A testimony, A Faithful God

I like to share this testimony this week. Hoping that someone will be touched or someone in trouble will find light to there problem. This was mailed to me by a reader and I have put up the article since i know the person involved

There was a dark day in my life, a few months ago, when I came to know that my pregnancy is actually terminated, and that they would either wait for a natural expulsion or would proceed with the D&C. I cannot tell you what exactly I felt. This was the second time it was happening, I had felt that everything would go very natural and finally my dreams would take wings and I will finally have what I wanted. But listening this from the doctor made me numb for a while. Truly, my head was blank for some time. Yet I tried hard not to get bitter at god, for I knew that He just CAN’T make mistakes. I tried so hard and then made a very conscious effort and sang

‘count your blessings, name them one by one,

count your blessing see what god has done,

count your blessings name them one by one,

and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

And yet to be very frank, nothing seemed to make any sense. Came home and just felt this big darkness wrapped around me and I think for the first time, heard the ticking of the clock so loudly and the silence and the loneliness frightened me like no other time. I felt small, weak and helpless. And when the whole world was being intoxicated at the entrance of a new year, I went through what science terms as ‘inevitable abortion’. It was hard, real hard to go through all that, even before you have time enough to think clearly about the events that are occurring. And if you thought, I have penned this down to bring clouds of utter disappointment into your life, I am sorry! I am writing this to say that this is what I have felt or this is what I had to go through to make sure that I completed one act of the page of the big drama that my Creator intended for me. But that is over there, the pain or the painful memory might come across my mind once in a while or may be more that that. But, when I struggled, when I cried, when nothing seemed to matter or made any sense, the Word of God, which we call the Bible made a lot of sense to me. I knew for real then, what it was to ‘cast all our cares upon Him’, or to really ‘hide under the shadow of the Almighty’ or the truth hidden in the word that ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. And most of all when I went through that terrible pain, I really felt my Jesus, my Savior, standing next to me. May be when I say I felt it, may not be a real word, I KNEW. And then I knew I was not alone. And in all these times God was speaking to me and kept on reassuring that this pain was for more grace and I have to just trust Him.

Days have passed, yes I do feel human sometimes, and yet……and yet, God’s faithfulness has not changed. His love, mercy, compassion, loving kindness and all that is His nature has not ceased. He is right beside me when I need a place to lean on and ever beside me to guide me with His wisdom. If any out there, is going through times which you think it hard for you NOW, it is because - like me, you don’t see the other side. So we just have to let go and trust this wonderful god to do the sailing, for He knows the waters well. I think our days should be better spent in reviewing our self and to work towards making ourselves the better person our Creator expects us to be. It is wise not to hang on to silly things and to lose our peace and joy, and think that we know it better. If god wills that you have it, He will let it flow your way. For He never withholds goodness and mercy from His children, all that is expected out of us at the same time is to seek His kingdom and His righteousness and yet even if it takes time further for things to fall our way……just understand only this much, the biggest Potter is in the business of making a special vessel out of you. We should rather be in His hands than enjoy the momentary fickleness of this world. It is always best to wait for God to give His very best than crave like the world to settle for what appears to be ‘just good’. Jesus will come soon and if He wants you to enjoy certain things in this world He will give it, if not, how much more consoling is the reality that we can be with our Lord for eternity!

Pain, sickness, disappointment are all part of this fallen world. Let’s stop blaming Adam & Eve for what they did in garden Eden. Let’s be rejoicing in the fact that the curse of hell is broken, for a Precious King hung on the cross in our place, for one and all. Let’s not just be saved for a day, but let us experience salvation day by day and find new realms of peace that God has in store for us, for His word clearly says (Col. 3: 15) “and let the peace of God rule in our hearts, to which also you were called in one body” or as it says (Phi 4:6), to be anxious for nothing, but leave it all to Him and then to experience His peace. This formula applies all the time not just when we pray for those who are mourning the dear one’s death! Let’s not become shortsighted with the trivialities but let’s be determined to explore the very nature of God, for it is really time that we agree that we don’t know Him. Just as Job correctly says “we have only heard about Him”. To put it short, let’s admit that we know ‘about’ Him, and that as each day unravels we will know one nature of god, for He is like a diamond that shines from all angles. And all that our Creator has in store for us, even the tough moments, let’s embrace it for James says “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” and as Paul says “endure afflictions” for our soul is made perfect and drawn close to our Real Source of life through these times.

May God bless you all richly.

Reap What You Sow

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. John 12:24

The Passover feast mentioned in John 12 is very special. A huge gathering was there. One like never before and this was to see Lazarus who was raised from death and Jesus the One who performed this miracle. Among them a few Greeks made their way(John 12:20-22) to see and hear from God. However, Jesus was not taken by this ‘celebrity’ status. He spoke these verses to emphasize that it is all the same seeing Lazarus and God until 'a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die'. But what does this really mean?

As we look, we can see that the 'fall of a grain and its death' implies humbleness in us. Think about the many who made it to the list of Great in the world but all had a humble beginning.

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. 2 Ch 7:14

Does anyone feel that our prayers will be answered if it comes from a heart not humble, not seeking him or not truthful enough? The importance of prayer is being felt very much through out the world, then how much more powerful will a prayer be when we give it with a dedicated heart. He says our prayers will not only be heard but He will forgive our sin also. He will not only forgive our sins but also heal the land we stay. If He heals the land He will heal our houses too for sure. Heal even the unrests and pain and bring joy. There are always limitations to the comfort a mom, a dad, a friend or any can give but a healing and a deliverance from sin will lighten our heart and make our worries, sickness, sufferings all look light.

Being humble is a basic character that a child of god should exhibit, for Jesus, being the Son of God was stuck, spat on, wounded for us then can’t we in return be humble. No grain falls on the beds of the Kings but it falls on muddy fields and are trampled under foot but reaps a great reward when the harvest time comes.

And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
and he fell upon the earth. Acts 9:3-4

Saul was a very powerful person, who had the authority to condemn the people who worked for god, but no power or authority was big enough to keep him from being visited by God. If we feel that we ourself can get rid of the evil in our flesh it mite fail to happen quiet often, for it can raise its hood like a snake when the time is ripe for it. “And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.” (Gal 5:24) was all what Apostle Paul could advice. Steadfast prayer and submission is the only way forward from from this.

And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. Acts 9:19-20

Do not always wait for God to tell you that you are on the wrong path and push you to ground. Saul needed an Ananias for him to stand again, Let not us wait and test the Lord, for there might not be an Ananias for us too. Hence, as the time is right forgo all the evil of the flesh and submit to the Lord.

Joseph was another person who fell like a grain to the ground. To see the fulfillment of the dream that God had shown him he never gave into the temptations of Photpher’s wife (Gen 39:4). Moses too was an example who once in his anger killed an Egyptian (Ex 2:11-22) but God took a lot of time and a fire among bushes for him to be the Moses who divided the Red sea with his rod. Anger, adultery, hatred, lust are all deeds of the flesh. For to lead a Christian life we should all be done with such deeds and things that make us weary, and to backslide.

Lets us then be like a grain and be fruitful for God. A small prayer from a humble heart will really help us.

God bless us all.

Knights in Shining Amour

Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield. Ps 33:20

During rain we use an umbrella as not to be wet and drenched, then how much more important is the shield of god in our day-to-day life. For god to guard us with this shield we need to wait on Him. We often have a self-belief that our own strengths are enough for us in our life. We feel that we will achieve a lot relaying on this strength. However, can we? A shield that not only protects us from harms and dangers but from sickness, sorrows, tribulation and that leads us to eternal life.

After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen 15:1

Father Abraham was a person who ‘hoped against hope’ for the best in his life, but relying on God. God never let Abraham down for waiting on him though it took 25 long years. For God became his shield with time. For god knew that Abraham was waiting on Him. However, Lord not only became his shield but also became his ‘exceeding great reward’. Like the way we are blessed with incentives and bonus our God is in no way in-debt to anyone. Our God will not only shield you when u wait on him but also reward us exceedingly in life when he sees us waiting on him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Eph 6:10-16

Have we ever seen a soldier fight without his basic protections of arsenals and protective clothing ? Then how much can we children of God stand the ‘fiery darts of the evil one’ without his shield guarding us. Apostle Paul who was caught up to third heaven (2 Cor 12:2) was even dealt evil by Alexander the coppersmith (2 Tim 4:14). Then how can we mere mortals be ever easy to be not preys of the evil one.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1 Sam 17:45

David, a shepherd boy had the strongest weapon in him when he went to face Goliath. Though armies of Israel had attacked and failed repeatedly, the shield of the lord proved to be David’s strength.

Therefore, why then are we trying to prove our might without the shield of the lord? Let us wait on him for he will guard us with ‘HIS’ shield, a shield no one can damage a shield that will keeps us till we win the race. Praying and waiting on him let us built and renew the shield that we be all seen in his coming.

God bless us all.