The missionary organisation in which my Dad works, gets together every year for 3 days (27th to 29th of Dec) for a time of fasting and praising and thanking God. Its a time when everyone comes together to thank God for His blessings in the past year and seek His blessings for the coming year.
This year too, they had this fasting prayer and I had the privilege of attending the last day of this fasting prayer meeting. The first session was taken by the director of the organisation (who also happens to be my Uncle) and he spoke about giving. We were all a group of missionaries whose small salary was just enough to take care of ourselves and our children and our needs. It was hard to make ends meet with what we got and here our leader stood before us asking us to give from what we had. The message was an eye opener to me. He told the only way to prosperity was to give. He wanted the people in his organisation to be blessed and he said the only way we would be prosperous would be when we started to give, regardless of whether we had much or little.
He said that we didn't have to have much, to give. But we needed to give, to receive much.
Uncle shared an illustration from his life. He said that the village that he came from was, kind of a dry and a poor village. Those days missionaries from abroad had come to their village to share about Jesus to the people who lived there. One of the important lessons that the missionaries taught to the first Christians in that village was to give. The Christians were poor themselves and had hardly anything for themselves but the missionaries taught them that the only way to prosperity was to give. And so the Christians began to give. They were mostly poor farmers but they began by giving away bags of rice, coconuts, eggs, chicken, goats........ They had little but gave from the little they had. They just gave and gave and God began to open his doors of blessings in their lives. As they gave, God began to prosper them. Now that place is no more a village and the once poor farmers are now very rich and prosperous and they still give. The lesson that the missionaries taught them brought fruit in their lives.
This reminds me of the poor widow who gave the two coins. She was poor and all she had was the two coins. But she gave all that she had. She gave those two copper coins. There were other rich people around who were putting very costly gifts into the temple treasury but Jesus said that the widow who gave the two copper coins, gave the most. In God's eyes it wasn't how much the person gave that mattered, what mattered was the heart of giving.
In one of her books, Joyce Meyer writes about the importance of giving. She says that if you are waiting till you have enough for yourself to start giving, you will never have enough for yourself. You could just wait and wait and you would never have enough, no matter how much you have, unless you began to give. She writes to start giving from the little you have. When you start giving from the little you have, God begins to bless and prosper you and as you give and give, no matter how little you have, you'll find it to be enough and much much more left over. And you would open God's door of prosperity in your lives.
Now the thing is that the devil knows this truth as well as we do. And the last thing he wants is the prosperity of God's children. So Everytime you plan to give, he would fill your mind with questions like - Is there enough left for myself? What if there is a sudden emergency? Do I really have to give this away? What if God didn't actually bless me? What if God decided to bless me a little late?
Don't listen to them. Jesus wants us prosperous and that's why when he was on earth he said - if you have two tunics, give one to the one who does not have. In other words, all you need are two sets of clothes to start giving.
My mother's Dad (ie my grandfather) was one of the richest man in the village where they lived. And this meant my mother got to have a lot of silk sarees. And yeah being a girl, she did treasure her silk sarees a lot. After she was married to Dad, one of the first lessons he taught her when he first took her to the mission field was to give. It hurt her to give her precious sarees away but yet she did learn to give. Even today she does not keep more than what she would need. She keeps giving away and she keeps receiving in abundance. The same can be said about my Dad. I'm proud I have giving parents because of whom I have received much.
Give to God:
Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (NIV)
Give to the Poor:
Proverbs 19: 17 - He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done. (NIV)
Give to God's people:
Matthew 10:42 - And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward. (AMP)
Give to everyone:
Matthew 5:42 - Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
And here's God's promise of prosperity to the givers:
Luke 6:38 - Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Jesus, Thank You - 29th Jan 2007
Many years back there was this group of friends who had a very sad problem. They were lepers. Now being a leper during those days meant they were treated as outcasts. They had to live outside the city where no one ever went. They had to stay away from their family. No matter how much they loved their Dad or Mom or husband or wife or kids, they were forced to leave them all and live away from them. It was not just about living away from them but they could never meet them or hug them or talk to them. They were not just physical outcasts but mental outcasts as well. These 10 people who lived their whole day talking about the sweet memories at home, the good social status they once held, how life had now become hopeless, just sat and talked and poured their hearts to each other and eventually these people who came from different homes, different backgrounds and different places had become friends - united in their grief.
In their hopeless world, comes hope, one beautiful day, in the form of a man named Jesus. They manage to sneak into the city and meet Jesus and ask to be healed. Jesus, full of compassion and love, heals these 10 men and sets them free. Free - to live with love, dignity and honour.
As these men go rejoicing, excited at the fact that their skin and their body has now been made new. Rejoicing that they can dream again, they can plan for their future again, they can live again and yes, the hopeless world they lived in has been destroyed and Hope is finally born. They go dancing and singing, mind still too full to take it all, happiness too hard to contain. In the midst of it all, one man suddenly stops...... and turns. He remembers........
He remembers the man who set him free. He remembers the man who gave him life. He remembers the Man who is Hope personified. He turns and goes to Jesus. He walks up to the man who healed him and says - Jesus, Thank You.
Jesus looks up very pleased that this man remembered to come back and say - Thank You. And then Jesus asks this man - "Were not the other nine healed as well?? Why didn't they come to say - Thank You? " (For the Story)
Jesus expected a Thank You. He is God, of course but it means so much to Him when we can look up from our work and tell Him - Jesus, Thank You.
A few days back, there was something worrying me and as I was travelling from my office back home, I began to ponder over the issue and get more and more worried. And guess the devil started giving me more and more points to worry over and I was becoming an easy prey and was just sitting there getting more and more worried and that was followed by self pity, anger, finding someone to blame..... This went on till God decided this was going too far. And he reminded me of all that I had been blessed with and if I could focus on what I have blessed with and thank Him, rather than focus on problems and get worried. I realised the devil was having his way and I began focussing on all the blessings that I have and began thanking God for them - great parents, wonderful siblings, good job..... and so on. I kept thanking him all the way to home and believe me, when I reached home I was feeling so happy and was feeling great.
God spoke to me through a verse in His word which says - He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him [a] the salvation of God.
This is a verse I have read so many times but I never realised its full meaning till some time back. When I keep thanking God and offer thank offerings to God, I honour Him and I prepare the way for God to show his salvation (deliverance in my life). I need to learn to be thankful at all times. As we thank Him we open the way for God to work in our lives. As we thank Him we open the way for God to solve our problems. As we thank Him we make the way for God to turn every curse into blessing. As we thank Him we make the way for God's deliverance, God's peace, God's joy, God's blessings, God's prosperity, God's salvation - in our lives.
Jesus had to die such a painful, shameful and sinful death on the cross for your freedom and mine. When was the last time you thanked Him for dying in your place? Even if we used our every breath to thank Him we could never thank Him enough.
God loves it when His children acknowledge His goodness and Thank Him. It means a lot to Jesus when His children are grateful. When we keep thanking Him we make Jesus happy. And as we keep thanking Him, we also prepare the way for God's salvation in our lives.
It would be so selfish to receive the benefits and just walk away. God's children have His nature. And that would mean being grateful and saying Thank You. By saying Thank You I show that I'm a child of God. It means so much To Him when we look up to Him and say - Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 50:23 - He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him [a] the salvation of God." (NIV)
In their hopeless world, comes hope, one beautiful day, in the form of a man named Jesus. They manage to sneak into the city and meet Jesus and ask to be healed. Jesus, full of compassion and love, heals these 10 men and sets them free. Free - to live with love, dignity and honour.
As these men go rejoicing, excited at the fact that their skin and their body has now been made new. Rejoicing that they can dream again, they can plan for their future again, they can live again and yes, the hopeless world they lived in has been destroyed and Hope is finally born. They go dancing and singing, mind still too full to take it all, happiness too hard to contain. In the midst of it all, one man suddenly stops...... and turns. He remembers........
He remembers the man who set him free. He remembers the man who gave him life. He remembers the Man who is Hope personified. He turns and goes to Jesus. He walks up to the man who healed him and says - Jesus, Thank You.
Jesus looks up very pleased that this man remembered to come back and say - Thank You. And then Jesus asks this man - "Were not the other nine healed as well?? Why didn't they come to say - Thank You? " (For the Story)
Jesus expected a Thank You. He is God, of course but it means so much to Him when we can look up from our work and tell Him - Jesus, Thank You.
A few days back, there was something worrying me and as I was travelling from my office back home, I began to ponder over the issue and get more and more worried. And guess the devil started giving me more and more points to worry over and I was becoming an easy prey and was just sitting there getting more and more worried and that was followed by self pity, anger, finding someone to blame..... This went on till God decided this was going too far. And he reminded me of all that I had been blessed with and if I could focus on what I have blessed with and thank Him, rather than focus on problems and get worried. I realised the devil was having his way and I began focussing on all the blessings that I have and began thanking God for them - great parents, wonderful siblings, good job..... and so on. I kept thanking him all the way to home and believe me, when I reached home I was feeling so happy and was feeling great.
God spoke to me through a verse in His word which says - He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him [a] the salvation of God.
This is a verse I have read so many times but I never realised its full meaning till some time back. When I keep thanking God and offer thank offerings to God, I honour Him and I prepare the way for God to show his salvation (deliverance in my life). I need to learn to be thankful at all times. As we thank Him we open the way for God to work in our lives. As we thank Him we open the way for God to solve our problems. As we thank Him we make the way for God to turn every curse into blessing. As we thank Him we make the way for God's deliverance, God's peace, God's joy, God's blessings, God's prosperity, God's salvation - in our lives.
Jesus had to die such a painful, shameful and sinful death on the cross for your freedom and mine. When was the last time you thanked Him for dying in your place? Even if we used our every breath to thank Him we could never thank Him enough.
God loves it when His children acknowledge His goodness and Thank Him. It means a lot to Jesus when His children are grateful. When we keep thanking Him we make Jesus happy. And as we keep thanking Him, we also prepare the way for God's salvation in our lives.
It would be so selfish to receive the benefits and just walk away. God's children have His nature. And that would mean being grateful and saying Thank You. By saying Thank You I show that I'm a child of God. It means so much To Him when we look up to Him and say - Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 50:23 - He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him [a] the salvation of God." (NIV)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Reading The Bible - 23rd Jan 2007
Sometime back I had resolved to try and complete reading the whole of the Bible in 90 days. This was apart from what I read in my morning and night devotion time. Now that would require reading over 12 chapters a day. And I was doing most of the reading from my office computer over the internet. Whenever I had sometime between work I would try to finish a chapter. This really helped me to a great extent as it kept my mind in God.
Though I read through the chapters in a hurry, God spoke to me through so many verses. There were so many beautiful truths that I learnt and it was wonderful learning them. I tried applying them to my life but was finding it hard. I was reading over 12 chapters a day and learning at least about 10 things that I wanted to apply and I wasn't successful in doing that. Though this practise started with a lot of zeal, I eventually started getting discouraged. I started to think what the use was in reading so much of the Bible if I was not able to apply them to my life and I was worried that I was being just a reader but not a doer.
This discouragement started setting in and the enthusiasm began to fade away and I really felt if it was actually worth it - reading so much of the Bible. God, of course, knew what was going on in my head and in my heart and He caused one of my friends to send me this beautiful forward which really encouraged me and put me back on track to reading more and more of God's word.
COAL BASKET BIBLE
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got very far. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?" The old man said. "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a friend by sharing what you read. For God so loved the world that He sent His Son to shed His precious blood for me to wash me clean, and because I believe in Him He has promised me I will live eternally. John 11:25-26 & John 15:16. Think how much He loves us!!!
Though I read through the chapters in a hurry, God spoke to me through so many verses. There were so many beautiful truths that I learnt and it was wonderful learning them. I tried applying them to my life but was finding it hard. I was reading over 12 chapters a day and learning at least about 10 things that I wanted to apply and I wasn't successful in doing that. Though this practise started with a lot of zeal, I eventually started getting discouraged. I started to think what the use was in reading so much of the Bible if I was not able to apply them to my life and I was worried that I was being just a reader but not a doer.
This discouragement started setting in and the enthusiasm began to fade away and I really felt if it was actually worth it - reading so much of the Bible. God, of course, knew what was going on in my head and in my heart and He caused one of my friends to send me this beautiful forward which really encouraged me and put me back on track to reading more and more of God's word.
COAL BASKET BIBLE
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got very far. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?" The old man said. "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a friend by sharing what you read. For God so loved the world that He sent His Son to shed His precious blood for me to wash me clean, and because I believe in Him He has promised me I will live eternally. John 11:25-26 & John 15:16. Think how much He loves us!!!
Reading this forward made me realise that it didn't matter if I didn't remember all that I had learnt and if I was not able to apply all that I had learnt but what was important was reading more and more of God's word. The more I read of His word, the cleaner I would be. I'm not saying not to try to be a doer but what I'm trying to say is - Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed in being a doer. Keep trying and Keep reading. Don't stop both.
Strive to read more and more of God's word. You'll begin to experience the beauty of a wonderful relationship with Jesus. Hearing his voice and drawing comfort, strength, encouragement, admonishes from a loving Father. Never get discouraged about not being able to remember and do everything in God's word. Just continue to read more and more from the Bible. Just begin to read and meditate on His word and you will wonder after you've begun how you ever managed without feeding on God's word.
Psalm 1:2,3 - But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. (AMP)
Psalm 1:2,3 - But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV)
Friday, January 19, 2007
Persistent about Puggy - 18th Jan 2007
We are a large family of 7 members. Dad, Mom and 5 kids. All the 5 of us are working and studying in various places and Christmas is the time when all of us get together. The once in a year celebration becomes grand just seeing one another and being together. Each year we are together for about 10 days. And every year Dad takes us to a place called Varanasi (Benaras), which is the nearest city to the place where we live.
This year as well we had been to Varanasi and we went out shopping for some time. In one of the shops I found a big soft toy of a pug. This was something I had been looking for for quite sometime and I hadn't found it anywhere. I asked for the price and found it to be 625 bucks. I knew my Dad would say that it was a perfect waste of money to spend so much on something which was so completely useless. But I really wanted this pug.
The first thing my sister told me when she saw me carrying the pug towards the counter was - ' Don't even think about it. Dad is just not going to get that for you.' I told her very confidently that I would get it. When Dad saw that I liked the pug so much, he immediately said that he would get it for me. Oh! I was so glad and was just jumping around in the shop till my brother came and said something. He said - ' Now don't get so excited. Dad hasn't seen the price of that pug as yet. Once he sees it, he's just going to put it back to where it was.'
Just as my brother had said, once Dad saw the price of the pug, he put the poor puggy back in its shelf. I knew once Dad had decided something, its very hard to make him change his mind and about something like this, there was absolutely no chance. My brothers seeing me upset tried comforting telling me that they would try convincing Dad into buying me that pug. And both failed.
So that was left to me now. I know it sounds crazy but I really liked this pug and I wanted it and I wanted Dad to buy it for me. I knew he would if I was going to be persistent and because he loves me. And persistent I was..... to the extent that everyone were now getting irritated and were upset that I was creating an unnecessary fuss over something so unnecessary ( to them puggy was and is such a waste).
Well, I just kept persisting. We left the shop and went to buy some saris for my sister and mom. My brothers were glad we left the shop, hoping that would put an end to this puggy drama. But Oh No! they were wrong. I still wanted the pug. All the way through the shopping, to the restaurant I still wanted the pug.
Finally our small outing and the day was over and we were getting ready to head back home. By then, I had almost lost all hope. My brothers and sister were beginning to enjoy themselves as now they had another point to pull me about. We travelled for about 15 minutes and then Dad asked the driver to stop and went somewhere and guess what? When he got back, he had the pug with him. He had actually phoned the shop and asked them to get the pug to a convenient location so that we could pick it up on the way home :)
Persistance does bring results. Jesus, when He was on earth taught us to be persistent in our prayers. He asked us to keep asking. His word says - Ask and keep on asking.
Sometimes we have great faith about something and we pray about it for a couple of days and then we forget about it. But God wants us to be persistent till our prayers are answered. If we really have faith that God would do something for us, we would not stop asking Him till we got it. It was faith in my dad that kept me going till I got the pug. When Persistence and Faith go hand in hand, nothing can stop a miracle.
There maybe something you are asking God for and you haven't seen anything happening, don't lose faith. Keep Asking. It could be prayer for an unsaved friend, prayer for a financial breakthrough, prayer for a job promotion, prayer for someone sick, prayer for deliverance. Be Persistent. It may take 100 blows to crack a stone but every single blow matters. Every prayer we make does achieve its purpose. Don't stop praying. It could be that you stopped at the 99th blow.
Just as Jesus said - Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given unto you.
Luke 18: 1-8
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
This year as well we had been to Varanasi and we went out shopping for some time. In one of the shops I found a big soft toy of a pug. This was something I had been looking for for quite sometime and I hadn't found it anywhere. I asked for the price and found it to be 625 bucks. I knew my Dad would say that it was a perfect waste of money to spend so much on something which was so completely useless. But I really wanted this pug.
The first thing my sister told me when she saw me carrying the pug towards the counter was - ' Don't even think about it. Dad is just not going to get that for you.' I told her very confidently that I would get it. When Dad saw that I liked the pug so much, he immediately said that he would get it for me. Oh! I was so glad and was just jumping around in the shop till my brother came and said something. He said - ' Now don't get so excited. Dad hasn't seen the price of that pug as yet. Once he sees it, he's just going to put it back to where it was.'
Just as my brother had said, once Dad saw the price of the pug, he put the poor puggy back in its shelf. I knew once Dad had decided something, its very hard to make him change his mind and about something like this, there was absolutely no chance. My brothers seeing me upset tried comforting telling me that they would try convincing Dad into buying me that pug. And both failed.
So that was left to me now. I know it sounds crazy but I really liked this pug and I wanted it and I wanted Dad to buy it for me. I knew he would if I was going to be persistent and because he loves me. And persistent I was..... to the extent that everyone were now getting irritated and were upset that I was creating an unnecessary fuss over something so unnecessary ( to them puggy was and is such a waste).
Well, I just kept persisting. We left the shop and went to buy some saris for my sister and mom. My brothers were glad we left the shop, hoping that would put an end to this puggy drama. But Oh No! they were wrong. I still wanted the pug. All the way through the shopping, to the restaurant I still wanted the pug.
Finally our small outing and the day was over and we were getting ready to head back home. By then, I had almost lost all hope. My brothers and sister were beginning to enjoy themselves as now they had another point to pull me about. We travelled for about 15 minutes and then Dad asked the driver to stop and went somewhere and guess what? When he got back, he had the pug with him. He had actually phoned the shop and asked them to get the pug to a convenient location so that we could pick it up on the way home :)
Persistance does bring results. Jesus, when He was on earth taught us to be persistent in our prayers. He asked us to keep asking. His word says - Ask and keep on asking.
Sometimes we have great faith about something and we pray about it for a couple of days and then we forget about it. But God wants us to be persistent till our prayers are answered. If we really have faith that God would do something for us, we would not stop asking Him till we got it. It was faith in my dad that kept me going till I got the pug. When Persistence and Faith go hand in hand, nothing can stop a miracle.
There maybe something you are asking God for and you haven't seen anything happening, don't lose faith. Keep Asking. It could be prayer for an unsaved friend, prayer for a financial breakthrough, prayer for a job promotion, prayer for someone sick, prayer for deliverance. Be Persistent. It may take 100 blows to crack a stone but every single blow matters. Every prayer we make does achieve its purpose. Don't stop praying. It could be that you stopped at the 99th blow.
Just as Jesus said - Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given unto you.
Luke 18: 1-8
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
For the Least of these Brothers - 17th Jan 2007
I've always known my Mom to be a very generous person. She just gives and gives and keeps giving. But I didn't know the extent of her generosity till this Christmas vacation when I was at home.
During Christmas its very very cold in Bihar. During the mornings there is this biting cold wind that blows which makes things even worse. During one such cold morning a poor old lady was going around selling vegetables. When she came to her house, I was the one who opened the door. I politely told her we didn't need any vegetables and was just going to send her away when Mom heard the old lady's voice and asked her to come in. I was wondering why Mom was asking this old lady in. I thought probably she needed some vegetables and didn't want to go out because of the cold and so was asking the old lady in.
Mom called the lady in and pulled in her huge basket of vegetables in as well and then closed the door. She asked her to sit and was asking her why she was out in such cold. It was almost like she was talking to someone very close to her and reprimanding them for being out in the cold. She asked her to sit while she made a hot cup of tea for her. My brother and I were at home. And we just sat there looking at each other and wondering what was going on. We had been in hostels all our lives and though we knew Mom to be very generous, this was something new we were witnessing.
Mom got the lady a hot cup of tea and then got her a big piece of cake to eat and then sat talking with her for awhile and then went back to the kitchen to continue her cooking. My brother and I sat there along with the lady, and then the lady began talking with us. She said that she had never met anyone like Mom. She said that everytime she came by Mom would give her something according to her need. Mom had once given her a woollen sweater and would everytime ask her in and give her something to eat or drink.
I remember that feeling of immense pride and love as I sat there hearing and watching that old lady talk about my Mom. There was love and pride in her voice as well. She wasn't talking about some lady who gave her food. She was talking about someone who loved and cared for her. That day was the day I learnt the biggest lesson on giving. I'm sure my brother felt the same. We sat talking about Mom after the old lady left and I know he decided, just as I had decided, that we were going to be as generous as Mom.
I've always found beggars very irritating, when they follow me on the road and keep coming by. There are times I purposely don't give to them telling myself that I didn't want to encourage people begging. There are times I've advised Mom as well, giving her the same lecture about encouraging beggars. Mom always says - You never lose my giving.
As a result of my Mom's giving, there are many poor people who come home expecting something. She never gets irritated or angry with them. She says - They come here because they know here is a family who gives and what better way for a Christian family to be projected.
I remember when I was a kid we were standing in a queue to buy some medicines and there was an old man infront of us who didn't have enough money to buy the medicine. Mom didn't think twice. She just walked up and gave what was needed. We would never meet the old man again. He would never forget the lady behind him in the queue.
I've heard many preachers preach about giving and read and heard many sermons on giving but the biggest lessons I have learnt about giving are from watching Mom.
I'm sure this is what Jesus meant when he said - Whatever you do unto one of these you do it unto me.
Matthew 25 : 34 - 40 - "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
During Christmas its very very cold in Bihar. During the mornings there is this biting cold wind that blows which makes things even worse. During one such cold morning a poor old lady was going around selling vegetables. When she came to her house, I was the one who opened the door. I politely told her we didn't need any vegetables and was just going to send her away when Mom heard the old lady's voice and asked her to come in. I was wondering why Mom was asking this old lady in. I thought probably she needed some vegetables and didn't want to go out because of the cold and so was asking the old lady in.
Mom called the lady in and pulled in her huge basket of vegetables in as well and then closed the door. She asked her to sit and was asking her why she was out in such cold. It was almost like she was talking to someone very close to her and reprimanding them for being out in the cold. She asked her to sit while she made a hot cup of tea for her. My brother and I were at home. And we just sat there looking at each other and wondering what was going on. We had been in hostels all our lives and though we knew Mom to be very generous, this was something new we were witnessing.
Mom got the lady a hot cup of tea and then got her a big piece of cake to eat and then sat talking with her for awhile and then went back to the kitchen to continue her cooking. My brother and I sat there along with the lady, and then the lady began talking with us. She said that she had never met anyone like Mom. She said that everytime she came by Mom would give her something according to her need. Mom had once given her a woollen sweater and would everytime ask her in and give her something to eat or drink.
I remember that feeling of immense pride and love as I sat there hearing and watching that old lady talk about my Mom. There was love and pride in her voice as well. She wasn't talking about some lady who gave her food. She was talking about someone who loved and cared for her. That day was the day I learnt the biggest lesson on giving. I'm sure my brother felt the same. We sat talking about Mom after the old lady left and I know he decided, just as I had decided, that we were going to be as generous as Mom.
I've always found beggars very irritating, when they follow me on the road and keep coming by. There are times I purposely don't give to them telling myself that I didn't want to encourage people begging. There are times I've advised Mom as well, giving her the same lecture about encouraging beggars. Mom always says - You never lose my giving.
As a result of my Mom's giving, there are many poor people who come home expecting something. She never gets irritated or angry with them. She says - They come here because they know here is a family who gives and what better way for a Christian family to be projected.
I remember when I was a kid we were standing in a queue to buy some medicines and there was an old man infront of us who didn't have enough money to buy the medicine. Mom didn't think twice. She just walked up and gave what was needed. We would never meet the old man again. He would never forget the lady behind him in the queue.
I've heard many preachers preach about giving and read and heard many sermons on giving but the biggest lessons I have learnt about giving are from watching Mom.
I'm sure this is what Jesus meant when he said - Whatever you do unto one of these you do it unto me.
Matthew 25 : 34 - 40 - "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Soft Hardening of Heart - 16th Jan 2006
Last Christmas when I had gone home, my sister, who works as the principal of a school, invited me to her school one day. I was on vacation and had nothing to do and so agreed to come to her school the next day. When I had gone there, the students were writing their half yearly exams. My sister took me to each class, introducing me to the staffs there and just briefing me about the school and about what was happening there.
The students were writing their exams and there were some cases were students had been caught cheating during the exams. This was something that really upset my sister and she was just trying hard to make sure that there was absolutely no cheating during the exams. On the day I had been to School, two boys had been caught cheating again. My sister decided that it was time a strict action had to be taken and she told the boys to ask their parents to come and meet her the next day, and if the parents did not come, the boys would be given no marks (zero) in that particular subject in which they had cheated. This was pretty hard on the boys and one of them began crying.
Now about my Sister, she is a very gentle and a very soft person. She gets moved easily when someone cries and its very very rare that she punishes any students. Its rare to even see her yell at anyone. I was surprised when I saw her being so strict with those boys this time. The boys came crying to the office and apologising for what had happened and promising that they would never repeat this again. But my sister was firm in what she said and said the decision was final and there was going to be no change. After the boys had left I asked her, why she was so strict. She said that this had been going on for sometime and these boys had been caught cheating during the exams earlier as well. And each time she would decide on a punishment the boys would come and apologise and promise to be good in the future and she would relent. And she said that this had resulted in the problem getting worse. And then she said something amazing.
She said that it hurt her to see the boys cry and look so upset. She knew the boys were very afraid to tell this at home to their parents and get them to meet the Principal the next day. She said that she really wanted to take the punishment back and let the boys free. But she also knew that if she did that, this practise of cheating would never stop. She said that if a strict action was taken once, the kids would hear about what had happened and that would help in stopping this practise and help mould the kids into better people. She had to harden her heart and see the kids hurt for sometime, for the good of the kids.
As I sat in her office, I was thinking about our Father in heaven. He looks down on us with love. Many a times we let Him down and fail Him. There are times he has to harden His heart and let me face the consequences just so that it would mould me into a better person. It hurts Him to see us go through the after effects of our sins, but he lets us go knowing that it is for my good. But through it all, inspite of the sins we have committed, He stays near us and helps us, comforting and encouraging and walking with us, till we are finally out victorious.
Sometime back I asked my brother to share with me the thought he had learnt during his morning devotion time. ( I was checking to see if he had actually read the Bible that morning ;) ) And he shared a beautiful thought. He said that he had read the portion where the Israelites keep sinning against God and God is finally very upset with them and decides to punish them but through the punishment God was with them and constantly encouraging them through his promises. My brother said - Though God Himself punished them, through all the difficulties God had an eye on His people and He was with them.
Our God is such a loving God. Probably there are times we go wrong and upset Him but he would never desert us. He will never forsake his children. If he has let us go through the consequences, He has done so with love, knowing it would make us better children of His. He would never let us go through anything which would harm us. Even when we sin and are bad, our God is always good.
Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
The students were writing their exams and there were some cases were students had been caught cheating during the exams. This was something that really upset my sister and she was just trying hard to make sure that there was absolutely no cheating during the exams. On the day I had been to School, two boys had been caught cheating again. My sister decided that it was time a strict action had to be taken and she told the boys to ask their parents to come and meet her the next day, and if the parents did not come, the boys would be given no marks (zero) in that particular subject in which they had cheated. This was pretty hard on the boys and one of them began crying.
Now about my Sister, she is a very gentle and a very soft person. She gets moved easily when someone cries and its very very rare that she punishes any students. Its rare to even see her yell at anyone. I was surprised when I saw her being so strict with those boys this time. The boys came crying to the office and apologising for what had happened and promising that they would never repeat this again. But my sister was firm in what she said and said the decision was final and there was going to be no change. After the boys had left I asked her, why she was so strict. She said that this had been going on for sometime and these boys had been caught cheating during the exams earlier as well. And each time she would decide on a punishment the boys would come and apologise and promise to be good in the future and she would relent. And she said that this had resulted in the problem getting worse. And then she said something amazing.
She said that it hurt her to see the boys cry and look so upset. She knew the boys were very afraid to tell this at home to their parents and get them to meet the Principal the next day. She said that she really wanted to take the punishment back and let the boys free. But she also knew that if she did that, this practise of cheating would never stop. She said that if a strict action was taken once, the kids would hear about what had happened and that would help in stopping this practise and help mould the kids into better people. She had to harden her heart and see the kids hurt for sometime, for the good of the kids.
As I sat in her office, I was thinking about our Father in heaven. He looks down on us with love. Many a times we let Him down and fail Him. There are times he has to harden His heart and let me face the consequences just so that it would mould me into a better person. It hurts Him to see us go through the after effects of our sins, but he lets us go knowing that it is for my good. But through it all, inspite of the sins we have committed, He stays near us and helps us, comforting and encouraging and walking with us, till we are finally out victorious.
Sometime back I asked my brother to share with me the thought he had learnt during his morning devotion time. ( I was checking to see if he had actually read the Bible that morning ;) ) And he shared a beautiful thought. He said that he had read the portion where the Israelites keep sinning against God and God is finally very upset with them and decides to punish them but through the punishment God was with them and constantly encouraging them through his promises. My brother said - Though God Himself punished them, through all the difficulties God had an eye on His people and He was with them.
Our God is such a loving God. Probably there are times we go wrong and upset Him but he would never desert us. He will never forsake his children. If he has let us go through the consequences, He has done so with love, knowing it would make us better children of His. He would never let us go through anything which would harm us. Even when we sin and are bad, our God is always good.
Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
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