Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message 

The Waiting Room

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee… Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 (KJV)

💬 Reflection

When problems persist, or maybe sickness healing feels slow or life is uncertain, it’s easy to wonder if we’ve missed something—if our prayers weren’t strong enough, our faith not deep enough. But even Paul, the great apostle who witnessed miracles, once left his friend Trophimus behind, still sick. There was no dramatic healing. Just quiet trust.

This isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a reminder that God’s love is not measured by outcomes, but by presence. He doesn’t withdraw when things are hard. He draws closer. His peace doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances—it meets us in the middle of the storm.

And here’s the most beautiful truth: God knows you by name. Not just your diagnosis. Not just your pain. He knows your heart, your hopes, your quiet courage. You are not a statistic or a shadow—you are His beloved child, fully seen and deeply cherished.

You may feel tired. You may feel overlooked. But heaven has not forgotten you. You are held, redeemed, and named by the Most High. His love surrounds you, even now. His grace is enough for today.

🙏 Prayer: You are Held in His Palm

Heavenly Father, In this moment of uncertainty, I rest in the certainty of Your love. You know me by name. You see every cell, every tear, every hope. Even when healing feels delayed, Your presence is never absent. You are my refuge, my strength, and my peace.

I thank You for walking with me through this valley—not as a distant God, but as a close and caring Father. Let Your comfort surround me. Let Your joy rise within me. Renew my spirit, restore my strength, and remind me that I am never alone. I trust You—not just for the outcome, but for every step along the way. Help me to wait on you.

Amen.

🌟 Affirmation: I Am Known, I Am Loved, I Am His

• I am not defined by my problem—I am defined by God’s love.

• I am deeply known and fully seen by the One who formed me.

• I am not forgotten. I am not forsaken. I am held.

• Each day, I receive new strength, new grace, and new peace.

• I walk through this with courage, because I do not walk alone.

Break Through The Roof

"And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." — Mark 2:4

The story in Mark 2 is one of the most vivid demonstrations of what daring faith looks like. Four friends, carrying a paralyzed man, arrive at a house where Jesus is teaching—only to find the crowd so thick they can’t even get through the door. Most people would have turned back. But not these men.

They climbed the roof. They tore it open. They lowered their friend down into the very presence of Jesus.

This is what daring faith does—it finds a way when there seems to be no way.

1. Daring Faith Is Determined: Obstacles didn’t discourage these men. The crowd wasn’t a barrier—it was a challenge. Daring faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It acts boldly, even when the path is unconventional.

2. Daring Faith Is Creative: They didn’t just push harder—they thought differently. Faith sometimes requires us to break through the ceiling of our comfort zones, traditions, or expectations to reach Jesus.

3. Daring Faith Is Compassionate: This wasn’t just about their belief—it was about love. They carried someone who couldn’t move on his own. Daring faith lifts others, intercedes for them, and brings them closer to healing.

4. Daring Faith Is Rewarded: Jesus didn’t just heal the man physically—He forgave his sins. The breakthrough wasn’t just in the body, but in the soul. Faith that dares to reach Jesus always receives more than expected.

A Prayer for Daring Faith

Lord, give me the kind of faith that climbs roofs and breaks barriers. Help me to see obstacles as opportunities, and to act with boldness, creativity, and compassion. May I never settle for standing outside when You are calling me to come closer. Amen.

So let this be the year you tear through the roof. What’s standing between you and Jesus today—and what bold step will you take to break through?

Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

The Wrong "IF"

Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe". — Mark 9:23

A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a dumb spirit. The father, having seen the futility of the endeavours of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was bidden to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” 

Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor trembling father had put the “if” in the wrong place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its legitimate position. “Nay, verily,” he seemed to say, “there should be no ‘if’ about my power, nor concerning my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunction never to return. There is a lesson here which we need to learn. 

We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can heal me—“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation—“if” he can give me pardon—“if” he can make me successful? No. “If” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” 

If you can confidently trust, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you. 

All things, without limit, are possible to him that believes.

(Based on a KJV devotional)

What is Your Vision

A vision statement is a concise, inspirational declaration that outlines what an organization ultimately aspires to become or achieve in the long term. Think of it as your North Star—it guides strategic decisions, energizes teams, and communicates your future impact to stakeholders.

But what is the "vision statement" for our (Christian Lives)?

As a Christian, our vision statement can serve as a powerful guide for our life, aligning our actions with our faith. 

Our personal Christian vision statement can take many forms., depending on our focus.  A few examples are given here  

​Service-Oriented

​To humbly reflect Christ's love by serving others and working for justice, so that all may experience God's grace and goodness.

This statement emphasizes living out our faith through action, focusing on both personal service and broader social issues like justice.

​Relationship-Focused

​Another one is relationship focused. 

To grow in my relationship with God and to build authentic, loving relationships with others, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in every interaction.

This vision statement centers on the importance of our personal spiritual journey and how that relationship overflows into our interactions with others. It highlights the relational aspect of faith.

​Faith-Sharing

​To be a faithful witness to the Gospel, sharing God’s hope and truth with kindness and courage, and inviting others into a deeper relationship with Him.

This statement is for someone who feels called to actively share their faith. It highlights the importance of both the message you share and the manner in which you share it—with kindness and courage.

​Personal Growth

​To continually seek a deeper understanding of God’s word and will, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform me into a person who reflects Christ's character in thought, word, and deed.

This vision is more focused on our own spiritual formation and sanctification. It's about a commitment to lifelong learning and personal transformation.

​You can also use these as a starting point and combine elements that resonate most with you. For example, you could blend the service-oriented and relationship-focused ideas to create something that feels more personal.

But having a Vision Statement is not enough: You need to have an action plan as well. And that is a "Mission Statement". 

For example- for a relationship-focused vision statement, a mission statement should be an actionable plan that outlines how you will achieve that vision. Your mission is what you do daily to live out your vision.

​Here's an example of how a mission statement can pair with a relationship-focused vision:

​Vision

​To grow in my relationship with God and to build authentic, loving relationships with others, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in every interaction.

​Mission

​To seek God daily through prayer and scripture, and to intentionally listen, serve, and encourage others with empathy, so that every relationship reflects His grace.

​This mission statement breaks down the vision into clear, actionable steps:

• ​"To seek God daily through prayer and scripture" addresses the personal relationship with God mentioned in the vision.

• ​"To intentionally listen, serve, and encourage others with empathy" outlines specific actions for building authentic relationships.

• ​"so that every relationship reflects His grace" ties these actions back to the ultimate goal of demonstrating the Gospel's transformative power.

​By combining these two, you have a powerful guide: the vision is your ultimate destination, and the mission is the path you take to get there. 

Words

Question: Do your words stir up discord or bring peace?

Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

Fact: "Violent language often is as deadly as a lethal weapon.”

Every word we speak carries weight. It can either be a spark that ignites conflict or a balm that brings healing. In moments of tension, our instinct may be to defend, correct, or retaliate—but Scripture calls us to something higher: peace.

Ask yourself: Do my words stir up discord or bring peace? Do they reflect frustration or faith? Judgment or gentleness?

In the words of Tom Hanks in Life, Hope and Truth - "When I was a little boy, my mother taught me: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I’ve thought about that many times, but it just isn’t true. As well-intentioned as the statement may be, words do hurt!

Words are incredibly potent. Wise King Solomon knew that, writing, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). What we choose to say really does matter!

Consider the power of words of hatred and defiance on a placard being carried by a protester. Consider the impact of words of anger and venom being shouted through a megaphone to a riled-up crowd. Consider the words of disrespect and attack said by one political leader about another.

Or, conversely, consider the words of comfort from a friend to one in need. Consider the words that encourage someone trying to master a new skill. Consider the impact of words of love and affection from a spouse or family member as when one is struggling with a trial.

Consider even the importance of correction that is given out of love and concern and with an eye toward helping us improve. Solomon also wrote, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).

It seems to be the norm today for many to say whatever they think or feel—uncensored and without much thought for how it may impact others. Social media platforms are used to attack, malign and bully almost with impunity. No dignity. No respect. Only using words as if they were arrows or bullets.

It is all too common for words to be used with devastating effect within families. Parents disparage and ridicule their children. Children say hurtful and angry things to parents, sometimes calling them vile names. Husbands and wives get angry with each other, and with their words they slice and dice like a wood chipper, spitting their mate out the other side.

Sometimes the impact of hateful or hurtful words will echo in the mind for decades, long after the speaker may have forgotten about it.

Conversely, we may also find that gentle and kind words of encouragement can buoy the heart and mind for decades, and once again, long after the speaker may have entirely forgotten them.

How have you used your words in the past? How do you use your words today? No one is perfect with his or her words (James 3:8), but we can always learn to do better".

Jesus didn’t just speak truth—He spoke it with grace. His words restored dignity, calmed storms, and invited the broken to belong. As His followers, we’re called to do the same.

You can study more about this in our online article “Sticks and Stones: 6 Ways to Improve Your Words.”

How Not to Be Stupid!

Today's interesting post is taken from the Blog Life, Hope and Truth by Tom Clark. It addresses a very common problem we have - taking correction, accepting it and implementing it. Problem is - most of us are averse to it , which is stupid. My thoughts are simple: If we don't know how to stand corrected and do a course correction in our life, how can we claim to learn from Jesus? And therefore, how can we even claim to be Christians? 

Tom Clarks words ring true for every one of us so here it is: How do we course correct the Christian way: 

"We can all think back to when we were children and were corrected by our parents—and it was never enjoyable! No matter how gentle, loving and even merciful they may have been, it still stung to be corrected.

Does it get any easier to accept correction as an adult? If you can honestly answer “yes” to that question, then you are a rare individual!

Most people still find it quite distasteful to be corrected, and yet virtually everyone is corrected in one way or another throughout life. Perhaps correction comes through the words or example of a spouse, a neighbor, a boss or supervisor, a coworker, or a brother or sister in the faith. Not all of these times are deliberate, and sometimes the person giving the correction doesn’t even know he or she is doing so. But when it hits us, it stings.

At that point, we have a decision to make.

Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

It stings to be corrected, but if we respond well, it will lead to good and positive results.

So, how do we respond to correction? William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible commentary brings out several possible reactions to correction, and I believe his thoughts bear consideration. I want to share his categories along with my own thoughts too.

When corrected we may . . .

Resignedly accept it. This is the stoic “stiff upper lip” type of response. No rebellious action is taken, but neither is it accepted with an open heart. The correction is seen as coming from a person in a position of power, and there is no choice but to assume a kind of defeated acceptance. Very little can be truly learned this way, and there is little if any growth.

Accept it with a grim sense of just getting it over as quickly as possible. I can’t tell you how many times I saw this reaction in my children as they were growing up. They weren’t interested in learning so much as just being done with the punishment. With this approach, there is never any gratitude for pointing out something wrong or potentially harmful, only some resentment combined perhaps with embarrassment. The result is a conspicuous lack of learning anything from the correction!

Accept it with an attitude of self-pity. I would refer to this as the Eeyore approach to life. You may remember that ever-discouraged donkey in the Winnie the Pooh stories. No matter what happened to him, it was always tragic. When another character greeted him with a cheerful “Good morning!” he would respond, “If it is a good morning, which I doubt.”

With this kind of approach to correction, all we can see is ourselves, our hurt and how we are just being beaten on again. As with the first two reactions, there is no positive growth, or even a mindset that allows for seeing the positive or the potential for learning and growth.

View correction as a punishment that is greatly resented. The basic question seems to be, “What did I ever do to deserve this?” Often this approach generates open anger and opposition to the correction. It views the correction as unjust or over-the-top or even just plain mean and vengeful. It is very difficult for a mind with this attitude to ever ask, “What does God want me to learn from this?”

Each of these four responses easily comes from a carnal and selfish mind. And none of them will bring about the results that are intended by the correction, nor will they bring peace of mind and happiness to us.

But there is another and much better option available:

To accept the correction as ultimately coming from a loving Father who only wants the best for us. To do this will require seeing God’s detailed involvement in our lives and having a living faith that He always has our best interests in mind. Even if someone spews angry emotional vomit all over us—95 percent of which isn’t even true—chances are there is a point or a lesson we can learn from the whole thing. This approach gives us the ability to see that everything can be used to make us a better and wiser son or daughter of God.

So, how do we respond to correction? It’s something to think about".

For a short study on this from the book of Proverbs, see “Taking Correction, or How Not to Be Stupid.”

Deep Diving into Psalm 19: Pastor Rajiv

 

When the Heavens Declare Gods Glory

Why Did it Have to be Me?

 

“The Lord trieth the righteous.” — Psalm 11:5 (KJV)

Have you ever been down into the depths of loss or heartbreak, suffering or complete disaster? When the only question in your head is "why me"? When you feel like you are being threshed literally with no escape?

It can be a heartbreaking thought - "I never hurt anyone, I tried to follow our Lord, I tried to do all the right things and I never hurt anyone knowingly. Then why? Why did it have to be me?"

Well, it had to be you for the very reasons you feel it should not have been: Your belief, faith & trust in the Lord.

This is not a dichotomy. This is the reality of our faith. We are entrusted with a mission because God sees our strength and faith in Him & knows we can see it through with His help.

Here is a lesson we can learn from wheat! Wheat, while nestled safely in its husk, is of no use to the one who planted it. Only through threshing—through the shaking, beating, and separating—does its true value emerge. So, it is with the righteous.

God, in His wisdom, sees the treasure hidden beneath our comfort, the strength forged in our struggles, the ministry birthed from our pain. “The Lord trieth the righteous”—not to shame, but to shape. Not to expose, but to expand. Not to destroy but to protect. 

Every trial is a tool. Every hardship is a holy invitation. What feels like breaking is often God’s way of building. He threshes us from the husk of self-reliance, pride, and fear, so that we might grow rich toward Him—full of faith, compassion, and purpose.

And here’s the miracle: Trials become testimonies. Testimonies become ministries. Ministries become movements.

And Movements are what happen when one person’s story ignites faith in many. It’s the ripple effect of grace—where healing multiplies, hope spreads, and lives are transformed beyond what we could imagine. What began as pain becomes purpose, and what began as personal becomes powerful. Your story, once marked by suffering, becomes a light for someone else’s path. What once wounded you now equips you to heal. That’s the divine exchange—pain into purpose, ashes into beauty.

So, my friend, if you’re in the middle of the threshing floor, take heart. You are not being discarded—you are being refined. You may not want this. You may hate it. You may fear the journey. But God does not expose you to the elements of this world to harm you. He is drawing out the wheat, the worth, the witness within you. He is healing you, building you and creating a witness for Himself because you become His Living Testimony.