Been with GOD

There is something very ministering about people who've been with GOD... 

They say the things that someone would say to you but the spirit with which they counsel or speak or pray stirs up your love for the LORD. 

I was questioning GOD's purpose for hard lessons. Besides of course HE showing me my faith. My friend Luella told me how GOD gives us those hard tests because HE knows we wont waste the lesson. We will take the test and learn from it. And we will use the lessons we've learned. These lessons will equip us to deal with whatever comes our way. 

We wont waste the lesson, We wont take the lesson lightly and We wont forget the lesson.

The more we spend time in GOD's presence the more we realize the brevity of life.

How suddenly life ends! 

And all those things we place value on will be as nothing. And before we know it we'd be face to face standing before the GOD we love, prayed to, sought, waited upon. We will see HIM as HE is. 

Recently I crossed paths with a very afluent bunch of youngsters. For they knew no lack, lived in big homes, drove fancy cars and experienced life's finest. They didnt even know they were missing GOD!

I'm not better than them, I just met JESUS earlier. 

And I'm just a sinner saved by grace through faith in JESUS!

Love to make you smile

So I once decided to surprise daddy with a home-made birthday cake.

I took it upon me to bake this exotic chocolate cake that required a lot of focus, energy and time. Those days we didnt have one of those fancy blenders or an electric oven. So I used a wooden spatula to blend all the ingredients together. My arm almost fell off with the continuous stirring and yet it never seemed to reach the desired consistency. So I stirred some more. My arms aching and me enduring it just so that the cake is ready by the time dad comes home. Oh what excitement filled my heart, the anticipation to see him smile at the cake.

And then after stirring the cake for a couple of hours I got the stove oven working. Pre heated it and then gently placed the cake inside. Everytime I went close to the oven to check if the cake was done, I got a hot swish of air all over my face. That too meant very little compared to the surprise birthday cake that was going to make daddy smile.

While the cake lay in the oven I quickly got the frosting ready. Selected silver beads. Made icing flowers. I always kept daddy's favorite colors in mind while working on the decoration. The cake cooled off. The frosting applied. The decoration all ready. The cake was the sweetest cake ever baked. I knew nothing could stop him from enjoying this special birthday surprise.

And then the door bell rang and we all knew it was him. And mum opened the door and I stood behind her with the finely crafted cake and as she moved aside I held out the cake as we all shouted "SURPRISE". And daddy half smiled hardly even took a close look at the cake and walked into the bedroom.

Now he had a really bad day at work. He was upset and angry. He had also made up his mind that nothing can change his day. He was mad about something and he decided to stay that way. To me it seemed like 'the mood' was going to last a very long time ruining the surprise and the birthday.

Have you heard about the day that GOD makes for you everyday. HE stays up all night to ensure that the day is made for you. HE goes through the whole effort to get a surprise organized just to see you and me smile. Nothing that we could ever do for anyone we have ever love compares to all that HE goes through to put a 'day' together for you and for me. Just so that we smile and enjoy it. HE just doesnt do it on our birthdays and special occassions. HE is madly in love with you and with me. So madly in love with us that HE gets this day ready every single day !

I remember that feeling of dejection when my gesture and expression of love went completely unnoticed. I remember just putting that cake aside and thinking 'i did my best to see him smile'. I remember thinking that 'i would never ever do anything like this for him ever again. He is so ungrateful'. I also thought to myself 'his bad day was not my doing. On the other hand this should have cheered him up. If only he knew how much went into putting this cake together'

I'm thinking about all those mornings I woke up to... a perfect day feeling all depressed. The mood swings, the pre occupations, the memory of a painful past, the gloom of a stagnant life all distracting me from the day that the LORD got ready just for me. Even if I was the only person on planet earth HE would go through all the trouble to ensure that the day was made for me.

And yet, HE doesnt give up. HE keeps making the day for me hoping that I would finally notice. In HIS grace HE gifts me a new day with surprises and new adventures to just enjoy... In HIS new day HE gives me new mercies to show me how HE doesnt remember what I did yesterday.

I once read... "What if we woke up to find only those things in our lives that we thanked GOD for yesterday???"

 

Grace

How i love reading the sermon transcripts of Dr Carl Stevens. Especially because the transcripts are converted into easy to carry and very readable booklets. Check this one out...

A few days ago i was in the waiting room there to meet a potential donor for the NGO i work with. So i opened the book and began reading about 'The Authority of Grace'. I just about finished reading the line "Christians who understand grace do not require restitution or pay back", when a young lady bumped into me holding a very hot cup of coffee spilling it all over my book and pants. I was half shocked half amused but completely aware of the opportunity to practically demonstrate grace...

She was very embarrassed and sorry - i smiled, flipped over to the cover page and showed her what i was reading and then said "so, that's why, it's okay... really". She was really apologetic...she couldnt stop saying a litany of sorries. Me laughing by now, and we were the center of everyone's attention by now. I repeated really for the sake of the book i'm reading... its really okay.

But she didnt get it. She didnt get grace. Like most of us she didnt understand the grace message. She didnt  know how to receive grace. And for many many years I didnt know how to give grace...

But now I am learning :-)

When your paradigm shifts...

In his book 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey describes our stereotypical responses to situations based on past experiences. Do you remember the stories that he told us to explain the paradigm shift. My favorite story on seeing things differently is the cookie story. So for those of you who dont remember the story here we go:

Change Your Point of View.. Joe Gracia ---

Imagine you're in London's Heathrow Airport. While you're waiting for your
flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box, put
them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available
seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies.Finally you find a seat next
to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box
of shortbread cookies.

As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely.
He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up
the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes
one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little
surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he
take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take,
he takes one.

Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got
some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man
to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue eating
the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches
over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in
half, and gives half to you. After he's finished with his half he gets up,
and without a word, he leaves.


You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there
dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another
box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box
of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in
your bag is your original box of cookies -- still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached
into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake. Now
what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a
profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view.

Is it time to change your point of view?

Now, think of this story as it relates to your life. Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening.

I was thinking, ever so often I judged and criticized people for not wearing the Christian outfit I wear. So the things I do right becomes the parameter for the rest of the world. You know how JESUS was not impressed about us comparing ourselves with ourselves. And everyday I realize that at the foot of the Cross we all stand on even ground.

Last week I myself using my finite wisdom and knowledge of a particular situation judged and criticized atleast 11 different people. By the end of the week I was just so sick and tired of playing judge! And what's worse is that I was all wrong or half wrong or never mind!!!  Being a judge is so demanding that I want The JUDGE to be the JUDGE. I dont want to be a part of it, I dont want to assume, criticize, justify, react or repond... I just want to be right before GOD and only that matters.

And this can happen only when GOD makes your paradigm shift....

So you`ve had a bad day...

I once read that what seems like a bad day may turn out to be a good day and what seems like a good day may in reality be a really bad day. Or what may seem like a fantastic news may eventually result into something really bad or what may seem like a really bad news may turn out for our good.

10 years ago I was considering an internal job posting. Having worked with the BPO for so many years I was excited about being promoted to a team leader. I worked real hard towards this promotion. I went through all the rounds. At the tail end of this process, I didn't make it. I failed the final interview.

This was one big failure. It seemed like a big failure. Utterly disappointed and downcast I spent many days feeling
 hopeless. I spent the next few weeks in gloom... I hardly understood that all things work together for good for those who love GOD and for those who are called according to HIS purposes.

And then one fine afternoon, the head of my department recommended that I move into training and development and put in a high recommendation for me. I went through all the rounds half hearted and least bothered. I was not even aware of what the future had in store for me through this opportunity.

To my amazement I got the job !

Then I applied to IBM and got a promising role there. I worked my way up and also met the person who told me all about a Loving Savior. So what seemed like a bad day spiralled into the most unbelievable promotion and of course led to me to getting to know JESUS.

And what seems like an awesome day eventually turned into a day I wish I never woke up to !

Like the day I met the person who did me the most wrong. However, the day he asked me out seemed to be the best day ever. It seemed to me the most beautiful day of my life. Little did I know that 8 months later this was going to result into the worst heart break ever !

So I have been trying to change my attitude when I have a bad day. Just wondering what is in store for me beyond the despair of the gloomy today. Or may be just praying about the great day I`ve had even asking for the strength to face an uncertain tomorrow...

Like the famous hymn says ``this child can face uncertain days because HE lives``

The Love Letter...

Two weeks ago I received the most sweet love letter from someone I had met only recently. It was filled with words trying to express love and emotions that we can't use words to express. And yet it stirred up so many lovely feelings within my heart.

I was still in bed when my phone beeped and I saw this message marked to me, I opened it not even expecting to read what I was about to read. The love letter took me by surprise. Its so flattering to know that someone thinks so lovingly about you. It's was so flattering for me that I read the message again and again and again. I read it so many times over that I memorized it word for word. Right this moment I could repeat every word in the love letter to me verbatim.

The funny thing is that I never got bored of it. As a matter of fact every time I read his words to me it seemed fresher and more meaningful. So I read it a few more times over. In the first one hour of receiving the letter I must have read it over 50 times ! ! !

I soooooo loved the love letter to me that I forwarded it to my best friend because I wanted to share my excitement over it with her, I just wanted her to cherish it as much as I did ! And because she is my best friend I was sure she would share in my joy and excitement and exhilaration... Like expected she called me unable to conceal her excitement. And then we discussed the letter word by word and line by line.

I couldn't stop thinking about the beautiful words in the love letter to me. I thought about it at work, in bed, as I walked and talked. I thought about it all the time. I was walking in the clouds. The last 2 weeks have been beautiful just thinking about his love letter to me...

Just one love letter convinced me of his love for me !

And then what comes to mind is a more meaningful love letter that I completely forgot. The Love Letter written by someone who loves me like no other. Who's love for me is not based on my performance or the way I look or dress up or speak. Not based on what I do. And not even based on how I love back ! So true HIS love for me is...

This Love Letter was loaded with more love than I could grasp. HE wrote this letter to me many years ago but it was delivered to me by my friend Pradeep Warpe in 2006. I was too busy to care about HIM or HIS Love Letter. So I just put it away. I finally got down to opening it and reading it in 2007. I had no idea that HE wrote to me before that. I read it but I must confess I didn't take it seriously. I didn't read it so many times over. I didn't think about it the whole day. It didnt impress me and it was too good to be true so I didnt even believe it much.

But HE said in HIS love letter to me that HE loves me. HIS love will never change no matter what I do or even if I blow it up real bad. HE has decided that HE is not going to leave me. HE is just a call away. Whenever I am in trouble I just have to call on HIM and HE will be there and sort it all out for me. Right now HE is getting my mansion ready and HE will be back to get me. Nothing will ever separate us, just nothing. Nothing I can think about or imagine can keep us apart. Even if I decide to walk away HE will wait for me. HE wont move on. Whatever I ask for HE will arrange to let me have it if it wont harm me in the long run HE said. HE also said that HE thinks about me all the time. And HE has my name tattooed on HIS hand. HE cant stop looking at it. HE is jealous for me. HE doesnt like it when anyone else takes HIS place in my heart or in my life.

So much JESUS loves us. Yet I take a man's love letter and hold it close to my heart and I take HIS Love Letter and keep it on my shelf. I think about a man's love letter all day. Just 6 lines I repeat in my head. Moment after moment I open it and read it and close it and keep it back and then quickly go back to it and open it and read those same 6 lines as if so much changed 2 minutes ago. And I forget HIS perfect, true, never changing love for me !

I am embarrassed that I held a man's love letter so dear and took for granted the best Love Letter written by the best Lover who loved me and laid HIS life down for me ! ! ! !
 

Religion ReDefined - Ps Devendra Pandey

Religion is interested in man's soul.
Religion is man's priority gone wrong.
Religion is not about the Light.
The reality disturbs religiosity.

Flesh doesn't get along well with grace!

My flesh has no capacity for grace... Intepret scriptures on the basis of flesh. Here the justice of GOD turns into fairness.
This is the religious man. But the religious man lacks something-  heis not interested in man's soul !

Is my life turning totally selfward?  - look how good I am & look how bad others are.
Not just wearing a good Christian outfit. That is the sign of time.

A religious man looks neat but is not powerful and not interested in the will of GOD.

The sheep gate a popular place in the temple. An active place in the temple. A popular place in the temple. A place where the people sit. Here the people are more interested in sheep than in man.
What cn I be more interested in than man?
What is my sheep ?
The silent love of GOD in the background working salvation for the uninterested atheistic man.

Can't have light & darkness be friends. One of the two will have to compromise. One of the two will supercede the other.

The msg of the Gospel is impalitable. This world is nt conducive to our faith.

Don't change your message for it to be accepted by somebody. The ruler of this world is satan. There is absolutely no good news in this world. The only good news we have is not even from this world. It came from heaven. The Gospel is the only good news.

I want the perfect will of GOD in my life. I don't wnt a normal Christian life. Not stopping to calculate the cost.
JESUS alone cares for a man's soul.
What then is a missionary ?
We are people of Light walking around in places of darkness.
GOD plants churches. GOD brings people to their knees. GOD gets people to the Cross.

Walking comprises of some steps. Take some steps in your Christian walk too.

To be conscious of GOD

I often think about GOD or read about HIM or talk about HIM.

Even as I was doing this a few days ago I was convicted. This conviction brought me into a fresh revelation of this Mighty GOD we serve.

How HE longs for fellowship... for my friendship... for my attention.

The Bible says that when we talk about HIM that conversation is recorded in the Book of Remembrance. And when 2 or more come together in HIS name HE is present.

I have never been conscious of GOD's presence when I shared my faith or when I recalled a message or when I testified of HIS breakthroughs. I realized that I can speak with great passion aabout HIM without a conviction of HIS presence in that moment of truth.

I love how this has changed my concept of HIM. He has a better affect on me now. And HE has more of my attention.

When we walk through life and go through the motions of life we lose this consciousness of GOD. What if we lived ever so conscious of HIS Presencce that goes with me.

HE is around as I live. HE is right next to me....

Why Then...

If JESUS is truly the Water of Life then why do i still thirst?
If JESUS is truly the Bread of Life then why do i still hunger?
If JESUS is my Healer then why do I fall sick so often?

If JESUS is truly the Resurrection and the Life then why do I walk about defeated?
If JESUS will never leave me nor forsake me then why do I feel so lonely?
If JESUS is the Way, the Truth and the Life then why am I mostly so lost?

And if JESUS is who HE says HE is then why do I doubt HIM?

And if JESUS is faithful even when I am faithless then why don't I have faith in HIM?

And if JESUS holds my future then why do I fear, get anxious and worry?

I wonder and wonder and wonder why !

Though HE slay me still i will trust in HIM

I was in an intense time of prayer where I was half frustrated and half desperate over a few unanswered prayer requests.

I cried out to GOD asking, begging, pleading that HE move, work and make those things happen for me. Reminding HIM of all the promises HE made to me in the Bible about answering prayer. I reminded HIM about HIS promise to answer frail prayers, faintest sighs and fervent cries. 

In a desperate cry to HIM, almost in an act of resignation, I told HIM that even if HE slay me still I will trust only HIM. And just as I said that I was reminded that HE was slain for me. In heaven I'd see HIS scars and then perhaps understand how much it meant to bear my sins upon that Cross. HIS scars would keep me forever indebted to HIM.

And I could never be slain by someone who loved me enough to get slain for me!

If GOD didn't spare HIS only SON but freely gave HIM up to die in my place, then wouldn't HE along with JESUS freely give me all that I need ? ? ?

So humbled and so ashamed I that i'd ever think that my slain Savior could have slayed me!

To Hit Rock Bottom

We read biographies and observe lives that are tremendous stories of success in entertainment, politics, businesses or careers. We know how those small beginnings took people to the peak only to hurl them crashing down.  And in our own little way we have been there too. We have in our lives of limited influence scaled up our very own mole hills and just when we imagined we got it all together we fell face down.

To fall face down for me is today a very satisfying place in life. To fall face down before HIS Throne of Power and Might and surrender to HIM knowing that I am powerless to stand up and move ahead without HIM. To submit to HIM knowing that HE knows it all and HE knows it best.

And when I cringe in pain so unbearable. And when I`m writhing in pain so severe and incurable I know HE came to cure my incurable wound. And by HIS stripes I am healed. And I know in my afflictions HE is afflicted. And when I cry HE collects my tears in a bottle and writes the reason for my tears in HIS book.

Face Down and Rock Bottom are now good things. Face Down and Rock Bottom are now reasons to fellowship in HIS suffering. To be broken so HE can pour into us afresh HIS peace that guards our hearts and minds and HIS joy that is our unsurpassing strength and HIS love that is never failing but everlasting.

Do we have to hit rock bottom to realize that GOD is all this and more than enough?

Disppointment leads to depression

A friend of mine once told me that his mum has been suffering in depression for a long time. He shared with me how this affected the entire family. It had been a very difficult season for the family and my friend had been struggling on a daily basis to keep up with the turmoil at home.

Looking at the entire family get torn down was painful and yet a mystery. I asked my friend one day, how did his mum fall into depression. He told me the most bizarre story ever. His mum had suddenly fallen ill and was asked to go through a battery of tests to understand what was going wrong. The reports  got considerably delayed and caused her a great deal of anxiety. Finally, when the reports came through they were all clear and by then his mother fell into depression because of the unreasonably long wait.

A reason so trivial can alter a person's life and rob one of the abundant life JESUS died to give us. Ever so often I too am guilty of mismanaging and exaggerating my emotions. I give my feelings and my fears the highest place and way too much importance. When someone says something mean and hurtful I rehearse it so many times in my mind and repeat it so many times with my lips that its difficult to forget it even when I really want to.

Mismanaged disappointment leads to depression. And the only way to manage disappointment is to give it to JESUS. HE asks us to give HIM all of our disappointments, cares, burdens and laborings because...
1. HE cares enough to handle them
2. HE is strong enough to fight them
3. HE is wise enough to solve them

So why wait, why waste time let's just let HIM be GOD and handle our GOD sized trials from now on :-)

Seemingly Defeated

Have you been in a situation when you were seemingly defeated by time, circumstances or people like Abraham, Moses and Joseph ?

Have you been in a situation when GOD seemingly answered the prayers of the person who caused you great harm ? And you were seemingly dishonored as a result of this ?

Very often life is seemingly disappointing like Jacob's. All things were seemingly working against him. And like Joseph's who encountered an unending string of seemingly disappointing situations.

For both of them like many of us these series of seeming disappointments  are in reality GOD fulfilling HIS countless, sands on the shore outnumbering, infinite like the stars in the sky thoughts and plans towards us. And HE gift wraps these and then surprises us with unexpected answers through unexpected resources at an unexpected time.

Ps Atul Haksar once said in a moment GOD promoted Joseph from a prisoner to a Prime Minister. And in fact all things were working together for the good of Joseph, Jacob, their family and the entire nation of Israel. What the devil was doing to cause destruction JESUS was using for their good and HIS glory.

Just want to encourage you to do what I am doing even as I go through my seemingly disapppointing days. Through the last 6 months all I've done is 'Being Still and getting to know HIM  - as GOD'

Disappointment & Remembering GOD

Every day you wake up with an expectation and every night you go to bed disappointed. The crazy cycle continues day after day, week after week, month after month and its even harder if its been year after year !

It's drudgery. Like a defeated soldier who drags his feet after burying his dead partner. Its a hard painful thing to wait. Its a hard painful thing to wait on GOD. Its a hard painful thing to wait on GOD without drudging. Its a hard painful thing to wait on GOD without drudging but jofully skipping. But its hard and painful only when you dont know GOD.

Many people who have walked long enough with HIM say that HE has barns of goodnesses and lovingkindnesses stored up for you and for me. HIS thoughts towards me outnumber the sands on the shores. My name is carved on the palm of HIS hand. HE knows the count of the hair on my head. HE has already made a countless perfect plans for my life. The plans that we make for ourselves cant even compare to HIS for us.

And when the going gets tough, when you are at your frailest best, and when you are pressed on every side, and people look at you like you are a nobody who would amount to just nothing remember Job, David, Moses, Joseph and our favorite Bible heroes. Remember them because they served the same GOD and they prayed the same prayers and same GOD who answered, comforted and rescued them does the same for you and for me!

Bombard Disappointment

Disappointment is a disease more painful than cancer, more contagious than conjunctivitis, and more fatal than aids. It will leave you dismayed, despaired and destroyed. It is addictive and depressive.

Like an accident, it comes suddenly. Without a warning like death. It steals your joy, peace and hope. It lies and convinces you that its here to stay though it lasts for no more than a season. And yes it is a dark dreary season.

And thats why we need light. We need the light of the WORD to guide us. The WORD that allows fresh hope to creep into any crack of the tall unending wall of hopelessness. This fresh hope is the promises made by a loving FATHER giving us a joyful expectancy and excitement of their fulfillment. Eyes that now eagerly look not for the end of the tunnel but to JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Faith is an atomic bomb that shatters disappointment into a countless splinters and leaves it powerless at the feet of the child of GOD.

Disappointed today? Let prayer, praise and HIS promises take care of you. Continuing in hope against all hope combatting the disappointments of life !!

HRRC Bonds

I have had the opportunity to learn about different kinds of investments. In fact long term investment products have always interested me. The way people sacrificially put money aside for a future need like retirement, children's education, health is amazing. Money multipliers that involve high risk also interest me. Here too, people sacrificially invest their money that they worked so hard to save with an expectation to make their money work for them.

And then about 5 years ago I came across an investment plan that was unique. I call this unique because it fulfills everything that every investor looks for: low risk-high returns, long term and above all a guaranteed multiplier that is never ever impacted by the stock markets of this world.

Its called HRRC Heavenly Rewards, Recognition and Crowns Investment Bonds. When a believer (someone who believes in GOD, HIS Son's death that purchased eternal life, Heaven as a reality) gives as the Bible expects one to give there is a reward stored up. This far exceeds anything the world can offer and the world can take away.

The terms and conditions are not in small print. Nor are these confusing. Nor is there a 'Catch 22'.

Terms and Conditions:

1. Even a simple glass of cold water given to a single one of GOD's people qualifies for a reward.

2. When you give, your left hand should not know what your right hand gives. This has to be done in secret and maintain complete confidentiality.

3. To reap the benefits of this investment plan 1/10th of your earnings should be sacrificially invested.

4. If however you announce what you give then you receive the praise of men and lose out on the praise of GOD and HIS rewards.

5. Praying in private is a qualifier as well. However if you market how much you pray or fail to maintain confidentiality you lose a recognition/ reward/ crown. So its advisable to pray for yourself/ other behind closed doors only.

6. You may just have to skip a meal or two every once in a while either for yourself or someone else when you pray for a special need. When you do that, please ensure no one finds out.

7. The HRRC Investment Bonds are a long term investment bond with bonuses paid out every few months.

8. You can decide to withdraw from the plan at anytime. You face no penalties, losses, deductions for doing the same. Whatever has been accumulated would continue accruing interest and bonuses and the entire amount would be transferred to your name in Heaven.

9. The HRRC Investment Bonds are not subject to market risks.

10. Please read the offer document (The Bible) carefully before investing.

deep thoughts

I have a friend who is a conversationalist like no other. Its unbelievable how someone you couldnt stand until yesterday is the someone you walk with discussing many deep things today! How this happened is a story for another day...

Today I'm excited to share with you our conversation that could just bless you. So here it is:

Last month I went over to catch up with Sandra after work. She doesnt have as much time for me these days like she used to. But thats because she is completely married to Alex and she is so busy mothering David. This just reminded me of another story which I will tell you another time.

So when I went to hang with her, we had tea and then decided to take David for a walk. We went to the park and started our usual discussion around the deep things of life. Having seen me get through the worst storm ever, and having been there encouraging me and sometimes simply listening to me repeat the same thing a 1000 times over (literally), we reflected on those hard, dark and disappointing times.

Sandra asked me something so profound and something that echoes in every believer's heart. She asked, "Tell me plucks, what happened seems so unfair and yet the GOD we pray to is supposed to be so fair, and so just, and so loving, and so caring. HE knows the end from the beginning, then why does HE test us which such hard, heart-ripping tests???"

This used to be a question ringing in my head too, for many years. For many years till I read Warren Wiersbe explain this in his book - Prayers, Praise & Promises. So I replied, "Sandra you know what happened before the storm? I imagined that my faith is perfect. Infact a day before the storm broke out, I was walking down Lonsdale Quay with a skip in my walk. So content with what was happening in life. My ticket was booked, I was ready and excited to go back to India. My struggle to save money for the wedding was almost over. My gown had arrived and fit perfectly. I was going to marry the man of my dreams. All my dreams were just about to be realized. My walk with JESUS was never more enjoyable than now. And I said to myself 'vow plakilla, you are doing well, you are awesome, you love the LORD. It's perfect'. I even went to bed that night feeling those top of the world feelings."

I continued, "Then just a night after, so suddenly, everything came crashing down. Right before me. I had absolutely no control over anything around me. From that moment onwards, whatever I did to fix the problem made it worse. And the worse it became, the more I tried to fix it. I was stuck in this crazy loop. My strength quickly diminishing. My faith diminishing quicker than my strength. I alternated between fighting with GOD and praying to HIM. There were long spaces of not communicating with HIM at all. I had so many unanswered questions. I had so many doubts I wanted cleared right then. I almost lost my mind and lost complete control over my emotions. I slipped into depression and couldnt eat for months. I went on a liquid diet. And then one of those days I read Warren Wiersbe's commentary on Psalm 17. GOD tests us to show us our own hearts. To show us what our faith is really made up of. Our reactions and reponses to lives trials and tragedies show us the quality of our faith. When I read that Sandra, I knew I dont have the great faith. I could never have been more ashamed of my faith than when it was tested. By this time I had lost everything and was reduced to nothing. This realization brought me closer to JESUS. I knew I'm frail and helpless and I need HIM so much all the time".

Like me, Sandra was blessed with this thought and I hope this thought blessed you too.

Have you considered thrones, seats or positions ?

Titles of power, authority and influence exist all around us. So many people strive all their lives to achieve title-milestones. Like 'Doctor', 'Head Supervisor', 'Chief Technology Officer', 'President of the United States', etc.


People assume power & importance because of the role they are in. So Barrack Obama becomes President Obama because he won the elections and has taken over the President's seat. An ordinary model becomes Miss World  because of a crown placed on her head.  But have you heard of a seat that becomes powerful because of the person who sits on it. Or a crown that becomes important because of the person who wears it.


I was meditating on "GOD's Throne". Consider these truths that leave us awestruck at HIS Throne -

• HIS is a Throne of Authority
• Only HE sits on it
• HE never abandons it

And GOD is powerful not because of the throne HE sits on, but the throne is powerful because GOD sits on it!!!

Just like that the cross by itself was never significant, powerful or a symbol of love, mercy and grace but the Cross became all these things because of JESUS who was nailed to it !!!

In a travel agent's office that's buzzing with acitivity, travel plans, ticket confirmations, et al. Couldn't help but notice how busy people get when its close to a holiday or a business trip. Getting their passports and visas and foreign exchange arranged. An expectation to have a well planned and enjoyable trip!

While I waited for my friend, Mamta, to wrap up her day, I opened my Bible and began to read Luke 24. The story of JESUS talking to HIS disciples on the road to Emmaus and how HE revealed HIMself to them in time made me stop and think how HE did the same to me 5 years ago. And HE does that today too. We have loved ones we have been praying for for months or years and HE strangely and sweetly reveals HIMself to them - faithful in HIS answer to our prayers!

As I was still waiting, I noticed a strange looking passport on one of the counters. I asked the boy which country has a passport like that and he said South Africa. I showed him my Bible and said "This is my passport. Do you know which country has a passport that looks like this? - Heaven".

My friend and I had a hearty laugh as we walked out of the office.

I'm still thinking about it. The Bible is our passport to heaven. But what use is a passport without a visa. Everyone can own a passport, but the only way to get an entry into a country is with a valid visa. What can we liken the visa to then? I would think to the HOLY SPIRIT that seals us at the time of salvation. But how do we travel without the ticket? We dont have to worry about buying the ticket or currency for that land because JESUS paid for it in full!!!