In The Beginning ...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ... so beging Genesis chapter 1, a chapter we've read and read and read hundreds of times! At least, I've read this chapter several times. But the other day, as I asked the Lord to 'open eyes that I might see great and wonderful things in His law', He unfolded this gift of creation, in a way I've never known before.

As I read through these verses, I had a whole new perspective on creation. I learnt that while creating the heavens and the earth, the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, the plants, the towering mountains, the gorgeous sceneries, the Lord just spoke the Word and everything came in to existence. He said, "Let there be light" and the Bible records, "there was light" - He said it and it was done. But, when it came to you and me … when it came to creating us, He created us in His own image. The hands that bore the nails on the cross, were the hands that created all that I am. In our case, He didn't just say the word and bring us into existence. Rather, He took time to "make" you and me.

As I read this chapter, I imagined every scene … I watched the Lord kneel on the ground, He put his hands in the mud wondering where to start because you and I had to be perfect! As I watched, I could see the delight and glee in His eyes as He carefully formed my body. With mud smudged on His brow, His dress all messed up, He carved my eyes, ears, mouth and lips to perfection. Once I was finished, He smiled, brought me really close to Himself and breathed me in to life. When you and I call out – "Our Father" – We are actually calling out the 'Creator' of the heavens and the earth … The fact is that the Lord of the earth is the very God Who made all that I am!

One quote that came to my mind as I realized with what love and delight the Lord created me is as follows -"I am so grateful for this picture of the Creator God – Elohim – Who bends to the lowest point of creation – the dust – that I might rise to the highest intention of the universe and have a relationship with the Deity" – Selwyn Hughes

I'm privileged to be a child of the most high God!!! – Are you?

Soar Like An Eagle

Isaiah 40:31 says - They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not be faint.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It assures me of the fact that no matter how weak I get, my God is always by my side to renew my strength. But then, I often wondered why the Word had to use the illustration of an eagle. I mean, what's the connection between the 'renewal of strength' and the 'eagle'???

Actually one of my friends answered this question … just a part of it to be precise … she said that after a certain point in its life, an eagle goes to the top of a very high mountain and sheds all its feathers and gets new ones … there by referring to the renewal of strength.

Although this was good enough, I wasn't very convinced … I ran a search on the eagle and what I found was quite interesting. The eagle, a bird that is so strong and majestic, a bird which has the power to spot its prey from a great height and has the nack of being able to tear it apart in a second, actually comes to a point where it just waits ... waits for something to happen …

Most of us are like that eagle … we are strong in spirituality and pretty majestic in faith but then there is a time when we reach a point where we just stand still ... we are uncertain of where to go next … but then the Word of God tells us that in times like these, we need to be still and know that He is God. We need to 'wait upon the Lord'.

After the eagle reaches that point, it flies up to a mountain peak and 'waits' … while it waits, the eagle begins to shed its feathers starting from the head and going downwards … it takes almost six months for the eagle to get its new set of feathers … and all through this time, the eagle 'Waits'.

I felt that this really made sense with respect to you and I as children of God. When we've reached that point where we have no idea as to where we're heading, it is then that we need to 'wait' … wait on the Lord … wait for Him to do something and He will … He will renew us, starting from the head - that is the renewal of the mind … then going downwards to the renewal of your body - that is the renewal of your 'self'... the renewal of 'who you are'.

It takes about 6 months for the eagle to completely renew its strength … it gets renewed step-by-step, in stages, over a period of time.
When we wait on the Lord, we too renew our strength but one step at a time; in stages … probably that's why the term 'wait' …

Once the eagle renews its strength, there is no looking back for it … it soars higher up in the sky and is more accurate when it comes to catching its prey. It flies with a greater zest and does not tire easily!

So, if you are waiting on the Lord, know for a fact that when you find yourself at the edge of the cliff, only one of two things can happen – God will either catch you when you fall OR He will teach you to fly. Get ready to soar my friend for 'they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint!!!'

Taking for Granted???

Change is good they say and I'm okay with it but the idea of compromising on what is right, what is natural and what is in sync with the Bible, to accommodate change scares me. The Bible is very clear on everything - yes we still term a lot of issues as "grey areas" but then, the Bible has answers to that too.

The other day I read a newspaper story about two "girls" getting married in Vizag ... If you think that was shocking, hear this - these girls first tied the knot in a temple and then exchanged Bibles in a church ... I mean, what is this? What is happening to the church in India? Are we compromising on our principles? Of course we are! This is just one example and probably an extreme one.

Lets take a moment to look into our own lives ... have we been taking God for granted? Of course we have - we've smoked on the pretext of "just trying it out" - we've watched porn on the pretext of "curiosity" - we've lied terming it "harmless" - we've deceived, terming it "being smart" ... we're proud about being called "420" and we laugh at coarse jokes, terming them to be "non-veg jokes" ...

Lets take a moment to check ourselves and see for ourselves where we stand - have we started taking God for granted? Have we compromised on our lives? on our principles and on our beliefs on the pretext of becoming broad minded? Its time we got to a check post and looked deep in to ourselves ... is our life something that we can give as an offering to God??? Its time to answer!!!

Life Over Death?

I just heard the news that Pritish passed away. I’m sad and upset and filled with questions on life and on death. Pritish ‘Was’ my friend from church. He seemed to be talent personified. He excelled in all that he did. But you know what? I never did go about appreciating him for who he was and for all that he did. Now that he is gone I feel bad. I should’ve told him that he mattered. I should’ve told him that his presence in our youth group made a difference.

Today I understood that life does not give us a second chance…

… But Christ does!!!

The dawn of each new day is a door to the hope of eternity – however, Jesus is the only key to that door. For those of you who have already welcomed Christ into your life, rest assured that heaven awaits you with open arms. For those of you who haven’t – herez your chance – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. He is the only way to eternity. He is the only way to life after death.

Don’t let death win the battle of your life, when the cross of Christ has already overcome the power of the grave!!!

I know that even though I’m sad about Pritish’s death, I’m glad that he is safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast!!! I’m sure he must cuddling Jesus and looking down at each and everyone who is shedding a tear for him saying, “I’m with my Daddy now. I’m with Jesus. See you here … are you coming?”

I'm going to heaven one day ...
... Are you???

Bought With A Price

Somebody said. “I write because I can’t help but write”. In my case that’s not true. I only write when there is something new and different in my life that I’d like to share. I was reading this book called “how to smell like God” by author Steven James. It was a really wonderful book on how he found that some people smell like God.

Smell like God? Does that sound strange? It did to me. It was only later that I understood that as Christians, we are to God the aroma of Christ. It is expected of us to emanate that aroma. How do we do that? Well its pretty simple – by living a life that would reflect Christ.

There were times when I wondered – “come on what difference does it make if or I do or do not do this?” “It doesn’t really matter” … I later realized that it does matter. Everything I do matters. Everything I do, adds to that aroma. When you and I become the sons of God, there is this particular aura about us … the aura and aroma of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I learnt a very important lesson that day as I read that book. How I live my life, may never matter to anybody – but every moment of my life matters to the Lord for He purchased every inch of me with His blood. And hey, just so you know, you are bought with a price too!!!

When You Believe!

“There can be miracles, when you believe”.

The above statement is absolutely true. Yet, you may wonder, “how come I don’t see miracles today?” Just the other day, I found myself asking the same question …and guess what??? I got my answer. Miracles still happen…every single minute of our lives. The fact that you and I are born is a miracle. The very fact that you and I are alive is a miracle in itself, but often, we don’t realize that. We look for real hi-fi, gigantic miracles. And you know what??? Even today, hi-fi, gigantic miracles take place. But… there is a key to miracles and that is “difficulties”. Difficulties in itself don’t give rise to miracles… prayers do.

When difficulties are followed by heart felt prayers, miracles happen. God tells us in His word, the Bible,“A broken and a contrite heart I will not despise”. “Ask and it shall be given,” says the Lord. But, the point is, how often do you and I actually do that? How often do you and I ask? How often do you and I run to the Father… our Father??? Try asking Him. He is waiting to answer us for the Word says, “Call unto Me and I will answer you” (jer 33:3). Your miracle and mine is just a prayer away.

Friends, let me tell you, there is astounding power in prayer. When knees bend, the devil is robbed of his power for, “the One who is in you (us), is greater than the one who is in the world”. When you and I cry out to God and choose to turn our difficulties into miracles, we defeat the devil all over again. Don’t ever let your difficulties bog you down for the Lord has promised to be with us always – to the very end of the age (matt 28:20b).

Infact, He has promised to be with us during real tough times, because, we serve a God who has been through the toughest situations and circumstances that life can bring our way – Jesus Christ has been through the CROSS! And He did that for you and for me. He has already won our battles. He has already defeated our foe – the devil. He has already turned our difficulties into miracles. If we call out to Jesus Christ today He will show us the greatest miracle of all – the miracle of Salvation! He is waiting for you and me to cry out to Him; He is waiting to answer our prayers; He is waiting for us to bend our knees. He is waiting to give us our miracle. Call unto Him and He WILL answer you…He will give you, your miracle. Remember the power to turn a difficulty into a miracle is in our hands. Our miracles are just a prayer away!!!

Change is the only constant thing - NOT!!!

I’ve always wondered how people can simply change overnight. I mean, they are nice to till just the day before and all of a sudden, they simply see through you as if either you didn’t exist or your existence obviously didn’t matter. I could never understand how the same person can be so different?

Such thoughts make me wonder if there is anyone in this world I can count on to remain the same. The Word of God, the Bible, assures us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever more. The truth is that even if the whole world changes, Jesus Christ will remain the same. I've realised that at the end of the day, that’s all that matters!