Dear Friends,
I have missed writing to you. Even though I love writing I don’t seem to be able to get disciplined to set apart some time every day for the same. But I am hoping to keep in touch as much as I can.
I am back in Malaysia, after my meetings in Indonesia as I had mentioned in the “EVERYDAY TALK” on the blog site. I tried something I’ve not done before. I walked for one and a half hour to a shopping mall. It was a long walk and legs ached, body slowed down, yet I kept walking having the mall in mind. Out came a revelation
here it is:
When I’ve already walked a long way,
And yet do not for sure know the way.
I continue walking on the road,
Which I assume is for my good.
It’s been good and sometimes bad,
But I’ve been going on strong.
I won’t know for sure if the path is right,
Till I see the angels and my Father by sight.
But I am going on, going on,
For His love is my greatest reward.
My team member Michael and his dear Chinese wife Jasmine, have a very cute baby named Ethan. Ethan is almost 2 years old and much attached to me. And the best part of it, he calls me Papa Ju. The other day I made him stand on his dinning table and asked him to jump, with my hands open ready to catch him. For almost a minute he did not budge. Finally after repeated encouragements from my end he jumped; straight into my hands. I put him back on the table and asked him to do it again, this time without a shadow of doubt, He jumped with all giggles. He simply trusted. I am wondering why God said “Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].” Mat 18:3 AMP
Look at the Israelites, wouldn’t you say that they were a bunch of very confused people. I would say confused because they always found it very hard to simply trust God. (I am wondering what would we be called if we were in their place.) They had seen His power, they had witnessed the miraculous parting of the Red Sea making way for them to go over to the other side- what a marvelous sight that would have been!, and they were there that day when the LORD fought for them and let the Egyptians drown right behind them in that same Red Sea. They had baskets full of testimonies, signs & wonders yet not witnessed by others, even then when they had a need they failed to trust Him. Time and again they put HIM to test.
One evening God told them that he was sending them their morning meal the next day. [And Moses said, [This will happen] when the Lord gives you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumblings which you murmur against Him; Exo 16:8 AMP] and true to HIS word GOD delivered the parcel at their doorsteps. They heard from God that it was their bread yet they asked “what is this”!? [When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, Manna [What is it?]. Why? Because their breakfast did not look like the one they expected. For too long the Israelites had been having the Egyptian breakfast or may be sometimes even no breakfast. So when God blessed them they asked, manna (meaning “what is this”). Does not the Bible say our thoughts are nothing compared to his and that His ways are much higher? [For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts- Isa 55:9KJV] How much longer will we take to trust Him?
I don’t know how many of you know that I did my 3 years degree course from Kodaikanal (Kodaikanal Christian College). While a student I was also given the responsibility of being the chaplain for the college by the founder, my dear friend and uncle Dr. Sam Abraham, which I enjoyed doing very much. I had a great time there, in the land of great, tall mountains; I loved the times that I have spent praying all night outside in that biting cold weather. In the initial months the pressure of being the chaplain and a student used to get to me at times; more so because I hated the thought of studying ;). Under pressure I would cry out to God; till one day God told me that it was for His glory. I did not understand HIM then but now I know better. Let me explain-I remember traveling to Kerala once by train, the journey was over 12 hours from Bangalore. As a young boy I remember sitting at the door of that train holding on to the railings as tightly possible and gazing at the huge mountains as the train passed by. Watching the clouds envelop the mountains was the most amazing sight. I remember having tears in my eyes as I imagined Moses on the top of the mountain with God. And I asked if God could please allow me to be on top of a mountain to pray at least for one day. I just wanted to know what it felt like. But now when the blessing had come, I was complaining. Why? Because it was not packaged in the way I imagined!
Was that similar to the Israelites? God had told them about the breakfast but when it came they were busy examining what God gave them rather than enjoy the blessing. It is very important that we live the moments that God gives us than crib about the way it has been deilivered. You have been praying for the right door (college, marriage partner, jobs etc) to open up and when it did you are cribbing about your tough situation because the blessing did not come to you in the expected package.
Matthew 6:31 KJV
Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, what are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
Isn’t it interesting that God sent worms to eat up the food that was left over for the next day as if God was saying don’t live for tomorrow live your life for today?
Friends, please don’t fight tomorrow’s battle with yesterday’s strength. Matthew 6:34 KJV
So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.God wants you to enjoy your life today and praise Him for all His goodness today.
And just like baby Ethan, can we start trusting God?
His love endureth forever.
Blessings,
Shyju
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