Have I signed that agreement with God?

(Image: http://graceandable.com.au)

Today I read the story of Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. The real story of how one small step of surrender changed their entire life.

Bill and Vonette Bright, after a few years of their marriage were frustrated with each other. They realized that their expectations of life were much contrary to each other. But unlike what the average present-day couple would do, they decided to give this frustration over to God. And then they decided to SURRENDER. Yes. They actually wrote down on a piece of paper all their dreams and desires, much of which was materialistic. And signed at the end of the sheet. That was it.

That was one tangible act of Surrender - rather than a lip-service of surrender which the likes of me repeat after the worship leader in church.

And then that day of 1951, God changed everything for them. In Bills' words -

"Apart from my salvation, this was the most important decision of my life. That day I became a slave of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the first time min my life I was actually free." " We chose that day to put aside our little dreams, our own aspirations, and our own puny plans, and embrace his magnificent plans. That day was the beginning of the whole new era, a whole new lifestyle."

He then went on to realize the burden put in their hearts for College students and founded the Campus Crusade for Christ, which now is a worldwide organization spread across several countries and  is a blessing to many.

That one act of turning to God in frustration - and that one act of true Surrender. God just needed that to fulfill his purpose in their lives. Amen.

What is my life made of? What are my dreams and desires? What would be the components of that contract of mine with God? This is what is going to be my subject of cotemplation and action today. Help me, Abba.

Fatherless to Fatherfull

Fatherless to Fatherfull



Beautiful video!

God just needs a bacteria to teach me a lesson...

Its a monday morning... but a different kind of one though. I am back to work after a week-long unexpected 'vacation'. It was unexpected, indeed.

All in the family were infected with the conjunctivitis bacteria and so we all were in a state of isolation from society this past one week. This, I believe was a pre-planned isolation. A pre-planned one from God, our Creator. I believe so because God taught us a very important lesson through this one-week time with family.

The big lesson was that of REST. Not of spiritual rest - but that of physical rest. Even God rested on the seventh day of creation and mandated that man does so too. What did I learn during this resting period?

1. God made man on this earth, not to pass each day like a wound-up doll, with hands full of activity. But, he has done so to pause and live each moment with peace and rest.

2. God and his will for our life are the most essential things in life - not our work. So set priorities right. This does not mean that work is unimportant. But that, my efforts should not too much focused on excelling in  work at the cost of my relationship with God.

3. Family is important - let us not sacrifice the mental and spiritual well-being of our family (especially growing children) at the cost of doing well at work. I realized that I used to be very occupied with what to cook, prepare and keep ready for tomorrow that I hardly spent time with kids in the present. I even feared that in this business of living for tomorrow, I might end up loosing the 'present' that my kids are in irreversibly. Dear Lord, may that never happen!

Now that I am back to work, may I do so reminding myself of my priorities and setting them right.

Amen.

A moment

Sometimes I sit still in oblivion

Only feeling the force of the clutches

around the back of my neck...

Oh how it bangs my forhead!

On this hard rock called Life...

Yet I feel no pain

no blood

no tear.

Like a fawn in a desert, I feel

the distant Oasis...

This seat from where I see it

Has become so familiar to me.

Hope told me that I could reach there someday

But hope is no longer my friend.

I am in a crowd, yet alone.

And it still keeps banging my head.

The street that I live in

In the street that I live,

there is a place of worship

where, a Woman is praised as a Goddess

and songs are sung about her,

incessantly...

In the street that I live,

Which is named after her,

Every house has photos of her hung on their walls

And men and women seek blessings from her, alike

But, in the street I live,

I also have...

women who pray to this Goddess that

their daughters and daughters-in-law

Are blessed with baby boys,

Girls who fear

walking by when the night sets in,

Or without facing a stalking eye

Daughters who are molested

And hushed up by mothers

For the sake of dignity
Uncles who fondle two and three year olds at the wrong places
And Wives who are beaten up mercilessly.

This is the street that I live in.

Children

(photo Coutesy: http://geary.ucd.ie/preparingforlife/?page_id=57)

To be with a child is therapeutic and safe for the soul, than being with an adult. Children are so innocent, so oblivious of matters like judging others, thinking wrong of others, self-pity or slander. They are so free and make people who spend time with them, free. Jesus’ words on children come out to be so pertinent in this context:

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"

Matt 18:3

You give and take away... !

This is one of my all time favourites.

Blessed be the name of the Lord...

To listen to the song, click here...

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

(Source: http://www.lyricsbox.com/matt-redman-lyrics-blessed-be-your-name-pfs45jc.html)