Monday Opportunities...

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 there something you are asking for? Something you are seeking. What doors do you need to knock on? Don't be afraid to go after what you want. God will not drop it in your lap by magic. God wants you to succeed but he also wants you to show Him that you are willing to put in the work.

As Christians, sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that everything we need will just be handed over to us on a silver platter because we believe in God. Thats not how it works.

God provides for us, but He also wants us to be active participants in our own lives. To ask for what we need, seek for what we desire and knock on the door of opportunity. If we want something, we have to go after it. God wants us to work hard, pursue our dreams and ask for help when we need.

But we must be ready to recognize and take action when His help comes.

Three Little Words: Pastor Rajiv's Message, Centenary Methodist Church, Delhi

CLICK HERE FOR MESSAGE

Saturday Vespers: Your Prayers Are Needed

 

As we usually do on Saturday, we are escalating various prayer needs to you, our readers for your support through your prayers.

We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear His voice each day, we who are anxious over many things look forward to His coming among us. He comes to us through other people and their love and concern for us. He comes to us through men and women who need our help. 

We have been praying for her for some time, and today, as this new year begins, we bring her to You for Your healing hand.

We also ask for healing and pain relief for a senior lady in the Delhi area of India, who is suffering from back pain. In the extreme cold, we ask for Your healing touch and protection. May Your healing touch rest upon them both.

Today the world also needs your prayer support: 

Peace for All Nations: We pray for peace in every land. May conflicts be resolved, and may leaders seek wisdom and compassion. Help us to bridge divides and foster understanding among all people.

Healing for the Sick: We lift up those who are suffering from illness, both physical and mental. Grant them strength, comfort, and healing. Bless the hands of those who care for them, and may Your healing touch be upon them.

Support for the Oppressed: We pray for those who are oppressed, marginalized, and facing injustice. Give them hope and resilience, and empower us to stand with them in their struggles. May Your justice prevail in every situation.

Guidance for Leaders: Guide our leaders with wisdom and integrity. May they govern with a heart for service, prioritizing the well-being of their people. Help them to make decisions that promote peace, equality, and prosperity.

Protection for the Vulnerable: We ask for Your protection over the vulnerable and the voiceless. Shield them from harm and provide for their needs. Help us to be instruments of Your love and compassion in their lives.

Strength for the Faithful: Strengthen the faith of those who seek You. Encourage them in their journey, and may they find solace and purpose in Your presence. Unite us all in our shared mission of love and service.

Hope for the Future: As we face the challenges of the world, instill in us a sense of hope and determination. Remind us that with Your guidance, we can make a positive difference. May we work together to create a world that reflects Your love and grace.

Everyone is Needed By Someone: A Short Story

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 explored the town, she found herself drawn to the mesmerizing glow of the clocks in Mr. Silas' window. Inside, she shyly asked him to fix her old pocket watch, a gift from her late grandmother. The watch was more sentiment than function, its hands frozen in time, yet to Lily, it was a precious heirloom.

Mr. Silas, initially hesitant to engage with a stranger, was touched by Lily's genuine affection for the watch. He took it with a gentle smile, promising to do his best to mend it. As the days went by, Lily would often visit the shop, bringing stories of her life and eagerly asking about the watch's progress. Mr. Silas, who had grown accustomed to his solitary existence, began to look forward to her visits. He found himself sharing tales of his own life, his passion for clockwork, and the intricate beauty of time.

As Lily listened, she began to see Mr. Silas not just as a watchmaker, but as a man with a rich history and a quiet strength. She noticed how his hands, while weathered, moved with precision as he worked on the watch, each tick a testament to his dedication. When the watch was finally repaired, Lily was overjoyed. She carefully placed it in her pocket, feeling a deep connection to her grandmother and the old watchmaker who had brought it back to life.

From that day on, Lily became a regular visitor to Mr. Silas' shop. She would often bring her friends, sharing stories about the kind old man who could fix anything. Slowly, Mr. Silas' workshop, once a place of quiet solitude, became a hub of laughter and conversation. The townspeople, who had once simply passed by his shop, began to drop in for small repairs, drawn by the warmth of Lily's presence and the gentle wisdom of Mr. Silas.

In the end, it was Lily, a young girl new to the town, who reminded everyone that even the most solitary among them had something valuable to offer, and that everyone, no matter how ordinary they might seem, was needed by someone. Mr. Silas, the old watchmaker, found companionship and purpose in Lily's eyes, while Lily discovered a mentor and a friend in the quiet man who had once been so alone. And so, the town of Willow Creek learned that even the smallest of connections could make a big difference, weaving a tapestry of lives where everyone was needed, and everyone belonged.

Revive and Renew

Some time back we had related a popular African folk story about how, in the jungle at dawn, all the animals get up and get to work. The gazelle knows it must outrun the fastest leopard or be eaten, and the leopard knows it must outrun the fastest gazelle or go hungry.

Like them, with each day of blessed awakening, a Christian must also revive and persevere. The cares of the day, concerns, sickness, troubles, financial burdens, temptations - all wear us down, and just as the leopard wears down its prey till it succumbs, so does the world and its diverse temptations and troubles, wear down our resistance.

The only way we can overcome is to renew and revive every morning with time devoted to conversing with God, reviewing our life, asking our questions to gain understanding so that we do not follow a blind faith but a faith based on understanding, knowledge and experience. Everyday is a new day and every day we learn something new from His word. Everyday we have new experiences which can wear us down or push us up and we need His word to renew us with understanding and wisdom.

Rev Francis Taylor sums this up well when she writes -

"Life is always going to throw hardships at us. Some will shake our faith and there will be those who will say that these hardships mean either that there is no God, or that God has abandoned us. Not true. God is with us in the difficult times. As with the early Christians, we need to stand firm and persevere in our faith, knowing that God will never abandon us. All we need to do is call upon him".

Saturday Vespers: The Power of Prayer

The power of prayer is well known and experienced. What possibly may not be so known is the power of corporate prayer. It is power multiplied to the power of 'n'.

We bring prayer requests to you every week for this very reason: everyone mentioned here needs you. We have seen the results of your prayer as well: The Pastor who's wife has stage four cancer seems to be getting better. She is happier, more health and her appetite is coming back, which is always a good sign. The Pastor in Melbourne is now fine, doing well and back to his ministry. We want you to know that your prayers are making a difference so please do continue. Remember this verse -

"Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ".

—Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)

Today we bring these requests for you -

- Miranda requests prayer saying: May STEVES SURGERY GO SMOOTHLY AND HEAL HIM

- We ask you to continue to prayer for the Pastor in India for the healing of his wife and a an miracle from Jesus.

- Pray for the senior lady in India for the healing of her back pain and relief.

- Brij requests prayer for his workplace - for Gods will to be done and wisdom to prevail on everyone. Help him to overcome his issues so that Gods hand is seen by all.

- Prayers for Maime and he new spouse

- Paladin requests prayer and 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. For good results from a DNA test...4. That God would provide me with money to eat with each and every month...5. That I would be able to pay my own debts and not have to depend on someone else...6. That I would lose 30 lbs...7. That God might see fit to restore my health...8. That God would help me not to give up on my dreams and my goals...9. That I might be able to go out West two more times and go back to Kentucky as well...10. That God would straighten out all of the mess that is in my life right now...11. That God would help me make sense of everything...12. 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...13. That God would calm me down and settle my nerves over all of this...

- A businessman in India requests prayer for guidance and success as he moves forward in his business ops

- The situation in California is currently quite challenging due to ongoing wildfires. Southern California is experiencing severe wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana winds and extreme drought conditions. These fires have caused significant damage, with thousands of buildings destroyed and tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. The Hughes Fire in Castaic, the Palisades Fire, and the Eaton Fire are among the most impactful, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain them. Pray for those affected, those helping and those supporting.

The Rod and the Staff

Psalm 23 is one of the most cherished and widely recognized psalms in the Bible. Written by King David, it is a profound declaration of faith and trust in God's guidance and protection. While it is a beautiful Psalm, it does contain some enigmatic verses and references, among which is one in verse 4: The rod and the staff. How can a rod and staff comfort anyone? those words conjure up visions of hard punishment, some possibly reminding us of Oliver Twist and Mr. Beadle.

Today we will try and understand this one line - "thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me".

The entire psalm uses the metaphor of God as a shepherd and the believer as His sheep. This imagery was relatable to the people of David's time, as shepherding was a common occupation. The shepherd's role was to provide, protect, and guide the sheep, which beautifully parallels God's relationship with His people.

Being that the God is imagined as our shepherd, the Shepherd’s Tools will naturally be of relevance. The rod and staff are tools used by shepherds to guide, protect, and discipline their sheep. The rod was an oaken club, about two feet long which the shepherd used to ward of wild animals and protect his sheep. It is also used to discipline the sheep when needed. 

The staff on the other hand, is a long, slender tool with a hook or crook at one end, used by shepherds to guide and care for their sheep. Even if the sheep fall into a hollow, the staff can be used to pull out the sheep from the abyss. It symbolizes the shepherd's authority, concern, and kindness towards the flock.

Thus, the rod can be used to fend off predators, while the staff helps guide and support the sheep.

These tools symbolize God's protection, discipline and guidance. The rod represents God's power to protect from harm, from the world' dangers as well as from our own selves, as well as ensure discipline and the staff signifies His guidance and support. Together, they provide comfort, knowing that God is actively involved in the believer's well-being.

In modern times, this verse continues to resonate deeply. Whether facing personal struggles, illness, loss, or uncertainty, believers find solace in knowing that God walks with them through every trial. It serves as a reminder that God's guidance and protection are constant, and His presence brings comfort and strength.

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

How Can I trust God?

We often hear these buzz words - "Trust in God". We hear it sermons and most of all we hear it from well-wishers when we are in some trouble or a possible rock bottom. Its even printed on currency as - "In God we Trust". 

It's easy to say; easy to hear; but very difficult to listen and do. Often this line becomes "jargon".

So how can we actually develop trust in God?

First let's get it clear: Building trust is an ongoing process. It's not overnight and instantaneous. It requires faith, patience, and a willingness to surrender control. It's about believing in His plan and timing, even when life is uncertain. Here are a few things we can do:

Get to Know God

Every time I read the Bible, I learn something new about God. Charles Spurgeon, a renowned preacher, once said, "Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years." This emphasizes the idea that the Bible is an ever-deepening source of wisdom and revelation. The Bible is God's Word and the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance. Reading and meditating on scripture helps you understand His promises and character. Verses like Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding," provide reassurance and encouragement. Furthermore, sharing your hopes, dreams and problems is essential. Regular communication with God through prayer is essential. Share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns with Him. Prayer is not just about asking for help but also about building a connection and seeking His presence. How many times have we prayed - "Hi God, how are you today?"

Understand that trusting God is a journey. Embrace the process and be patient with yourself as you grow in faith.

Learn to recognize God’s Faithfulness- Recall times when God has been faithful and answered your prayers. Reflecting on past blessings can strengthen your trust in His ability to provide and guide you. Also get inspired by other's stories and testimonies.

Surrender Control - again, easier said than done. Trusting God involves surrendering control and letting go. This can be challenging, especially when facing difficult situations, but it's a crucial step in developing trust.

Recognize FEAR for what it is (FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL. Remember, Satan is a deceiver). Let Faith replace fear. Faith is hope and belief that God will do us no harm. He wishes the best for us. Find His assurances in His word. Find His promises. Without knowing what He can and will do, how can anyone build trust and faith?

Trust often involves waiting for God's timing, which may not align with our own. Patience is key to trusting that God is working behind the scenes and that His timing is perfect.

Practice Inclusive Decision making - every day, every minute we are taking a decision. The choice is do we decide with our own will or God's? Involve God in all your decisions. He will guide through His word and through various circumstances, opportunities and/or failures. Yes, failures too guide us on the right track.

Finally - and we have said this before - cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Thankfulness helps shift your focus from what you lack to what you have, deepening your trust in God's provision. Become thankful and dependable. Become trustworthy to God as well. Do what you promise to do or do not make any promises. For example, we may recite the Lord's Prayer every day, but do we do what we say we will do? 

As we become trustworthy to God, we will build our own trust as well. 

Where is God?

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 story of Nurse Clara Maass, who had previously contracted and survived yellow fever while working as a nurse. During the Spanish Flu, she volunteered to participate in an experiment to find a cure for the disease and ultimately succumbed to it, sacrificing her life in the hope of helping others

There is a lot of good work being done in the world and we saw the human side of humans coming out in empathy, for the affected people. Whether covid time or not, many, many people across the world need financial support, recognition and moral support. The latest tragedy we are seeing is in California, where it has been challenging for firefighters and residents alike, with mandatory evacuations in place for many communities. The fires have highlighted the need for better community planning and infrastructure to prevent such devastating events in the future.

In all these disasters and pandemics, we may well ask "where is God?'

During challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, many people turned to their faith for comfort, hope, and understanding. Believers found solace in knowing that God was present with them, even amidst the trials and uncertainties. Here's a perspective on where God was during the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. In the Hearts of Healthcare Workers:- Many healthcare workers displayed incredible bravery, compassion, and dedication. Their selfless acts of caring for the sick and vulnerable reflected God's love and mercy.

2. In the Acts of Kindness: - People around the world came together to help one another, whether by delivering groceries to neighbors, donating to food banks, or supporting frontline workers. These acts of kindness and generosity were seen as expressions of God's grace.

3. In the Strength of Communities:- Communities united to support each other, showing resilience and solidarity. Virtual worship services, prayer groups, and community initiatives helped people stay connected and find strength in their faith.

4. In the Moments of Reflection:- The pandemic provided an opportunity for many to pause, reflect, and deepen their spiritual practices. People found comfort in prayer, meditation, and reading scripture, drawing closer to God.

5. In the Comfort of Prayer:- For many, prayer became a source of solace and strength. Seeking God's presence and guidance through prayer provided peace and reassurance during uncertain times.

6. In the Healing and Recovery:- Stories of recovery and healing offered hope and a reminder of God's power to restore and renew. Medical advancements and the efforts of researchers and scientists were seen as blessings and answers to prayers.

7. In the Hope for the Future:- Faith provided hope for a better future and the belief that God was working through the situation to bring about good. Trust in God's plan helped many navigate the challenges with hope and resilience.

While the pandemics brought immense pain and loss, many found comfort in their faith and the belief that God was with them, providing strength, guidance, and love. Today, whatever our situation - God is there for us to find. Within us and around us.