Sweeter than Honey!
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103
Good morning.
Last Sunday I sat next to an elderly woman in the Church. After the sermon started she waved her hand at me and said she would like me to mark the verses the preacher preached, in her Bible. Her Bible looked a bit old with stitches on its velvet cover. I took her Bible and pen to mark a verse as she told me. As soon as I finished marking, I returned it to her. Whenever the preacher mentioned a verse, she handed it back to me for help. To be honest, this was the first time I paid much attention to each and every single reference for all the Bible verses that were mentioned in the sermon. The reason why she needed my help was obvious. She has problem with her vision due to her age. But her thirst toward God’s Word and joy in His presence in spite of all the difficulties she faced surprised me. As I went through the pages of her Bible I could understand that she approaches the one sitting next to her every week for help, as I saw several types of marks made by people. She offered whatever she had with her (hey wait! I didn’t spy on her. It was an accident that I saw her while she offered.) and I guessed that she might have to walk while returning to her house.
I am sure God smiles when He thinks of her! What an awesome moment it would be for someone to have God smiling when He thinks of them!!!
Her seriousness toward His Word is something that cannot be compared with ours, who work in MNC’s, having multiple versions of Bible, in all possible sizes and designs, not only in our hand, but also in all the electronic devices we own, Textual, Audio, Video, what not, yet having no time to turn the pages to actually know what He speaks to us, thereby wasting so much of sacrifices the translators had made and hurting the Omnipotent God. A dusty Bible leads to dirty lives!
The author of Psalm 119 tells us that God’s Word is sweeter than honey to his mouth. Even today there are so many countries who shut their doors to God’s Word, yet, their people long to read. You and I have the most treasurable gift in our hands. Only when we realize that it is not a mortal book written by several authors, but a love letter from our loving Father, which has solutions to all the problems one can face in this cruel world, we would love to spend time reading and meditating it.
Diane Moody in her book, “Confessions of a prayer slacker”, shares with us that she visualizes that the Lord waits in her living room with a coffee pot and 2 mugs (one for Him and one for her) every morning. So she cannot sleep as soon as this scene comes to her mind. My sister-in-law always had an empty chair next to her whenever she studied so the Lord could mentor her. I have seen people counting numbers so they can fall into sleep, but my mother-in-law surprises me when she says she always recite the Bible verses if she doesn’t feel sleepy during her bed time.
Yes, there are so many people who adore God’s Word! Their soul is well! Now it is your turn. I am sure you too can new find ways just like them!
God bless you!
Traffic Lights
Brothers and sisters take note of this: everyone should be QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK and SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY. James 1-19
Listen, Speak and Anger are like the colours of the Traffic signal in terms of exhibiting the human nature of us in this world. If you follow the Traffic signals, than they ensure safe and accident free journey. Likewise the above natures or qualities if followed or avoided according to the word of God will help us to lead a life pleasing unto God and a peaceful co existence in this world.
1) Quick to listen: If you are in marketing this word Listen (Listening skill) is very frequently used while interacting with customers. When you listen to them may be it is a complaint or compliment then you show them that you “value” their views. It will help to close your sale or complaint handling very successfully. Likewise Apostle James emphasis on the aspect “Listening and doing”. In the spiritual world just listening and doing nothing about what you hear is deceiving yourselves. In verse 22 gives the Punch word “Do what it says.” He gives the example of a man looking himself in the mirror and as he goes away he forgets what he looks like. Therefore dear ones let us follow the word we hear in letter and spirit then you will be blessed in what you do. If you read John 13-17 the Lord teaches his disciples humility through washing of their feet. In 17th verse “Now that you have heard and seen these things you will be blessed if you do them.” The second most important commandment of Jesus is “love your neighbour as yourself.” Now do you act like a listener or doer? If you practise both then you are doing right.
2) Slow to speak: In Proverb 10-19 exactly defines why we should be slow to speak, when word is many, sin is not absent but he who holds his tongue is wise. Read James 1:26 says if any one does not keep tight rein on his tongue he deceives himself. Further we read the tongue is also a fire, it corrupts the whole person and set his life span on fire. Let us introspect ourselves that with the tongue we praise the Lord and father or curse men who are made in god’s likeness. Our speech if it is controlled by Satan it will be full of bitter, envy and unspiritual. But if it is ruled by God that it will be full of righteousness, love and grace. Read 2 Timothy2-16, Avoid godless chatters because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Make a decision today that with the help of the Holy Spirit you will rein in your tongue and use it as an instrument of praise and speak word of grace.
3) Slow to anger: James gives a fine explanation about anger, James 1:20 for anger do not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Just I would like to bring in a picture of Paul and Barnabas. If you read Acts 15:36 to 41 you will understand what I want to say. Read verse 39, they had such a strong disagreement that they have parted company. Here this disagreement was fuelled by anger. Even great apostle like Paul and Barnabas when temporarily influenced by anger, they parted company. 2Timothy 2-23, don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. That is to do things which God does not like. Therefore do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Throw away your anger and reconcile so that the peace of God will fill your mind and soul and devil cannot enter your life.
May God bless you with good nature so that you can Arise and Shine.
If you want, I will!!!
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “Be it unto me according to Your Word.” Luke 1: 38
Good morning!
Yesterday early in the morning when I was getting ready to go to office, I heard my husband speaking to me with a thin voice and to hear him better I went close to him without expecting him to wave his hand (without knowing that I went close to him) over my face with his nails on. A portion of skin under my eyes was peeled off. Since it was near the infraorbital furrow, it is not visible outside. But it pains.
This incident has nothing to do with the message today, except this reminded me of all the hurting moments (not physical hurts, but emotional) I experienced in my life thus far because of the ones I trusted and I didn’t reciprocate, I felt like I have been sacrificing so much for nothing, to the point that, those who hurt me didn’t even know that they did. As I think too much about it, it pains. But I believe everyone who trusts in the mortal men/women, would have the same feeling. I also understand that without my knowledge I would have also hurt others.
Every coin has two sides. I will share about the first side today, and the other side tomorrow. If you feel what you undergo is too much for you to carry, and you do not know why someone who you trusts have to do all these things to you, then the following message is for you.
I read a beautiful story which was about a young woman who was climbing the mountain and when she was hanging there on a rock ledge with hundred feet below her, lost her contact lens. Her blurred vision and the height scared her. She looked unto the Lord and prayed when she reminded herself “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole world.” After her friends helped her reach the bottom, and she was startled to hear someone screaming, “Hey, anybody lost your contact lens?” pointing out to an ant moving very slowly carrying the contact lens. Maybe the ant told God, “God, I don’t know why You want me to carry this load. I cannot eat it and it’s awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will.”
Friends, you are where God wants you to be. When moments like this happen, don’t try escaping from the situation, rather, obey to Him just as Mary said, “Be it unto me, Lord.” Mary obeyed to God and there was born, the Savior, to fulfill God’s plan!!! Just say to God, “Lord I do not know why You want me to carry this load. I can’t see any good out of it, and it is awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.” Maybe you are the ant which God uses to help someone who needs you in their struggles! God’s will for your life will not let you go places where He cannot go with you. Whatever you go through, will be for your good and God will make things happen in His time! Just stay there! Never give up!
May God bless you!
Awesome God
To begin with – Lets have a few facts related to some of God’s creations.
SNAILS have 14175 teeth laid along 135 rows on their tongue. A BUTTERFLY has 12,000 eyes. DOLPHINS sleep with 1 eye open. A BLUE WHALE can eat as much as 3 tonnes of food everyday, but at the same time can live without food for 6 months. The EARTH has over 12,00,000 species of animals, 3,00,000 species of plants & 1,00,000 other species. Before I got an email on the internet – I did not know a butterfly has 12000 eyes. WOW !How awesome are God’s creations.
God does not bluff us when the Bible says in Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good”. He is very sure he is right. In fact he is right about all that he made, everything was good and remains good, except his best creation man. Man failed him then at the Garden of Eden & continues to fail him today.
In my opinion, every single man or woman who fails to realize his /her God given plan is failing God. He has send us Prophets, Saints , Apostles & his son Jesus, all to remind us of the fact that “We are God’s best creation” and today he is sending you this message through me.The message is that “We (man) are the only creation of God that has a pre-defined plan for his/her arrival on this earth” . God planned your parents, work, ministry & every single thing you are supposed to do on this earth. But, we choose to look at our own selves for planning rather than God. If only we could look to God for our plans, we would then work on God’s plan for us rather than our own plan for us.
I agree, I have difficulty in following what I am preaching right now. When it comes to preaching, I really look for God’s plan for my sermon/talk /message but, I am less inclined to look for God’s plan in the other things that I do in my life. I am seriously working on my self to be able to look for God’s plan in everything I plan. I pray, I shall soon be able to get there and so do each one of you reading this article.
I would like to encourage you today to remember the fact that “You are God’s best creation” & he God send his son to remind you of this fact. Never think that something is impossible for you. If it is within God’s will for you – Nothing is impossible for you. You only need to know if it is in God’s will for you.If you are going as per God’s plan, the world may say something is impossible but it’s definitely possible for you.
Let us all wake up to the fact that, We are an awesome creation of an awesome God.
God Bless You.
God is Good
Taste and see that the Lord is Good Ps34:8
Most familiar verse from the Bible even a child will recite it effortlessly. Does that make this verse as simple as it looks? The interesting question here, is King David telling us that the Lord is good as he was escaping from king Achish of whom he was afraid? Taste does not mean test. Test and experience are two different actions based on our strength of Faith. I would like to share with you the positive side of Faith, which is experiencing it. Consider Ps 62:5 “For my expectation is from Him.”(KJV) What is your expectation for June? It could be anything according to your needs. But where are you looking at, to get it for you. You can look forward to people or whatever your rational mind suggests. But have you applied your faith and expected it to come from the Lord? That is how David could declare God is good even when he was fleeing for his life. Through the life threatening situation he experienced the goodness of God. Many times we give higher status to earthly resources through critical times, than we do to God. If you trust on the unchangeable God and receive your need, then you have experienced that the Lord is good. The situation may be totally negative but still you can experience the Goodness of God if you obey and practice His word.
Psalms 115:12 “The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us.” Every one of us in our life time has gone through or could be going through loneliness. I do not mean physical loneliness but mental or emotional loneliness. You may have everything like father mother or you may be living with your wife/husband or living with children. But in spite of all this relationship you may feel lonely and may not be able to share your inner feelings. This loneliness is not unique to us but prophet like Elijah was not spared. The word of the Lord came to him “what are you doing here Elijah?” Then he expresses his loneliness that the Israelites have rejected your covenant and put your prophets to death and I am the only one left and now they are after me (1 Kings 19:10). From his answer it is clear he was going through loneliness and the fear of death. Are you feeling left alone in the midst of your family, friends or at work place. If you can claim the promise and believe (cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you 1 Peter5:7)) with all your heart, and the Lord is mindful of you and he will come to bless you, that is where you experience the goodness of God.
Isaiah 30:18 “For the Lord is a God of Justice.”You are a person of integrity and honesty before God and men. But you miss increments your promotion, unexpected loss, or fail to get children admitted in good school. Our human nature says why me, not others. Do not be disheartened. “Blessed are those who wait on the Lord. He will restore what you have lost in double measure. In the month of June you will enjoy the double portion of His goodness. God bless you.