Be careful what you wish for!

This is my first entry for the year 2009 and this is what I have to say, " Be careful what you wish for" and as it says "It may come true".....To me this sounds creepy at times......We all have desires and dreams and how strongly we wish it would turn true!!! Only to realise that we have quite forgotten to read the fine print....

I can quote many instances when I had wished for certain things to happen for many reasons. Maybe I was not happy with my present situation. Maybe I desired a change. Or else I just wanted to have some fun......Then it turns out to be true......and then you realise it is nothing but a disaster!!! Oops!!!!!

Moral of the story: Learn to be content in whatever situation God has placed you in ......and this I say to myself aloud (listen to yourself girl!!!!), the skills you have...don't crave what others possess.....You may not be in a position to handle it at all!!!
So, be careful what you wish for.....it may turn to be true.....

A careless whisper

We need to be so careful with our words, a lesson I am still learning the hard way. Every word reveals the true intention of our heart. There is no such thing as 'I was just kidding' or 'I didn't really mean that'. Every word we speak tells something about the condition of our hearts. True!! Words can either heal or kill. How often we slay people with our words, not realizing we will eat its fruit.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:1 (NASB)
When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10:19 (ESV)

The Sword of the Spirit

This has been on my mind for a long time and I guess the time is right that I pen these thoughts down. As an Indian I have come across various traditions and cultures some of which I love to hate. And as I was growing up I remember enjoying some and despising the other becoz of inconvenience perhaps.....

But now as a Bible believing Christian who affirms that “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2Peter 1: 20, 21) So everything I do and say has to be guided by what the Word of God says....I don't find it burdensome but as the Psalmist says in Psalms 119: 97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

So coming back to what I have in mind is “What about the traditions and rituals that are being followed by people all around me?” Sometimes it is so confusing but God's Word is very clear. Right now I am thinking of certain verses from the book of Colossians.

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Col 2 :16) and another verse

“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Col 2:23)

My favorite which extinguishes all the flames of doubts is this,

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col 2:8) Wham!!!

I am satisfied coz I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34: 8a)

The infallible Word of God

We are always jerked back to reality when someone around us dies. A realization seeps in quietly that life is indeed short and fleeting. Minds are set thinking about things that never was a concern. I can only think of 1Peter1:24,25
"All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass, the grass withers and the flower falls off, But the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word that was preached to you." God's Word is true and infallible.....I'm reminded of it everyday.....

Give thanks!!

In my morning readings, I was totally taken aback by the verses in the book of Ephesians 5:20.
"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". I have read this verse so many times and yet failed to grasp its true essence. Simple as it may sound, so hard to practice. Why is it so?? Our human nature is bound to grumble at all times and be discontent in spite of what we possess and enjoy..

A wonderful remedy for discontentment and dissatisfaction; to always thank God for every little thing we have in our lives. And as a child of God, I do it unto my Heavenly Father and know that my thanks are accepted only in Jesus Christ. My heart just wants to sing this chorus....

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son

And now let the weak say,
"I am strong"
Let the poor say,
"I am rich"
Because what the Lord has done for us,
GIVE THANKS!!

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

I love this hymn and my favorite lines are," Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise Thou mine inheritance, now and always". So true! My real inheritance is Christ Himself and He is all I need.....

Savour God's Sovereignty

Everything that happens in life is under the mighty hand of God. He controls the entire universe and all that moves in it. I feel so puny as I attempt to write on this massive topic, where giants have addressed this wonderful attribute of God with their writings.

I don't have much to say but the few years as I have walked on this earth, I have just begun to realize the frailty of my existence in the face of an infinite God. And yet as a child of God I don't have cower under God's sovereignty but I can savor it. Honestly I love this attribute of My Heavenly Father, coz I know that everything that befalls me has passed under his loving and wise gaze. I can boldly say along with Job,
"I know You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2