On the way to Damascus

(This entry is inspired by the Word of God spoken on 31st December 2009 at Philadelphia Church Villivakkam)

He had just finished overseeing the murder of a Christian martyr, and was not satisfied. He was still planning threats and murder against the disciples of Christ.

“circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. “- Philippians 3:5-6

Paul was proud of his ancestry, being born in the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. He also believed that being a Pharisee, he belonged to a group that was highly devoted to preserving the Word of God.

Paul’s place of birth – Tarsus, was home to one of the best universities of the times. In addition, to his Roman citizenship; without doubt, he would have experienced world-class education.

When his Hebrew faith was threatened by a group of followers of Jesus, Paul was not content being an arm-chair revolutionary. Instead, he sprung into action. He chalked out a systematic persecution plan, and began implementing it religiously.

When it came to legalistic righteousness, he was also totally faultless. If the Law condemned him about something, he would offer a sacrifice and clear it up. He tried in every way to walk upright before the Law.

Paul had the best in the world, he was educated, successful, and highly respected. He was also zealous about God. Paul thought that his life was perfect.

He was a passionate and focussed man. And now, he was on his journey to another success target – to arrest the Christian fugitives who had taken refuge in Damascus. “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” – Acts 9:6

But what he didn’t know was, that his plan was just about to change. As he was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him, and God gave Paul his new mandate, “Get up and enter the city, and it will be told what you must do”. Acts 9:1

A guy, once with dangerous intentions, now moves into Damascus to be filled with Holy Spirit and get baptized. “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17

Through these years, you would have probably acquired lots of things that make you proud. Accumulated wealth, a couple of credentials on your resume, a list of flashy achievements, honor in the society, and a near perfect life. Like Paul, you’re just pursuing one target after the other.

But all you need, is a light from heaven, and a Word from God, to change the course of your life.

You’re probably stepping into your next phase, with an agenda in mind. When you meet with God on your way, your assignment, your perspectives, your focus and your passion will change forever.

All the influences on your life, has probably given you an identity. The whole world, recognizes you that way. Saul, was an intellectual, go-getter, and a heartless persecutor. But God did not see him that way. God saw Saul as the carrier of traits essential to make disciples of the nations. When God saw Saul, God saw His plan.

Many of us have become what the world expects of us. With time, we’re given various labels. God does not care about the labels. He knows the person you, and He knows the real life for which He lent His breath.

To hear God’s Word, was an unlikely event those days. Today, you have opportunities to hear God’s Word through so many ways. It is all yours for the asking.

Probably you’re walking earthwards; meeting with God, can move you heavenwards.

“Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. ” Acts 9:8

It feels the same sometimes, we would receive God’s Word and His promise for the year, yet we cringe in darkness and stagger forward, placing each step in fear and doubt. When it seems like you are blindfolded, and walking a rocky path. Don’t worry, things may seem hazy for a while. But God has placed his resources out there, to safely lead you from your point of blindness to your point of revelation.

There, God will restore your physical sight, and bring to light the vision for your life. All you need is to receive God’s Word in your life today, and commit yourself to obey without restraint.

God’s Word changed a man who went from place to place murdering Christians, to a man moving across nations, building people’s lives and turning them to Christ.

In different ways, all of us are journeying to Damascus, with our own agenda in mind. When God intervenes in our way, we receive new directions and a new plan of action. Progressing forward, we’ll move on to become individuals with meaningful lives and a passionate purpose.

Do you want to receive that encounter today ?

God is waiting…

Merry Christmas ! :)

You and I know the significance of Christmas in our lives. We’ve heard it so many times, and we experience the privilege every moment. I thank God for that.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Christmas is the message of love, reconciliation and joy. It is the message of hope to the dying world. True….

But for you and me, who already know the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christmas is more than that.

Christmas is a challenge set before us.

On Christmas, God moved the supernatural like never before, so that He can come to man’s rescue. The birth of Christ was  a radical move that changed man’s destiny forever.

God stepped out. He stooped down.

He became one with man, so that man will trust Him, through which He can save him. What an awesome God!! What an incredible plan!!!

Christ left His glory, His majesty and splendor to be born among us. His mission was accomplished. Today, through His life, He lets us to be reborn, so that we can accomplish God’s vision for the rest of the world. That’s Christmas.

If we are overwhelmed about Christ’s sacrifice, we ourselves need to be ready to surrender to sacrifice. That’s Christmas, and that’s the challenge.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” – John 15:16

True, many of us have ordinary lives. But the part we forget, is that,  no matter how ordinary it is. It always has an extraordinary goal attached to it.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”-

2 Corinthians 4:7

Unfortunately, instead of focusing on our goals, we are preoccupied with meeting our needs, which is infact taken care of by God.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Matthew 6:31-32

Its time we get out of our comfort zones, out of our own glories, and step out, just like Christ did on Christmas. Being wrapped in swaddling clothes, or being born in a lowly manger, did not deny His Kingship. God did not stoop down because He gave up, but because He was about to proclaim victory.

I believe that we have arrived at a point in our world’s lifetime, where each of us has to make a radical move to make a difference in our place of calling.  We need to go that extra mile, to build relationships, meet people at the point of their need, and turn their lives to Christ.

“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10

I am not a person with a great evangelistic zeal, I don’t have many Christ-like qualities. I have not led any to Christ. But this Christmas, I want to take this challenge.

I pray that God enables me stretch my potential, enlarge my boundary, build relationships, fill my love tank and make a difference in the world around me. I am going to spend the few days before 2010 prayerfully considering ways that I can do this.

The world’s clock is ticking fast. We need to be laboring hard. People need to recognize us as people of faith and action. We need to let God work in us and through us. We need to kill the tendencies of mediocrity and strive to give God the BEST.

We keep the Christ-Centered Christmas to ourselves, and let the world enjoy their own versions. Shouldn’t this change ?

We celebrate Christmas because Christ completed His assignment. When we pursue our assignment, the rest of the world can celebrate Christmas too.

Can we take the Christmas Challenge together ?

Merry Christmas.

Love
Callie.

My sister has a post on Christmas as well, drop in at Nothing but a lovely life!

Are you in power ?

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them. – Proverbs 3:27

I read this portion and thought to myself, “Okay! I’ll feed the hungry and dress the poor once my cash gets fat” and then I said to myself, “Better than that! if I become a CEO, I’ll start this really big charity and be merciful to all, ‘coz that’s what this verse is all about….when I’m in power I’ll do good”

After a while, the goody good righteous thoughts took back seat and my imagination took me for a ride on a flashy white merc which would definitely be my first indulgence if I ever get some heavy cash.

I smiled to myself and eventually, captain imagination descended to planet earth and I realized that I was sitting inside a crowded public transport bus traveling back home after work.

A middle aged lady entered the bus, she looked like she had a bad day at work. She climbed in and leaned on the supporting pole beside me and asked if I could hold her bag. I took her bag and looked up to have a closer look , her haggard and fatigued face was trying to tell that she would collapse any moment  . I could almost hear the cells in her body scream in pain.

I did something silly after that, I looked at her abdomen, to see if she was pregnant. Ok! I was safe, she was not a senior citizen, and not an expectant mother;  so even if I don’t give her a place , no one would call me heartless.

Suddenly I remembered the verse that I just read,

” Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them. – Proverbs 3:27 “

My  Master was just about to teach me a great lesson.

Power is not what I imagined to be, not that high throne with a crown on my head.

In this case, the power was my physical strength, and the seat that I was happily seated was the good that I could do. And the drained out woman was certainly someone who deserved my comfortable seat that was in my power to give.

Many times we attribute power to possessions and position. These are the things that we tend to acquire because of power.This is not power by itself. Power is the innate potential God has placed within each of us, which He enables us to use, groom and build upon. Hold on to your power, not the things that come as a result of power.

Jesus held on to His power and authority as the Son of God but used it for the salvation of mankind. The only difference was that; in this case, we never deserved it. Yet He did good.

The power in you is unique, special and is very important for those around you.Use your power to empower , encourage and withhold not good from those who deserve it. Sometimes, those who really deserve good may not  be the exact kind you have in mind. Take a moment to look intently and identify opportunities to be a blessing.

As for the lady, I gave her my seat. She was extremely happy to sit  and dozed off to sleep instantly.Man!! she was really tired.

And I stood there leaning on the pole, smiling to myself  thinking about my fancy white merc. 🙂

The REAL REASON

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

I usually remind myself of this promise whenever I go through a period of confusion or disappointment. When there’s nothing worthwhile on the surface and when I am experiencing a season of fruitless labor, it is encouraging to dwell on the thought that God is working on the background preparing something that I could even never dare to ask.

I say this , I sing this , I pray this , I believe this and I feel a lot better.

Recently, I was very happy about the way things were taking shape in my life and felt pampered by God. Eventually, God brought this verse back to my memory.And I learnt a very valuable lesson.

When God gives us something , it is natural to believe that what we have received is an answer to our prayer to fulfill the longing of our heart.

But there is lot more to it.

God’s thoughts are higher not only when you are waiting.Maybe your prayer is answered, but God’s not finished yet. The apparent purposes of God are not His implied purposes. Certainly, your desires are important to God ; but only if they are in line with His.God’s Word accomplishes only that which He pleases and purposes and it shall prosper in the thing for which He has sent it.

God had a beautiful vision in His mind for mankind, when He created Adam and Eve .He blessed them with all the good things that He created and gave them complete power and dominion. If they would have lived for God’s desires, the world would have never seen decay.

But because they became victims to fulfill their own desires, they disobeyed God and subject the entire human race under curse and destruction.

In the same way we try to draw selfish plans, centered around our own lives out of the resources that He has graciously given out of His love for us.

Maybe God has given us a gift in the form of a job, a fulfilled desire, a relationship or a breakthrough.Praising God and testifying about His goodness is not enough.

Are we waiting in His presence, asking Him what He wants us to do with the gifts He’s given us ? Are we ready to surrender our short term immature desires for the long lasting powerful desires of our Creator God ?

Our responsibility as God’s children is not only to desire, believe and receive; But also to pray , understand and be willing to surrender our lives to what our Father wants to do through the many good things that HE has given us.

When I was praying for answers, my intentions were way too lower than the purposes in Your mind. Lord,now you have answered in a way good enough to excite me. But Lord,I want to know what’s Your plan for things that You’ve given me. Teach me to use them in accordance to Your thoughts.Because Your ways are Higher and Your thoughts are Greater.Master, help me find the REAL REASON.

A difficult prayer

(An unorganized random thought)

I think that the greatest satisfaction, one can get in life is to know that you are fulfilling the purposes of God. Though God gets those lives submitted to Him to complete His perfect intentions, somehow the assurance that we are doing God’s purposes occur to us very rarely. Atleast that’s how it has been for me.

We were not created just to exist. God said that He had plans for us before creating us therefore HE created us only because HE had a reason for that.God has an assignment that He intends to finish through us.

The design of our character, our family circumstances, our finances, our resources, our skills,our friends and personality have been greatly influenced by the plans God has for your life.Plans for your life and plans for theirs.

So if you are looking at somebody else and wondering why you are not having theirs or wondering why they are not having yours, it is simply because our purposes are different.

I think that one of the deceitful strategies of the devil is to make you feel that what you have is no good.To make you feel that your talents, and resources can in no way help you accomplish anything.We therefore get distracted looking at others and instead of using our precious times with the Master, to get closer to His purposes, we pray hard asking for something that we have modeled based on somebody else’s life and then attach a meaningless. “if it is your will” tag at the end of it.

God is not bothered about the words, it is the attitude and the heart that matters to Him.

The purposes of God is a complicated thing for me. The apparent purposes are not the implied purposes.Though I long every day to just a get a glimpse of what is in His mind, I guess I still have a very long way to go. However I wont give up.

I believe that God is more eager than me to tell me the things in His mind. But HE knows that I wont understand it, in my present state. So He works on my heart everyday neither slumbering nor sleeping, striving hard to saturate my mind and heart and entire being with His attitude and mind so that I can begin to understand the real purposes of God.

So instead of praying to hear God give his mission statement for me. I need to pray to make me more like Him everyday.

A difficult prayer indeed.

The Master Delayed

There are a few strands of silver on my head (I never obeyed my mother when when it came to gulping jumbo tea mugs!!). I think its that……or maybe the fact that I am now a graduate who is very conveniently ‘occupied’.I don’t really know what…..but there’s something on my face right now, that makes people think that I can help them make decisions.

Appearances can be deceptive, and so is mine. My mind is always in a state of creative chaos, and before I make a decision, huge tornadoes take over my thinking faculties.

But I have a faithful Master. The slightest disturbance will bend me, but the even the greatest crisis can’t break me. His Grace has always been sufficient.

I had an opportunity to speak to a younger girl, a few weeks ago. She was in a fix about her college education. She had decided to discontinue due to family circumstances, and really didn’t know what to do next.

She thought I can help her and came to me for some advice.She came up with her problems, and within a few hours, she left my room with a solution.

A few days later, I was in a faith crisis. My prayers were reduced to silent sighs because my heart was filled with so many questions that I could never dare to ask.Doubts certainly make you sink, but they sure can’t drive the Master away and my faithful Master came to my rescue.

He made me to recall the counsel that I had given the girl a few days back.The thoughts that were in my head that day rang back.

First, I listened to her situation.As I did so, I started taking mental notes of her limitations.Her personality faults, Her financial constraints, her lack of exposure, her family burdens and all the other things that have made her life so hard.

Second, I started looking around for the various options available for a person of her age and background.

Third, I began to map the options available to the limitations in her life. In another sense, I gave her a solution carved from within the painful circumstances in her own life. She had only this much, so this is all that she can expect for her life.This was my attitude.My solution.

My conscience knew that my solution would not give her the best life,however she could begin to see something immediately. I was more concerned about how fast she can settle in life, than how best she can settle in her life.

Fortunately, my Master’s mind is so profound and honorable than my short sight and tunnel vision.

The human mind, is always looking at the finite. Looking for answers within boundaries.But God does not work within our boundaries. He does not give us an answer from our limitations. Rather He works to transform our disadvantages to our greatest assets.

There is something beautiful and perfect in God’s design for each of His children. But we mess up allowing the adversary to eat up our potential and sap our energy.Then we allow cobwebs, boulders, thorns and weeds in our beautiful garden. Now, we get on our knees and ask God to help us bring forth a few wild berries, because we believe that that is all we are capable of producing now.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16 [NIV]

But it was the Master who planted the garden.Only He knows the harvest you are capable of producing. Just because you asked, he wont give you just the few wild berries. He’ll remove every weed, every rock and thorny bush and push you out of your boundaries and extend your borders and bring forth the huge harvest that He intended.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2 [NIV]

Nothing in the hands of the Master is ordinary material.

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. ” 1 Peter 5:6 [NLT]

Waiting times, are not just times when your faith grows and your intimacy with God intensifies.But while you are waiting, it means God is working. He is working on your character, on your family, on your future,on your finances, on the wounds of the past, on the consequences of your wrong choices…….

He is working on His Masterpiece.

While He is working, it is a lot more easier when you are praising instead of grumbling, learning instead of idling, repenting instead of resisting and depending on the Master instead of running after the demands of the world.

“ Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. ” 1 Thess 5:18 [Amp]

At the end of it, you’re not going to get what you asked for, but something more than your imagination.

” I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”
Psalm 40:1 [NIV]

Do you want a quick fix in your life ?

Or

Do you want the real Masterpiece in you to be revealed ?

WORSHIP , WORK and WAIT.

P.S : You sure are worried about the girl I counseled. God didn’t leave her to the mercy of my pathetic counsel. 🙂 He was her counselor, He intervened in her finances and led her to do a great course beyond all her perceived limitations.

The Leper’s prayer

Recently I began to evaluate my personal prayer pattern.My prayers were long, emotional and sometimes even teary eyed. But somehow I didn’t feel connected to the heart of my Master.

I was trying to figure out what was wrong. My prayers, my talks with God were of high priority now ,I needed Him to guide me, strengthen me and encourage me. It was not the ‘making-a-melody’ prayer neither was I narrating mundane events to Him. I was desperately needing God so much. But…

No sign of the Master’s voice.

So I put my dead prayers in the post-mortem table.And I began to see the different stages of my prayer.

*…….the first stage of setting the stage and the person of focus.

“God I need this, I want this, I’d love to do this, You know what my desire is. You know what I long for. You placed a calling in my life. “

*……and the second stage of victorious declarations.

“God you are All Powerful, you are able to do more than what I can ask or imagine, you give me only the best, I can do all things through you, I am more than a conqueror because of you, You love me with an everlasting love, Oh God! you alone are able to do wonders in my life”

*…..and the final closing remarks.

“I surrender to your will God “

*…..Amen

Okay!! What you just saw was not just my prayer pattern, but my attitude.

My!! things come first.

I use God’s power to endorse it…

And because I have no choice, and because my prayer has to sound ‘spiritual’ I say, “I surrender to your will God” as a concluding remark.

It was then that a leper from the Bible taught me a valuable lesson.

Luke 5:12 (Amplified Bible)

While He was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean.

Let me make myself clear, I am not trying to create a prayer formula here. I am just sharing a little attitude check that the Holy Spirit made in my life in the last few days.

What struck me, was this guy’s way of asking Jesus to cure him, “ Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean.”

In spite of the physical pain,distress and humiliation that he was going through, he gave priority to the will of Jesus . What he wanted, and his desire to be healed came last. The will of Jesus was his primary concern.

I usually used to think of God’s will as His plan, His agenda, His flowchart and what He wants to do. And our life takes shape according to the course of actions that He’s planned before hand. But there is something more to God’s will that I failed to look at.

The Greek word for “willing” used in the above Scripture is, “thelo”. “Thelo” actually means desire, fond of doing, delight, pleasure. The nearest word in English for this is ‘will’.

What we usually attribute ‘will’ to is just a strict strategy of God,and nothing more. But God’s will is not just His agenda but something that He is fond of doing, something that He delights in, and something that His heart longs after.

When I surrender to the ‘will’ of God. I’m not just executing His plan, but I am constantly doing that which He delights and pleasures in.

Isn’t that a privilege that God should choose me to do what He is fond of doing?

The Greek word for “able to do” used in the above Scripture is, “dunamai”, which means capable, strong, powerful.

Whatever God delights to do, He is capable and powerful enough to accomplish it. So I when I surrender to do His pleasure; By His might He will enable me to succeed in it.

What God wills to do, He is able to do, but, what I desire to do I am not able to do.

The Holy Spirit made me realize that my attitude towards God’s will was not right.

I thought I was sacrificing my own dreams and desires to surrender to God’s will. But I was terribly wrong. Living for my dreams would only mean suicide because I don’t have the capacity to fulfill them. But living for God’s vision and plan is rewarding and complete, because He has the strength and power to fulfill His dream through my life.

I won’t deny that sometimes its hard to accept God’s will for our life. Even Jesus found it terribly agonizing.

“And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.” Matthew 26:39

Jesus surrendered to the perfect will of our Father. Because He knew that what His Father desired to do, He is able to complete. And just the same way, our Father enabled Jesus to a glorious ressurection, the defeat of the grave and the victory over death.

Today you and I enjoy access to the Father because of God’s pleasure to invite us and the Son’s obedience to submit to the Father’s perfect pleasing will.

I am getting back to my Master’s heart.

“Master, not that I desire but as You will and desire.”

I can already feel His sweet embrace.….

Am I carrying my Cross?

A new spree of attacks on the Christians in the already blood smeared Orissa started on August 24th 2008. Tensions were always there in the place, with Swami Lakshmanananda, the religious guru, who worked for the uplifting of the people but wanted to tuck them safely inside Hinduism. He vehemently opposed Christian Mission works, quoting what he said “I will work till I chase away every Christian who wants to make this land , a Christian land.” He was killed on the night of 23rd August by Maoist rebels. The only reason remaining to spark the beginning of a fresh uproar of violence.

There is also an ethnic conflict that exists beneath the iceberg.The fight for ST status for the dalit Pano Christians. If you are eager to be a more informed Christian then visit the links at the end of the post for more insight.

I really didn’t know how to start writing this post. I spent a week getting angry and forwarding prayer mails, another few days narrating stories of horror and violence to everyone, another few days asking God questions, another few days goggling up stories and videos on Orissa and another few days praying. All throughout I badly wanted to sit down and put everything that came to my heart on the blog.

I am still clueless about what to write. God has all the answers but the truth is that I can’t find the right questions to ask Him.Neither am I matured enough to talk about what we must do in these times of persecution.

So I decide that I am not going to write about the persecution, or about the bodies burning nor about the many who have only the forests left to call as their homes, nor about the girls being raped,nor the hundreds who are being forced to reconvert with the knife ready to sling open their throats, neither about the many who have no hope, no future for the next conceivable days of their life.

I am an ordinary happy Christian girl whose maximum crisis could be a flunked exam, or a bad day at college.I’ve not witnessed a real accident, or even a fire breakout. I don’t know what it feels like, to lose my family,my friends, my house or my church.So I was wondering if it was practically possible for me to empathize with the persecuted in Orissa, or am I just a victim to a sudden burst of emotion?

As I started looking deeper , God showed me a scripture, “If any of you wants to be my follower,” he told them, “you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 [NLT])

What’s this cross that Jesus is asking me to bear? I thought of various things, but all of them led to only thing -“death”. Afcourse victory through death, triumph of Jesus, salvation of soul..but ultimately the common denominator is “death”. Death of what??Jesus was telling me, “You can’t follow me just as you are,only if you carry the corpse of your identity (the cross) can you follow me.”

I understood, that God has placed many blessings in my life only as resources to reach out, instead I was using them to carve an identity for myself. Anything that happened outside my identity did not affect me much.That’s why I found it hard to empathize with the pain and suffering of my brothers and sisters in Orissa. That’s why it didn’t come to me naturally.

I’ve been a Christian for 7 years now, but I need to find if the ‘I’ in me is really dead.

I’ve been trying to follow Jesus, for my good, focussing God on myself, instead of focussing everything I have on God. The essential factor of Christianity is giving up yourself, but my version of Christianity is for me to become fatter. With this kind of attitude I can never really ‘know God’, ‘love God’ or ‘live for God’.

“If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”[Mark 8:35-NLT]

When my ‘I’ dies, then it’s no longer what “I want”, what “I feel”, or what “I think”, it becomes, what “God wants”, what “God feels”, and what “God thinks”. When this happens, everything that hurts the body of Christ will hurt me, the burden of the heart of Christ will become my burden, and His longing will become my longing.

I read a quote made by a pastor “Christianity will spread not by killing for Christ,but by dying with Christ so that others might live.”*

Killing my identity is going to be painful, but I need to inflict personal pain for the sake of corporate good, following the model of the cross is an inseparable part of my Christian experience.

Peter could handle Jesus being the Messiah. But he rejected the Messiah’s destiny of going to the cross. Why? Because Peter was worried that he might have to follow Jesus to the cross. That was why Jesus spoke also of the cross his disciples would have to bear (8:34). In not accepting all of Jesus’ gospel, his followers were in danger of keeping him at a distance and not listening to or understanding him**.

I wear a cross as a pendant, I feel proud when I wear it. Every time I look at it, I used to say to myself “I am the child of GOD” But now when I look at my pendant, I ask myself “Am I carrying my cross or walking without it and calling myself a child of God?”

Pray for our brothers and sisters in Orissa.

*Graduation Moments

**ILumina Concise Commentary

Dalit-Tribal rivalry

The Burning Issue

Drowned!!!

“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water. Then the ax head rose to the surface and floated. “Grab it,” Elisha said to him. And the man reached out and grabbed it. 2Kings6:6-7

When people see me, this list would probably pop on their minds to identify me.

Name: Callie

1) Dressing sense not up to scratch.
2)Dark skin tone
3)Gapped teeth
4)Messy curly hair
5)A terrible bore
6)Extremely poor at sports
7)Weak in Maths
8)Untidy and real big appetite.
9)Moody
10)Highly obsessed.

But I believe that when God sees me He uses only one unique identifier.

Name: Callie: #MY PURPOSE#

In him we were also chosen,having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.(Ephesians 1:11)

While we use many parameters to identify those around us God identifies people only by the purpose He’s assigned for them. When our purpose is completed, life expires.Our purpose is the only reason we’re alive.But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalms 33:11)

An ax with a heavy flattened sharp iron head had a distinct use today. While it was working for other mundane things, it was picked up to cut trees to obtain logs of wood for building a new place for the prophets to meet. A special purpose indeed!!

As it began working on the trees……Alas!!!! the heavy impact caused its strong iron head to fall into the river and it drowned deep. It hit rock bottom. It couldn’t fulfil its special purpose.It was useless and would ultimately become a rusted piece of metal.

Seeing this; Elisha, the man of God cut a stick and threw it into water. A stick?? It can only produce ripples on the surface of water… but this stick brought the iron ax head to float.The ax head could now fulfil its special purpose.

I was strong, talented and bubbling with potential. But while I was working, I got stripped apart and was thrown into the waters of depression,failure, rejection, pain, accusation and loss. Having no where to turn, everything was dark and cold. I became weak, dispassionate, and was just being wasted away in a place where no one noticed.

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath…(Hebrews 6:17)

This is when the Cross entered my life. An unappealing, humble wooden cross. It was the power of this Sacrifice that helped me get back on the surface, and ultimately back to the tree to fulfil my PURPOSE.

The power of the Cross is incomprehensible.“This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross”(Acts2:23). We enter into a reconciliation with our Divine Creator because of believing that the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ was for us. When this happens, we get back on track to fulfil our PURPOSE , life gets a meaning and our hearts are filled with peace.

Money, relationships, status, power are the resources God puts in our life so that we can fulfil our PURPOSE. Sometimes even after becoming ‘saved’ , ‘born-again’ , ‘Spirit-filled’ Christians we lose our purpose, that’s because we begin to focus our entire life(sometimes even our Salvation!) to earn these stuff and to keep us more comfortable instead of recognizing and using these things that belong to God to live up to and execute our PURPOSE.

If we’ve hit rock bottom and drowned deep, its only the Power of Jesus Christ.The power of a renewed commitment, that will get us to float so that we’re picked up to perform our special PURPOSE!!!

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
(Philippians 2:13)

Another king?

“Now appoint us a king to rule over us like all other nations” This is what the people of Israel asked Samuel when he became really old. Samuel is displeased with this request and so is God.

God takes it very personally and He says “they have rejected Me”.

When I was reading this passage, I said “God!!! you are over-reacting, all that the people of Israel wanted was a king like every other nation”.

And as I was meditating on this, God showed me some stuff that He did not allow me to have in the past, things which I was very passionate about but I was bluntly refused. God asked me “Did you ask for the wrong things?” I said “No”. He continued by saying “Had I allowed those things in your life, would you be the same today?”. I replied sarcastically, “Definitely not, I would have been a lot more happier”. And God said “Exactly!!! you would have been a lot more happier and then rejected me”. I tried to argue with God “No that’s not true !!!”. But I had my own doubts.

Every Christian who knows God personally will agree that getting close to God is a process, it is long, sometimes exciting, sometimes painful, sometimes fun, sometimes dry and sometimes it feels like your in love.

I believe that rejecting God is also a process. The first thing that draws us away from God can be anything that gives us security other than Him. For some it could be money, for some relationships, for some education and for some a career; sometimes even good health can give security.This kind of security that replaces God will slowly rule over us.For the people of Israel a ‘king’ would give them security.

I stood there reminiscing my past. I was a lot stronger,braver and confident before. I was secure. But the source of my security;was definitely not God. Today I feel week, impoverished, inadequate; by myself, so I have to rely 100% on God; there’s no way I can afford to reject Him now.

I said “God!! this makes you look like a bad guy!!”. And God said “You’ve forgotten who I AM child…. relying on me 100% is your greatest privilege…..only this way you get to do things and achieve heights you could never have done by yourself;to get you to do this I have to look like a bad guy..all for love!!!!!!!!!”

Friends, we are talking about a God here, who does not want to stop with just being someone who is there to answer prayers. But He involves Himself deeply in our lives and concerns Himself with every activity that we perform. Don’t be discouraged!! You don’t need the securities that you are looking for. Let God rule over you.With Him you will see great heights and explore new horizons.If this is what you are looking for, then leave it to God because HIS ways are HIGHER.

This is what I call faith.

II Samuel 9:5
They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

II Samuel 9:7
And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Isaiah 56:5
I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

Ephesians 3:20
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