Has God Changed?

Let's take a look at these scriptures:

1. Malachi 3:6
"For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed."

2. Genesis 6:6-7
"And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. And the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.""

3. Exodus 32:14
"So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people."

4. Jonah 3:10
"When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it."

You might get confused and feel that God is contradicting Himself. When we see God changimg His mind, we look at it from a human perspective, which is limited. But if you ask God to help you understand the depth of these scriptures, you will realise that when God says He doesn't change, He is speaking about His nature and character. His nature will remain constant. But this does not mean that He cannot change how He works with people throughout history.

Since God holds our future in His hands, He knows it all. Yet He prefers to let us use our free will and He has another plan ready for us, with a hope that we will run back to Him. Hence, we have an everlasting hope in Christ. In the same manner, He also knows His plan of changing His mind. Like in the case of Jonah, God gave the people a chance to repent. Thus, His nature of loving His creation and hoping they would return to Him didn't change, only His approach towards the people changed.

God, as in His love towards us, His truth, mercy, grace, kindness....His character doesn't change. What changes is His way of working in lives. Just as we all differ from each other, so does His work differ in our lives.

Can you imagine if God worked in the same way on all our lives, would we have anything new and out of the box to share with each other, to encourage and uploft each other?
Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Is Your Anointing Leaking Out?

Anointing leaking out! Sounds illogical?

It hit me hard as I heard the preacher give an example for it. It forced me to evaluate myself. Have I left any loopholes for my anointing to leak out? And can I lose my anointing?

The answer is, yes, we certainly can lose our anointing. King Saul was anointed by the Lord, but one act of disobedience cost him his anointing. David was anointed as king instead.

What could be the possible reasons for my anointing to leak out? It's really easy to play the blame game and say 'The Devil' is the only reason! How can the Devil enter without any open doors?  We let him have his way!

Compromising with the standards of God is the major reason we tend to lose our anointing. When I speak of compromising with God's standards, living upto the standards of this world will be your fist thought. But I've realised that it's much deeper. There are people who know and believe in God's word, claim to be walking in the light, yet live compromising lives by following incorrect doctrines. How can we find out if we are following something that's not right?

For example, God teaches us to honour our parents. If we are led by someone to leave them by themselves in their difficult times, you can very well understand that you are compromising with the word of God. You've allowed your anointing to leak.

It's a simple, yet a powerful statement. Something that should make you introspect. There are so many times we instruct the people weaker than us about the Do's and Don'ts. But what about people like us, people who are involved in the forefront of the ministry? Isn't it something we need to really think about?

The more we lean on the Holy Spirit for His guidance, the more wisdom will we receive to watch our steps. The more we empty ourselves before Him and let Him fill us, our cups will overflow. The anointing poured over you is precious, don't let go of it because of petty things - because of foolishness.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22Amplified Bible (AMP)

21 Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit]; 22 it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

Stand firm in the Lord and let Him guide your steps. Run to him first because He knows what's best for you. Listen to Him and do as He says, joyfully. When you understand the heart of the Father, following His will joyfully becomes easy. Walk in the anointing poured over you. You are His vessel. Don't give the Devil any chance to poke holes through your life and cause your anointing to leak.

A Letter to 'Myself"

Dear Self,

I'm sorry! I realize how much I've hurt you. 
I'm sorry for comparing you with others and making you feel that you're a failure. I'm sorry for not accepting you just as you are.
I'm sorry for the constant pressures you need to cope up with. Sorry for looking down upon you and not encouraging you to stand up strong each time you fall.
Sorry for making you feel that you're good for nothing. Sorry for being so negative towards you. 

And there are so many other things that I need to be sorry for. Despite it all, today, I want you to realize how important and precious you are.

People might label your physical being as 'fat', 'dark', 'short' or 'ugly'; but I want you to know that you are beautifully created. You are beautiful to the One who created you and that makes all the difference.

You are not defined by your past. You are a new creation and a better person. I choose to forgive you and let go all that has happened simply because I cannot condemn God's beloved.

You are not what your grades or education tells about you. You are not just all about your medals, achievements or loses. You're worth more than all of these.

Yes, you have failed a thousand times. But that's bound to happen as a you're just a human. That doesn't make you a failure. God doesn't see you as a failure. He loves you unconditionally. Each time you fall, you get to learn something that makes you a better person.

You are not a garbage dump. I'm sorry for letting all the negativity affect you so bad. You are a renewed mind full of hope, truth, trust and vision. People have let you down, but you are more than a conqueror each time you choose to stand strong and patient. God uses the weak to lead the strong simply because they are totally dependent on Him and His wisdom. So, remain that way. Wait on Him and you will renew your strength each day.

You are God's masterpiece. You don't need to be like him or like her. You don't need to always be appreciated in the eyes of people. Maybe your work here is backstage. But remember, that nothing can be done without the invested efforts of the people working backstage. Your reward is far greater than what you expect it to be.

Give yourself a break. You just need to be 'YOU'- the way God has made you, the way God loves you and the way He wants you to be- simply 'YOU'.

God of the Impossible!

“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!..”

-2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (New Living Translation)

“Then king Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land…”

-2 Chronicles 32:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Sounds impossible? Well, our God is a God of the Impossible! This is not the first instance where you can witness God’s power to rescue His people. Throughout the Bible, He reminds us of his faithfulness, yet when we face an ambush by the enemy, we tend to doubt His presence.

If you go through the story of Hezekiah and understand the background of the verses I’ve mentioned, you will understand the challenge Hezekiah had to face. At one end the Assyrian army which was stronger than Hezekiah’s army; and on the other end the Israelites, who needed to be encouraged. But, didn’t Hezekiah need encouragement too? Wasn’t he in a more responsible position? He also would have panicked for that moment; but he was reminded of God’s great power. He believed that God was faithful and He was all that they needed. He rested in the fact that ‘God is Mighty to Save!’

You might face an ambush by the enemy. Maybe, you’re just not ready to face the storm raging towards you but it seems inevitable. People around you might no be helpful in lifting you up – maybe, they’re just pushing you even closer to the storm. What do you do at such a time? Do you question ‘God, where are you?’ or do you proclaim in faith ‘I know you’re here, God. I know that You will carry me through’?

It is easier said than done; but when we are rooted in Christ, keep consuming His word and His Truth, things become much easier to follow. Hezekiah was able to encourage his people because he knew that his God was able to help him achieve the impossible.

If you feel disheartened, let down, crushed or overcome, believe in God who can do the impossible for you. If things are not in your favor today, He will turn the tables for you at His right time, in His right way. As Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, so will your situations change. God has called you to be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). If you cry out to Him, He will answer you and deliver you. The only thing you need to remember is that faith and fear don’t go hand in hand. The more you keep focusing on His goodness in your life and the more you remember all the times He has delivered you, you will find it easier to trust in His faithfulness. Shift your focus from your storm to His goodness. Keep reminding yourself of His mighty works in your life. Keep encouraging yourself with the testimonies of fellow believers. Trust that your God can make a way where there seems to be no way. All you have to do is give your battles to the Lord, let Him lead you and guide you through. He will either win it for you without you doing anything (all you need to do is trust Him), or He will empower you through His Spirit to fight it out; the result will remain the same – You will emerge as a victor if you trust Him and obey Him.

It's All About Love ~ Part IV

How Long Can You Endure?

“It is not irritable,”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.5.nlt

Now here comes the most difficult part! We all have that one point in life where we know we are about to explode. The only difference is that the boiling point of every individual is different. Some can be the epitome of patience while some can be so irritable that it takes only a small prank to get them to lose their patience.
Well, Paul clearly says that you will be extra patient if you have love. It simply means that you understand everyone here on earth is weak. We all have some weak areas that we struggle to deal with. Understanding that helps us to be patient. We give the other person time to deal with their weaknesses. We realise that we can't change a person, only God can. It's not our duty to change a person.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/rom.3.23.nlt
We all have fallen short pf His glorious standard, yet He loves us; He is madly in love with us. He is patient with us and keeps accepting us when we run to Him. The story of the Prodigal Son explains it the best.

But then there's another side to it as well. There are people who are teachable and those who are not. There are people who are really struggling with their weaknesses and there are people who will try their best to provoke you. And the Bible clearly mentions not to provoke.
“Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.26.nlt

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/eph.6.4.nlt

It's better to distance ourselves from such people and let God deal with them. But with people who are genuinely struggling, let's be patient just as God is with us.

All About Love ~ Part III

I Love You; But........

“Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.4-5.nlt

Do we find it easy to rejoice with our loved ones when they are blessed with something that we wanted to have...and desperately have it? Well, the Bible clearly mentions that love is not jealous! Some versions also state the word envy.
Sometimes, we have been praying hard for a new job, a better salary, a good house, etc. And we see the answers to our prayers in the life of our loved one. What is the first thought that crosses over our mind? Are you really happy for your loved one? Let me put it in a simple example:
You have been wanting to go abroad and you've been praying hard for it. But things don't work the way you want it to. Your brother's passport gets done without any hassles and his visa also gets cleared. You surely would be sad in the first place, and that is a completely natural reaction. But do you continue sulking or decide to just be as excited as your brother is? There's a serious problem if you keep sulking, throw tantrums, don't help your brother shop and pack his stuffs, etc. In such a case, you need to sot in the presence of God and deal with it.
We need to realise that God knows what's best for us and He won't withhold the best from us. There are times when we block our own blessings because of disobedience and compromises we make in order to fit in this society. Even the 10th commandment says Do Not Covet. Wanting something that doesn't belong to us or envying the person for his/her blessings, is simply not love. If you truly love the person, you would rejoice with him/her as if you have been blessed. You will thank the Lord for working in his/her life. You will also introspect the hurdles you have created that are blocking your blessings or if you need to just trust God and His ways.

There's no point in just talking about how much you love the person when your actions speak otherwise. If you really love a person, you'll take care that you don't hurt that person. You won't look down upon that person and uplift yourself instead. You will show them their mistakes with kindness. You will happily accept that you don't know it all and give some credit to the others. You would also want people to treat you kindly, with respect and love.
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/luk.6.31.nlt

And finally, love is about making adjustments for each other; not compromises. Each one has to bend a little in order to mend.
I've heard people say 'Don't get me wrong. I do love you, but I expected it to be done this way.' 'I want you to live upto your dreams and have the best because I love you; but I felt you should do this because I know things better than you. You're too young to know it all. I've seen worse days.' 'I Love you, but I can't do it your way.'
If it's with conditions, it's not love. Love is not meant to be sold with *Conditions Apply*
“Give as freely as you have received!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.10.8.nlt

It's All About Love ~ Part II

Patience and Kindness
"Love is patient and kind."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4 NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.4-5.nlt

Patience:
By the grace of God we can freely approach Him. Even when we do something wrong or when we sin, we can go to Him, with a true heart repent for what we have done and be cleansed by the blood of Christ. In the same way, we are expected to be patient with the ones we love. Being patient includes forgiving them each time they hurt you and encourage them each time they try hard to allow Christ to change them. Change is a gradual process and we need to be patient with the ones we love. The parable of the Prodigal Son explains it the best. Forgiving might not seem easy each time, but when you can see the person being determined to change ways, we must ask God to help us be patient with them not forgetting that He is patient with us too.

"So watch yourselves! "If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/luk.17.3-4.nlt
As Jesus clearly says to forgive, He also says to rebuke the person who sins. And here is where 'Love is Kind' is applicable.

Kindness:
You will never want your loved ones to perish and that's why you would correct them when wrong. God has placed spiritual leaders over us to discipline us. Even God disciplines us. But the word discipline only helps us think about how to be harsh and how to use the rod to hurt and help someone realise how wrong the person is. But we often forget that: His rod and His staff comforts us. (Psalm 23:4)
Discipline doesn't mean to look down upon someone and hurt someone. It should bring comfort. Using the rod does cause a little pain, but when used with kindness can work as a healing balm.

Earlier people offered animals and birds as sacrifice. Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and restored our relationship with the Father. Through His sacrifice, we receive grace to boldly approach the Father. It is because of His grace that He easily forgives us and accepts us each time we approach Him. It His love demonstrated to us through Him being patient and kind with us. But that doesn't give us advantage to play around with the grace we have freely received.

"Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!"
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/rom.6.15.nlt

God's love for us knows no bounds. He gave His only son for us. Jesus paid a heavy price for our sins. And it is only because of His love for us that He can't let us ruin our lives by playing around with sin. We might end up losing patience with some people. We might not be able to display kindness. Such actions of ours will only be justified when we are aware that the person is stiff necked and doesn't want to mend ways. It is not our duty to change people, only Christ can; but when the person doesn't surrender to Christ willingly, the only way left with us is to pray for that person. Sometimes, remembering people in your prayers can be the best and the only way to maintain relationships. You might cut off every means of communication and yet display patience and kindness by praying without ceasing for them.

"Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices."
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:45‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/luk.19.45.nlt
Jesus did lose His cool. You might also be aware of many scriptures where He wasn't very kind towards the Pharisees. Yet, He did not sin. Neither did He hate them. And I'm sure that if they would come to Him with a repentant heart, He would have gladly forgiven them and accepted them; but they didn't. Even when they knew that Jesus was speaking about them, they didn't bother to mend their ways.

"When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:45‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.21.45.nlt

Similarly, we might encounter such people. It is only the Holy Spirit who can help us discern to make the right choice.

Patience and Kindness go hand in hand. They are qualities that express love. We need to ensure that we aren't playing with the grace and love we receive not only from God, but also from people. At the same time, we need to be careful that people shouldn't exploit us because of the patience and kindness we show towards them.

It's All About Love ~ Part I

Love in Words, Deeds and Reality.

"If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.3.nlt

Right from the first verse of this chapter, Paul talks about the importance of love. We all know how important love is and we believe that if you love someone, it has to be seen in actions. Yet Paul draws such a beautiful difference between love in words, love in deeds and love- true love.

For many in today's world, love is charity. Distributing clothes and food among the poor, donating money to orphanages and old age homes, etc. Some do it in secrecy and some publicly. But is the love of Christ limited to just that? Will that be enough to love the unloved with the love of Christ?

"Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum? " When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:10-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.9.10-12.nlt

Jesus did not boast about His deeds. Neither did He only stop at helping the needy. He went a step ahead. He invested His time in their lives. And that means a lot.

We need to realise that people need our time more than the material we offer. We can share about the love of Christ only when we spend time with those who need it. Many a times we can gift someone and yet not love the person. We can easily fake an 'I love you' without even meaning it.

Love is more than words and deeds. It's more than materialistic things. It is what people are actually deprived of. As disciples of Christ, it's upto us to invest this true loves in the lives of those who really need it.

Charity might earn you a name and status in society, but service will earn you a reward by The Most High!

It's All About Love ~ Part V

Don't Compromise

“and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.5-6.nlt

Forgive and Let Go is the key to a happy life. God also forgives us, accepts us as we are and and cleanses us of our sins.
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.103.12.nlt
But we enjoy the grace given to us so much that we tend to start playing around with the grace given to us. The records of our wrongdoings are not remembered by God if we repent with a true heart. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us be teachable.
God forgives us easily. It is only when He knows that we will only learn the hard way, does he decides to discipline us. He doesn't enjoy while we suffer. It pains Him too. He is our Father; a Father who loves and cares for us more than any human can. He loves us and so He disciplines us. We also need to keep reminding ourselves that our God is a just God. Even before He considers a person to be an orphan or a widow, He sees right and wrong. We are answerable to Him for our deeds.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/rom.6.23.nlt
“Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/pro.13.24.nlt
In the past couple of years I've realised that loving someone is not standing with that person in all that he does. Love is when you try to stop that person from compromising with God's standards. Love is not supporting your loved one to go towards the pit or jumping with him in the pit; it is helping your loved one to come out of the pit. Compromising with God's word is no where close to loving God. If you love God, you will gladly obey His words and "Obedience is better than sacrifice,"
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1sa.15.22.nlt
Only being true keeps the love in any relationship alive. There might be times where you will have to stand against your loved ones in order for the truth to win, but remember that pleasing the Lord is more important than pleasing men. God will honour you for taking the right stand. He loves you unconditionally and so will rejoice over you for being true.
In situations where you find yourself helpless, if you're with people who are not teachable, trust in the Lord. His grace is enough! His love will take you through and He will make a way for you.

Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha
'Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Shouldn't she be helping me out?'

What was Mary doing? She was required to help Martha prepare the big dinner! Martha was left all alone to complete the chores. And Mary? Mary was sitting at the feet of the Lord!

Why didn't she think of helping her? She was needed to do that. But she chose to do what she wanted to do.

It's the freewill that Jesus offers us. Whoever choose to listen and believe will be saved. And Mary.... Mary chose to listen.

'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!'
Martha chose to do what was needed. She chose to set her priority, something that could be avoided at that moment.

If it is out of need, it's only till the need exists. If it's out of choice, it will be my priority.

Let me leave you with one question: 'Do you need to be in the presence of God or do you want to be?'

Jesus is the truth. If you choose to listen, believe and abide in Him, the truth will not be taken away from you.

Help Me Renew My Strength

But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.
Isaiah 40:31 ERV

It's easier said than done! We sure do trust the Lord at times, but what about every time, in our daily lives? It becomes difficult as we tend to lose patience and hope. But our God can prepare a way for us even in the wilderness. Then why does it become so difficult to trust in Him at all times?

Maybe, we get so strong in the Word theoretically that we tend to overlook the practical application in our lives.

If your candle is blown out today, trust in the Lord to light it for you and take care that you don't let the enemy blow it out again. Wait on the Lord and you will renew your strength, you will not grow tired or weak, but you will always remain hopeful!

If Not Now, Then When?

'If not now, then when Lord?' Azlyn cried out. She had latched herself in her room and was crying bitterly. Her lips quivered as she spat out these words in utter frustration.

She had unanswered prayers lined up. She was in the midst of a situation with no idea of what to do next or where to head. All she could do was cry. She thought God was a distant truth at this point; but deep down she knew that He was there-in control of her situation. But she was human and it was natural for her to be frustrated in the situation she was stuck in.

When she cried herself to sleep, she experienced something beautiful. She could feel she was in the arms of God! She could feel a peace that passed all understanding. She heard a gentle whisper that took away all her fears and filled her with hope and strength:
'My beautiful Azlyn, Let me remind you that you are not forgotten. Each time you feel I'm away, remember my promises. I am a promise keeper. Remember that I sacrificed my only Son because I loved you and I always will. So don't be dejected.
I know you are frustrated and I understand your state of mind. I won't condemn you for it. It is natural for you to feel that way. I created you with those emotions, honey.
You need to understand that I'm your father and I have plans for you to prosper. I care for you more than anyone else could. I know, according to you, there's a delay from my end; but I know the right time to do the right thing. You don't need to workout things your way and your time. Trust me. I know that sometimes it's necessary to cry and vent out your feelings, but there's no human there to understand how you feel. There are many out there to advise you. And all they do is advise. But you know that you can come to Me when you want to pour out your heart. You know that I'm always there to carry you in My arms and listen to all that you have to say.
Trust me Azlyn. I'm always at work in your life. I believe that you're worth every blessing. Don't look down upon yourself. I know there are people trying to pull you down. I know there are people trying to hurt you. But Azlyn, you need to stop worrying about those and you need to start thinking over your actions. And you'll be fine.
Cast all your cares on me my child. I will carry you through it all. Trust in my time. I'll make all things beautiful!'
Azlyn woke up after a couple of hours. She realised that it was the Spirit of God who refreshed her. She felt rejuvenated, relaxed: something that she longed to feel in weeks. She knew what she had to do now. Cast her worries on her true friend-Jesus Christ. She realised that God was not also an option, but God was her only option.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.91.1-16.nlt

Be Ruth

As I grew,
What my mother taught me was all that I knew.

The Word of God will keep me from falling

And I need to abide by it without failing.

Mom knew when I was sad, angry, broken or mad

She always had a way to fix up things,

Her words of love and comfort in my ears still ring.

Now that I had to enter a new phase of life

I knew I had to let go of her and try to find love and comfort in his mother.

He and I courted for two years;

She seemed to be warm and loving,

My hopes arisen and I was at rest knowing that I’d be loved and cared for.

Today, as I stepped in the new shoe, all hopes shattered and me broken,

My mother knows it all as she feels my pain without me conveying;

Yet she is helpless and all she can do is strengthen.

‘Be Ruth’ is all that she can say.

But hardly does she realize how much that motivates me.

As I enter home I feel frozen and dead in the cold atmosphere,

Knowing I have no where else to go;

But then I abide in the shelter of the Almighty, resting in the cozy memories of mom,

And all I can again hear is ‘Be Ruth’…what she has taught me throughout.

I miss the gentle touch and I feel this is now my world;

I have to bend in order to mend, I have to cry and I have to try.

She isn’t bad, but for her love is for her girl and lad.

All I have is correction, hurt and words,

And I am to survive with that because I chose to live with that.

And Mom, you know I am strong, strong enough as you have prepared me to be;

Strong enough to continue gaining my strength from my Lord, My Rock;

I will fail you not, Mom.

With His joy being my strength, I can boldly say,

I don’t live with Naomi,

But all I remember is ‘Be Ruth’…and that I will.

Am I a Pharisee?

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/jhn.3.16.nlt

When John says 'the world', he also meant the Pharisees. Yes, Jesus loved them too and He would accept them if they would repent of their sins and choose to follow Him faithfully. But they didn't. So Jesus chose to be straightforward with them.

Who are the Pharisees today?
They are the ones who read the word, but don't understand it; ones who know the word, but their lives aren't attuned to it. They are Christians who claim to have a profound knowledge of the word and yet they lack wisdom. They brag about their deeds yet are spiritually empty vessels. They live a life built on the foundation of their own lives. They deliberately use provocative language and look down upon others.
-They mislead the others.
““Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:6, 12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.16.6,12.nlt
-They are vicious.
"But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!”...."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.3.7.nlt

How do we deal with them?
With love. Love means nothing without actions. And our action of live towards them can be to pray for them. The Holy Spirit will give us the discernment to recognise such people. He will put the right words into our mouths when we need to be straightforward. He will give us the wisdom to understand when we need to be silent and the strength to do the same. Humility is the key.
“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.25.9.nlt

But being humble doesn't require you to be a door mat. Jesus was the perfect example of serving in humility. He sat with the sinners and He washed the feet of His disciples. He asked God to forgive those who chose to crucify Him. Yet, throughout the Gospels, you'll find Him being straightforward with the Pharisees.

We don't need to ask God to punish such people who hurt us. We need to pray to God to forgive them. We need to forgive them and let them go. Finally, we are not accountable for the lives they live. We are accountable for the way we live. We need to prepare ourselves for the greater day in such a way, that we will be able to answer our Father for our doings. We need to reflect upon our own actions and avoid being a Pharisee.

Voice of Truth

As I look ahead, all I can see is darkness
My soul isn't at rest
The ones whom I call my own
Look down on me as I fail to give my best.
I decide to be still.
I know that it is only the Voice of Truth that can calm my soul
The voice that calmed the storm,
The voice thay called Lazarus out of the grave!
I know that my soul can be rest assured in Him and His promises.
I stand there and continue to look ahead
All I can see is darkness yet
But now....
...I can also see a path in the wilderness
My soul is peaceful-
Flooded with peace that passeth all understanding!
I now know there is a way,
I know the One who leads me,
I trust my GOOD SHEPHERD!
"I can hear the voice of Truth; and I will choose to listen and believe it."