Beat Swords Into Ploughshares: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

A Piece of Bread

RC Sproul once related a possibly not so well known story:

"After the Korean War ended, South Korea was left with a large number of children who had been orphaned by the war. We’ve seen the same thing in the Vietnam conflict, in Bosnia, and in other places. In the case of Korea, relief agencies came in to deal with all the problems that arose in connection with having so many orphan children. One of the people involved in this relief effort told me about a problem they encountered with the children who were in the orphanages. Even though the children had three meals a day provided for them, they were restless and anxious at night and had difficulty sleeping. As they talked to the children, they soon discovered that the children had great anxiety about whether they would have food the next day. To help resolve this problem, the relief workers in one particular orphanage decided that each night when the children were put to bed, the nurses there would place a single piece of bread in each child’s hand. The bread wasn’t intended to be eaten; it was simply intended to be held by the children as they went to sleep. It was a “security blanket” for them, reminding them that there would be provision for their daily needs. Sure enough, the bread calmed the children’s anxieties and helped them sleep".

Like many of us, the children, felt secure when they had a provision for their need, albeit small, in their hands. 

Man has two needs - physical needs and spiritual needs and, Complete dependence on God - for spiritual as well as physical needs is the essence of the Christian practice. The absence of either - means death.

While we are quite aware of our physical needs, the Bread we need for spiritual sustenance is Jesus. We need to ask for His presence, His guidance and His protection, every day, to be provided through His Holy Spirit.

As we depend on God, pray to God for our daily physical needs, we need to depend on and ask God for meeting our daily spiritual needs. We need a daily portion of both.

That piece of bread in the children's hands at night gave them an assurance of provision the next day. Likewise, our prayers to our father give us an assurance of provision, protection and presence of God in our lives at all times and prayer is that piece of bread in our hands assuring us of God today and every day.

You can read RC Sprouls post here.

The Shepherd's Song

In a small, quiet village nestled among rolling hills, lived a young shepherd named Elias. His days were filled with the gentle rhythm of tending his flock, the warmth of the sun on his face, and the comforting sound of sheep bells. Yet, beneath his simple life, Elias carried a deep longing for something more.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields, Elias sat on a hilltop, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the sky. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers, and as he listened to the distant bleating of his sheep, a sense of peace washed over him.

In that moment, Elias heard a voice, soft and clear, like the whisper of a summer rain. "I am the Good Shepherd," the voice said. "I know my own and my own know me."

Startled, Elias looked around, but there was no one there. Yet, the voice continued, filling him with a sense of warmth and belonging. "I lay down my life for my sheep."

As Elias listened, he felt a profound connection to the voice. It was as if he had been searching for this moment all his life. The words echoed in his heart, filling him with a sense of purpose and meaning.

From that day forward, Elias's life took on a new dimension. He continued to tend his sheep, but now he did so with a deeper understanding of his role. He saw himself as a shepherd, not just for his flock, but for all those who were lost and in need.

As the years passed, Elias's story spread throughout the village and beyond. People came from far and wide to hear him speak of the Good Shepherd and the love that had transformed his life. And though he remained a simple shepherd at heart, his words carried a powerful message that touched the lives of many. (**Story by Gemini)

Milton wrote so truly - "They also serve who only stand and wait". 

We all have a role in Christs world. Not everyone is a CEO, or a President. We all serve Christ in our own way, with our own abilities, even if they seem small.

New Beginnings: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

God of Small Things: Saturday Vespers

 

In our world of immediate gratification, success is measured by grandiose achievements. Yet, God delights in small, everyday acts and things, as He does in those grandiose achievements. For Him, it's the heart of the matter, not the outcome. So today we pray -

Heavenly Father, help us to see the value and significance of the small tasks we do every day. May we find joy in the ordinary and the mundane, knowing that you are present in every moment. Give us the strength to be faithful in small things trusting that you can use them in your Glory.

We thank you for the recovery of your servant in Australia and those who were sick and needed your intervention.

Today DeeSki asks for Gods help and says -

"Please god do not let her give up on me and this relationship. I am completely lost knowing I could losing her and my children. I’m asking for all of the prayers I can get and for somehow someway god to help me keep this relationship and family together."

David thanks God for His providence.

Esetarosa requests prayer for her "daughter Fu’a for a miracle in her life as she is now at home under Hospice care. We serve a loving God who hears our prayers. Thank you and God Bless!"

We pray for the wellness of the senior citizens in India - one with a severe back problem to give her strength and patience as well as relief from the pain; we also pray for a lady suffering from Parkinsons for relief as well as strength and patience to her caregiver daughter,

We pray for retired Pastor Benjamin in India for support as he and his daughter go through a very challenging time with his home breaking down and no finance to repair. We pray that efforts to organize financial support for them bears fruit.

Please pray for all these and other needs you may know of. In Jesus' mighty name. 

Standing on Promises

There is a Hymn called Standing on the promises of God. Nice hymn though it leaves some questions which is how do you do that? What does it mean? 

We are so used to broken, partially broken or seldom kept human promises that we are conditioned to take promises with a pinch of salt. Yet we are told to stand on Gods promises. What does it mean?

Standing on the promises of God means having faith in God's promises and living in a way that is faithful to God. It also means being aware of God's promises and applying them to one's life

There are more than 8000 promises made by God in the Bible. Which ones do you claim? Which ones has God made good on, to you? Here is an E Book listing them out and you can download it here. Read it and see what the Lord has done for you and can do for you. After all....

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

Number 23:19

Lessons From the Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

4. Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
- Author Unknown

Do You Know the Voice?

 

Ref:  John 10:3 

There are some verses which we don't really think about and/or take for granted.

The example of the shepherd and the sheep is one. Today let's see what it's about?

A query on an artificial intelligence engine tells us "Sheep are herd animals that are led by voice and naturally follow their shepherd. Shepherds use their voice to guide their sheep, with specific calls to stop, turn, or move forward. Sheep will eventually learn to recognize the shepherd's voice and trust him, and will not listen to commands from others".

"Sheep learn their shepherd's voice by following other sheep, who instinctively move towards new pasture lands".

What this AI engine knows and tells us today, the Biblical authors knew and told us 2000 plus years ago. Three things stand out:

1. The shepherd's voice 

2. Following other sheep.

3. The gatekeeper.

As God's people, we often become confused with the voices, sounds and sights and get mixed up in things of the world. Sin is tempting as we surround ourselves with the wrong crowd and or the wrong leaders. but God is always watching and calls us back to the fold. We find Him when we are lost because we know the sound of His voice; it's the only one we've chosen to follow, and we do not confuse it with others.

How wonderful is this relationship; how true is the Bible; how great is the shepherd who calls when we are lost. What a great sense of security knowing that we are protected by Jesus the gatekeeper who will not allow false leaders to mislead us. What power which protects us, greater than anything in the world.

The lesson we can draw from this verse is that we need to recognize His voice and His words as also choose wisely the people around us.

Your 'Belly of the Fish' moment

Have you ever felt trapped? like there was no way out of a difficult situation. Jonah was no stranger to that feeling. After running away from God's call, he found himself in the belly of a great fish. Can you imagine the darkness, the stench and the despair he must have felt? Yet, in the midst of his darkest hour God was still with him. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in our own 'Belly of the Fish" moments. It maybe a broken relationship, a health crisis or a seemingly impossible situation. Its in those moments we need to remember that God is with us even in those depths. He is our refuge and our strength. 

Just like Jonah, God can use our difficult circumstances to shape us and teach us important lessons. It was in the belly of the fish that Jonah repented and cried out to the Lord. Sometimes it takes being in the belly of the fish for us to truly surrender to God and seek His guidance. 

So if you find yourself in a seemingly impossible situation, remember Jonah. Your belly of the fish moment maybe the turning point in your life. 

A Letter from a Friend

 

Good morning,  
As you got up I watched and hoped you would talk to me. Just a few words, such as thanking me for something good in your life yesterday or last week would do.
But I noticed you were busy selecting the right clothes for work. I waited again to hear from you. When you ran around the house collecting papers, I knew there would be a few minutes to stop and say hello, but you never slowed down.
I wanted to tell you that I could help you accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible if you would just spend some of each day with me. At one point, you waited fifteen minutes in a chair with nothing to do. I waited to hear from you.
Then I saw you spring to your feet; I thought you wanted to talk to me, but you ran to the phone and called a friend. I watched as off to work you went and waited patiently all day long to hear from you. With all your activities you were too busy to talk with me.
I noticed at lunch you looked around; maybe you just felt embarrassed to talk to me. You glanced three tables over and noticed some of your friends talking to me before they ate, but you wouldn't.
There was still more time left, and I hoped that we would talk. You went home and had many things to do. After they were done, you turned on the TV; just about anything goes there and you spend many hours watching. I waited as you continued watching TV and ate your meal but again you wouldn't talk to me.
At bedtime you were totally tired. After you said good night to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep. I had so much wanted to be part of your day. We could have had so much fun and accomplished so much together.
I love you so much that I wait every day for a thought, prayer or thanks. Well, maybe tomorrow! I'll be waiting. We have the whole week ahead. :) 
Your Friend,
God
-Author Unknown

Sunday Quotes

"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile" - Max Lucado

"God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies." - Hudson Taylor

"Remember who you are. Don’t compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth." - Lysa Terkeurst

"Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” - Corrie Ten Boom

"Christ literally walked in our shoes." - Tim Keller

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom

"The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." - Billy Graham

"Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them." - Elisabeth Elliot

"God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go." - Tony Evans

"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." - Chuck Swindoll

"Your potential is the sum of all the possibilities God has for your life." - Charles Stanley

"The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on your life, the more likely you are to praise Him in the storm." - Matt Chandler

You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read." - John MacArthur

The Anti-Christ is alive and well: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message