Bare Before God

We had just bought a Nokia phone. It was more expensive than the other options we were looking at. But, we decided on this one because of its wonderful camera. Not very impressive now, but at that time it was. We enjoyed clicking pictures of our beautiful baby, the bird that landed in our balcony, and everything we could find. And we loved the pictures. But if we were being honest, the clarity of the pictures wasn't really outstanding. Well, we were not being honest. How could we be, after having spent a lot of money on it, and making a decision which we thought was right? We continued to 'marvel' at the good pictures our new phone was taking. And if a question began to rise in my mind about the quality of the pictures, I quickly managed to brush it aside.

A couple of days went by before we realized there was a plastic sticker covering the lens of the phone's camera. Seriously? We didn't see it for two full days? Embarrassed, we peeled off the sticker and took a picture. And it was significantly better. No wonder, right?

Thankfully, we were able to enjoy the full potential of the phone's camera within two days. But, do we sometimes try to put on a facade even before God? We pretend that everything is fine, but deep in our hearts, we know we are not. We do our routine prayers, and avoid addressing that area that we don't want God to be involved in. And may be, we are scared to even be honest with ourselves. So, we just keep it in, safely locked away. Is there a sin or hurt, a decision or situation you are trying to hide from God? Good luck with that! First, the most obvious reason: We can't hide anything from God! I mean, he is all-knowing. Definitely that one secret -- or a few secrets -- you are trying to keep is no exception to His limitless knowledge. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

Second, the only one who can actually help is God. "You've messed up again, for the umpteenth time, and it is hard enough for you accept yourself, so you can't expect such a holy God to accept you AGAIN." If that's what you are telling yourself, that is a big lie keeping you from God. We tend to think God wants us to make ourselves clean before coming to Him. The Good News is, He came to us, and He wants to make us clean. Not after we are a little more presentable before Him. Right where we are, mess and all, is where He is willing to come. Like the compassionate father running to his prodigal son, who had wasted all his property, and was probably dressed in filthy clothes and smelling of pig's pods. He even embraced and kissed him. All that mattered to this father was, his son had returned. (Luke 15:20) That's our God! All He wants is for us to go to Him. Cleaning up the mess is His job, not ours. Even if we try hard, we are bound to fail. So, just get honest before Him. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

We see in the Bible that Jesus was often hard on the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. He even called them white-washed tombs, because they managed to put on a nice outward appearance (Matthew 23:27-29). On the other hand, Jesus was compassionate to those who were aware of their sinful state, like the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), the 'sinful' woman (Luke 7:36-50), the paralyzed man who had sinned (Luke 5:17-20), and Zacchaeus, the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). Not only was He merciful to those who did not pretend to be perfect, but He also redeemed and restored them.

Sins and struggles, doubts and questions, fears and worries, too small or too big -- let us bring everything to God. He doesn't condemn our honesty. He is waiting to restore every part of our lives, when we come to Him as we are.

Feel Good Worship

 "The worship at church was so good today. I felt the Presence of God." 

If you are a church-goer, you've probably heard that statement or something like that. Depending on the kind of church you go to, this could even be a common post-service discussion. Or it's quite likely that you have said it yourself. I know that feeling. There are days when a song's lyrics are particularly meaningful to me, and days when I feel God close to me as I sing to Him. I am so grateful that God chooses to reveal Himself to us in ways we understand. But, there are other days when I don't "feel the Presence of God". Who is to be blamed? The worship leader didn't do a good job? Or, was I too distracted to tune into God? Well, God has promised to be with us (Deuteronomy 31:6). So, by faith, I know God is with me, whether I feel it or not.

That makes me wonder if that is even a good way to assess a worship service. What if worship is not about me feeling good? What if worship is our privilege to express our adoration to the great Creator and Savior? If we pause and realize that the object of our worship is God, I think we will be asking God to rate our worship, instead of us doing it. Inspiring music, stimulating moves, and an electric audience may be enough to impress people and draw a crowd, but God is more pleased with how true we are in our worship. (John 4:24) As the lyrics of a famous worship song goes: "You're looking into my heart". We can put up a perfect worship pose for the people around us, but God doesn't even approve if the posture of our heart doesn't match that. 

We don't want to be the ones whom God will look at and say:

"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." (Isaiah 29:13)

Besides, worship is not limited to Sunday morning. It is a lifestyle. As Paul writes to the Romans, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1, 2) 

So, may be our focus as we worship God should be how He feels, not how we feel. And a more appropriate way to evaluate might be asking God, "Are you pleased with my worship, Lord?"

Heart Matters

When you commit wrong, what is more at stake -- your reputation or your relationship with God? The proper Christian answer, we know, is "our relationship with God". But let's dig a little deeper. When I tell a lie, am I more concerned about being found out or that I have hurt God's heart? When I lose my temper, am I worried about the consequences or do I quickly repent in the Lord's presence? What about my sinful thoughts and intentions that no one even knows about? When I do something that people applaud, but grieves God, whose opinion matters to me?

David had a heart that was sensitive to God, and his relationship with God held higher priority than his reputation. His "undignified" dancing upset his wife, but he was more focussed on praising the Lord with all his might. When he had committed adultery and murder, and he was convicted by prophet Nathan, his heart's cry was, "do not cast me away from your presence; do not take your Holy Spirit away from me" (Psalm 51:11). He didn't pray that he would be able to keep his throne or that his reputation wouldn't suffer. He got to keep those, but that wasn't where his eyes were, or his heart was. He fully realized he had sinned against God.

But, not so with King Saul. He was more of the people pleaser. He wanted to look good in front of others. He had terribly broken God's heart; he was rejected by God, the Holy Spirit was taken away from him. Did it concern him? Not at all! His only request was to be honored before his people (1 Samuel 15:30).

No wonder David is called "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). May we, be like David, people after the Lord's own heart. Let us be focussed on pleasing Him and be quick to return to Him, even when we sin. Let us make it right with those we have wronged, even if it costs our reputation.

Not Feeling Christmassy?

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but that’s nothing close to how you are feeling? The tree is decked, the décor and lights are up, Christmas music is playing in the background, but those are not enough to lift your mood? Or worse, you don’t even feel like decorating for Christmas? You see everyone being so excited and looking festive, but you just can’t join the merriment. Or, you just pretend to blend in? There could be many reasons why. May be, you are mourning the passing on of a loved one, caring for a sick family member, recovering from sickness yourself, trying to keep up with a Christmas to-do list, or just dealing with the chaos and busyness of life in general.

If that describes you, you are in good company! Guess what? The very first Christmas wasn’t very jolly either. While young Mary and Joseph had just been processing the newly-bestowed, immense responsibility of becoming parents of the Messiah, Joseph had to take his very pregnant wife on a long journey to Bethlehem, far from home, well before the days of airplanes or trains. And, after arriving at their destination, they could find no guest room! They had to wrap their divine baby in cloths and place Him in a manger. No fancy clothes, not even a bed or a crib. That doesn’t sound very Christmassy, does it? No background music playing or no angels singing 'Gloria' as the young couple held newborn Jesus. Only a smelly stable and shepherds who had hurried to see the Savior. This was indeed a grand moment, as the Almighty became a baby, so He could open the doors of salvation to humankind. We would expect a path free of inconveniences for the King of Kings. Yet, He identified with us, even in His birth, and chose to live our kind of life.

So, that’s it? Nothing special about Christmas? Should we just return to the mundane and forget all about the celebration? No, wait! The angel announced to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) Yes, great joy! Because Jesus was born, you and I, who put our trust in Him, can have eternal life. We can enjoy joy and peace when we have a relationship with God. This kind of joy that comes from Him is deeper and long-lasting than the Christmas feeling that comes from lights and music. Even when don’t feel ‘Christmassy’ we can have Christ’s joy and peace. The kind that, I believe, Mary and Joseph had. Now, that’s so much better, because we can experience it even in the midst of the hardships of life, and all the time, not just every December.

On the other hand, if you are in a phase of dancing to Christmas music and enjoying everything about the celebration, go on! There is surely a time for festivities. Just remember the Christ of Christmas and enjoy this and every season.

The Best Time to Pray

 At times, when I listen to a sermon, I drift into resolution mode. Not on New Years’, no special occasion, and most often the preacher is not asking for a commitment, but I start thinking to myself, I need to spend more time in prayer and Bible reading. So, the sermon has really done what it is supposed to, hasn’t it? And then I also resolve to wake up early in the morning, so I can spend uninterrupted time in prayer and meditating on the Word of God. Some preachers even spell it out: early mornings are the best times to pray. Wake up early in the morning and spend a couple of hours praying. Woo! I love the idea. And here I am, all pumped up, ready to wake up at 5:30 the next morning. The night before, I set my alarm to 5:30, and I try to get to bed early, so I would get enough rest. Some days I succeed, other days, not so much. Even if I manage to get to bed on time, I am turning and tossing on the bed, because I am not used to sleeping at that hour. The alarm rings the next morning, and my body doesn’t quite like the idea of getting out of bed yet. I try again the next day, and the next, and then I give up. If I do manage to do some early mornings, I get distracted easily or doze off in prayer.

This cycle has repeated more times than I can count. I do pray, at least once a day, but my best times with God have not usually been in the wee hours of the day. Some days, I have been foolish enough to think, if I miss one morning, the next best time to come before God is the next morning. I am not denying the value of early morning quiet or an intentional time. As a stay-at-home mom, I know the demands of my day can easily pull my attention from one thing to another, before I realize I haven’t sat with God. So setting aside an intentional time is definitely valuable.

But, my view of prayer changes when I look at it as not a mere religious duty that I would either feel proud of fulfilling or feel guilty of missing. At some of my low moments, I have wondered if my entire relationship with the Lord hinges on my ability to wake up early in the morning. And then I remember His invitation is open, even to me, at any time of the day or night! "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Jesus clarifies (in v30) that He is referring to rest for our souls. And I think the 'heavy burden' mentioned here represents the man-made religious duties we so struggle to check off the list. Let me explain how I got that. When Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees at a different time, He says: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders." (Matthew 23:4). From the context of Matthew 23, it is clear that Jesus was talking about religious obligations that are imposed by religious leaders, not by God's Word.

Of course, prayer is not imposed by people, but a beautiful privilege God has opened up for all His people to talk to Him. In fact, Paul exhorts believers to pray continually (I Thess. 5:17)! But, when our good desire for an intentional time becomes a burden, prayer turns out to be a dull duty rather than a relationship-refresher. So when is the best time to pray? Morning? Evening? Late night? And my answer is, right now! Pray to him right now, as you are reading, as you are working, as you are convicted of that sin, as you realize you need His help. His ears are always open to our call. What a privilege!

Finally, a couple of practical tips for those of you like me, who have a hard time staying focussed while praying: I keep my eyes open while praying. Sounds contrary to what we've been told, but when I close my eyes, I find the chances are higher for my mind to stray elsewhere or even doze off. Another thing I have found helpful is writing down what I pray for. It is usually a list, but sometimes it could spin off to a poem of praise or a paragraph of prayer. What are some practical tips you would like to share? Please mention in the Comments section.

Towards Dependence

When I teach my children new skills, I intend for them to learn it and be able to do it themselves. When they were babies, I had to do every single thing for them, but as they grow older, my job as a parent is to teach them to do things independently. My 8-year old doesn't ask me for a cup of water every single time he is thirsty, my 6-year old doesn't ask for help to get dressed, and my 3-year old knows where to find his shoes. We appreciate this kind of independence, but this is not the way it works in our relationship with God.

Does God want us to be independent as we get confident in our new-found skills? I don't think so. As we take up that task we are not so confident in, those of us who know God would probably pray and ask for his help. But what happens as days go by? We probably get used to doing this task, we're getting better at it, and we don't have that same reliance on the Lord as we first did.

My kids and I are going through the part about the Israelites' journey through the Promised Land in our morning Bible time. As I narrate the Bible stories to my sons, I am amazed by the ability of this one man to lead the huge bunch of grumbling, complaning Israelites through an unpredictable wilderness. While it is no simple task to be a leader in any capacity, what stands out to me most at this time is Moses' dependence on God.

He seems to have mastered the habit of taking every situation to the Lord. Pharaoh's heart hardened? He called out to God. The Israelites grumbling against him? He cried out to God (Exodus 17:4). Feeling disappointed? He went to the Lord (Exodus 5:22). Did he have a request? He asked the Lord (Exodus 8:12). Faced by a problem? He took it to the Lord (Exodus 15:25). He even interceded on behalf of the very people who kept complaining against him (Exodus 32:11). What a great response! He didn't think of himself as a great and experienced leader, able to handle things himself. Instead, he recognized he was out there just doing what his Master has called him out to do. And Moses knew, the best way to do it is God's way.

As we experience more of the Lord, may we grow in our dependence on Him. Like Moses, let us go to Him in every situation -- joy, sorrow, fear, disappointment, shame, anger, embarassment, pain, guilt, everything! There is nothing He cannot handle. Yes, He loves to listen to us, and He is only a thought away.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

God, Look What I've Done For You!

Have you had moments when you thought God should be proud of you? May be when you made a great sacrifice to help another person. Or you took a stance for what was right. Perhaps you felt God’s delight for your diligence in obeying Him. King Solomon had at least one such moment. He had built something grand – a temple for God, like never before. It was an exciting time for the Israelites. God doesn’t have to dwell in a tent anymore; He would live among them in this magnificent building. At least that’s what Solomon thought. Standing before this great structure which God had chosen Solomon to build, He proclaimed, “I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever” (2 Chronicles 9:2). Perhaps he was thinking to himself, “You must be proud of me, God!”

Well, he didn’t dwell on that thought for too long. As his proclamation progressed, his attitude changed. This wise king knelt in front of all his subjects. He knew he was talking to the God of heaven. He even changed his mind about God living in the temple he built. “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!” (2 Chronicles 9:18)

Ah, how true! As we come before God and look at Him more, we discover that our best efforts don’t measure up to His greatness and majesty. May we say like John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

The Career Path of a King

David played many roles through his lifetime. He was King David, but that was not his first job. His job description changed all the way from leading sheep to leading the country. Not just any country. This nation Israel that God Himself formed. But, look at his career path. I find it very interesting.

"He also chose David His servant,And took him from the sheepfolds;
From following the ewes that had young He brought him,
To shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel His inheritance.
So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands." (Psalm 78:70-72)

The first time we meet David in the Bible, he is a shepherd boy in his father's house. His father Jesse doesn't even bother to call him when the great prophet Samuel is at their house! In his family, he is simply "the youngest", but God sees something about his heart. God tells Samuel to anoint this good-looking young man as king. But, I wonder if David even knows what that anointing was for, at that point. (I Samuel 16:13) What I do know is that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. That's right, centuries before the day of Pentecost!

Soon, David gets his new title as Saul's armor bearer. Well on his way to becoming king, right? Though he is already known as a "man of war" (I Samuel 16:18), he isn't holding a sword yet, just a harp. He plays music for the king. Something powerful happens as he strums the strings. He doesn't only fill the king's bedroom with some good music, but evil spirits flee! He hasn't even given up his job as a shepherd yet. He continues to take care of his father's sheep, but they also have a keeper now.

The next time we meet David is a well-known episode when David kills Goliath with just a sling and a stone. David can't stand this huge Philistine man defying the Name of God. So, he steps in with the experience he gained from killing a lion to protect his sheep in the Name of God. After David defeats Goliath, his fame rises, and so does Saul's jealousy. David seems unaffected by his sudden fame, but Saul is so disturbed that he is ready to kill him.

Mainly because of Saul's jealousy, David becomes his enemy. The next season of his life mostly involves running from Saul to keep himself safe. This is not easy at all. David, along with his men, has to go through a number of different challenges just to keep themselves alive.

David had a promising career, we know. From shepherd to king is a great story. But, clearly, David did not pursue the throne. His eyes were not on kingship, but on the King of kings. If he had wanted to become a king (that was God's plan anyway, right?), he had the opportunity to do so. He could have easily killed Saul and proclaimed himself as king. He was a great warrior and a leader, but more than any of that, he was a man after God's own heart.

Even after Saul died, David genuinely mourned his death. The enemy who sought his life was dead, but David didn't rejoice at that, because he knew his life was in God's hands. By this time, even prophet Samuel who had anointed David as king years back had died. What chance remains of David becoming the king? Of course, the Lord's plans cannot be thwarted. After Saul's death, the men of Judah, and then the people of Israel anointed David as king. David seems to be a great example of waiting for God's perfect plans inspite of different circumstances and seasons.

May be you are in a season when you just do not know where you are headed. You know and believe that God has good plans for you, but you seem to be making no progress. Just remember, God hasn't forgotten! He is working on you, right now. Even when you already feel ready for the next step. Waiting is not easy, but "humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (I Peter 5:6)

A Baking Lesson

When I bake a cake, I usually let my three-year old son join in. He sits on a chair and I would place a bowl on the table in front of him. I let him hold the measuring cup, as we add the ingredients one by one into the bowl. When we are done, I give him a fork to mix them up. He mixes them together a few times. I know his tiny hands are not strong enough to whisk the entire batter. So, I appreciate his help and take it up from there. I use an electric blender, and when the batter is done, I pour them into pans and put them in the oven till they are done. Alright, this is not meant to be a post on "how to bake a cake"!

When the cake is ready to be eaten with the frosting (or icing) on it, John proudly tells his dad: "Mama and Johnny made the cake." Now, I could have done it all by myself, which would have been quicker and less messy. The focus is not on the cake that needs to get done, but we do it together because we both enjoy it, and in the process, he also acquires some skills. He learns to hold up the measuring cup steadily, and he learns how to bake a cake.

It makes me think that it is quite similar to how God lets us join in His Work. He does not need our help at all. In fact, it wouldn't take him long to appear to everyone in a dream and reveal Himself. Messy, disobedient and reluctant as we are, God entrusts His precious gospel to us, just because He loves us! Of course, God works in us in the process. When Jonah decided to disobey God, He could have easily chosen another prophet who would comply. He didn't do that! He patiently worked in Jonah till he obeyed. Something urgent had to be done, but I am so glad God isn't task-oriented.

There are still a lot of people around the world who have not yet heard the Good News. God is certainly more concerned about it that we are. But, He is also more interested in His relationship with individuals and in the process rather than getting 'it' done. So, He may not push a hesitant disciple into a mission field. Though we don't always understand, we just trust and believe that God is love and full of wisdom, and He knows exactly what is best.

Let us serve God in the attitude that we are doing His work, and not accomplishing something for Him. We can never please God with our best human efforts, just like my son's efforts to bake a cake by himself would be! But, when we choose to play a role in what He is already doing, He can use our little for His glory. "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" (Luke 17:10)

The Lord's Prayer

The title perhaps reminds you of the prayer that begins "Our Father who art in heaven..." That is how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. But, that's not the prayer I am referring to here. This is a prayer that Jesus Himself prayed. What better way to learn about prayer than to listen to Jesus Himself pray?

We read about the prayer that Jesus prayed just before He was arrested and then crucified. He was very close to the culmination of His earthly mission. He knew He was about to bear the weight of all the sin on Himself. It was going to be an intense moment, when He would be deserted by dear friends, suffer physical pain, cry out in agony, and go through death. Just a little while before His arrest, here's what He prayed:

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

Based on a Relationship

Jesus prayed because He was in an intimate relationship with the Father - He and the Father are one. Jesus was having a conversation with the Father.

Sometimes, I am tempted to pray at God, rather than praying to Him. At times, it seems easier for me to ramble a few familiar sentences rather than take the time to look at God and have a conversation with Him. But He is more interested in relating to us than going through our list of petitions.

Honest Prayer

Jesus preferred that the cup (perhaps, the cup of suffering He was about to go through) be taken from Him. Of course, He knew that was the very reason He came down to earth. But He was honest in prayer about what He thought and felt.

One night, I was angry. I didn't even want to talk to my husband. And I didn't feel like praying. Well, who else do I talk to? After a few minutes, I broke the silence by talking to God. This is how I started: "Lord, I am angry, and I don't even feel like praying". I had actually started praying already! A few moments into that conversation with God, my anger just melted away and the Lord's sweet presence filled me with His love. Not that I had to inform God how I felt. He already knew. But God loves a sincere from-the-heart prayer (even if it is just a sigh) more than a lengthy and great sounding prayer that is only from the lips. (Luke 18:9-14)

Submission

After Jesus voiced His desire, He brought it under the subjection of the Father. He did not beg that He would somehow get His way through, but He prayed that the will of God would prevail. I think that is how every prayer should end - by yielding to Him who knows the best!

As we pray, may our desires align more with God's!

I used to be scared of God

Growing up as a pastor's kid, I have been to many Pentecostal 'revival' meetings with my parents. I would come out of most of those meetings questioning my relationship with God. In those meetings, people looked excited about prayer - they would clap, shout and jump while praying. They sounded fluent and professional in their prayers. Many could even pray in different tongues. Often, I would stand there, unable to feel any of that, and wondering what is wrong with my faith in God. In many meetings, participants were encouraged to ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I have asked for the Holy Spirit to fill me, but almost always, I never felt a thing. Others described different emotions, and I have often seen people fall down as they receive the Holy Spirit. None of that has ever happened to me, although that's not reason enough to question the genuineness of those experiences. I had voiced these questions to my dad, my spiritual mentor. He consoled me saying that we receive the Holy Spirit by faith, not by how we feel. God does give us spiritual gifts by His will. Dad also encouraged me to yearn more for the fruit of the Spirit than the experiences, which some people may be given as a sign.

Though I received the Holy Spirit by faith, many things I saw around me developed in me a fear of the Holy Spirit. Shocking, isn't it? The Holy Spirit is meant to be my Comforter, yet I was scared of Him. So scared that for a couple of years, I very carefully avoided asking for the Holy Spirit to fill me! I know I was foolish to think that way, but I felt as if Jesus is a good friend, but the Holy Spirit is a scary ghost. One night, I shared this with a good Christian friend. She asked if I had prayed about it. Um, well, may be... But then I started praying about my crazy fear. My attitude started changing, but not overnight.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:11-13) It was this passage in the Bible that reminded me to overcome my fear. He is the 'Holy' Spirit, He is a good Gift. And He is God.


As a child, I have often prayed, "Jesus, come into my heart." Essentially, I was inviting the Holy Spirit to live in me. The great thing about the Holy Spirit is that He is God in us. What a great privilege to have Him right with us, whispering to us and nudging us to walk in His ways! "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." (John 14:26)

I had to ask the Lord to forgive me for being scared of Him. After all, how would I feel if my son was scared of me? Of course, I would still be gentle and patient with Him. That's exactly how God dealt with me - patient, yet persistent. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) The Lord doesn't scare us away, instead He gently draws us near.

After Much Anticipation....

It was a time of waiting. For what, you ask? For the birth of our baby – second baby, to be precise. Well, the doctors had estimated a ‘due date’ for the baby. But, three weeks before the due date, the baby is considered full term and he could be born anytime. I didn’t think much about the ‘waiting’ part till I was in it myself. (By the way, our first son John arrived four weeks earlier than his due date, much before I even started waiting.)

The anticipation peaked when I started noticing signs that the baby is getting ready for birth. Signs are supposed to make it easy, aren’t they? True, but I had been having false pains for about a month. May be, that’s not a good enough sign. How about the baby’s position? He was in birth position for about four weeks. When the due date was about 2 and a half weeks away, the doctor examined me and said the baby could be born any time. Now, that brings up a lot of things for me, and for us as a family. For one, I was excited that I am closer to holding my little one. Plus there are the preparations to be done. The hospital bag was packed. A day went by. I almost spent that day sitting in the couch waiting for signs of labor pain. No signs! May be, that’s not the way to wait. I decided to carry on with my regular chores – not that I could do much carrying a precious person inside my bulging belly.

That reminded me of how we should wait for the Lord’s second coming. We are not to sit lazily and keep looking at the sky, but we ought to work diligently. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:46 – 51)

The next morning, my husband Daniel had to decide whether to go to work or work from home. He can’t keep telling his employer that the baby is going to be born soon. ‘Soon’ could be anything from a day to a week, or even a couple of weeks! If he goes to work and I am in labor, it might take a lot of time for him to drive back home and then take me to the hospital. Reluctantly, he got ready to go to work. John and I waved him bye. As I was wondering what I would do if the baby arrives today, I just turned that thought into prayer, committing into His Hands who knows all! In a few minutes, Daniel came back, because the car wouldn’t start. Wow! That was a quick answer to prayer. Immediately, we felt it was going to happen today. But, we had to get the car working first. The battery had to be replaced, and it was done in an hour. So, Daniel ended up working from home that day. But no signs of labor. That was a little disappointing because of all the anticipation.

I had some pain in the evening, but I had read enough on the topic to dismiss it as false labor pains. Apparently, the main difference is that real labor pains are rhythmic, while false pains are random in intensity and timing. Soon, the pain subsided and I went to bed at night. I was woken up early in the morning by painful contractions. I did what I had been accustomed to do in the last few weeks. I noted the time of each contraction. One hour went by, and the contractions were exactly five minutes apart. I waited for a few more minutes, and did what the doctor had instructed me to do. “Call when the contractions are five minutes apart for one hour,” she had said. Soon, we rushed to the hospital – Daniel, John and I – in the wee hours of the day. We had to figure out our way in – because some doors were locked at that time of the day – stopping at a couple of places, asking for directions. Oh, but wait, the pains had subsided by then. False alarm?

Yes it was, as the doctor soon confirmed. But, how am I to know when it’s real labor pain? I followed the instructions, and I was looking for the signs. “Call when the contractions are five minutes apart for one hour,” the doctor confirmed. “We can examine you and confirm if it is the real thing or not.” We went back home with all the hospital bags we had brought! Daniel took the day off and we took a good nap.

The same evening I had some pain again, and we went to the doctor’s office. Again, it was false alarm. Next time, the doctor asked me to wait till the pain continues for 2 hours. By this time, I was getting embarrassed about creating a scene each time. Getting the three of us into the car to go the doctor in this cold weather, with so many winter clothes on, was no fun. I resolved not to wake up Daniel even if I have pain again, and I continued with my regular chores – cooking, cleaning, etc. I tried to ignore all about the ‘waiting’ and went to bed. Early in the morning, about 4:15 AM, I woke up in pain again. Not again, I thought!! But this time, I did not even get up from bed. I just picked up my phone and noted the time each time I had a painful contraction. They were about 3 minutes apart, and the pain was intense. Well, yesterday too, I thought the pain was intense. I didn’t want to look like a drama queen again. So I kept quiet, but Daniel woke up and caught me rolling in pain. After waiting for one and a half hours (the pain was getting very intense), we called the doctor and rushed to the hospital. The temperature outside was 2^o F – the coldest I had ever witnessed in my life!

I knew the baby would be born in a few hours, and we had to get to the hospital soon. Thankfully, the hospital is just a few minutes’ drive from home. I walked (yes, in the middle of active labor!) from the hospital entrance to the labor room. I needed no directions, for I had walked the same route just yesterday! Everyone who saw me on the way knew I was in labor – the look on my face was enough to say it.

I entered the labor room at 6:30. It was 6:59 when I was holding little Jeremy in my arms. The day was the 08th of January. What a joy it was to behold a little human being, handcrafted by God! It was as if there was a lot of wait, and just when I had given up the wait, he was born suddenly. The birth was so sudden that we didn’t even have the time to find someone to look after our first son, and he ended up being in the labor room to welcome his little brother!

One of the nurses who was helping me during the labor asked if we have a garage where we park the car. When I said no, she expressed surprise that our car had even started that morning, considering how cold it was. When I told her we had changed the battery just two days back, she was even more surprised and agreed that it was a miracle. Yes, it was! Though we didn’t understand all about the waiting, we later realized that God was at work.

Coincidence or not, one of those days, I came across this verse as I was reading my Bible: “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.” (I Thessalonians 5:2) I couldn’t help but notice the commonalities in waiting for the baby and waiting for the return of the Lord! Come soon, Lord Jesus!!

God, Are You Really with Me?

Last month, we walked out of our apartment leasing office praising God for a miracle. Yes, we had just received an offer to lease a 2 bedroom apartment, for almost the same rent we are now paying for a 1 bedroom apartment. The new apartment is in the same block we are in now (we hadn't even requested for it), so moving would be easier. Moreover, we have been offered to make the move in December. We don‘t have to wait till January when our current lease expires. That works for us, since we are also expecting our second baby in January. We hadn't toiled much to end up with this deal. We did one thing – we committed to the Lord in prayer, and asked for His guidance and wisdom.

On days like this, it is easy to "see" God’s Presence and guidance, isn’t it? But, you see, with all that life brings across our path, we are not always singing ‘Hallelujah!’

We walked out of the same apartment leasing office a few months back, praising God for a miracle. But that day was quite different.

It was the month of July. My husband Daniel, son John and I had arrived at the John F Kennedy airport in New York, from India, with at least 6 luggage bags. We had a reservation for a hotel in a locality where some of Daniel‘s colleagues resided. Waiting outside the airport, we handed the hotel address to the taxi driver, and he nodded his head in unbelief. “I can‘t go that far,” he said. “It‘s a different part of the state, and it is going to cost you a lot.” Well, we had no other option. So we requested him to go. Then he looked at our luggage bags, and decided they are not going to fit in the taxi. Finally, we ended up in another taxi. That driver was not a technology user, you see. So, he had no GPS or smartphone. We had just landed in the country, and we had no internet on our phones either. We went for a long ride in that taxi, not sure if he was headed in the right direction. The driver did stop in many gas stations (or petrol bunks) to ensure that. After many detours and returns, we ended up at the hotel. “Finally!” we sighed, only to find out that Daniel‘s debit card was not working, because we had been outside the country for a couple of months. How do we pay for the taxi now? We didn’t have enough cash on us. He called the bank to unlock the debit card. As the taxi driver was starting to get impatient about driving all the way back in the pouring rain, the payment just got through. We checked into the hotel room, which was to be our ‘home’ for the next few days. Grateful for shelter, we retired into a good night’s rest.

Now that we have arrived in the country, we had to look for an apartment to move into. After inquiring in a few apartment communities, the only available apartment was in Danbury, Connecticut. The earliest we could move in was after a week. The day came when we could move into the apartment. It was a Friday. We planned to rent a car, so that Daniel could go to work from the hotel (a 40-minute drive away), and then pick us up along with the luggage at noon and move to the new apartment in Danbury. We knew it was going to be a hectic day, but things didn’t go as planned, which made it all the more chaotic. Daniel got to the rental car center, but he was denied a rental car, because he didn’t have a credit card. He managed to get to work, because a helpful colleague offered a ride. In the afternoon, Daniel had a hard time finding a taxi to hire. When he was finally able to get one, it was about time for us to check out of the hotel. Our toddler son and I were waiting in the hotel room, as we kept getting calls from the hotel’s reception desk that it was time for us to leave! Soon, our access cards were deactivated too. Now, our next challenge was to find a taxi that could accommodate our luggage bags and take us to Danbury. And Daniel was still on his way to the hotel.

With all that going on, I began to wonder if we are even heading in the right direction. I mean, was it even God’s plan for us to come to New York? Or, did we miss something? I know God allows difficulties, but I wanted to be sure we are in the center of His will. I began to tell God that if we move into the apartment today, I would take it as a sign that we are walking in His will. Things didn’t get any easier after that. Daniel did arrive after a few minutes, and the hotel charged us for an extra day, because we exceeded the check-out time. But, the good thing is that the same taxi driver agreed to drive us to Danbury. We could fit all but one of our luggage bags (we had to leave one bag at Daniel’s colleague’s home and pick it up later) in the taxi.

Just as we were about to feel relieved, we got a call from the apartment community to let us know that they were closing the office at 5. It was already 4, and the place is about an hour’s drive away. So, if the drive is uneventful, we would reach just on time. Sitting in the taxi with all of our luggage in the trunk, we were wondering if we would even make it today. The apartment office would be closed in the weekend, and we would have to wait for two more days if we miss by a few minutes. That would mean a lot of expenses for the hotel room, food, taxi, etc. and we wanted to move into a ‘home’ we could call ours.

As were nearing Danbury, we realized we were not going to reach by 5. There was heavy traffic on our route. Daniel called the apartment office and requested them to wait for a little longer. After much pleading, the lady finally agreed to wait for 15 more minutes. But that didn’t seem sufficient too. She said she had to leave and told us to wait till Monday to move in. I almost decided that we are probably not heading in the right direction, and we needed some course correction. And, where will we stay for the night?? Meanwhile, Daniel was on the phone. Suddenly, his ‘please’ was replaced by ‘thank you’. What happened? The lady suddenly changed her decision and agreed to leave the keys with another staff who lived in the same apartment community. Praise the Lord!

That was when the Lord’s still small voice reminded that He is with us, no matter what! Oh, yes, He has promised that, and how can I forget it? “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2) It is easy to believe the Lord’s Presence when things are going great, but it doesn’t seem so real when life takes some unexpected twists and turns. But, inconveniences don’t change the fact that He is with us. Even if we had taken a wrong step – I mean, not a deliberate rebellion, but a mistake – His Presence is still something we can count on. I was reminded again of Psalm 23:2 - 4 (“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”)

Green Pastures or Darkest Valley, One Thing Remains

Recently, I was reading a very familiar psalm. I know it by heart. Many of you who grew up in a Christian home can recite Psalm 23 without a pause. But, that day, it was different. I didn't quickly brush through the well-known verses, which I was tempted to do. But I took the time to slowly read the six verses. Here are some things that stood out to me that day:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. - God is our shepherd who takes care of our every need. It means just that - 'every' need. He knows what you need physically, emotionally, spiritually and any other 'ly' you can think of, so that you would lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. How pleasant and sweet those words sound! Who doesn't want to be in such beautiful places? Green pastures, quiet waters and refreshed - I want to be there! Yes, all the time. Notice the first part. 'He makes me lie down...' When He makes you, just lie down and be still. Store up all the energy you can. You might need it later in the journey.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley. This is nothing like the earlier part, where everything was peaceful and perfect! Darkness and valley aren't good places to be. Wouldn't it be good if they were eliminated from our path, altogether? Of course. But we all know that's not the way life is.

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Oh wait! It's not so scary, after all! 'Not perfect' doesn't have to mean 'not peaceful'. We can be in the darkest place, and yet be comforted and courageous. But, how is it possible? The key is that the Lord Himself is with us. In the height or depth, He never leaves. In the green pastures, He is there, leading me and refreshing my soul. In the valley, He is there, comforting me.

Whether I will be in the green pastures or the dark valley, I don't know. I will probably be travelling through both. But, one thing I know - He is with me. What an assurance!

That’s Not Fair!

Even a child feels the need to be fair. They say things like:
“Tell him to share the toys with me.”
“You had your turn. Now, it’s my turn to play.”

That does not change when we grow up to be adults. We say:
“All the work is dumped on me. No one else seems to be working. It’s not fair!”
“For all the hard work I did, I deserve better than that.”
“I want an equal share of it.”

He felt that need. Just like you and me. He wanted to be treated fairly. He did what we would think is the best. He took his problem to Jesus. He asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him (Luke 12:13). Now, that request sounds quite reasonable. And what was Jesus’ reply to this man? He replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” This is no time to be fair. Only when we get to heaven, everything is going to be fair!

We are never promised that life would be fair. On the contrary! Jesus taught, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:29,30) But, that’s not fair! And it wasn’t fair when Jesus was cruelly put to death on a cross.

So what do we do? Do good anyway! It’s easier said than done. But that’s what Jesus did, when He accepted death on the cross. That’s what He teaches us to do. “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.” (Matthew 5:39) Humanly, that’s impossible to do. But, with God, all things are possible. May He help us to do good even when we are treated unfairly.

Are You Rich?

Think about this: Are you rich?

If you are like most people, your answer would be "No". If you are asked to name a few people who are rich, you would have a few names. Interestingly, most people do not admit that they are rich. They would feel rich if only they had a little more than they have. That's an unachievable target! Click here to read Gallup's poll on what people consider rich.

I have never considered myself rich. Whenever I heard sermons about rich people or read verses about rich people, I have always thought they are addressed to someone else.

A sermon I heard recently helped me see things in a different perspective. There are people who think you are rich. If you are reading this from your computer/tablet/phone, you are probably rich. (I am rich too!) If you have more than your basic needs met, you are probably rich. Of course, richness is a relative term. That's exactly my point. If you compare yourself to a person who has more than you do, you appear poorer. If you look at a person who has less than you do, you are rich! As long as there is someone who has less than you do, you are rich!

Now that you know you are rich, is it a good thing or bad? We need to acknowledge that God is our Provider (unless the money you have is earned in ungodly ways). The Bible has a lot to say about the rich, the scariest of which is Matthew 19:24 ("...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.") When Jesus spoke about rich people, He must have referred to it more as the condition of the heart.

Many are quick to point out that money itself is not the root of evil, only the love of money is. While it is easy to get away saying that I don't love money, I must be careful not to want more than I have. "Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." (Hebrews 13:5) After all, we follow a Master Who had to borrow a coin to illustrate His message (Mark 12:15)!

May the Lord help us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, Who is eternal and not on the fleeting earthly treasures that are of absolutely no value the moment you take your last breath.

Caught Praying

Daniel's co-workers were jealous of him. "The administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”" (Daniel 6:4,5) Soon, they came up with a plan - one that involved Daniel's prayer life. The only thing Daniel could be accused of was his prayer life!

Daniel's prayer life was so consistent that it was used as the basis for charges against him. He continued to pray three times a day, irrespective of the laws of the land. He did not increase his prayer in the time of need, nor did he shy away from prayer in an attempt to protect his life. He was consistent in prayer - same time, same place and same position, everyday. (Daniel 6:10)

People knew about Daniel's prayer life. The administrators and satraps knew about it (Daniel 6:5). Darius also knew how faithfully Daniel served God (Daniel 6:16, 20). Jesus did warn against making a show of your prayer. Jesus' warning was against prayer motivated by people's praises, like the Pharisees did. That's quite different from the way Daniel prayed. He prayed even when it could cost his life.

It wasn't hard for Daniel's conspirators to catch him praying. They knew exactly when and where they could catch him 'red-handed'. How easy is it for others to catch you praying? Can you be accused of your prayer life?

I'm Now a Mom!

Me, a mom?? Hard to believe. It was as if yesterday when I was a carefree kid. But it’s been four months since I officially became the mother of a cute little guy!! John Baruch made his entry into the world on December 13th, 2012. He was expected to be born four weeks later. But God’s timings are different from ours.

It was my 36-week scheduled doctor visit. Danny had taken permission from office to take me to the doctor during his lunch break. As soon as I entered the hospital, my bag of waters broke (which means labour is near). The doctor examined me and I was admitted in the hospital for labour. Isn’t it too early? I am not even full-term. As Danny and I sat there that afternoon, recollecting all that had been happening, we knew God’s timings are perfect and He had been preparing us for that day. Not just us. Even our home was all set for the arrival of our little one. The crib was ready, so were his clothes and the car seat. We had even bought diapers. It surprises me that we were so prepared four weeks in advance, more so since Danny usually prefers doing things at the last minute. Friends had gifted us a variety of baby things. Yeah, friends whom we had known for hardly eight months in this foreign country!

In a few hours, I’ll be delivering the baby, how did we feel? Of course, it was a mixture of feelings. But if I have to point to one, we knew that God is in perfect control. It was just the two of us at the hospital. My mom was supposed to come in another two weeks, but her first grandson decided to come earlier.

Rewind to ‘one year back’…

A few months into our marriage, I came across this Bible passage in Luke 1:16-18. It’s about John the Baptist. (“He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”) As I read this, I just prayed that the Lord would give us a child like that – one who would bring many people to the Lord. On New Year’s Day, as the church service was going on, Daniel looked at me and said, “We are going to have a child this year.” Months passed, and it was in the month of May that we found I was pregnant.

That brought mixed feelings in me – Excitement, joy, fear, anxiety. How am I going to go through the childbirth part? I’ve heard much about the ‘unbearable labour pain’. When I cringe in other kinds of pain, I’ve sometimes had older women ask me, “if you are not able to bear this pain, how are going to bear labour pain?” I too had that question in mind. Early in my pregnancy, I had to make a choice. I will have to worry about the impending labour pain for the rest of my pregnancy or cast my worry on the Lord and just enjoy the pregnancy moment by moment. But, I didn’t know what to pray for. Should I pray for a painless delivery or a shorter labour? The verse which says, “By thee have I been holden up from the womb; thou are he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” (Psalm 71:6) was a great encouragement. Now, I knew what to pray for. I just asked that God’s Presence would be real during the delivery.

Whenever I was faced with questions, discouragement or physical weakness, it was God’s Word that uplifted me. I learnt some of my pregnancy lessons from the life of Elizabeth, John’s mom. Some people who prayed over me quoted verses about John the Baptist. I just thought to myself that our baby should be named John, if it’s a boy. When we found out we’re having a boy, we decided to name him ‘John’. Danny suggested ‘Baruch’ after the scribe of prophet Jeremiah.

12/12/12 was the day I was admitted in the hospital. It was around 9 PM, when I started to feel the pain, though contractions had begun in the afternoon (pardon me, if you are not familiar with these terms. Anyway, it might be good to know them. Perhaps, it will be of use later on). In the hospital, women in labour are offered an epidural (pain relieving medicine injected into the spine). Most women take an epidural. Though I am not against taking an epidural, Danny had encouraged me that I could do it naturally with God’s strength. I had told my nurses that I don’t want an epidural; but I might change my mind about that. The pain started getting intense. Danny stood by me, encouraging me, playing Praise and Worship music, praying and reciting Scripture verses. I kept asking the nurses, “how much longer will it take?” As the pain started increasing, I had a thought about taking some kind of pain relief. Just then the nurse examined me and said I am almost ready to deliver. If it’s going to be just some more time, why bother with the pain medication? Then came the long awaited moment at 01:08 AM – and there he was! A little squealing human being drenched in blood and fluids. Tears of joy filled my eyes as all those moments of pain just faded away in the joy of holding my little baby.

On the day of birth

Four months have gone by so quickly, and it’s fun being a mom – though it’s not very easy. Trusting in the Lord to help me be the godly mom that He wants me to be, not a perfect super-mom that I wish I could be!!

A recent picture

Seek First '_____'

In August, it had been a few months for us in the US and we thought it’s a good time to buy a car. Till then, we had been walking to nearby stores; sometimes, we took the less frequent public transport; most times, kind-hearted friends offered us rides – especially for Danny to commute to his workplace. We got the money ready for the car and started looking for cars within our budget and as per our requirements. We searched the internet, told friends. All along, we knew in our hearts that God would provide the right vehicle at the right time. But we need to “do our part”, right?

During the process, we realised that ‘car’ was all that we were talking and thinking about. “How about this one... or that?” It’s quite true that we needed a car. We can’t keep asking people for a favour every day. But had we forgotten to just trust in God and be still? We both knew that’s what God was asking us to do at that time. Oh come on, we can’t literally “be still” in this case, can we? We need to do some search and research. We went ahead and did. Finally, one deal worked out for us – well, almost. We proceeded to negotiate with the seller. We were going to make the payment, when we realised that this was fraudulent. Thank God, we were stopped at the right time. It wouldn’t have taken us too long to have paid all the money we had at that time and kept waiting for the car forever!

After we recovered from the shock, now again, time to resume our car hunt. But this time, God’s Word was crystal clear – the very familiar verse, “But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) ministered to me. From the previous verses, we know that ‘all these things’ refers to our physical and immediate needs. Like most promises in the Bible have a command, this one does too. We need to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. In our case, we decided to stop looking for cars, because that was occupying too much of space in our minds. That was a difficult step. We had to hold each other accountable on that. The other thing was to focus our minds on God, serving Him and praying for those who have not yet seen the Light. What about the car? We had learned the hard way to ‘be still’.

After a few days, when we got an opportunity to testify about God, Danny shared about how God had stopped us from being a victim of fraud. One person who was listening to it came and spoke to us later saying that he knows a good car dealer and he can help us get a car! Later that week, he took us to the car dealer and helped us decide on a car that suits our requirements. We drove back home in that car and we’ve been using it for the last few months.

At times, it’s hard to be still and wait for God’s timing and ways. But when we do, we can only exclaim in wonder at the way He works! I realised that God is able to work as much as we trust Him with our lives. God has put us on earth on His mission – that is, to seek His kingdom. When we do that, He takes care of all our physical needs. Yes, literally.

When an employer asks its employee to travel on business, the employer takes care of all his expenses. All he has to be concerned about is the task at hand. He would be a fool to spend all his time trying to meet his expenses and neglect his task. But, too often, isn’t that how we live? We spend all our time and effort in meeting our immediate needs that we forget about the greater purpose for our life on earth. The danger is that the worries of this life can go to the extent of choking the Word of God! “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22) Let us be careful to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our race.

“... That They May Be One”

Before Danny and I moved to the US, one of the things we prayed for is that we would get to be part of a “good” church. I remember someone asking us if we plan to go to an ‘Indian church’ or a ‘white church’. We said we were ready to go just wherever the Lord leads us. Of course, at that point, we didn’t really know what those titles meant. On our first Sunday in the United States, we googled for the nearest church and we went there. We walked about 20 minutes and reached Grace Outreach Center, a non-denominational, multi-cultural church. We could actually see people from different nations and different cultures attending church and also serving in the church. Though we hardly saw Indians that day, we were so comfortable there. Nobody stared at us as strangers, instead so many of them welcomed us warmly to the church.

Now, as we have become members of Grace Outreach Center and as we get to know more people personally, we get asked a lot of questions about our culture and our faith in Christ. But at the end of our conversation, we realise that we can identify with each other because we share this unique relationship with Christ. Our skin colour is different; we have cultural differences; we think differently, but because we are washed by the blood of Jesus, we have the same purpose; we have the same values and priorities. It’s a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ that people from different nations come together to worship Him. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

I believe this is just a small glimpse of what heaven will be like, when nations and tribes stand in God’s Presence in unison. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9)

Across the globe, God speaks to His people through His powerful, unchanging Word. It amazes me to think that God’s Word, which was written centuries ago, is still relevant to everyone, irrespective of culture, nation and time period.

On the other hand, it pains me to see ‘exclusive churches’. We have created divisions in the Church for the sake of denominations, nationalities, languages and even castes (at least the caste doesn’t feature in the name of the church)! ‘Korean church’ or ‘African church’ or ‘Indian church’, for example, is an oxymoron! In a way, isn’t that racism within the Church? A church is supposed to be inclusive of everyone. Of course, such churches might exist for different purposes and I am not to judge their motives. But if we can work, ride and shop with people from other countries, what stops us from worshipping God together with people from other countries? “But, there’s the language barrier, especially for those who are new to church” you may say. You might want to read again what happened on the day of Pentecost:

“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:5-11) That’s the power of God! They didn’t each have a church in their own language. People speaking different languages came together as one. For these foreigners, it would have been like it would be for me to hear an American preach or testify in Tamil! But, that’s the way the Spirit of God works when we come together in unity. So, instead of human methods, let us allow the work of God's Spirit.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who believe in me through their message that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (John 17:20,21) Why don’t you and I be the answer to Jesus’ heartfelt prayer? As believers in the Lord Jesus, let us stand united. Let the One thing that unites us be the Blood of Jesus Christ, not just denomination, language, nationality, native place, caste or any other man-made interests.