Peace and Justice for All

A wise judge once said, "it is not only necessary for justice to be done, but as importantly, it needs to be seen to be done."

Drawing from these wise words, as Christians, it is not only important to follow Christ in letter and spirit, but also to be seen as followers of Christ, in our behavior and our attitudes to fellow men. We ourselves are the biggest witnesses to Christ and we are also our own enemy. We may preach the best of sermons, be most devout in our day-to-day devotions or know the Bible verbatim, but if our language, behavior and attitude does not reflect Christ, it is all in vain.

Christ Himself spoke at length about the way we are to behave toward others; friends and enemies. More than that, however, the life He lived, accentuated by His love and compassion for the lost, provides the consummate example of what Christian behavior should look like, enabled by the Holy Spirit.

The best barometer is how one reacts or behaves when facing extreme pressure of a threat or a loss. Do we remain calm trusting in God or do we react with screaming, shouting, threatening and possibly worse?

If the Holy Spirit is living within us, the natural outpouring of behaviors will be “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). This will spread love, respect, peace and a spirit of justice towards all, bring glory to Gods name and most importantly give the world a glimpse of Gods character, building a bridge for others to know God as well.

Preach to Yourself!

In management, there is a concept of self-talk. There is nothing crazy about talking to oneself. Self-talk is the internal dialogue that people have with themselves, and it can have a big impact on how a person feels and acts. Positive self-talk can help people feel better about themselves, and can have many benefits, including goal attainment and building an overall positive attitude.

Drawing a cue from this concept, when we do our daily devotions and or read the Bible, instead of a mechanical tick in the box, if we relate what is being read to our own lives, each phase or period, we will be able to spot where we went wrong and what we did right. This knowledge will help to correct ourselves for future, aligning our life to Christ and Gods ways and will.

That is exactly how computers also work. They analyze the past to predict the future.

What does it mean to "preach to ourselves"?

"Preaching to ourselves is essentially the biblical call to "meditate" on Scripture - hearing and reflecting on both the Word and how God is speaking through it. It is personally applying the Word of God to our hearts and lives with the aim of glorifying and enjoying God" - Pastor Joe Thorn

This self-preaching, if done regularly, will turn itself into a meaningful meditation, the outcome of which is transformation of the person.

Paul Tripp says that no one is more influential in your life than you are, and that you should preach the gospel to yourself daily.

King David too, learned to preach to himself when he was threatened by fear. Psalm 56 includes some of David's preaching, such as "When you get afraid, don't be afraid!" and "I am trusting in God. I'm not going to live in fear".

Saturday Vespers

                                                                                         

Prayer plays a vital role in our relationship with God. When we engage in heartfelt prayer, we open the doors for divine intervention in our lives, our families and our land. Prayer is not merely reciting words but a posture of seeking and communicating with the Almighty. Through prayers we express our deepest desires, concerns and gratitude to God.

As believers we have the incredible opportunity to bring about transformation through our prayers. Today we all bring our concerns and thanks to God as we pray. 

Eddzzz says - Please pray my loved one’s medication comes in to today. Please pray he will focus on rebuilding his health.

A Pastors family in India requests prayer for his wife who needs healing and relief from stage 4 cancer

A family in India expresses gratitude and praise to God for miracles and blessings they have received in the last two weeks for their children living in a different country

Emily says - I would like to request prayer for my friend, her family and their Christian family bakery business. Thank you

Kevin says a prayer of thanks for relief from stress

Paladin says -

Please pray for me 1. I need a financial miracle in the worst kind of way...2. That the government won't take my bank account away from me (I am in the nursing home)...3. That God would straighten out all of the mess that is in my life right now...4. For good results from a DNA test...5. That God would provide me with money to eat with each and every month...6. That God would give me some encouragement-I feel defeated all of the time, and I feel as if something bad is going to happen to me...7. That God would calm me down and settle my nerves over all of this...8. Something has got to give with all of this.

We ask for prayer and pray for healing and relief for a senior citizen in India who is suffers from hip pain and is currently going for physio. 

Beth Lauren says - Lord thank you for our blessings. I pray for guidance. You know our struggles and fears. Please lead us forward to a less stressful situation and surroundings. Save our Son. I pray for our health. Forgive our many sins and mistakes. Please bless our Son, my husband, and myself. Amen

Make Me a Blessing

                                           

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Have you ever heard this hymn? It was introduced in Sunday schools in 1924 and music added a decade later. These simple words are often used to challenge believers to make their lives useful to God.

Today, let's try and understand this simple yet powerful hymn and how we can implement it in our lives.

blessing can be defined as conferring prosperity, approval, or happiness. But what does it mean for a person to be a blessing? Perhaps this means that through our actions we help bring happiness and peace to those around us.

It's not about money. Even someone who is marginalised or poor or needy can become a blessing to someone else. When we take care of them, we also recieve emotional and physical blessings.

In some traditions, the blessings of those who are marginalized, or suffering are seen as particularly potent.

The simple thought is to share a part of our lives with someone who may need it. Someone who may be lonely, or sad or broken hearted. 

A touch, a smile, a sharing of ideas and thoughts can mean a lot to someone today. Be a Blessing!

Making a Friend of a Foe

Read 2 Kings 6 verses 11- 23. 

The quoted story can be a lesson in strategy or a lesson in Jesus' life. 

Pastor David Jacobs expands on these verses with this explanation:   

"When I was in middle school, there was a boy that was much bigger than everyone else, and wow, he was a bully! He would really pick on other students and even hurt them, but he was so big nobody dared to stand up to him. He was equally as terrible to teachers, but I remember after school one day I noticed him red in the face, wiping tears from his eyes. Although he was so big, when he broke down he was like anyone else. That student was awful in my teacher's class, but my teacher put his arm around him, comforted him, and took him into his office so that other people could not see. After that, the student behaved quite well in that class, although I wish I could say the same about other classes!"

"My teacher's compassion to a person that had constantly troubled him humbled the terrible student. The student was used to being met by scorn, at school and most likely at home, and that was why he acted the way that he did. In these verses, Elisha shows compassion to the soldiers that have been sent to find him and most likely to kill him and the king of Israel. His compassion turns a foe into a friend, an enemy into an ally. 

Just like the student and the teacher, a show of compassion and love can turn hate into love. Christ teaches us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), and that is what Elisha does in these verses. How often do we actually do it?

ASK: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Paradise Gained

Man does nothing without a reason.

President Dieter Uchtdorf once said ... "what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are — and who we will become". He was speaking about how and why we love God.

So, the question today is - why do we love God and Jesus? Is the reason temporal or eternal? If eternal, are we really so concerned about life and death after we have died here, a state we cannot see today. Or are we more concerned about the business of life today.

Why we love God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit is a very personal question, different for each one of us. An anonymous writer says this-

"I was recently asked Why I love God, His only Son and His word? It is quite simple really. Because I am not satisfied with what I have in this world today.

I want to be in a world where I can play with a lion, run with the deer, walk where I want without the fear of being hurt. A world where there is no sickness. A world without borders and visas where I can travel anytime to meet anyone, anywhere. A world which does not need electricity or air conditioning. Where there are no poor or hungry, no violence against man, woman or child. A world where there is no fear, because there is only love. Where we are never going to be parted from our loved ones. A world where everyone loves and respects everyone else. There is no hate. There is no envy. No possessions to dictate a status. No languages to differentiate people. A world filled with love and laughter.

There is no government in this "world" because there is nothing to govern. There is only the creator and Son, and one can walk up to them at anytime and shake their hand, and praise them for what they have created and done. Where they are the parent to each one, loving us beyond anything we have known or experienced. Where there is no punishment because there is no crime.

Does a place like that exist outside of our minds? Absolutely.

We would have been in such a place, but for these Adam and Eve charectors. But today, to get there I need to get myself a mystical ticket - being distributed by this mystical being called Jesus. No money is required except we must believe that His ticket is valid to get us through. He earned this job by paying a very high price - His own physical torture and death. He paid that price so he could give these tickets to anyone who believed in Him.

The ticket window is open 24X7 and the ticket Giver is always available. If you haven't got a ticket, I will advise you to get is asap. The window is a trifle hard to find but here is the route map."

Now is the Time!

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Forgiveness, kindness, communications of love, between acquaintances, friends and relatives cannot be left for another day, it may be too late.

Sometimes we, being carried away by the business of life, job and activities, do not have time to talk to close friends and  relatives who we may have spent life with. We keep putting it off, with long absences. One day, suddenly, we get the news that the relative died giving no one time to say goodbye.

This situation is familiar to millions of people during covid and happens all the time around the world.

The net result is lifelong regrets and self blame.

Similar situations can happen in our relationship with Jesus and God and His Holy Spirit. God waits for our attention everyday, and every hour. But many of us, keep searching for a convenient time and place.

The learning is that that time and that place may never come. That time and place is NOW, whether to talk to our God, or to people who value us, and need our attention. Parents who long to see us and be loved and valued, as they loved us; Or people we need to show kindness to; or people we need to ask for forgiveness or forgive. 

The time is now!

Sunday Quotes

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. – Francis of Assisi

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor – Charles Stanley

Jesus’ mission is not to make converts, and it never has been. His mission is to make disciples. – Jim Putnam

It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. – Martin Luther

The greatest proof that the Bible is inspired is that it has stood so much bad preaching. – A.T. Robertson

We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first. – Oswald J. Smith

Revival is when God gets so sick and tired of being misrepresented that He shows Himself. – Leonard Ravenhill

God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him. – Hudson Taylor

The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: life is a story about me. – Donald Miller

The world needs Christians who don’t tolerate the complacency of their own lives. – Francis Chan

Dear Jesus…how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here. – Corrie ten Boom

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. – Oswald Chambers

Our love grows soft if it is not strengthened by truth, and our truth grows hard if it is not softened by love. – John Stott

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. – Charles Swindoll

Nothing so clearly discovers a spiritual man as his treatment of an erring brother. – St. Augustine

Science Vs. Religion

The name of this post in truth, should have been Science and God. But we view science and religion as being diametrically opposite, though they go hand in hand. 

Science explains the "how" of God and His creation while religion explains the "why". For example, it can tell us how it rains but cannot tell you why it does or does not rain and why should it rain. Why do we die? Science can tell us how we die but cannot explain why we die.

The fact is the world and all that is in it, is part of God's creation. And God uses His creation to bless us or deprive us, according to His will and judgement. For example, we have completely disrespected nature, Gods creation, throughout the ages and today we are paying the price of that disrespect and destruction.

The "how" is what science helps us to understand, so that we truly appreciate what God has done, and praise Him in awe and wonder. This understanding of the "how" of creation inspired King David to say

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well".

King David understood how we are made and praised God.

The challenge is the why? Why are we fearfully and wonderfully made? Why were you made? For what purpose? What is my purpose? Do we even think about it? Yes, the common overarching purpose for all of us is to serve God. But each one will have a specific task as well. 

Science cannot tell us why we were made and our purpose, but if we ask God, He can. And whatever is our purpose, be sure he has equipped us for it. Be warned though, that question is a double-edged sword because the answer can turn our world upside down. So, before you ask, be prepared.