JESUS IS LORD. ALWAYS!

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Blind Bartimaeus

"What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, 'Rabbuni, let me see again'" (Mark 10:51)NJB

Suppose Jesus asks you: "What do you want me to do for you?" How would you reply? When I have sensed Him asking that of me, my answer depended on my circumstances. In periods of ill-health, I wanted instant healing. When an old car needed repair, we desire a new car. Our desires are indeed complex, but Bartimaeus' prayer was precise.

When God asked Solomon what he wanted most, Solomon's request pleased God. Why? Because the king had asked for wisdom -- not for his own benefit, but so he could rule Israel according to God's purpose. God wants us to choose wisely and in accordance with His will. In the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us what to pray for. God's will is paramount. He showed an example in Gethsemane when in terrible anguish, he groaned: "My Father,..not what I want but what you want" (Matthew 26:39)

Bartimaeus' prayer brought him physical and spiritual vision. Jesus always gives more than we ask for. He wants us to pray with confidence for all our needs, but he also desires we place spiritual well-being above material comfort. The world needs people with spiritual vision. "Without vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29: 18). The prophet Hosea writes: "My people perish for want of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) May God help us to pray with Bartimaeus: Lord, that we may see!

Books on Prayer

Friday, August 26, 2005

Listen and Grow

"Jesus said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow...And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty."(Matthew 13: 3, 23)

The parable of the sower teaches the principle of personal growth and reveals the secret. The word of God sown in a receptive mind has the power to geminate and transform the personality.
Why is America so rich in producing many talented writers in personal growth? The United States provides an enabling environment for all types of talents to flourish. The public, university libraries and bookstores nurture a learning culture. When one is eager to develop his God-given talents, a good idea is to look at what other people have done. The wealth of ideas in self-development literature makes America a land of sunshine, opportunity and adventure.

These books inspire us to develop our potentials.
Meet below some of the great inspirational writiers of our age. Their writings have influenced millions of people all over the world including myself.

Norman Vincent Peale
Napoleon Hill
Joseph Murphy
Stephen Covey
Tom Hopkins
Anthony Robbins
George Clason
Maxwell Maltz
Peter Drucker
Robert Schuller

Thursday, August 25, 2005

For everything there is a time..

"For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Unerstanding the concept of kairos, God's time-table for our life is the secret of success and happiness. Even a child understands that a seed requires time to grow in order to yield fruit. Each stage in its life cycle from sprouting to fruition is marked by internal changes and constant adaptation to ever-changing environment. An internal biological clock governs its life. Human beings created for a higher purpose are not different. The Creator said that He has an excellent plan for each person (Jeremiah 29:11).

As we go through various stages in our life-cycle, it is consoling to be aware that God is present in every change and has a superb time-table for our development. If there is time for every purpose, how do we find out the right time for our projects? The four steps listed below have helped me in discerning God's will for my life.

1. Believe that God is in full control of the situation.

2. Pray for light and guidance.

3. Wait for God to speak to you on the problem. "Faith that is firm is also patient" (Isaiah 28:16). When God speaks, He can use any of these means: His word, people, events, inspirations.

4. Do whatever he tells you (John 2:5).
God's guidance is peace. If you do not feel peace at this stage, you have not received an answer. Continue to wait.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Health and Healing

"That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He drove out the spirits with a command and cured all who were sick. That was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: He himself bore our sickness away and carried our diseases.(Matthew 8: 16-17)

Perhaps you are sick in your body at this moment or may be you are just worried whether you may be able to keep the good health you enjoy right now till the end of life. Good health is one of the great riches of life. Even as adult, I experienced ill-health on many occasions. Encouraged by stories of people who had overcome chronic disabilities, I became determined that I must enjoy good health. Reasonable good health is possible for most people. Just as there are rules for success in anything, there are also rules for success with regard to health.

Whatever may be your situation, it is most comforting to realize that God, our Father has made concrete provisions concerning our health in His word. The key to enjoying His promises on our health is to understand these promises as they apply to us; to trust God's word and to obey what they ask us to do. Realize also that "good health" is a matter of attitude. Everyday you wake up, have your meals and go about your business, you are in good health. There may of course be some pains and aches. These may never be entirely absent in life. Thank God that you are alive and able to move about, enjoy a good meal and do what God expects of you everyday.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Mary called Magdalen

"Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means"(Luke 8:2-3).

Women who benefited from the ministry of Jesus provided for His needs and those of His disciples. They provided for them "out of their means." The widow of Zarephath provided for Elijah out of her meagre resources. God blessed this source and it never dried up.

This incidence is typical of God's arrangement for providing the future disciples of Christ. In the Old Testament, we see many instances of God providing for His servants through people. This principle was established with the levitical priesthood. Elisha, the prophet was likewise provided for by a couple in the course of his work. In the New Testament, we find abundant examples from the works of the Twelve and St Paul.

What are the lessons for us? God makes adequate provisions for the needs of those who preach the gospel. God prefers a situation of weakness and dependence for His servants so that His wisdom and power can triumph through their work. God infact wants His collaborators in the work of salvation to imitate the simplicity of Jesus Christ. He appoints people to supply the needs of His workers.

How do the disciples of Christ today appropriate God's blessings and provisions for them? First, they must be aware of these provisions in the Bible. They must understand what God's word or promise is saying to their particular situation. Disciples of Jesus must believe his word and act on this word. Trust and obedience activate the power of the word.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Family

"No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. No one who prefers son or daughter to me is worthy of me.(Matthew 10:37)

Most of the joys and sorrows we experience in this life come from the family. To appropriate the joys and minimize the sorrows, we must learn God's promises on the family. As we understand God's plan for family life, we are led to believe in God's wonderful provisions for the family. Obedience to God's word on family life is the key to enjoyoying the generous provisions He has made for us. Most of us have experienced problems in family relationships. Some of us have come close to despair. I was at this point, when I cried out to God and and asked for help. God heard my cry of distress and answered my prayer. He led me to his word on the first principles of right relationship: There can be no peace between poeple unless there is peace between each person and God. Then He taught me forgiveness, acceptance and patience. The healing process started.

Pope John Paul II in his The Gospel of Life says this about the family:
"The family is truly the sanctuary of life: the place in which life - the gift of God - can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. Consequently the role of a family in building a culture of life is decisive and irreplaceable.....The family celebrates the gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual and family prayer. The family prays in order to glorify and give thanks to God for the gift of life, and implores his light and strength in order to face times of difficulty and suffering without losing hope. But the celebration which gives meaning to every form of prayer and worship is found in the family's actual daily life together, if it is a life of love and self-giving."

Prayer fof a balanced family life
Grant our family Lord, the gift of balance,
the grace of due proportion.
May we pray when it is time to pray,
Work when it is time to work,
Laugh when it is time to laugh.
May our lives be whole,
and wholly given to you.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

When you need courage.....

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

Using a specific scripture at a critical moment brings power to the mind. God is present wherever His word is acknowledged with faith. To allow this power to flow to us at the moment of need, we feed our minds with God's word in periods when we are not pressed by tests. When we sow the word of God, we reap a harvest of courage and power during emergencies. Below are some scriptures that can be used as affirmations.

Some scriptures on courage:

WHEN YOU NEED TO BE BOLD AND DECISIVE:

Be strong and brave (2Sam 2:7)
Be strong and courageous: (Deut31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6, 9, 18; 10:25; 2Sam 10:12; 13:28; 1Chronicle 22:13; 2Chronicle 32:7)
Be of good courage and act (Ezra 10:4)
Be strong and take courage (Psalm 31:24)
Those who trust in the Lord will fear no bad news (Psalm 112:7)
The righteous are bold as a lion (Proverb 28:1)
They spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31)
God gives encouragement (Romans 15:5)
We do not lose heart (2Corinthians 4:1, 16)
Let us not lose heart (Galatians 6:9)
The bretheren have been encouraged to speak the word (Philippians 1:14)

WHY BE AFRAID IF THE LORD IS WITH YOU?

I will not be afraid of tens of thousands Psalm 3:6)
You will not be afraid (Psalm 3:24)
I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4)
The Lord is my light, whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)
He delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4)
We will not fear though the earth change (Psalm 46:2)
You will not fear the terror by night (Psalm 91:5) You will not be afraid of arrow or pestilence (Psalm 91:5-6)
I will trust and not be afraid (Isaiah 12:2)
We have not received a spirit of bondage to fear (Romans 8:15)
God has not given us a spirit of timidity (2Tim 1:7)
I will not be afraid (Psalm 56:4, 11; Hebrews 13:6)
We are not those who shrink back (Hebrews 10 :38 - 39)
Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18)

See: Some Books on Courage