you ever imagined.

#MondayMorningReset #StillSmallVoice #FaithAtWork #ThisWeekWithJesus #WeeklyRenewal

Sabbath Prayers

                                             

If you call the Sabbath a delight… then you will find your joy in the Lord."

Gracious Father, we pause in Your presence this Sabbath, grateful for the gift of rest and renewal. We lift up those among us who are weary, burdened, or facing illness — may Your healing hand bring comfort and strength. We intercede for families, communities, and nations, asking for Your peace to reign where there is conflict, and Your wisdom to guide leaders in truth and justice. Lord, renew our hearts with hope, deepen our faith, and let Your Spirit empower us to be light-bearers in a world that longs for Your love. 

We lift Jen before You today—Your daughter, Your beloved, the one You hold in the palm of Your hand. You see every cell in her body, every moment of pain, every quiet fear, every brave step she takes. Surround her with Your healing presence. Let Your strength rise where her strength feels small. Let Your peace settle where anxiety tries to speak. Let Your love be the atmosphere she breathes. We ask for your grace on her PET Scans. 

And Lord, we widen this prayer to every person fighting cancer right now. 

We pray for Samira for her continued healing. For Lisa's daughter, for Alison's daughter, Lindsey's mother, Laurik and Haleen. We thank you for the healing you have brought to Samira and Joan and the fantastic progress in Jen and Lisa's daughter. 

For those in various treatment, those awaiting results, those exhausted from the journey— be their refuge. Be their comfort. Be their healer.

We pray for Owen, who has been diagnosed with serious heart failure and lung conditions which require him to be on a continuous oxygen tube.

We pray for Pastor Ben and his family in India. 

May this Sabbath bring:

Rest that restores. Peace that settles the soul. Joy that rises from gratitude. Faith that grows deeper. Light that guides every step.

Amen

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing. 

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Jen Tan: Finding Job’s God in the Cancer Journey

 

Please read an important footnote at the end 

Who does not know of Job? Mostly everyone. Who understands the Book of Job? Very few.

The Book of Job is a profound exploration of undeserved suffering and the limitations of human logic in the face of divine sovereignty. It follows Job, a righteous man who loses his wealth, possessions, home and health, and subsequently engages in a grueling dialogue with his friends, who mistakenly argue that his agony must be a direct punishment for sin. The most important aspect of the narrative is its rejection of a simple "transactional" morality; it concludes with shifting the focus from "Why is this happening to me?". We understand that his suffering does not come from God. Nor from his behaviour. He is an innocent victim of the War of Satan. Ultimately, Job’s restoration underscores that while human suffering is often inexplicable, trust and integrity can exist independent of a "blessing-for-behavior" contract.

As many of us, Jen too had questions. Specially the "why me" question. She took the trouble to read the Book of Job and we quote her conclusion here.

"Reading the book of Job, I see reflections of my own journey. Job lost everything, and even his friends assumed his suffering was due to sin. Yet he could not understand why he was suffering so much as he kept claiming he has done nothing to deserve such punishment.

Before my cancer diagnosis, I was living a comfortable and fulfilling life. I had many plans for the future and looked forward to the joy of achieving them. But everything came to a halt after my diagnosis, and I found myself unable to plan ahead as I once did.

There are times when, like Job I find myself questioning God - have I sinned so much that I deserve all these suffering? Yet deep within, I believe God does not place sickness upon His children.

Throughout my cancer journey, he has been by my side, giving me strength and helping me to keep going every time I feel like giving up.

Through this illness, however, I have drawn closer to God. In losing so much, I came to realise that God is ultimately all we truly have. We are called to place our full trust in Him. While God gives us Himself, He does not reveal every detail of His plans to us. This reminds me that this life, with all its pain and uncertainty, is not our final destination".

To find "Job’s God" while navigating the terrain of a cancer journey is to surrender the agonizing pursuit of "Why?" for the restorative presence of "Who." The enduring lesson from Job is not a simple promise of restoration, but a fundamental shift in perspective. The conclusion of this devotional is not one of easy answers, but of resilient faith.

Ultimately, we meet Job's God not in the rational explanations of friends, but in the dark, intimate, and often frightening moments of our deepest pain. This is the comfort that transcends logic: 

The God who managed the chaotic chaos of creation is the very same God who sits with us in the clinic.

Editors Note: 

Today we want to very specially ask you for your prayers for Jen. She has undergone a PET Scan today and we need to pray, and pray hard, that it shows good results. God Bless you all. If you want to send a message for Jen, please add it in the comments section.  

The Jesus Advisory

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” 

(Micah 6:8,NIV)

Does God ask too much of us? 

At times it may seem impossible to live the way He wants us to. But the fact is that while the price of our sins has been paid we still have work to do. But the good news is Jesus gave us guidelines and advice on how to live. Jesus’ teachings generally shifted between radical ethical shifts, practical wisdom for daily living, and spiritual mandates.

Below is a curated compilation of his core advice, categorized by theme with their primary New Testament references.

1. On Human Relationships & Conflict

Jesus’ advice on social interaction was revolutionary for its time, focusing on proactive peace rather than reactive justice.

a. The Golden Rule: Treat others exactly how you want to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)

b. The Radical Pivot: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

c. Conflict Resolution: If someone has wronged you, go to them privately first to resolve it. (Matthew 18:15)

d. The Limitless Pardon: Forgive others not just seven times, but seventy-seven times (essentially, without limit). (Matthew 18:22)

e. Judging Others: Remove the "log" from your own eye before trying to take the "speck" out of someone else's. (Matthew 7:3–5)

2. On Anxiety & Mental Well-being

His advisory on worry is remarkably modern, focusing on mindfulness and the futility of over-planning for "tomorrow."

a. The Futility of Worry: Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or wear; worry cannot add a single hour to your life.(Matthew 6:25–27)

b. Daily Focus: Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

c. Finding Rest: If you are weary and burdened, come to him to find rest for your soul. (Matthew 11:28–30)

3. On Wealth & Ambition

Jesus viewed material wealth as a potential competitor for a person's heart and offered strict advice on priorities.

a. Priority of Heart: Do not store up treasures on earth where they decay; store them in heaven. Where your treasure is, your heart will be also. *(Matthew 6:19–21)*

b. The Dual Master Rule: You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:24)

c. The Cost of Success: What good is it to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul? (Mark 8:36)

d. The Definition of Greatness: If you want to be "first" or great, you must be the servant of everyone else. (Mark 9:35)

4. On Personal Integrity & Faith

This section of the "Advisory" focuses on the internal world—motives rather than just outward actions.

a. Authentic Prayer: When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray in private rather than making a show of it. (Matthew 6:6)

b. Simple Honesty: Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

c. The Foundation: Don't just hear these words; put them into practice. It is the difference between building a house on sand versus building on a rock. (Matthew 7:24–27)

d. Persistence: Ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9)

Today’s Practical Steps: 

a. Identify one person who frustrates you or with whom you have a minor "cold war." Spend 60 seconds privately wishing them well or praying for their success today. Notice if it changes your internal tension the next time you see their name on your phone.

b.  Whenever you catch yourself spiraling into a "What if?" scenario about next week or next month, physically stop and name three things you are responsible for only in the next three hours. Focus your energy exclusively on those immediate tasks.

c.  Look for a "low-status" task today—something that needs to be done but offers no praise or recognition (like tidying a shared space or helping a junior colleague with a tedious task). Do it quietly and move on.

d. Avoid the urge to "over-explain" or give a polite excuse for a boundary today. If you cannot do something, give a kind but firm "No" without the fluff. If you commit to something, ensure it is done exactly when you said it would be.

Sabbath Prayer

                                           

If you call the Sabbath a delight… then you will find your joy in the Lord."

Heavenly Father,

As we step into this sacred Sabbath, teach us again what it means to delight in You. 

Not rushing.

Not striving.

Not carrying the weight of the week on our shoulders—

but choosing joy, choosing rest, choosing Your presence.

Lord, make this day a reminder that Your commands are not burdens but blessings. That rest is not weakness but worship.

That delighting in You restores what life has drained.

We lift Jen before You today—Your daughter, Your beloved, the one You hold in the palm of Your hand. You see every cell in her body, every moment of pain, every quiet fear, every brave step she takes. Surround her with Your healing presence. Let Your strength rise where her strength feels small. Let Your peace settle where anxiety tries to speak. Let Your love be the atmosphere she breathes.

And Lord, we widen this prayer to every person fighting cancer right now. 

We pray for Samira for her continued healing. For Alison's daughter, Lindsey's mother, Laurik and Haleen.

For those in various treatment, those awaiting results, those exhausted from the journey— be their refuge. Be their comfort. Be their healer.

Touch every body with Your restoring power.

Touch every mind with Your calming peace.

Touch every family with Your sustaining grace.

We also want to give you thanks and praise for the continued healing of Joan as she has tested negative. 

We thank you for the seniors with us who have got through a harsh winter and polluted conditions. We pray for Pastor Ben and his family in India. We pray for the family in India who's father is in a serious way. Let his heart not be broken. Let him feel your grace and your peace. Strengthen the family and the caretaker daughter. Be with them. Strengthen them. 

May this Sabbath bring:

Rest that restores. Peace that settles the soul. Joy that rises from gratitude. Faith that grows deeper. Light that guides every step.

Amen

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing. 

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Why Do You Love God?

                      

Here is a question we would do well to answer for ourselves: Why do we love God? 

The reasons could be numerous and personal, but today it maybe a good idea to dwell on the answer and remind ourselves for the reasons or reason. But there will always be that one, driving reason why we love God.

“I’ve Seen Too Many Miracles to Doubt God’s Existence” said one reader. 

"Miracles happen around us everyday, we only need to open our eyes to them. In our own family, we realized our blessings in a hospital.

Standing there at the foot of her bed in the emergency room, all one could was pray as the Doctors and nurses tried to find the cause of her illness. And then you see the miracle happen as your prayer gets answered.

(If you have a healthy family, you are blessed; count the blessings you usually take for granted).

Since some time now I have noticed prayers being answered and realized they always had been. We were too busy in the business of life to notice. Covid also brought a realisation that He was looking out for us, everyday, in every way. We never felt a days want for food or any necessity. It was always provided in some way. And then came a calamity we never expected, as our elder child fell seriously sick. Never have I prayed as I did - not knowing if there was someone on the other side. But sure enough, six months later our prayers were answered. 

Each day we lived, and live, is a miracle. Whether it was health, sickness, finances, jobs, business, relationships - you name it. We are grateful and thankful for each one because in retrospect, when we look back we realize what a blessing it has been".

In truth, we should not be celebrating thanksgiving once a year but everyday, because each day He blesses us with Miracles. Small or big does not matter.

So to answer the question: We love God because HE Lives! And because He lives, we too can live". 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

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Temptation: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

The Prophet’s Candle

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

All church going Christians must be familiar with the four pillars of Advent which started yesterday. These pillars of hope, peace, joy and love, reflect some of the virtues of our Christ, because they summarize the core spiritual gifts and promise brought into the world by the birth of Jesus Christ.

Also known as the “prophecy candle,” the candle of hope for Advent assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

So today, we will talk about "hope". What is hope and how does it relate to Christ.

Hope is inherent to humans. When we sleep, we hope we will wake up the next morning. Every baby born is hope for a family. Everything we do is with a hope that there will be an expected end.

Jesus gives life to that hope. Hopelessness is not part of Gods plan. Even as you read this, you are living a hope - whether you acknowledge it or not.

Hope is not in the distant future. Hope is here and now. For example - When a person is sick and suffering he or she can hope for a Cure or Full Recovery (The big goal) and a Good Quality of Life Today (The small, achievable goal).

If you are looking at change or a shift in your life - in the longer perspective you want Control Over the Future. In the shorter term

Acceptance and New Meaning (The "new normal") of the present.

​Hope is not denying the dark night but choosing to light the small candle and affirm the Light that is promised to return. Therefore, 

• ​Hope is not denial; it is trust. We trust that even when our bodies fail, His love does not.

• ​Hope is not ease; it is endurance. That He Grant us the strength to face the next treatment, the next difficult day, and the next moment with courage, knowing He is our refuge.

• ​Hope is not control; it is surrender. Help us surrender our fear and anxiety into His hands, believing that His plan holds profound meaning, even if we cannot see it now.

Second, who needs hope? Why does the Bible give it so much importance?

The biblical call to hope is not about wishful thinking; it's about confident expectation based on God’s proven track record. The prophecies of the Old Testament, like the one from Isaiah, were written during times of national defeat, exile, and despair—true hopelessness.

​God’s message through the prophets was this: Your current suffering is not the final word. It still is not.  

​This Advent, the candle of Hope reminds us that:

• ​God sees our darkness. He doesn't minimize our pain, grief, or struggle, but gives us the strength to bear it till we receive our blessing. Our problem and pain get dwarfed by His power. Isaiah says the people were walking in "deep darkness"—a profound, overwhelming shadow.

• ​The Light is not accidental. The Light (Christ) was promised centuries before He arrived. This means your current despair, if you are feeling it, is temporary because God has a pre-planned, guaranteed solution that is already set in motion.

• ​Hope is anchored in history. We light this first candle because the promise was kept in a manger in Bethlehem. If God kept the promise to Israel after centuries of waiting, He will certainly keep His promises to you today. Think about your own blessings in the past. Unexplained good incidents; unsought blessings. God has your back. 

​Our hope is not dependent on our circumstances changing, but on God’s unchanging nature and His promise to make all things new.

As you look at the first candle, acknowledge the areas of your life that feel heavy, dark, or hopeless. Name the burdens, talk to God about them. Name them. 

This week, practice choosing to hope over despair, through action:

• ​Daily Focus: Every morning, identify one prophecy fulfilled by Jesus (like those found in Isaiah 7, 9, or Micah 5). Write it down and use it as a reminder: "He did this, so He will do that." At the same time recall one good thing that happened to you. 

• ​Light in the Darkness: When you feel overwhelmed by hopelessness, physically light a candle (the Advent candle, if available) and pray the prayer of Isaiah 9:2 over your situation. Let the flame represent the promised, faithful presence of Christ.

The Devil Reads the Bible!

​The idea that the devil reads the Bible might sound provocative, but the Scriptures themselves confirm this chilling truth. The adversary is not merely aware of God’s Word; he is an expert manipulator of it. 

It is said that a good lie (that is a believable one) is always based on an aspect of the truth. And the devil does exactly that !

His knowledge of the Bible is not for worship or obedience, but for warfare and deceit.

​The most profound example of this is found in the wilderness temptation of Jesus Christ.

​The Master of Misquotation

​After forty days of fasting, Jesus was famished. The devil saw his opportunity and launched his attack, moving from tempting Jesus to doubt His identity to tempting Him to misuse His authority. The third temptation is a stunning display of the devil's biblical knowledge:

​"Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”— Matthew 4:5-6 (ESV), quoting Psalm 91:11-12

​The devil did not quote random poetry or philosophy; he quoted Scripture! He took the promise of divine protection, found in Psalm 91, and twisted it, urging Jesus to test God's faithfulness by placing Himself in needless danger.

​The devil’s knowledge of the Bible is:

• ​Selective: He extracts promises and phrases out of context to support his hypothesis and theory. Do we do that too?

• ​Destructive: He uses the Word of God to undermine the will of God. If we act as in point 1, we too, automatically undermine God's will.

• ​Intellectual, not Spiritual: He knows the letter of the law but rejects its life-giving Spirit and Author.

We need to think, meditate and make sure that our belief in the Word of God is not intellectual alone, but it's a belief that stems from the spirit so that we may partake of the life it offers.

​Our Defense: Knowing the Whole Truth

​Jesus’ response to the devil’s manipulation is our blueprint for spiritual defense. He didn't argue the accuracy of the quote; He countered the context and the intent by quoting other Scripture:

​Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”— Matthew 4:7 (ESV), quoting Deuteronomy 6:16

​Jesus revealed the full counsel of God by bringing together a passage on God’s protection (Psalm 91) with a passage on reverent obedience (Deuteronomy 6). He showed that genuine faith does not manipulate God's promises; it walks in humble obedience within God’s will.

​This truth provides us with a critical warning and a powerful encouragement:

​The Warning:

​The devil won't only attack you with tempting thoughts; he will try to defeat you by twisting God's promises, creating doubt, or leading you into presumption. If we only have a surface-level, intellectual familiarity with the Bible, we are vulnerable to his lies.

​“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

​— 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

​The Encouragement:

​The Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit for a reason. When wielded correctly, it is the only weapon that can expose the lies of the enemy and drive him away. The devil flees not when he hears a verse, but when he is confronted by the authoritative, rightly applied Word of God.

​“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”— Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

​Reflection

​The devil knows enough of the Bible to use it against you. Do you know enough of the Bible to use it against him? Our protection lies not just in reading the Bible, but in studying it deeply, meditating on it faithfully, and living it out obediently, allowing the Holy Spirit to connect the wisdom of every passage.

Response Ability: Pastor Rajiv's Message

Response Ability

The central theme of today's message, is the crucial concept that human free will, or the "ability to respond," is synonymous with responsibility and the power to avoid sin by choosing the right course of action.

What is our response to sin? And what is our response to God? And finally, what is our Response Ability or responsibility as Christians? Today Pastor Rajiv answers these fundamental questions and more, drawing heavily from the Bible passage 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

Prophet for Hire

Numbers 22:7, 12, and 2 Peter 2:15

​"So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. (Numbers 22:7, NKJV)

​And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12, NKJV)

​"They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..." (2 Peter 2:15, NKJV)

​The story of Balaam, found primarily in Numbers chapters 22-24, is a striking caution against spiritual compromise. Balaam was a genuine prophet who could hear the voice of God, yet he earned the infamous title of "prophet for hire."

​King Balak of Moab, terrified of the powerful Israelites, hired Balaam to curse them. The elders arrived with a "diviner’s fee" in hand—a temptation Balaam could not easily dismiss (Numbers 22:7). God's command to Balaam was crystal clear: "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed" (Numbers 22:12).

​Here is the crux of the story: Balaam obeyed God's words, but not His heart.

• ​The Allure of the Price Tag: Though Balaam initially refused Balak's bribe, he couldn't completely shut the door on the possibility of a reward. When Balak sent richer and more prominent messengers, Balaam went back to God, essentially saying, "Is there any way I can still go?" His heart was set on the "wages of unrighteousness," as later scripture puts it (2 Peter 2:15). He wanted the profit more than he feared God's displeasure.

• ​The Peril of Half-Obedience: Balaam only spoke the words God put in his mouth, delivering blessings instead of curses. Outwardly, he was obedient. However, his divided loyalty led to an ultimate, tragic betrayal. When he couldn't curse Israel directly, he counseled Balak on how to tempt the Israelites into sin through immorality and idolatry, thereby bringing God’s judgment upon themselves (Numbers 31:16, Revelation 2:14). His greed corrupted his genuine gift.

​Reflection: Christians for Convenience 

​Balaam’s story forces us to look inward. We may not be prophets for hire, but are we Christians for convenience? Do we have a divided heart?

• ​Do we seek God's will only when it aligns with our own desires for comfort, prestige, or wealth?

• ​Do we want the blessings of God while still entertaining the temptations of the world?

• ​When we pray, are we truly seeking to hear God's clear command, or are we hoping He will change His mind and validate our greedy ambition?

​Our gifts and calling are sacred, entrusted to us by God for His purposes, not for our financial or personal gain. The error of Balaam is the danger of a heart compromised by love for the world, leading to a spiritual life of half-obedience that ultimately falls into the path of destruction.

​Prayer:

​Heavenly Father, thank You for the warning in the story of Balaam. Forgive us for the times our hearts have been divided, seeking Your blessing while coveting the rewards of this world. Help us to be fully obedient, not just with our words, but with our deepest desires. Set our hearts firmly on You, that we may love Your truth more than any earthly wage. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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