In the Pits? Day 2

Please read Joel 2:1-13

('The pits' is slang for the worst possible thing, place, condition, etc.)

During the time of Prophet Joel, there was a destructive locust plague in the land of Judah. Using that calamity, Joel teaches his listeners (and us) that the Judgment Day of God is going to be much, much, much more worse.  

In Joel 2:1-11, Joel tells how the “Day of the Lord” will come and there will be fire, darkness, gloom, trembling etc. The Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:6, Amos 5:18-20, Zephaniah 1:14-17) is the final judgment that the Israelites (we) will face.

Next we hear about God’s love and we need not be afraid of that Day. God’s declaration in Joel 2:12, to return to Him “with all your heart” should remind us of His Greatest Commandment and Shema where He tells us to love Him “with all (y)our heart” ( Deuteronomy 6:4-6).

In Joel 2:13, the prophet narrates how God will be there for those (Israelites and us) who turn (repent) and return to Him. Words such as gracious (channun), merciful (rachum), and abounding in steadfast love (chesed) are used to describe God’s love for His people. The term channun teaches us God’s proclivity and propensity to bequeath His favor freely, without any expectation of gain or benefit. Rachum, related to rechem -meaning womb, is used to remind us the limitless love and compassion a mother has for her newborn. Chesed expresses God’s loyalty even when we are not loyal (2 Timothy 2:13).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, feel like you are engulfed in a mental/spiritual plague or war? Feel like you are in the pits? Do not worry. Because of Jesus, God will make His gracious, merciful and loving face shine upon you (Numbers 6:24-26) and will lift you up. What about repentance (you ask)? See Paul’s answer in Romans 2:4.

Dear Jesus, without your love for me on the cross, I would not know true love (1 John 4:19). Thank You. Amen

A couple of songs you might like -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnvmKoLWUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6B_jYtjvME

Ash Wednesday March 1, 2017 - Day 1

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Today I begin my 2017 Lent devotions. Please pray to God to give me the strength and the mindset to continue and finish what I begin today. I thank you all for your prayers and encouragement for the past two years and pray to God to bless you all.

Coming to Lent, there are many Christian churches that observe Lent. There are many that do not, because there is no mention of Lent in the Scriptures and there is no command –‘Thou shall observe Lent.’  

In Genesis 18 ashes are mentioned the first time. Abraham mentions human frailty in the presence of an almighty God when he states, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). Ashes remind us we are human, and we need to repent and seek God’s grace and forgiveness.  We also see that the use of ashes in the scriptures symbolize humility, remorse, and repentance. 

Lent and the traditions observed, whether giving or giving up something (charity, fasting etc.) or the adding of something (scripture study, meditation etc.), do not save us. Only God in His Grace saves us (Ephesians 2:8). Also, it is not a sin if the traditions are not observed or ignored.

So please remember that Jesus did everything for your salvation and mine. God is neither impressed nor pleased because we do some good. He is pleased with us right now because of Jesus.

Abba, Father! I thank you for your son Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to truly understand and appreciate how You reconciled us to yourself IN CHRIST( 2 Corinthians 5:19). I ask this in His name. Amen.

If you need prayers please email me – ebmallepalle@gmail.com.

As I grow older, ………….! Day 10

Love is all you need.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Many consider Dr. Karl Barth as one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. And there is this story about his teaching at one of the US seminaries. Dr. Barth was supposed to address the seminarians on a Monday. But the prior Sunday night, at a dinner in his honor, he was asked by the seminarians to share what he learnt from the Bible. Everyone was waiting to hear something profound, a new teaching etc. Dr. Barth stood up, smiled and said “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” (There are many versions of this story but the same ending)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, If I say the name ‘Apostle John’ and asked you what comes to your mind, you will probably say – author of the Gospel; author of Revelation; the disciple Jesus loved; one of Jesus’ inner circle; a son of thunder (Boanerges); etc.

Now John is a brash and volatile person- he is one of the brothers who asks “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”(Luke 9:51-55). He is also very bold and direct as evidenced by his ambitious request “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Later when Jesus asks “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”,  John, along with his brother, replies “We are able.” (Mark 10:35-40). His aggression is evident when he says, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”(Mark 9:38-40).

Dear Friend, that’s how a young John is introduced to us in the Gospels, but do you know that he is called the 'Apostle of Love'? It is stated that as he grew older he spoke mostly of the love of God and love for the brothers. In fact, we can observe from his five books that John encourages us not only to know ‘The Truth’ but also to love one another.

So as we get closer and closer to Jesus and by His grace being sanctified by him, let us reflect upon and appreciate Jesus’ love.

Abba, Father, I thank you for your love shown in your Son’s sacrifice and in the giving of your Spirit. Let me love others as I love myself. Amen!

One word means much - but hey that's our God! Day 6

Just one Hebrew word- Nahal*

He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2

Joseph Henry Gilmore was born into a wealthy family. His father Joseph Albree Gilmore had a grocery business, was an American railroad superintendent and served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1863 to 1865.

Joseph, the son, was also an accomplished man. He attended the prestigious Phillips-Andover Academy,** one of the best schools in the country. Later he received both his BA and MA from Brown. After that studied at Newton Theological Institution. First he served as a Baptist Pastor. Later he was the private secretary for his father who was serving as governor. He also worked as the editor of the Daily Monitor in Concord, NH. After all of this, he served one year as professor of Hebrew at Rochester Theological Seminary and then for forty years he served as the professor of rhetoric, logic and English at the University of Rochester.  The University’s English Department has an English Chair named in his honor.

Joseph is well-remembered for his work at Rochester but people all over the world sing a hymn that he hurriedly wrote when he was 28. He is a giant in the educational and literary circles but his hymn is well received and sung by millions and millions and is hymn of great comfort. Joseph wrote six books in Hebrew and English but it is his single hymn that brought him fame.

It was never Joseph’s intention to write a hymn. One day he preached on Psalm 23 and then he scribbled some lines on the blessedness of God’s leading because of the turmoil of the US civil war. Later he gave the writings to his wife. Without telling her husband, Mrs. Gilmore sent the writings to a magazine. Three years later when Joseph went to guest preach in a church he was surprised to see his hurried writings in a hymnal.

Another instance of God taking something simple and blessing it to be great!

Here it is -        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXeCQgOlx4Q

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neplpB2ZScU

Thank you God for holding my hand and leading me all the time in all turmoil, trials and tribulations. Amen.

* Nahal (Hebrew) usage – to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place, cause to rest, bring to a place of rest, guide, refresh (ALL THAT GOD DOES FOR US)

** List of some alumni (note the names Bush and Kennedy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Phillips_Academy_alumni