Sweet November!

Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him in the morning, Praise Him in the noon time, Praise Him when the sun goes down...... thats a song I learnt in  school and in sunday school as well. I still sing and enjoy it. But do we really do that in our daily busy lives...morning, noon time,evening.
I have enjoyed every season this year and have been grateful for the snow, the rain, the sun and the heat. All seasons amazingly beautiful. Weather is the most common topic of conversation, you could even initiate conversation with a stranger on the kind of weather it's going to be today.....so God gave you His elements to make friends. The other day, as I was trying to start my day on a positive note, the first statement I heard was " oh, what an ugly day" and I replied " Oh, I am so thankful to God that we can be in this day". The result was affirmative laughter. Hmmm.......another advantage of starting your day with  prayer and asking Jesus to send His Helper, the Holy spirit to change every negative action, response into positve God gloryfying reaction.
How hard is the life of obedience? seems hard till you stand at the edge of a river, scared, but once you put your feet in the fresh running water, you don't want to come out of it. Try it.
Just step into the life of obedience and see how God keeps opening door after door for you to get closer to Him and His Kingdom.
A life of obedience requires a mind that is focused on the Lord and His plan, a heart committed to following Him, and a will that is surrendered to His authority.It consists of many daily decisions to deny self, resist temptation, and choose His way.
Part of being obedient is being grateful for forgiveness that we receive from God and His unconditional, faithful and constant love.
Sweet November I say because it's a preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ, our Saviour. Will you be busy decorating, baking, exchanging gifts or will you be silent this year to undertsand why Christ was sent on this earth.( John 3 : 16) and sharing the message with those who don't know Jesus and with those who know but have closed their spiritual eyes.
May  you be the shining light of Jesus, I pray!
God Bless you all!

Endurance

"He who endures till the end will be saved" - Matthew 10:22
"Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance." - Hebrews 6:12

Literary, the word 'endurance' means an act of bearing or suffering.
Endurance in present times has become quite a challenge for people. We have started quitting so soon. Be it marriages, churches, friends. We don't want to wait on the Lord.
Endurance is one trait the devil has cleverly picked to attack us so that we may not be able to inherit the promises of our faithful God( ref - Hebrews 6:12)
If we endure and trust  in Him we shall be saved.....hmmm......makes sense to me. And if you endure more, you get bonus.......YOU GET TO INHERIT GOD'S PROMISES. Wow, it's amazing.

We all have challenges in our lives, some have health challenges, some have relationship challenges, some have challenges at work..... and yes we endure knowingly and unknowingly. But is your endurance leading you to the right outcome. Some might say, " I have tried several doctors but no relief", " I have done all I could but my spouse doesn't change", " My friend has totally lost it, so I shall leave him/her alone" or " I tried everything I could to please all at work but nothing works" or " my brother has become so self centered that I have decided not to see or talk to him" or " I don't like certain person or certain ways in the church so I am going to find another church".
So we begin on the journey of temporary relief/joy/happiness. We quit and we want to start afresh.
We want to quit and make a new friend.
We want to quit and find a new relationship.
We want to quit and find a new career.
We want to quit and find a new doctor or a new treatment.
We want to quit and find another church.
Thats the death of endurance.
But my friends thats not the case with God. He is faithful. He wants us to endure till the end, so that we shall be saved.
For me prayer helps me to endure. The enemy will try it's best but keep resisting the devil and it will flee.

My prayer today is that may God give us strength to endure till the end. Each day as we meet and beat the challenges of the day with His Power which rest in those who believe, May Christ's spirit lead us through so that we may inherit the promises of our faithful and Holy God! In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

God loves a cheerful giver!

An interesting and inspiring read from John Piper as he wrote on http://www.desiringgod.org/ on June 17, 2011:
"Thank you, John Wesley, for your practicing what you preached about money. John Wesley was born on this day 1703 (same year as Jonathan Edwards). He was one of the great evangelists of the 18th century. Today I want to celebrate his attitude toward money.
He is famous for saying: “Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly saved all you can, then give all you can. (Sermon 50, "The Use of Money" in The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, 1840, edited by John Emory, Vol. I, 446). Here is how he lived this out.
In 1731 he began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. In the first year his income was 30 pounds and he found he could live on 28 and so gave away two. In the second year his income doubled but he held his expenses even, and so he had 32 pounds to give away (a comfortable year's income). In the third year his income jumped to 90 pounds and he gave away 62 pounds. In his long life Wesley's income advanced to as high as 1,400 pounds in a year. But he rarely let his expenses rise above 30 pounds. He said that he seldom had more than 100 pounds in his possession at a time.
This so baffled the English Tax Commissioners that they investigated him in 1776 insisting that for a man of his income he must have silver dishes that he was not paying excise tax on. He wrote them,

I have two silver spoons at London and two at Bristol. This is all the plate I have at present, and I shall not buy any more while so many round me want bread.

When he died in 1791 at the age of 87, the only money mentioned in his will was the coins to be found in his pockets and dresser. Most of the 30,000 pounds he had earned in his life had been given away. He wrote,

I cannot help leaving my books behind me whenever God calls me hence; but in every other respect, my own hands will be my executors.

In other words, I will put a control on my spending myself, and I will go beyond the tithe for the sake of Christ and his kingdom. "

I hope you enjoyed the above read as I did.
I just question myself after reading the above. Is my income just for myself? What will I gain by accumulating for myself? What will I take with myself when I die, a designer wardrobe, 50 pair of shoes, homes, cars,career....none!
My parents have always taught me to give. And since the day I have been conscious of money, I have experienced that the more we give the more we get. God will always provide.
Yes, my friends tithing is important. It comes from the word of God and God doesn't need our money, He owns everything. He needs our hearts to be free, free from the love of the riches of this world so that we can enter His kingdom easily. By giving we experience freedom.
He is the best teacher I ever had! He taught me to be free.
So lets pray to be cheerful givers.
God bless you as you give and share what God has blessed you with!

Breaking Strongholds!

I am writing after almost a month. It was a beautiful day, may be just because it was friday and I was eagerly waiting for the long weekend. Which means for three days I can relax and read as much as I want. A good break for me and you as well if you are in Canada.
Some people at work were talking about dooms day; May 21, 2011, when the world will come to an end. I was little excited as I will see my Father and I will see Jesus. Some people didn't understand the smile on my face. All I could tell them was, make sure you are in heaven with me.
I don't have many affections left in this world. I think it's just a preparation. I have started seeing this world as a temporary home, which is the reality. God is teaching me how to enter His Kingdom. Every thought I think, is corrected, every word I want to write and speak is corrected. Whomsoever God loves, He corrects. He is Mighty and Merciful. He holds me in His tender hands. When I don't have anyone to talk to , I talk to Him. He replies through His word. When we start establishing a stronger and deeper relationship with the Father and the Son, we start to lose interest in the attachments/affections of this world. Our yearning grows to be in His presence and to be with people who share the same relationship with Him.
As we grow closer to Him we also start recognising the adversary. We stop focussing on the symptoms of sins and we start focussing and praying for the root cause of the sin. The enemy is very clever, it tries to establish the stronghold and tries to keep us away from the truth, but God's power breaks every stronghold. So if 'A' is cursing and blaming 'B' , B'' shouldn't focus on why 'A' cursed 'B' but focus on what or who made 'A' curse 'B'. Pray that the enemy will lose it's control in 'A's life and 'A' will see and understand the truth and Christ's will set 'A' free.
All believer's have authority over the evil one. Apostle Paul said that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of a fleshly or earthly nature), but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4).
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
As my most revered Ma taught me, I wear the armor of God each morning before I walk out of my door."Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).

So my dear friends go after the real source of sin and evil because Jesus has given you the authority. Jesus stands in victory and those who believe in Him also stand with Him and share His victory. Amen!
God Bless you!

HOLY WEEK!

We are in the Holy Week and for those who have been observing lent, the Holy week or the Passion week holds lot of meaning. Even for those who didn't have time to reflect on Jesus in the last thirty three days, it's not too late.
For me, I don't have any rituals, it's just meditating on the word of God more closely. More on Jesus, why He died and why He rose. If you fast, you would just get another step closer. My hunger reminds me how I need to repent and plead to God and how much I need Him in my life. Evertime I am thirsty, I remind myself of Jesus, how He would have been thirsty and what was he given, vinegar!!! For me a sinner, a wretch....God gave His only begotten Son. See the love of the Father........
My Holy week started with a dilemma, to read my course books or to listen to God's word. I ended up spending an hour listening to 'Practicing Affirmation'. The author of this book is Sam Crabtree. I am getting this book for sure. If you have an hour to spare you must listen to this:( I am sure you will be hooked on to it if you are hungry for the word)
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/interviews/dg-live-with-sam-crabtree

Yes and I did practice affirmation today, not one time but many times. The author says make it a pattern of life. God's mercy will pour on you.
Our Christian walk is not easy, we fall several times but God lifts us up. We just have to ask.
So I close with a prayer that God will bless you this week and may Jesus show you the purpose for which He died on the cross and rose again. Lets keep Him risen in our lives and those of others.
Continue to work towards your salvation and open your heart to Jesus, raise your hands towards heaven and invite God's Holy Spirit in your life, you will experience inexplicable joy in your life.
God bless you all!

"The only obligation you have is to love one another.." - Romans 13:8

"Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law." - Romans 13:8. Can it get any easier than this? We fulfill the requirements of God's law by loving one another. Reading further gave me more insight into it and reading backwards( I mean the previous chapter) just opened my eyes. I have read the book of Romans before but as I read now it brings more clarity and I read it as my life's manual.
ROMANS 13:11-14 "The Hour Has Come For You To Wake Up From Your Slumber"
We should be living with new urgency, to wake up from our sleep and work on our salvation.(Work out your salvation with fear and trembling).
As I pray for my loved one's and friends salvation, I pray that Jesus would wake them up from slumber and show them His light. That they would not conform to the ways of the world but to the law of the Father in heaven. That they would work towards their own salvation and lift those who are weak.All this I ask, in My Saviour, Son of most High - Jesus' Name, Amen!
God bless you !

Lead a quiet life.

Another Monday went by, was controlled by Jesus. I have been praying that Jesus have firm control over me. Let me react the way you would react to situations, to people, to comments....couple of times I was tempted to snarl back on a harsh comment but a strong voice inside me telling me to ignore and move on with your work. As written in 1 Thessalonians 4 : 11  "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,".
I pray that we can be examples for others around us, in our neighbourhood, at our workplace...  that our character may resonate Christ like attitude.
Calling it a day, I am going to retire to bed after reading the fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians.
God bless you all.

San Francisco, The Pacific Ocean so serene in December 2010.(Picture taken on my trip to California in Dec'2010)

The greatest gift you can ever give to someone.

I am sure each one of us has been in a situation where we had to get a gift for someone and have been in a dilemma, sometimes we spend hours or days thinking to get a special gift  for that special person.
Sometimes you are in a situation where you can't offer a gift of any kind in return for the kindness or favour done to you. But you want to do something for that person. Something good.
Pray for that person's salvation, this will be the greatest gift. If that person is not saved, pray; pray daily, fervently. Sometimes your gifts don't have to be tangible. Imagine you are asking God to include that person in His kingdom, you are asking Jesus to shine His light on that person. Is there any better gift you can offer?
I don't think so.
I leave you with this to meditate on; friends, family members, colleagues, neighbours...there would be someone I am sure who needs Christ. So pray generously. It will increase your measure of faith.
I am winding up this peaceful sunday, still have laundry to fold, readings to finish and address book to be updated.
God Bless you all.

Prayer for Japan

I was shaken up watching the scene in Japan, how nature can take this turn. I love God's creation especially water but looking how it was just sweeping away everything, engulfing homes, fields; everything coming it's way. As I was watching, my mind kept telling me He won't do it with water. He promised. Completely shaken up, my mind just searched for promises God has made with His people. Every verse from the Bible I could remember. People around me were just watching on their screens and I was thinking the ground that I am standing on can shake anytime; tremble. I am just mist. I had to speak to God, but the unrest in my heart surrounded me with fear and anxiety. I wanted someone to pray with me but found no one I could go to. My closest prayer partners were miles away.
Still shaken up I opened my Bible and went on Psalm 46 - "So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea."; “Be still, and know that I am God;"  and then He assured me "The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress".
He is with us.
I turned the page and my eyes fell on Psalm 50 :3 "Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages."
I am praying for more wisdom for my preparation for the day to come. Praying more in faith for salvation of my loved ones and for the lost that they may come to know Christ.
I prayed for Japan and this morning as I visited http://www.desiringgod.org/ I totally agreed with Pastor John's prayer for Japan. I prayed and would ask everyone to pray this prayer with all their heart.(if you can't visit the website, I have it for you below).

"Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.
O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.
And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.
Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.
Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.
May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.
In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.
Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.
And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.
O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.
In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

In Jesus' name, Amen!

Preparing for Ash Wednesday or should I say Lent.

I am closing Monday in a few minutes - monday morning was just a maze, I actually woke up on the bus stop as the ice cold breeze hit my face. Asking myself the same question, " Why do  I have to go to work everyday? and as one of my loved and revered one would say, "to pay your bills, dummy!".hhahhaaa. People who know me well, know whom I am talking about.
The timid growl in my tummy reminded me that I have been preparing myself for lent. I was asking myself what am I up against this lent season. My loved ones salvation, my sin, my career, my studies which just don't seem to end( I have been studying since the age of three and still haven't outgrown the student life), my friends, my finances, my, my, my and my. It's just not about me anymore. When you see the truth and hear it, it's like a burden, you need to share it with someone. When you come to Christ and experience the good things He has done for you, you have this burden to share it with others and that others may be drawn to Him and experience the same peace and joy.
Yes, I will be praying for salvation of my loved ones and friends and above all I will be praying for the persecuted church and the matrys in Christ. I will be praying for revival. I will be praying that God will open the closed minds, that He will open the eyes to His truth, that He will breathe Jesus into all lives and bring them to life.Amen!
I will also be praying for the lost, for restoration of broken relationships, for healing of the sick, for unity, for forgiveness, for love, peace and tolerance.
My list is getting longer which means I need to spend more time praying. I hope we all pray for bigger issues looking at the sad and sorry state around us.
As I close, I leave you with the Armour of God( Ephesians 6: 10-18). I am going to need it in the next forty days. What about you my friend?
God Bless you and guard you!

Do not be afraid...- Matthew 10: 28 - MY MEDITATION FOR TODAY

Sunday morning- I didn't go to the church today( which is quite unusual, deep within I think my mind was asking for solitude and meditation). I made my nice sunday tea and as I sat to meditate; chores gradually started lining up in my mind- laundry, cleaning, organising, cooking, readings, projects, assignments. So my battle started, MEDITATE,MEDITATE and block other thoughts. I asked God to help me. The Bible opened on Psalm 31, I am reading, just reading not letting the word to sink in.Correcting myself again, did you pray before reading?..no I said. Ok so pray, dummy... my mind tells me. Prayed, Lord please talk to me through your word. I start reading again and arrive at Psalm 32...halted on verse 8, it was underlined. My eyes were moving on but my mind stuck on verse 8. I go back and read, re read, and read again ;will share what it says - The Lord says, " I will teach you the way you should go; I will instruct you and advise you." My mind tells me, listen carefully this is out of God's mouth, very words spoken out of His Holy mouth. I am just filled with awe, even after thousands of years, His preserved word emanates His power. The Word is the only way I know who He is, how Powerful He is, what He has done and is capable of doing. Yet sometimes we just let it lay on shelves for hours, days, months and some even for years.
I would let you read verse 9 yourself as God tells you how can you seek His advise. So I finish reading the Psalm and go on my favourite website http://www.deisringgod.org/ , come across Matthew 10:28, I quickly ruffle through the pages and go on that verse. Jesus says “Do not fear those who can kill the body; fear Him who is able to cast soul and body into hell.” I go on reading till verse 32- " Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
My mind quickly questions - have you done that? Yes, I have declared Jesus as my Saviour in front of hundreds of people and I want to continue confessing the same. It's not a one time deal, I have to use my words, actions to confess Jesus is my Lord everyday. But somewhere a sadness looms over, few of my loved ones haven't done this, making me realise how hard I need to pray and fast for them to arrive at this truth. The need to declare Jesus as their Saviour.

If I summarize my meditations for today, I hear God telling me to come to Him for counsel(Psalm 32:8), He takes me to Jesus(Matthew 10:28), Jesus gives me a reality check( Matthew 10:32) and lastly there is an instruction to continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling(Philippians 2:12). Wow, it all falls in place. Praise God!
So my prayer today is salvation for the lost, for those who are so busy in the mundane, that Jesus would touch their hearts and souls and confirm His truth in them and their mouths will open and declare that He is their Saviour. In Jesus Mighty name, Amen!

I am also going to meditate on Philippians 2: 12, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, "
God bless you!

Live Streaming Pastor John Piper

Pastor John Piper is blessed. He speaks the word with God's power and just hits you straight. Today he was speaking on John 8 : 3 -11, how Jesus brings forth justice with grace. Piper explained - Imagine a woman being stoned to death( as per Moses law- in context) and Jesus saves her with His grace, imagine the sweetness of grace she would have experienced. Thats how He wants to save us when we go to Him. Brought tears in my eyes. And in the end he says " Sin no more".
My prayer today would be that people would understand God's grace flowing through Jesus, come to Jesus and be saved. Believe in me, Jesus said. And I pray that His words would take root in my life and that of His people. In Christ Majestic name, Amen!
For those who don't know who Pastor John Piper is, you can go on http://www.desiringgod.org/ to receive the word. It will be a blessing for you as it has been to me.
Blessings to all.

My first post ever to My God (Mon Dieu in French)

My God,
My Father, for you dwell in me; for you so loved me that you sent Jesus for me.
Thanking God for all He provides us with. The life we live, the air we breathe, the light we see, the sky, the sun, the moon, even the snow in Canada (  Isaiah 1:18 "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow")

The skies declare His glory. (The picture on the right was taken on a summer afternoon, the sky was so blue and clear, revealed His Majesty).
How great is He? How much do we love Him? What are we doing to glorify Him?
This blog is to glorify God, share His love and bring prayer requests/testimonies forward.
 My First request is to pray for peace and love. May God bless each one who visits this site.
Please say a short prayer  for peace as you read.