Be Still, and Know

What one generation deems as an option, the next one deems unnecessary.  Have you prayed today? Is it just an option, or are you spending time every day on your knees? What about Church - Do you say, "I'll go to Church if I don't have anything else to do"? And when you go, do you carry your Bible? Or do you think you can just read out of one of your Bible apps in your phone? Is carrying the actual Bible just an option? Have you read the Bible today? Do you read it every day, or is it just an option to you? Do you say, "I'll read it if I find time", "I'll read it if I wake up early"? What you find as an option, your next generation could find it unnecessary. It could be your kids, grandkids, anyone who keeps you as a role model - they notice whatever you do. So, if you never gave these primary Christian behaviors a priority, you are sending a message that these are not obligations that they need to have. Matthew 6:33  But  seek first  the ki...

"Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them" Have you ever used this verse in a small gathering, or in a prayer meeting? Don't. There is a context for everything, and we sometimes take things out of context for our own comfort. This verse is the last verse of the section Matthew 18: 15 to 20, which specifically talks about disciplining a sinning brother. To such a brother, we are to have a one on one. When that doesn't work, we are to take 1 or 2 with us. When we take 1, we go as 2, and when we take 2, we go as 3. Ergo, 2 or 3 gather. It goes on to say, that when that doesn't work, the whole church needs to be brought into the picture. The goal of all this is to restore the brother and get him out of his sin. As the narrative progresses, Verse 18 then gives assurance that, when this process is followed, God is working in it. Verse 19 says "Again" if 2 of you agree on something, it will be done by My Father. Again denot...

Bible portion: Acts of the Apostles 16: 23 to 30 Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into jail. The jailer was asked to guard them safely, so their feet were fastened in stocks in the inner jail. They were experiencing persecution, and were suffering in jail. But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, and the prisoners were actually listening to them. Paul and Silas were not murmuring, they weren't complaining, "why God, why?". They were simply praising through the persecution. Result? There was a supernatural miracle - an earthquake shook the prison, doors were opened, and chains were loosened. It's not ordinary!. Ultimately, the jailer was saved as well! A supernatural miracle happened because they were singing through suffering. What do we do when we are persecuted? How do we react when we are suffering? We ought to rejoice and worship the Lord. I Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him...

Nobel prizes are awarded on December 10, every year in Sweden, Stockholm. Sir CV Raman who discovered the “Raman effect”, booked tickets to the prize event in 1930, months before the results were even announced ( news here ). That shows the confidence in his work, and that I call Faith.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen! Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Where does your faith lie? Does it lie on things tangible or on things unseen? Our faith should be in the Bible, in God’s leading and above all, in the Son of God Himself. He loved us, gave Himself for us, in that while we were still sinners and unworthy, He chose to die for us. We believe in His sacrifice, and in His resurrection as well. I Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus . Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with...

One of the key elements to having wholesome gratitude to God is reminding ourselves about how bad of a situation we were in, before we were saved. We were literally sons of disobedience, not respecting or willing to obey the truth, and definitely not believing in the Son of God. Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,  7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everl...