Monday, April 11, 2016
A very useful resource- ebook a bargain!
My Dear All:
Please take a look at this resource which is valuable in my opinion. The book is around $30 - it might be cheaper at book sellers- but the ebook is a bargain - $3.99.
As the website states "The Chronological Study Bible is the only study Bible that presents the text of the New King James Version in chronological order—the order in which the events actually happened—with notes, articles, and full-color graphics that connect the reader to the history and culture of Bible times and gives the reader a dramatic, "you are there" experience."
Thursday, March 3, 2016
‘Leap of Faith’ - Day 20
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man
called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow
me.” And he rose and followed him. Matthew 9:9
Recently
I was reading about the African impala, the midsized antelope. The adult impalas
are not big animals – their height ranges from 30 to 36 inches. So most of them
are less than 3 feet. For an animal of such small height, the impala has
astonishing jumping abilities. In fact, a jumping impala is a beautiful animal to
watch. In one leap, the impala jump 10 feet in height and clear 30 feet in
distance. But there is an interesting
trait coming to the impala - it only jumps/leaps when it can see where its feet
will land. That is the reason, in zoos, we find the impala kept behind a solid
three-foot wall.
Well
friends, the impala’s behavior might seem strange, but what about you and I - what
do we do when Jesus comes to us and asks us leave our lives of sin and also
leave the world behind? Are we ready to take the ‘leap of faith’ leaving our comforts
and following him? Are we ready to sacrifice the world to follow him? Or do we
compromise thinking that we need both the world and Jesus? Remember all Jesus
asks is “Follow Me”. Please think about this.
Abba, Father when you call me,
please give me the strength, courage and mindset to leave the world and to
follow and obey you. In your Son’s name I ask. Amen.
PS: Here is
an article about two songwriters who did not want compromise –
And enjoy is
their song- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZuIyrwSqHY
Comfort Zones Day 19
To sell
their fish, every day a group of fisherwomen would travel from their homes near
the seashore to the city market. The men in their families would be busy with
fishing and the women were the fishmongers. Since it was somewhat of a distance
from the shore to the market, the women travelled only during daytime and as a
group, carrying heavy baskets full of fish.
One-day
business was slow and the women finished selling all of their fish only after
it became dark. They did not want to go walk back home in the dark and while
they were discussing the issue among themselves, another vendor heard their
discussion and offered the back porch of her nearby house for them to sleep
that night.
The
women were glad that they found a safe place to spend the night. They lay down to sleep but soon realized they
could not, because of the strong aroma coming from inside the house – the house
owners were flower merchants and they stored their entire inventory in the
house. The fisherwomen who were comfortable with the smell of the sea, the
shore and the fish, found the smell of all the flowers unbearable. So the women
took their fish baskets, which were now dry, and they liberally sprinkled some
water on them to release the familiar and comfortable smell. The women put the
baskets next to their heads and they soon fell asleep.
Dear
Friend, the fisherwomen had their comfort zone and you and I have our own
comfort zones. We like our comfort zones – now others may find them unusual,
but they are ours.
Sometimes
our comfort zone can be a sin that is offensive to God – and Jesus comes into our
lives and asks us to leave our comfort zones and sins. And then we might ‘say’ (not pray) the sinners
prayer, ‘say’ words of repentance, etc., but are we truly willing to let go of
the sin that gives us comfort? Is that
what Jesus wants of His followers?
So dear
brother and sister in Christ, let’s examine our lives and see if there is any “sin
that so easily entangles” us (Hebrews 12:1) and ask our God to help us “run
with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes
on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand and
teach me the sin that darkens my eyes and entangles my feet. Help me to get rid
of that sin and lead me to a higher place. Amen.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Who will tell/teach us our sins? Day 18
Sin
“…I would not have known what sin was had it not been
for the law.” Romans 7:7
The
story is told of one of Rev. Billy Graham’s interviews. Since the interview was
at their home, Ruth Graham, Billy’s wife spent days cleaning the house. She
cleaned everywhere and liked her work because the house looked perfect -in fact
it looked spotless. However, when the television crew set up and turned on the
bright lights, Ruth was horrified to see cobwebs and dust, which were not
visible under ordinary light.
Dear friends, most
of the people on earth, including Christians, think that they are good people.
In addition, their family, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc. tell them that
they are indeed good people.
When we read
chapters 11 and 12 of II Samuel, we learn that King David did not consider
himself a sinner until the Prophet Nathan showed him his sin. Now David had
Nathan, but who will tell/teach us our sins? The truth is, while pastors,
teachers, friends, family members may point out our sins, it is God
the Holy Spirit who speaks to us and convicts us of our sins when read His Word.
So regular scripture reading/study shines God’s bright light into our hearts
and minds and shows us our true condition and nature.
Monday, February 29, 2016
You say you ain’t no sinner? Day 17
Sin
In 1998
Rev. Abdiyah Akbar Abdul-Haqq, an
evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association came to New Jersey to preach at the
anniversary celebrations of a New Jersey Indian Church. The celebrations went
on for three days and Rev. Haqq stayed in a hotel near the Newark airport and
for transportation I volunteered to drive him around. I tell you my friends, I
had a great time driving Rev. Haqq around. He answered my many questions with
wit and wisdom. One I will never forget. I asked him about Christians who claim
they no longer are sinners and, even if they were to sin, they only commit minor sins and
not major sins. Rev Haqq’s answer was “Ebenezer, the next time any man tells you that he only commits minor sins and not major,
tell him humbly ‘Don’t worry brother you will not go to major-sin hell, you
will only go to minor-sin hell.’”
Dear friend, it is true that Jesus died on cross for your sins and my sins. But at the same
time you and I cannot say we do not sin. Apostle John makes this clear in 1
John 1. First the bad news, “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Then the wonderful news
“ 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But then John leaves us with a caveat, “10 If
we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in
us.”
So dear
friend, if you are believer, ask God as David pleads, “23 Search me, O God, and
know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any
grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) And God himself will teach you and lead you. For those of you who don’t know Jesus, and are burdened by sin, please understand that only the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins(more to come)
and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) And God himself will teach you and lead you. For those of you who don’t know Jesus, and are burdened by sin, please understand that only the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins(more to come)
Abba Father open my eyes to my sins
and lead on the path of righteousness. Help me to hold on to your Truth and
your Word. For your Son’s sake. Amen!
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Please take your time with this – Day16
Handholding 101
Nevertheless, I am continually
with you; you hold my right hand. Psalm 73:23
Normally
I write about a hymn writer and then I attach videos for you to watch and enjoy.
Today I ask you to please take your time to read todays post, watch the
videos and above all reflect on the lyrics.
Thomas
Dorsey was the son of a Pastor and a piano teacher. Now Thomas loved music,
studied music in college and became a famous and successful jazz musician and composer.
He played in jazz clubs and slowly drifted away from God. After sometime,
Thomas in his early 20s gave his life to Jesus. That meant leaving the jazz
clubs and the money he earned playing at the jazz clubs. But God was with him and he became famous as
a writer of hymns.
When
Thomas was 33 he received a telegram that his wife died after delivering a baby
and that his newborn also died. Thomas
became angry at God and it is said he blasphemed God, but just days later the ‘peace that passes understanding’ came upon
Thomas and he composed the hymn Precious Lord, Take My Hand.
The hymn has been translated into many languages, and sung at funerals, including that of
President Lyndon B. Johnson and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Over 100 artists, including Elvis
Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and Aretha Franklin, have
covered it. It also was the first gospel
song to sell more than a million copies and now Thomas is now known
as the ‘Father of Gospel Music”.
Dear Friend as you
enjoy this hymn and contemplate on its words remember God’s promise
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
Here are the lyrics:
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Refrain - Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.
When my
way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my
life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Refrain
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Refrain
Here are 3 links –
Friday, February 26, 2016
When Jesus ………………… Day 15
“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1
Thessalonians 5:16-18
I don’t
know whether you would call Philip ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’. His mother Monica went
through 19, yes nineteen pregnancies, but only one son survived infancy. All
Monica wanted was a brother for her only son. So after getting pregnant the twentieth time, Monica gave birth to a baby boy after a long labor. Much to her grief, the
midwife declared the boy stillborn and took the ‘body’ away from the grieving
mother. But all of a sudden there was a cry from the supposed stillborn. The
boy survived and Monica named him Philip.
Monica herself
was an orphan and she considered her younger son a miracle. So she took good care
of her younger son but sadly she died when Philip was only 8. Four years later Philip
lost his father. He was born in a rather well to do family but now he was an
orphan. After a greedy guardian lost the family wealth, Philip became a penniless
orphan. Then a Presbyterian pastor took the teenager under his wings and helped
him to become a pastor. Philip served as a pastor and wrote hymns but died of
tuberculosis at age 49 in 1751.
So dear friend,
with all that he went through, would you consider Philip lucky or unlucky? I
don’t know your answer but let’s learn, from Philip himself, about life–
Many for
every occasion sing the hymn, O Happy Day,
which Rev. Philip Doddridge wrote. It was used in movies and is covered by
many. Even after 250 years the singing of O
Happy Day brings great joy to many.
I give thanks to
you O God for you are good and your love for me endures forever. Help me to call on your name and make known among nations what
you have done for me. I thank and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
.
Please
indulge me and watch this too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zT8AyfsFmA
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