GUILTY!

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.”

Matthew 15 Ver 7-9

If we were on trial on our behavior and response to the almighty, GUILTY would surely be the verdict. So, what do we do about this? Here is a great suggestion from Ms. Francis Taylor:

"What example do we give others? If we are known as Christians, do our actions proclaim it? We can't take for granted that we are living as Jesus wants us to live if we don't pay attention. Just as in Lent, we are called to a greater sense of reflection, Advent reminds us that this life is not our final home. It can be overwhelming to try to see all of the areas that might need to be improved, so I'm suggesting that we take just one of the Ten Commandments that we might have some trouble with and see what changes we need to make to become more faithful to God. Perhaps we have trouble with the truth. Maybe we gossip, wanting to be the first to pass on juicy pieces of information. It might be that we need to clean up our speech and stop swearing and cursing. It can be anything that we find interferes with our relationship with God. If it interferes with our relationships with other people, it interferes with our relationship with God".

So, are you up to the challenge? Can you pick just one of the 10 and consciously make the effort to improve this Advent so we can give our gift of obedience to the Baby Jesus this Christmas.

The Truth about Ruth

                                   

Ruth 1:16 “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Reading the story of Ruth has always been an inspiration. Naomi is devastated, Ruth's decision to tie herself into the hopeless situation of Naomi and her life changing decision to jump from the frying pan into the fire is incomprehensible by today's standard. She faced complete devastation yet became an inspiration for us when we face hard and terrible tragedy or circumstances.

Joy Burgess puts it so well when she says -

"When life brings devastation, it’s not easy to hope. It’s hard to have faith. But when things are the most difficult, that’s when we need faith and hope the most. In the moments where life feels like it’s crushing you, start with a little faith. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And looking at the book of Ruth, we can see that even when we can’t see beyond our pain to his plan, we can have hope that our story isn’t over – better days are coming.

It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Her commitment to journey on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act, and a stunning example of the love of Christ – the same Christ who would be of her bloodline years later.

No matter your past, you still have a purpose. Your past is not your final destination when you make a choice in faith, when we put our trust in God. While our confidence may be wavering, God’s promises are not."

                                                      Joy Burgess in 7 Powerful Lessons we can Learn from Ruth.

Unlike today's influencers Ruth was not setting a trend. Ruth had no idea that millions of people would read her story and it would motivate many men and women across the world.

Broken Spirit

Jonah 2: 7
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple".

"The loss of a loved one causes deep sorrow; we feel anguish at the thought of separation from the ones we love".

This grief, no matter of how long ago, never really goes but get heightened on special occasions and most of all at Christmas. Memories can cause a lot of pain.

"Grief piles so high upon our hearts; we feel suffocated and broken. Then we remember our God and His unconditional love; we feel His presence and recall His promise of eternal life. Although it's difficult to be separated today, we know we will be reunited. God never breaks His promises, and our faith brings us hope for a new day".

Ms. Francis Taylor

Today we have shared this video which was shared by a reader of this blog. We further share it for all those broken-hearted people who may take some comfort.

Outside Looking inside.

I'm on the outside looking inside,

                                         What do I see?

                                         Much confusion, disillusion,

                                         Deep inside me.

There is a very powerful devotional called God Calling, https://www.twolisteners.org/, and we recommend you may get it as well. Its supposed to be Jesus speaking to 2 ladies, seemingly getting overwhelmed with life, as many of us are maybe. We suggest you may get it as well. Today's posting is quoted from this book - Devotional of November 28.

"To work from large interests, and a desire for great activities and world movements, to the inner circle life with me, is really the wrong way. That is why, so often, through all these activities and interests, a soul finds me, I have to begin our friendship by cutting away ties that bind it to the outer and wider circle. When it has gained strength and learned its lesson in the inner circle, it can then widen its life, working this time from within out, taking then, to each contact, to each friendship, the inner circle influence.

And this is to be your way of life.

This is the way of the spirit. Man so often misunderstands this".

We have quoted this as it makes a lot of sense. We are influenced by the world around us, trying to guide our hearts in line with Gods word. Whereas maybe it should be the other way round. Letting Gods word into our soul which will guide us as we navigate the external world. 

This, of course is open to opinion and we would love our readers to think about this and share your thought with us as well.

Unseen Anguish !

Genesis 42 : 21 ESV
Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

This is a very popular story about Joseph and his brothers. So popular and familiar that, in fact, that we sometimes overlook the small nuances which is the case in this verse.

Nowhere in Joseph's story is it written about what he went through. What he felt. But in this verse, it talks about the anguish he felt as he was left in that pit to die. He was distressed and anguished to his very soul. Such a strong emotion that his soul itself was distressed.

Or so he thought. If only he knew Gods plan, he would have happily gone into the pit on his own, singing merrily.

Isn't it much like a lot of situations we face in life? We don't know the outcome, so we are distressed and anguished. In that anguished moment we envision the worst outcomes, like probably Joseph did. Or we may have been the cause of such anguish, like Joseph's brothers, and walked away without a thought. Or there maybe someone who is anguished by life itself and we walk away, without a second thought.

Today, let us pause to think of all the times we may have been in either situation, and, take corrective action. If we have been anguished, remember the time and remember the outcome, forgive the person and thank God who brought us through. Forgiveness is sweet.

And if we have been the perpetrators, ask for forgiveness from the Almighty and take steps of repentance. In case we are neither, and someone we know is in distress, let us not ignore them.

When we are in distress and anguished, let's focus on the one who helps us fly above the storm like the eagle, using the force of the storm itself.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

It is not Thanksgiving!

                              

No, it's not the last Thursday of November. That is a tradition reserved for Americans. 

Since its the season we call it out today, though it could be any day in the year to stop to think of His greatness - from the universal to the personal, and all that we have been blessed with. Think life; think Covid; think tsunami; yet we are blessed to be here. 

Thanksgiving is a tradition. Let's make it a habit!

Creation, by itself, fills one with awe when you stop to think how it could have been made. Imagine this: the earth hangs in the air, with no support, rotates so that each part of it gets the sun and the moon by turns. We praise Him for this creation that we enjoy day on day, night by night, every second.

Think about ourselves. Truly He knew us much before we were born. He brought us into a family or friends who brought us to Him. We thank God for their presence in our lives. Think about the moments of great danger we did not even know yet protected. 

He gave us handpicked life partners for continuity when our parents ceased to live. He gave us the fellowship of believers, past and present, who helped us in our journey. When we didn't connect to the right partner, He gave us access to a fellowship. When we did not appreciate them or use them, He gave us a reason to; every morning - when we woke up, we gained consciousness. He gave us each day- to live and bless. 

He used family and friends, dead and alive, to take care of us when we needed it most. He circled us with a hedge of His protection throughout our lives. He took us away from danger even when we may not even be aware.

While we may be going through tough times, we keep going in His grace and strength. We are still protected by His hedge. After all we live in this world and will face challenges of this world. But we live in hope, because all these people brought us to Him who gave us this hope. 

Let us praise Him and thank Him for His love and all these people who shared His love with us.

Crowd Sourced Missionaries

The world is full of people in need of something. Even the richest have needs, as do the poorest. Everyone has some need or the other.

As we are called upon to support one another, how do we fill in the needs of all the people around us? Financial, emotional, education, jobs, medical, loneliness, and the list goes on. No one single person can help fulfill all this.

Or can they?

We know of a lady who tries to do just that and has developed a very unique operating model. When she comes to know of someone in need, she first listens, ascertains it is genuine to the best of her ability, and then circulates that need to her circle of friends and acquaintances. People come together, contribute what they can, and she then channelizes it to the person who needed it. She does not amass on a large scale and then distribute. She addresses each need separately - be it a wedding of a poor person, or medical needs or education, clothes, food and so on. 

In short, she has created an informal support group where people come together to help address some need, of someone. They are crowd sourced missionaries, with one mission: helping people.

These missionaries do not realize it, but this is their mission. Individually, they do not profess great Biblical knowledge, nor are philanthropists, nor have any extra money. Together they are a strong force for good, driven by simply concern for others. 

The point here is that we can all do it, if we train ourselves to be empathetic and sensitive, to other's needs. 

Potentially, we are all angels, though some of us may not know it yet! So, lets pick up our socks and find out someone's need. Let us not wait for someone to ask. 

Prophecies: Part II - Continuing Pastor Rajiv's Message

 

My Horrorscope

 

Or horoscope?

Such is man's desire to know his or her future that we resort to the stars, who tell us when and what will happen. Especially when we are facing tough times, we are extremely keen to know when it will end. We pray about it, we remember Gods promises and when it does not happen, we are tempted to resort to the stars.

Many also read their horoscopes for fun, entertainment or just to pass time at an airport. Or so they think: If there is some strong prediction, one does not forget it and, consciously or subconsciously, starts linking events to it. Whether we like it or not, want it or not, it does have an effect on us. 

At such times we need to remind ourselves two things - Gods ways are not our ways, and our time is not His time. We need to wait on Him, for His ways.

As regards our horoscopes, in Isaiah 47, we see that God condemned those who did use astrology in this way. Verse 12 first condemns the magicians, and then verses 13-14 goes say the following: “Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds".

I not only take that as a warning but a threat as well. It definitely conveys God's displeasure. Now, if the creator of our future is displeased, what happens to our future? 

Why is Prophesy Important: Pastor Rajiv's Weekly Message

 

This is Part I of the complete message where Pastor Rajiv gives the history and reasons behind the prophesying.