Not Duplicates-Unique Lives

1 Samuel 8
Background:Samuel is grown old, his sons Joel and Abijah are now taking over as judges for Israel, however they are not honest in their judgment like their father. The Israelites come complaining to Samuel and ask him to give them a king like everyone else. Samuel is grieved, he thinks they have rejected him as judge. In those days, the judges were working as leaders for Israel and God would lead Israel in that manner, through judges. Samuel goes before God regarding this request that the Israelites made, God tells him what would happen if they wanted a king right now. Samuel gives them the entire detail of what would happen if they chose the king, yet the people wanted a king.They got Saul.

Lesson I learnt
The Israelites were not happy just with Samuel being their leader, they wanted a king, like everyone else."4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead [a] us, such as all the other nations have." (1 Samuel 8:4-5). God was leading the Israelites through judges all this while. All people were equal, the judge was a mere leader, who would listen to God's Word and lead the people in His ways. However the Israelites were not satisfied with that. They wanted a king like everyone else. They wanted to be like the other nations.

Sometimes I too want a life thats, common, predictable, goes the way it goes with anyone else. Or like someone else I have seen. I sometimes think, my life should have been like this or like that. However over the years I have understood, that there's no other way I would rather live than to live with the Lord. It is difficult, in the manner that , if the 'so intelligent' world would ask me where I am heading, I would have no answer. Thinking of it, God wanted His people to be special, set apart from the rest of the crowd, different, standing out.He would love the same for His children now. We may not be the ones to blend in the crowd, we were never meant to. Thats why God made one of each type of person. Even the twins aren't alike. We are all unique creations.

1 Peter 2:9 says

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of him

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. "

So if we belong to a Living God, our lives are deemed to be different from others , deemed to shine out, now, would we want to trade in our calling for something just to become like the rest of the world? Would we want to trade all that Jesus did for us, so costly through His blood, to become like everyone else? I say not. I encourage all you brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, lets be, all that God wants us to be according to His perfect will for our lives. Let's shine for our Living Lord.

Get to Work God's people!!!

Background: Once the ark of God was captured by the Philistines, they took it and placed it alongside their god Dagon, in the temple. The idol of Dagon, kept falling every day, until it broke(1 Samuel 5). The Philistines moved the Ark of God to a different location and in that location plague broke out. People had blisters and sores.The hand of the Lord was heavy upon their god and their people.(1 Samuel 5:7) The Philistines could not handle the presence of the Living God and sent it back to the Israelites, with offerings. When the ark of God reached the Israelites, the Levites performed the sacrifice on behalf of the five Philistine kings and the Philistines returned. (1 Samuel 6:15-16)In the meanwhile, as the ark of God remained in Kiriath Jearim, the Israelites, mourned and returned to the Lord. Samuel asked them if they really did want to return to God, they must leave all other gods they were following.(1 Samuel 7:2-3).Now while the Israelites were sacrificing to the Lord, the Philistines heard that all Israelites were gathered in one place and attacked them.(1 Samuel 7:10) God came in between them and the enemies and thundered before the enemy and put them in confusion.

Lessons I learnt

1. What a powerful God!!!- The Philistine's God kept falling before our God. No other god is as powerful as Our Living Lord Jesus and Father in Heaven and imagine a God like this One,"23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"[d]—which means, "God with us." (Mathew 1:23)
2. Who can stand in the Presence of such a Powerful God? "20And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall He go away from us?" (1 Samuel 6:20). You know who can? We can, we who have accepted Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour. Now when we stand before this Living God our Father, He looks at us through the introduction of His Son Jesus. Hebrews 4:14-16 says because of having a wonderful high priest like Jesus, who has entered through the heavens, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. A'int that amazing and glorious!!!
3. Presence of God with power to draw His people nigh to Him-Its so fascinates me that, no one was preaching when the ark of God was kept in Kiriath Jearim, but the people of Israel, were turning to the Lord. Imagine, if all the believers in Jesus Christ, were sooooooo obedient to God that God's presence would remain in them, how many lives could be saved!!! how many lives would turn to Jesus. WOw!! So is this presence only to draw God's people near to Him?? Yes it is. So who are His people? Ps 24:1 says "The earth and everything in it BELONGS TO GOD" So I understand its for everyone. So lets be good carriers of God's presence and be a blessing.
4. Whats in it for me?(WIFM)-When the people of God are busy doing God's work, God doesn't like anyone and I mean anyone disturb them. WHen the Israelites were busy preparing and sacrificing to God, the Philistines, chose the wrongest time to attack Israel."10As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel." (1 Samuel 7:10)Thats the kind of protection God has for His people, who are working for His kingdom. Can you imagine that??? SO lets get busy, what are we waiting for??

Conclusion: We've got an Awesome, Wonderful, Powerful, Glorious, Almighty, Loving, Caring God. Who is always there to support His people. However His power and heart , in these days, cannot be manifest, until the carrier is ready. The enemies will not see defeat, until we do what God has planned for us to do. So lets prove ourselves as diligent workers for God.Like the testimony that Bible gives about Samuel. "Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines."(1 Samuel 7:13). Who dare stand against God's plan when God's people get seriously busy at God's work for them, like Samuel.

Our Wonderful Redeemer Lord Jesus

I had missed writing the study on Ruth 4 so I am presenting it here.. We see, that after Ruth had surrendered herself at the mercy of her kinsman-redeemer Boaz, knowing only Boaz would redeem, Boaz gets to work immediately. Now Ruth and Naomi had another kinsman-redeemer apart from Boaz. In Ruth 3:12 we read, (Whole Chapter) "Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I."Boaz could not redeem Ruth and Naomi, before giving a chance to the nearer kinsman-redeemer. He was only second in line as a redeemer, to that kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and Naomi. If the other kinsman-redeemer could not or would not want to redeem Ruth and Naomi, then Boaz could take over.

Now Boaz, gathered up all the elders in his town, as witness for the redemption of Ruth and Naomi. " 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so. 3 Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you [a] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line." "I will redeem it," he said. "
5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire [b] the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property."
6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it." (Ruth 4:1-8)

Notice here that, the kinsman-redeemer was ready to redeem the property of Naomi, but was not willing to raise up a family of the dead. In those days the tradition of the kinsman-redeemer was to buy back all the property that their relative(now dead) had sold due to poverty. Also if they had any widows left behind, they were to take them as wife and raise up a family on behalf of the relative who had died, so that their generation does not die. The kinsman-redeemer nearer than Boaz, could redeem partially, because he was not interested in continuing the family line for the dead relative. Now that he was unable to redeem or did not want to redeem. Boaz is able to redeem Naomi and Ruth, because he is the next kinsman-redeemer in line and is willing. "9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!" "(Ruth 4:9-10)

The lessons I learnt from Ruth 4

1. The two kinsman-redeemers-Ruth had 2 kinsman-redeemers, but only Boaz was willing to redeem them completely. Boaz was willing to redeem not only the property but also the widow Ruth. We too have 2 redeemers from our sin and destruction. The law and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Law has everything written down, so that if people are able to follow it, we can be saved from sin and death. However the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, fulfilled all the law so that we can now trust in His salvation and be redeemed from the curse of death. Its what the book of Romans talks about.
2. Total Redemption-The nearer kinsman, was willing to redeem the property, but would not want to have a family with Ruth and Naomi. For us too, law could save us only partially -law can only tell us what is right and wrong-it can only save us if we're on the right, else we're condemned, with no relation to our God as a Father, but the very act of our Lord Jesus to come down and rescue us, by paying for our sins, we got connected to the family of God. We became children of God by believing in our Lord Jesus death for us. (John 1). Not only that, Ruth's children will now maintain her husband's family name through Boaz. Jesus did the same too "Acts 16:31 (Whole Chapter) They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Our redemption through Jesus is not only for us, but for our entire family. So if you have family members not yet knowing Jesus, rest assured Jesus died for them too and the redemption stands good for them too and continue praying that they will realise and recognise Jesus as their redeemer.
3. A public declaration-Boaz took Ruth as wife, before a whole community, in public. So also does our Lord Jesus. Our Lord Jesus, even though He was absolutely blameless and pure, took up our sin and did not die for it in a hidden corner, but right on top of a hill, before the whole world. Not secretly, but in public, declaring in public, "I take away the sins of the world." Can you imagine the sins of this entire humankind, from then until all the ones who aren't even in this world yet!!! Now thats total redemption.

Conclusion: The Law, which was given to Moses, that if we may abide by it, we will live and be blessed else we will die in sin. God knew that we would not be able to cope up with such a high standard of living, hence He sent His one and only Son, Our Redeemer Lord Jesus, who paid our death penalty for which we were held guilty by Law-(like Boaz paid for Ruth and Naomi's poverty stricken condition). All we need to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins and we immediately are redeemed, and become God's family. Thats how simple God has made it for us, I don't think there is anything that could be simpler than this. In the book of Ruth, the whole story of man and his redemption from sin and death is so beautifully adressed, along with the saving Grace of our Lord Jesus. Hope we see the lesson God gave through their lives.

Yielded Carriers of God's Presence

As I read 1 Samuel 4, I am once again reminded that, for God's power and work to be seen in our lives, it depends on what type of carriers we are, for God's Presence. It matters who's carrying God's presence. The moment we accept Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, we know that we become a temple where God Himself dwells, to guide us, to help us live the life that we're called to live.

In 1 Samuel 4, I see the Israelites went to fight the Philistines, they took the ark of God with them. Eli's sons, the priests also went with them. They all rejoiced when the ark of God reached the battle field. However as I continued to read, I found that they lost the battle. How come? Everything was perfect. The ark of God was with them, the priests were there too. They were a pretty good number of people too, then how come they lost? More than that, even the Philistines were afraid when they heard that God had come to their camp.1 Samuel 4:7-9 records "Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert ". The enemies of the Israelites knew, the power of the Israelites God, but they mustered up whatever strength they had and won. How can that be? How can they win against God's people?

Lessons I got from reading the above passage

1. God's presence manifests itself in a life that is totally yielded to Him.- It is an awesome thing to be carriers of a Living God's presence. So, God looks for lives which are totally yielded, totally surrendered to be able to handle such power, such divinity, without arrogance, without being a snob, without being a controller of others, but with humility, with being a servant to be a leader kind of attitude, like Jesus. Israelites weren't totally and wholely serving God Almighty, they were also worshiping bal and the other gods. Sometimes in our life too, we would serve God, but we may also have someone in our family, who we depend upon solely sometimes more than God
2. God's power is not for manipulating situations to one's favour, but to yield for the maximum benefit of ALL- In the process of this, it may not bring benefits solely to the person through whom the power is manifested, but for the benefit of people around. The Israelites, had not bothered obeying God all this while as we find in 1 Samuel 7, but they now needed God, to win a battle, not because they wanted God to guide them into it. We too do that sometimes, don't we? When we give all of our time and energy somewhere else, other than God and then suddenly when things turn wild, we run to God for help, how can we avoid the trouble at the last minute? Why not stay on top of everything by getting God right in front before us and follow after Him, every day?
3. Above all it matters, who is carrying God's presence-It is not enough that one is a christian, if we really want to be a blessing, we've got to be more than a christian, we've got to be obedient children of God. Samuel's life was given or surrendered to God even before he was born, and because Samuel's mom was so diligent in following God, it was so easy for God to just come down and talk to Samuel, point blank(1 Samuel 3). How yielded are we to hear God's voice?
4. When we work according to God's plan for our lives, we can see God's presence working on our behalf, for God's perfect will- In this battle(1 Samuel 4), the Israelites lost, however they realised their mistake in a period of 20yrs, that they had been in disobedience to God and followed other gods besides the Living Lord God, and when they turned from their wicked ways, they won the battle against Philistines in 1 Samuel 7. Now on another instance, in Samuel's life we see an amazing testimony from the Bible, 1 Samuel 3:19-21 records " 19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.". So when Samuel interceded for the people, God helped the Israelites win the battle.

Conclusion: God would love to get connected to His people, but He would need the right wiring system for it. We are His cables, we are the people who can show to this lost world, what we have in Jesus Christ. If we ourselves are living a life of defeat, like the Israelites, how can we be of any help to someone else? We are the vessels, which can shine out for our Living Lord, and show to them, how great and mighty and loving our Lord is. But that cannot happen, until we are yielded, like Samuel, totally and completely following God's plan for our lives. Hey, I miss out on this a lot of times. I am myself, learning to be a good vessel, a vessel which is able to carry God's presence without any flaw, I am being made ready for God, to help people around me through me. May our Lord delight in His children who are completely yielded to Him, so He can show to others, what an awesome Friend and Blessing He is.

We may not see everything- but God's still working

As I read the book of 1 Samuel, I was amazed, how God was working in two different places at the same time. Preparing people to meet each other at a later time. We read how God worked in the life of Ruth and worked everything beautifully for her family. David is Ruth’s grandson. In the meanwhile at Ramah, a little far away from Jerusalem where Ruth was, we see God working in the life of Hannah.Hannah is the mother of Samuel. Now as I continue to read I find that after a few years, their children meet. Yes, Samuel anoints David to be king of the Israelites in the book of 1 Samuel 16. Did Ruth know when she met Boaz, that she would be an important woman in our Lord Jesus' life. NO. Did Hannah know what would become of Samuel, more than a mere priest, but an attested prophet of God? No. They just obeyed as God guided them. We have so much to learn from this big picture.

We may not know, but God has already planned the What next? Where next? Then whats? Etc for us. Hannah was faithful in crying out to God, knowing only God could deliver her from the tauntings of Peninnah and thats all she knew at this time. Ruth knew too well that only Boaz could help her out of her situation and thats all she knew. As God revealed it to them, they followed their courses.

Lessons I learnt

1. I may not always know, what my next assignment will be.
2. I don't know about tomorrow what it will bring, but I don't worry, there is no point in worrying.(Matthew 6:25)
3. I know whom I have trusted my life and I trust He will complete His plan for my life(2 Timothy 1:12)
4. Above all, God is in control of the lives, that have been surrendered to Him. He will never let them down.

The word of God says. "Them that believe in Him will never be put to shame" So take heart, continue walking in God's ways, He is still at work, bringing everything together for the good of those who love Him and desire to follow Him.

Conclusion: Romans 8:28 (Whole Chapter) [ More Than Conquerors ] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, [ Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God] who [ Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who] have been called according to his purpose.

God Connection- I want that

Background:Hannah honoured God, for answering her prayer. She kept her vow to God and Samuel served in the Lord's presence. Here's an example of how God kept His child safe in the midst of people, who were disobedient and despised God. As I said earlier, Hannah's prayer was a special one, and Samuel was a special delivery from God. Samuel was to grow up and be an exclusive man of God. The people around him while Samuel was in the temple serving God, were not very good examples, but in Samuel's life, God was working.

Here are a few things I learnt from reading 1 Samuel 2 -3

1. Faith pleases God-God is a respecter of Faith. It doesn't matter who you are, what our parents are, what we do for a living, what our situation is. Hebrews 11:6 (Whole Chapter) "So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hannah asked God for a child, not anyone else, that shows her faith in God. So no matter what the situation, there is nothing impossible with God. No matter how impossible our situation looks, even if people around are there to taunt and make fun of us and salt our wounds, our faith and trust in God, along with prayers, can do marvelous things. The answer will be so powerful, it can impact a whole generation. Like Hannah's answer, Samuel, a prophet for life, showing the way to God, to people.
2. Staying close to God even if we're in the middle of people who don't care about God-When I read 1 Samuel 2 about how Samuel was growing up in the Lord's presence, I saw that he didn't have very good examples before him. How could it be that a boy with such bad examples around him, turn out to be such a wonderful man of God? I found my answer in the following verses. "But Samuel was ministering before the LORD -a boy wearing a linen ephod".(1 Samuel 2:18 ) "Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD. "(1 Samuel 2:21 ) " And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men. " (1 Samuel 2:26) .Sometimes it can be very difficult to stay in the midst of people who don't honour God, but from Samuel's life we can see how we can still remain connected to God.

The result is profound- you know what I found as a result.

We see the kind of times Samuel was living in -" 1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. "(1 Samuel 3:1). It is a grim time, the word of the LORD was rare, can you imagine a time, without God's Word and no visions. Basically it looks to me, no one lived as per God's ways, all might have been doing their own thing. In the midst of such a time, the Lord Himself calls out to Samuel and speaks to him. At this point I would like to bring to your notice 1 Samuel 2:27 " 27 Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says:...." even with Eli, God sent another man to speak to him, but with Samuel the case is different, God Himself calls him. Isn't that such an honour, to hear God directly, God's voice from heaven. Wow. More than that, when God called Samuel, Eli did not hear God's voice.

I so am glad for Samuel, for his steadfastness in serving God and sticking close to God, even while others around him had let go of their faith and respect for God.

Lesson: After all this I see, God honours people who honour Him, no matter what the people around you are doing, no matter what background we come from, when we honour God in ALL we do, God is watching (like he watched Samuel grow) and will speak, when no one else is hearing. So what if they make fun of you for believing in God, in following His Word, in trusting Him. So what if people around you have become ritualistic in following God, let's stay so connected to God in our rising and our sleeping that we will hear God's voice. I don't see anything special Samuel did, he just stayed around God. How much part of our life is God? If we would like to hear straight from God, lets get around God, lets go closer to Him, in all we do.

God Bless.

A Special Answer for a Difficult Life

Background: An Ephraimite man named Elkanah, had 2 wives named Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had kids but Hannah did not.This is about a woman who strived, cried and prayed to God to answer her prayer and how God answers it.(1Samuel 1).There are sometimes in life, when you just don't understand why prayers are not getting answered. You're doing everything to make it happen, but it just won't.All other prayers are getting answered, but there is that one prayer, you know, is totally in conformity with God's will, but is not answered, yet.

Sometimes, the best in us can come out only through a rigourous trial.Are we prepared? We'll see how Hannah's life teaches us some lessons on faith in God.

1. Don't give up on obedience to God--"Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD"(1 Samuel 1:3).Every year the whole family went to worship God, however Hannah did not try to escape Peninnah's taunting.-"This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat."(1 Samuel 1:7). She still went to the Lord, knowing that Peninnah would vex her there. Many times, when issues rise up because we turn to God, we tend to turn away from Him to avoid those problems, however Hannah teaches us that we should still continue in the Lord, no matter what we have to face, because our reward, our answer to prayer is in the house of the Lord, in the Presence of our God.
2. Know the way out- Though Elkanah loved her more than Peninnah, Hannah knew what she wanted. She loved Elkanah too, however her heart had a deep desire for a child. She knew too well, that the ONLY way for her to get out of that terrible situation was to have a child and not just Elkanah's love, and she yearned for it. There could be many more options to solve a situation, but only one would be an answer, a complete answer to the situation. Only having a close relationship with God, when times are troubled, can we find it.
3. Stand up-"Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up"(1 Samuel 1:9). Standing is a different thing-it is getting ready to act upon what God has put in your heart. Once God has shown you the way out, stand up and walk on it. Do what God has put in your heart. I think Hannah's standing up, shows to me that since God made it clear to her that her way out is only if she had a child, she wanted it.She stood up to follow it, her standing up shows us that she was desperate enough to go ahead and do what she probably had never done in all these years of her visit to the House of God.Do we stand up and get ready to follow whatever God shows us?
4. Pray for it- "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."
   12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14"(1 Samuel 1:10-13) Now Hannah's prayer was not an ordinary prayer. She had now come to the point, that she wanted the child so bad, that she prayed in total surrender, not caring what others around would think. More than that, she even vowed to give the child back to God to serve Him.
5. Misunderstood-Eli"....said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." (1 Samuel 1:14). People around will never understand fully, what goes on between you and God. So we might be misunderstood, are we ready for that. Would we decrease our passion to pray for THAT PARTICULAR need just because we don't want people to get the wrong impression about us?
6. God has seen your desperation and will answer in due time-"So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, [c] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."(1 Samuel 1:20) Well Hannah's prayer was answered, but was answered in the course of time. God will answer prayer in the right time, when the time is right. When you know what God showed as an answer to you, it will be done, on time.
7. Her desperate prayer answered and she did not forget her Lord- "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there."(1 Samuel 1:27). In our dire need, we might ask God and vow before Him, and this is the point where many of us fall. Hannah did not. She meant serious business when she prayed. She understood what value her prayer meant before God and she honoured it. I wonder, would I be able to be like her?

Conclusion: At the end of reading and meditating upon everything that happened in Hannah's life, I wonder, what if Hannah would have found Elkanah's love, enough, to carry her through life? . Sometimes God takes us through desperated situations, only in order to bring out the best of the best within us. If Hannah would have had children easily like Peninnah, we would not have found a wonderful prophet like Samuel. We probably wouldn't have a specially dedicated book of the prophet Samuel. He wouldn't have been dedicated to God, because he wouldn't be a special delivery from God. For Hannah, Samuel was very special because she had received Samuel as a way, out of her barren situation. Well, in our lives too, we will have times when we'll be pressed hard to get to our answered prayer, don't give up. Let God bring out the best within us. A special delivery as an answer to our prayer.

Why is it difficult to have faith?

I had been thinking about this throughout my trip, especially when I boarded the plane. I was wondering, how easily we put our faith on the pilot of an aircraft with our lives. We trust our belongings and our life and our destination. We do not go and check with the airlines or the pilot if he really did finish his pilot course and was he/she successful. However when it comes to trusting God, we find it sooooo difficult.
Yesterday as we flew back from Florida to NJ, there was a lot of turbulence at about 38989 feet above ground at 545mph . I was a bit afraid, the seat belts weren't turned off soon after take off, as it usually was supposed to. I thought to myself, I know the pilot on this plane is trying to adjust the speed and the height of the plane in a such a manner that we may have a jitter free flight. After travelling for about 1 hour or so, Captain announced that this was the best stability he could establish, and had turned off the seat belt sign, however he also suggested that it would be better if we remain in our seats. The captain had to drop down a few feet and slow down a bit to get the plane to stabilise, at 35800 ft, and 454mph. I had felt every bit of adjustment the captain made, the plane trying to go faster or trying to go lower...everything.

Throughout this ordeal, though a little inconvenient, I reached my destination safely. I had trusted the captain and not panicked, not complained , not worried.

Now, I am inside the plane of my life, I can be a pilot too, however I have chosen Jesus Christ be the captain of this plane. He makes certain adjustments to the plane every now and then, to make the flight as comfortable as possible for me.Yeah, there have been times in my flight when I have carried prohibited items , which cause unnecessary load in the plane, however through it all, He has brought me safe thus far. I know we have a long way to go, and there would be turbulence too, the question is how far am I willing to trust Him, to help me ascend closer to His place.

We trust a man we do not know at all, to be the captain of our plane, we trust a group of people to take us and our luggage to our destination, people who cannot predict what can happen during a flight, they can only take precaution.How much more should we trust and omnipotent, pminipresent, omniscient God, who is able to do over and exceedingly abundantly, beyond all that we could ask or think, according to His riches and glory. Well I may not be able to, "always" explain the ups and downs of my flight, but I know the one whom I have trusted.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(Ephesians 3:20)

Know our Redeemer

I think a believer's life is more of divine interventions, than coincidences. When Ruth went out to find work, she found Boaz's field, without knowing that Boaz was their kinsman redeemer. However when she returns and tells Naomi about it(Ruth 2:20), she finds out that he is one of the kinsman-redeemer for their family. Here onwards, once these 2 women knew Boaz could help them out from their situation of desperation and distress, they worked towards it.Noami has now found courage to fight the circumstances of her life. No longer distressed, the love and faithfulness her daughter-in-law Ruth has showed towards her, has encouraged her to go on.
Before I share what I learnt from Ruth and Naomi's life today I thought the following piece of information would be helpful in understanding.

The definition of "kinsman" is nearest male blood relative. If anyone from
poverty was unable to redeem his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to
redeem it." The Hebrew word for "kinsman'" is "goel." "Redeemer" is defined as
"one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his
wrongs." The Hebrew word for Redeemer is also "goel."

Here's some lessons I learnt from their life at this point from (Ruth 3)

1. Know your redeemer's work-Ruth and Naomi, got to know their redeemer Boaz little more. " One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home [a] for you, where you will be well provided for? 2 Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor"-Ruth 3:1,2. Too many times, we go on about our lives with our own plan, our desires and our work. Little do we want to listen from our Redeemer Lord Jesus, where He is at work. There could be someone right beside you, in need of prayer or a word of encouragement, if we're truly led by our Lord, we'll know what to do and where He is at work and how we're needed there.
2. Go where your redeemer goes-"4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying..."(Ruth 3:4) I like this verse, where Naomi asks Ruth to NOTE the place. How carefully, they watched their redeemer work and noticed his place. Our life should be one which seeks where our Redeemer Lord Jesus goes. I strongly believe that we've got to be at the right place at the right time and all things will fit correctly and work together for our good. Do we wait to ask our Lord where He would take us, whom we will meet to be a blessing?
3. At the redeemer's mercy-"Then go and uncover his feet and lie down." Ruth 3:4 and also in 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet. (Ruth 3:8). Lying down at someone's feet is, I think, the greatest expression of humility. Leaving oneself, at the mercy of that person. Totally depending on what that person would do for you, be it good or bad. Ruth did that. She humbled herself in such a significant manner. Now these women knew too well, that this was the ONLY kinsman-redeemer who could help them out of their situation and they held onto him. Leaving everything at his mercy. How much of our life do we trust God with? Fully or do we keep part of it in our hold, so we'll have something to work on.
4. Wanted the redeemer to be family- These 2 women badly, real desperately wanted out, of their distressed, bitter life. It could have worked for them, if Ruth continued to work at Boaz's field, gleaning the field. They were only 2 in the family, I guess it would have been enough. They were getting food for their daily living. They would have done OK. However they wanted to live better than before, they wanted the redeemer to be family. It was not enough for them, that Boaz was providing their daily needs, they wanted him to be their family. God loves us and provides for us, daily. Should we stop at that, or would you want to go on ahead and be family, real family with God our Redeemer? Family means, living with God daily, working with God daily, serving God daily, throughout the day in every breath. Not just part of day like we go to work for our boss, but the whole 24 hrs. Being family also means to have your family traits, do what the family does. Jesus did what the Father in heaven did.(John 5:19 ) and here's what Jesus said-John 14:12 (Whole Chapter) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. "How much family traits do we want to acquire from our God, who gave us authority to be children(John 1), those who believe in Him?
5. Listen to what the redeemer has to say-"He will tell you what to do (Ruth 3:4). A good piece of advice, Naomi gives Ruth. Ruth would have to listen to what Boaz would ask her to do. Isn't that kind of our relation with God, to listen and know what our Redeemer Lord Jesus would like us to do about anything pertaining our life, when we go to Him for help. Well, sometimes we go to Him alright, but we don't listen to what He would have to say to us.
6. After all is done, wait-Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."(Ruth 3:18). Once Ruth came back to Naomi after she had everything she had been asked to do, Naomi asked her to wait. Naomi knew all too well, that this kinsman-redeemer will not let someone who's come to him for help, without a solution. He would find the best resolution for them.They just had to wait. They trusted everything in Boaz's hand and they waited. This I guess is the most difficult part of a believer's life. After praying hard about a situation and giving it to God, we still would love to sit and worry, not sit and wait to see what God would do about it. How much faith does it show on our part when after praying we doubt again and wonder if God would do something? Boaz is shown as a model of our Lord Jesus our Redeemer. Our Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, will not rest until the matter is settled. God will not settle down until the matter for your need, your concern, your life is settled. We have to wait and find out what God has done for us.He's there working on our behalf, because we've done all and now rest upon His work.Ephesians 6:13:13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]."

Well I've listed the lessons I learnt, above. I know this has been my longest post, but I can't help it. My God is a very talkative God, He loves to talk to His people who are willing to listen to His voice. I hope you are blessed by this post, as much as I have been blessed writing it.Thank you for patiently reading.

Our Redeemer Lives.

What is Fellowship?

Naomi, a woman who was born and brought up with Israelites, and Ruth a Moabite woman, who had not known a God, Who could be personal and take care of His people.These 2 women taught me the meaning of fellowship.

Naomi a woman who had lost all hope of life getting better, was bitter with life."Don't call me Naomi, [ Naomi means pleasant ; also in verse 21. ] " she told them. "Call me Mara, [ Mara means bitter . ] because the Almighty [ Hebrew Shaddai ; also in verse 21 ] has made my life very bitter." Ruth 1:20. Yes Naomi was human alright, she went through trials and like most of us would put the blame on God, she did too even though it was due to their own wrong decision to move to Moab. She didn't want people in her already distressed life, she wanted her daughters-in-law to return to their own homes and start new families(Ruth 1:8). Sometimes, we just want to be left alone when we're in some trial.

Ruth on the other hand, I see as a new believer or just about starting to believe.The only one she knew who could show her God's work was Naomi so she decides to hold on to Naomi for life."16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17 ). She knew what Naomi thought of her own self, but she also has known, the Naomi who has faith in a Living God and always blessed anybody who came into her life in the Name of the Living God.(See Ruth 1:6, Ruth 1:8, Ruth 2:20)

In spite of what their own situations looked like, the key factor I see in their fellowship is "LOVE". Love is manifested in various actions and behaviour that these 2 women have towards each other in building each other up.
Ruth's love for Naomi and Naomi's love for Ruth. Nobody was preaching to the other, they were just living out their love for each other. Now thats a rare thing between in-laws in our time.

Lesson: Its very easy to love someone who is the same as you, thats what we call, people who click with us.However God has been recently trying to show me to love people who don't know Him or who are trying to find Him, but looking in the wrong places. People who would want to know Him, but have no way of knowing Him unless I can show it to them through my life.
I think, there are believers out there too, who are in situations like mine, to love someone in their life, they don't know, they don't like.I am learning to Love people who don't know my God, sometimes I feel like just sitting and explaining the whole salvation, redemption, confession, belief package to them.But this lesson from the fellowship between Ruth and Naomi has taught me that fellowship is not only about talking about spiritual things, but also living out the Words of our Lord Jesus. Thats what I think is fellowship, so lets live out our Christian Life. There might be a Ruth somewhere in our lives, someone wanting to know our Lord, lets learn from the lesson Ruth and Naomi teach us.

The Door is Always Open

While learning from Ruth's life and her decisions, I find that someone has been playing a very important role, Naomi. I was reminded of her, by one of my readers. Naomi's life shows another aspect of a Believer's walk with God. A life that knows God, yet goes out of God's will and even comes back again to the Lord to find fulfilness.

Background:Naomi left Bethlehem, in Judah with her husband, Elimelech, who had decided to go to Moab while there was famine.They had two sons with them. Naomi's husband Elimelech had originally planned to just sojourn(stay for a while) in Moab but later on we read that they lived there(Ruth 1:2 ) and their sons got married to Moabite women. In about 10 years of living in Moab, all the men in the family died, leaving Naomi, with the 2 daughters in law. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem after she heard how God came down to help the people.She urges her daughters-in-law to return to Moab and find rest in the home of another husband (Ruth 1:9). Ruth comes with her anyway. Naomi enters Bethlehem, she is disheartened at the way life turned out for her and wants to be called Mara(Ruth 1:20). However God turns everything differently for her as is written in (Ruth 4:14-15)

What I see from Naomi's life

1. Disobedience or walking away from God's plan when life seems trying- Elimelech and Naomi move away from Bethlehem(house of bread) in a time of famine to a land called Moab. A land God did not approve of (Note:you may read my earlier post to find out why). I find this happen so many times in my life, when God wants to know how far am I yielded to His will and purpose for my life. God waits to see, when in trouble do I first run to Him or away from Him. Sometimes I run to Him, sometimes I run away. When I do run away from Him, I find I have missed something important in my life. Naomi's life shows us how going away from God's will, cost dearly. On another thought, would it be difficult for a God who provided Manna in a desert, to provide food in Bethlehem? I think not, yet that was their decision to move away from God's place.
2. Loss- Naomi lost her entire family, and was left with her daughters-in-law, she had nothing to give them. Their source of livelihood was no longer there, no protection was there since there were no males left in the family.Moab did not give them satisfaction in the time of famine, rather stole from them what they already had. That was quite a price to pay(Ruth 1:3-5). She was so distressed, she no longer wants to be called Naomi(meaning pleasantness) she wanted to be called Mara(meaning-Bitter)
3. Returning home-Naomi knew that the only way she could live was to go back to Bethlehem, where God came down and fed His people(Ruth 1:6). She made the right choice of returning to the land of God.
4. She wants to be a blessing- Once in the land of the Lord, we see that initially a woman who was distressed, had given up all hope, who wanted her daughters-in-law to return because she had nothing to give them, is now aspiring to be a blessing to her daughter-in-law. "One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?(Ruth 3:1)
5. She is blessed-Finally we see that in all this, Naomi herself is blessed. The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! (Ruth 4:14)

Lessons I learnt:

1. No matter how tough situation in life gets, there is no other refuge as wonderful as our Lord -Psalm 46:1 (Whole Chapter) "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. "
2. When we turn around from our disobedience, our running away from the Lord and return to our Lord, He is ready and waiting for us to accept us-"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."John 6:37. Also like we read in the story of the prodigal son.
3. All so far, children walking in the will of God, always are a blessing to others and in return are themselves blessed. The blessings God bestows upon children who are willing and obedient to His call, fills them and overflows as blessings into the lives of people.
4. God always waits for His children to return to Him, and has prepared a way out of our distress.As in Naomi's case, God had kept a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz for her when she returned. God has kept, our Redeemer, Lord Jesus, ready and waiting for us to return to our Lord that He may redeem us from our poverty, distress, loss, debt and everything else.

Though Naomi thought all was lost and gone, there was something Ruth found in her, she found a tiny seed of faith in God somewhere in the midst of Naomi's distress. In a brief moment, Naomi thought the Lord had done all that harm to her, but I think they were all because of disobedience and continually staying out of God's will. In Deuteronomy 30:19 God says "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: " The choice to stay with the Lord or go away from Him at any situation in life, always remains with us.

I learnt from Naomi's life, how these choices can affect our life. We cannot blame God for our wrong choices. He is willing to let us know which way we should go, if only , we would wait and listen. God has a plan of blessing for us, a plan of redemption from any situation, our redemption is in Lord Jesus our Redeemer. The Door is always open, are we willing to return and go back to our Lord, to meet our Redeemer Lord Jesus?

Where You lead me-I will go

Ruth has been such a wonderful example of faith. As I had mentioned earlier a summary of all that happened to Ruth just for following the Living God.

The book of Ruth brings out a beautiful picture of a Christian walk....its for those who say to the Lord "Where You lead me-I will go" and are willing to stick by that word. Ruth is a tremendous example of such a person. There was something about Ruth that caused a stir in the village. I am sure it was the fact that she's from the Moabite community and she doesn't know God neither did she know the people of this land, but yet she has come with her mother-in-law committed to her, in life or in death.Above all, she wanted Naomi's God to be her God.

As I see from Ruth's life, things started happening in her life when she took the decision of following Naomi's God(Ruth 1:16). Ruth after reaching Bethlehem, does not sit and relax, but goes out to glean (pick up the lefovers from the harvesters). I wonder, if I was in a strange neighbourhood, a different country, a different people, would I dare to go out like Ruth did, at the mercy of the people there. I don't think so. This shows how completely yielded she was to her decision of sticking with Naomi. At this point she doesn't even know whether the people will like her or not, will someone allow her in their fields or not, will she get food for them(Naomi and her) this day or not, will she earn anything or not.There were too many things that were not in her hands at this point in her life, yet she goes on, out, to accept the decision she took, out to boldly go where no Moabite had gone before.

1. Actions were noted and praised-People around us will see, be it believers or unbelievers. A totally surrendered life to God is always noticeable, always causes a stir and becomes a talk of the town but all were in her favour. A field man says about Ruth "6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter". As Boaz tells Ruth what he had heard from others ""11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:11-12)
2. Unmerited favour comes along-God starts putting people in favor of you, people you might have never met before.As Ruth says to Boaz "10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?" "(Ruth 2:10). Ruth had done nothing to find favor in Boaz's eyes, she was not a regular worker there but she found favor.
3. Protection and Provision-" Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled"(Ruth 2:9). Boaz offered her the protection and provisions for food during her work time.

Lesson:When we take a stand to follow our Living Lord, in life or in death, and our life takes a 180 degree turn from what is familiar, what is known, what is natural, what was usual towards something that is unfamiliar, unknown,unnatural, unusual. A life that solely depends on the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, the voice of God, it turns into a life of blessing, a life which gives joy to others around you and brings blessings upon you.

Not only was Ruth blessed in her work, we later on see as I had written earlier that she becomes a blessing to all of us, in this, that she's the great great great great grand mom of our Lord Jesus. Can you see the impact a life of total surrender can make.

Growing - Child

I remember the first day when I met Jesus, what a wonderful time we had. That went on for a couple of years. However as I grew in the knowledge of God I somewhere lost the knowledge of what I was in God's eyes.

I watched a father and son playing yesterday. The child was about 3-4 yrs old and was running around in his wobbly steps, his dad was pretending to chase him and they both were having a real good time. Now, the same child a few years later would just go on with his friends and maybe forget to think of his dad. Later would be married and start thinking about his family and wife etc......I am sure the time they had yesterday they will never have when the child is 20-30 or 50 yrs old. The older human beings get, the lesser we tend to relate and spend time with our parents, because we have our own agendas, because we're grown ups-little do we think that no matter how old we become we'll still be children to our parents.

The same is true for our spiritual life, the more we grow in the Lord, the more we start thinking "Oh I know this Lord, I know that Lord, I've read this verse before..." and tend to decrease our fun times with the Lord. We no longer go to God with the same enthusiasm as we did when we first met him. No longer, does living with our Lord Jesus excite us to the point of utter joy and laughter. Why? I guess somewhere in that growing we forgot, that God is still our Heavenly Father. He still thinks of us as His little children, still expects the same giggles and joys we used to have when we were new borns. Still waits for us to totally depend upon Him for all our needs, still waits for us to sit and have a time of enjoyment with Him, still waits to hear our voice reading the Word of God as if it was a brand new book. Waits to explain new things to us from His Word, even if it be the same verse or chapter.Waits for us to go running to him for every silly reason like children do.

As is written in Matthew 18:1-4 "1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "

The key to enjoying our relationship with God is to be His child, so what if we're 99yrs old in earth years, God is still our Daddy.

How much of a Daddy does God want to be for us? Isaiah 46:3-4 answers that

3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all you who remain of the house of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,

and have carried since your birth.
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Even to our old age and gray hairs, God wants to take care of us and what was I thinking. Do you remember how much fun it was being a kid? No worries of food, clothing or shelter, because we had a dad taking care of us. We just had to listen to what daddy said and everything else we needed was taken care of. We had to just let daddy know our need and he would meet it. If our earthly dads and moms could do so much for us, how much more our Heavenly Father wants us to have that same kind of Faith in Him every single day of our life on earth, even to our old age and gray hairs.

Thank you Lord for reminding me that though I am growing in the Lord but still am a child to You and you're constantly watching over me like a mother and father watch over there little ones.

Encouraged to Pray

Sometimes, events in life scream out at us saying, your prayer will not work. You need to do better than that. Just when I was getting off from my knees, I got this mail which has encouraged me so beautifully. I am back on my knees again and I am not giving up until the time I see the result, because I know what I pray IS the will of God.
Read on to be blessed as I was....

This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa . One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forestpathways. "All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm." The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters. various suggestions of things to pray about and toldthem about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten -year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. Butthere are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Thencame a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - we would use them to make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the ... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber, hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, if God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of course,I replied! That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whoseleader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon”"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another. This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it and break its hold over my friend's life. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise-up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Surrendered Life-Renders Blessings

Today I start another life journey....this time with Ruth.This book of the Bible has been by far the most impacting book in my life. Last night I lay down thinking about her life...etc..and now I write them down.
Ruth's Background:Ruth is a Moabite. Moabites are people from Moab. Moab was a generation that came out of Lot through disobedience and evil. Lot's daughters got him drunk and they each lay down with him to have children. "36So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab.[b] He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. 38When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi.[c] He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites." Genesis 19:36-38. Here's what happened some time after all this "Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. " So we see Ruth from a background, which came out of evil, she probably had not known the God of the Israelites who was jealous for His people. Now Elimelech with his wife Naomi sojourns (goes to another country for a short while) to Moab. They had sons Mahlon and Chilion who were married to Ruth and Orpah respectively.

Naomi's husband is dead, Ruth's husband is dead so also is Orpah's husband. There are no more members in their family. Naomi had nothing to give to her daughters and she asks them to leave her and go back to their own country as she plans to return to Bethlehem. Orpah returns but Ruth clings on to Naomi-"16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17).

I wondered, why would Ruth not want to go back and remain in Moab. She sounds so desperate to go with Naomi, that the only way she wishes to part her mother-in-law is through death. Now this woman was desperate to get out of all the situation she was in. She wanted out of everything, Moab was about. She wanted out...desperately.

What was it that interested her to come out? "6 When she(Naomi) heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there." (Ruth 1:6). Naomi wanted to return because she heard of the way God had come down to help His people. Ruth might have wondered wow I never knew of a God who helped His people like that, since her forefathers (the Moabites) wouldn't have seen God work in the way He worked for the Israelites. Ruth wanted what they(Israelites) had.

Did she make the right choice? Would God accept her? Would the people accept her? What would happen? She's a Moabite after all and there is a whole horrid past that she's running from. Moab didn't have anything to offer to her, only all the evil there is, only fleshly lusts, only being harassed by evil men and women. She knew that Moab was only a cycle of evil, with no way out. In Naomi she found something that gave her some hope, something that could change her life. Something that could make meaning out of her senseless and meaning less life in Moab......

Yes she did-I am soooooooooo glad to say that she did find meaning when she went into Bethlehem(house of bread) in Judah(house of praise) of Ephratha(fruitful), to hand her life to God, to submit to a God she had not known, only heard. Do you know what happens with such kind of surrendered life? A life, which cares not of what will happen to it, if it surrenders itself to a Living God.A life which does not know what will happen tomorrow. A life willing to face criticism from people who have tried to believe (in their own strength) and failed. A life ready to face any challenge that comes on, just for following a Living God. A life even given over to the point of death being the sole thing to part it from God. Ruth wanted such a life.

What did she get out of all this she was willing to die for?
Her name in the geneology of Jesus Christ Himself" 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David. ........16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."(Matthew 1). She got be Jesus our Lord's, great great great great...grand mom. What a wonderful blessing!!!
Also, as I know now, she had such a beautiful life after that decision, that it was worth being recorded in the list of books, the Bible, a life lesson book named Ruth.

Lesson: No matter what background, or past we're carrying. No matter how daunting or taunting or haunting our past life has been, when that life, is surrendered to the point of totality in the hands of a Living God, God can impact a whole world with that kind of life. Not only in that person's lifetime but in lifetimes to come. Generations that would never see that person will be impacted. Such lives, impact way beyond their lifetime. Now the question is for us who live now. There are many people trying to prove God as all that He is not. In this time, can we dare to stand up like Ruth did and trust God no matter what and let our lives in God's hand be a tool?

Because He Lives

Nothing expresses my heart right now, like this song.

God sent His Son -

they called Him Jesus,

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory - and I'll know He lives.

Which Cycle are you on?

As I was reading through the Book of Judges I learnt a lot about the amazing Love of my Lord Jesus. The Israelites were doing everything the way they wanted(Judges ends that way-Judges 21:25 "25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.").However every time they were in trouble and couldn't get out of it themselves, they thought of God and God would answer their cries and rescue them by raising a judge or a leader for them. Once delivered they would follow God for a few years and then go back to worshipping the Baal and the other gods.

In all that I read, not a single time did I find another god listen to their cry. No baal or any other god came to their rescue. Only the Living Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob came to help them when they cried. They spent most of their time, pleasing a god who was of no good, no help and nothing. When they were in their deepest troubles they called out to the Living Lord. I thought, how could these people be so foolish, so fickle, that in spite of seeing the Living God always delivering them, how could they turn around and worship another god.

In the light of all that I read, I examined my life, I found that in the past I used to do the same things, oh yes I had God on my mind whenever I needed His help but generally, when I had no problem, I would do as I wished. Sunday I would be all over the church doing a lot of activities and when God called me to fellowship with Him, I'd say, oh not now, I need to take rest for the choir practice in the evening or some other work I had. I didn't realise, but I was in a vicious cycle, any believer can get caught on.Like the Israelites were in the cycle of sin, I was in a cycle of too much activity.
Now when I look back I see, there were many times, when God would want me to talk to someone (an unbeliever) about Him, but I was too busy doing my church things, I wasn't paying attention. I was busy serving my own made up god "church activity" without making time to fellowship with the God Who was behind it, maybe looking to get a good word about myself from my pastors and fellow believers.However, when I had problems then I was quick to pray and God would always answer me. My church couldn't help me in what I deeply needed through my fellowship with God.(Now I'm not saying the church was bad, but my help was to come ONLY from God Himself, God wanted me to slow down and sit with Him, not with another christian book, but just with Him and His Word-The Bible, and listening.)
It kind of now reminds me of Martha and Mary. Martha and Mary both were serving Jesus, but Jesus preferred Mary's servitude over Martha's. Martha was preparing food for Jesus, which was a good thing in itself, but she was so caught up with it, she had no time to spend with Jesus Himself. Jesus liked what Mary did, because she sat at the feet of her Lord and listened to Him carefully, while He was at their home.

Lesson: Don't let anything and I mean anything or anyone, come between you and God, God waits, even desires and longs to have fellowship with His children. He wanted to commune with me so desperately, God gave me leave from my job for a year now and has brought me so close to His heart. (Its nice). I am in a different country, different place, the only One I really know well here, is My God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He's here and walking and talking and showing me beautiful things about my life and about how He worked with His people in the past and even now. I am glad I came out of it . I don't say singing in a choir or preaching is not right, but we've got to know this- God does not want us to do anything apart from Him. He wants to be involved in your life too-He gave His life for us didn't He. There's more joy and more glory in life that way.I am surprised that the time I now send my time alone, God has used me to be a blessing more now, than the time when I was in my church back at home.

To conclude I quote Jesus from John 15:5 (Whole Chapter)

"I am the vine; you are the branches.

If a man remains in me and I in him,

he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. "

Let's stop trying to do things apart from Him, let's do it with Him as a team, as a family working together to bring Almighty Father's plan to life.

Power of the Cross

Colossians 2:13-15 "13And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, 14Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared [a]completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. 15[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

We were once a people who had a written note against us- saying"GUILTY". You know what happened at the cross because of that note against us? God took the notes that were against us, and nailed it to the cross-thereby tearing it and declaring, from this day (of the crucifixion) forward, my children are no longer guilty. They are free.

And to them (the principalities and powers) which were against us and wanting to destroy us. God made a public spectacle. Can you imagine? When satan came against us with our guilt tag, God took it and tore it and threw it on his face and said. "Thats my child, she believes in me, she's mine. I have paid for her, IN FULL" God made a bold display on our behalf. He did'nt do it in a secret cave. He went right up there on the mountain where all could see. Declared, "My child who believes in Me is not guilty. My judgement of my child says -Not Guilty- can anyone dare bring any allegations on them?"

Romans 8:1 says "THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.(A)"

It fills my heart with sheer reverence and joy that God would do such a wonderful thing for me and for you who believe in Jesus. That place, where the enemy joined forces to make fun of me for my guilt, God made a spectacle of them and not of me. I can almost picture, how heaven would have made sheer joke of the enemy satan when he thought he had us, but was so totally, utterly defeated at the cross. I feel like saying hurrah for Jesus my Lord and Saviour that I enjoy this good life because you made it possible for me.

If you do not know the Living Lord who loves you so unconditionally, Romans 5:8 (Whole Chapter) says "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Take time today to know God, He loves you more than you can ever imagine, more than you have ever been loved by anyone. Reconcile with God today.