If God be for us... who can be against us?

Recently I was reading through the life of David, one of my favorite characters from the Bible. I still remember the graffiti board I use to have in my room when I was in college and once I wrote “David - A man after Gods own heart, when will I be?” and one of my friends scribbled below ‘Never’ when I was not there, that’s another story. But then I strived earnestly and I know for myself how God has molded me to what I am today, but still striving to be the man after his heart…
When I was reading I was trying to do a study about Saul and David. It was amazing the journey David took from a shepherd boy to a King. It was not an easy journey, we normally think of David as a King but then to become a king he went through a lot. First when Samuel came to anoint him, he was not even considered to be chosen, then He had to run for his life for years, even though he was anointed by Samuel and knew one day he would be the king. Couple of things which inspired me among the many was
• God was with him through out… that was the main difference between Saul and him. He was the chosen by God.
• He inquired of God before every single step he took (well mostly), so even he chose God to be with him
He saw success in all that he did, whether be a lion, Goliath, Saul or even his enemies because God was with him and made it possible. Isn’t that very true even for our lives too, I am sure you would have felt this too. When God is with us, suddenly impossible becomes possible? Recently I and Caroline saw Gods hand in two such incidents.
Few weeks back someone broke into our brand new car and tried to steal it, we woke up in the morning and were devastated to see it all ripped off. Anyway we had to call in the cops and finally the insurance told us that they would look after it but then we cannot have a car rental or replacement. So we were wondering what to do for two weeks without our car, but When we went to the Toyota dealer the guy took our car and gave us a replacement car within 5 minutes and here we go, we had the privilege of having another car till we got our new car back and we dint have to pay a thing. It was Unbelievable for me to see Gods hand even through the devastation and trauma we went thru.
The second thing was recently I applied for my U.S visa as I wanted to visit my brother in law and my friends. This was the first time I applied for a visa by myself without anyone’s help, the day I had my interview just before I left, someone who is an expert in visas told me I did a mistake by applying and I probably wouldn’t get my visa. I even thought of not going in, but then I prayed and felt to go ahead. In the interview I did not have much solid answers to support my argument. I had just come in to Canada and the lady asked what’s the assurance that I would come back? I don’t have a property here or something, I just prayed, and finally she said she will give me a tourist visa. I was happy in a way but then my friends told me it would be for just 6 months, I wanted for at least a few years, I prayed and left it to God. Two days later I was more than surprised to see my passport stamped with a visa for 10 years. It’s yet another moment for us to realize that Our God is with us, the battle is for us and it’s already won.
If God be for us (you and me) who can be against us…? Amen

Friends

You have a friend
And you think he’s everything beneath the skies
But when times go by and rivers run dry
You can’t keep asking why
There’s nothing more than a broken heart
And you look for another friend
To wake your fainted feelings, and to love you till the end

Then came this man
Long time ago, to be your one great friend
He was a carpenter’s son
and he loved everyone, with an everlasting love
But they nailed him down on the wood he worked
On the cross of Calvary
He laid his life for you and me, to lead you till the end

Everybody anybody would like to have a friend
Cos everybody needs some love
And a shoulder to lead on
When you are crushed by this worlds own trouble
You would like to have a friend
Yes JESUS is that great true friend
Who calls you you’re my friend.

AUGUSTINE

Every body said, but nobody did...

This morning I was listening to one of my all time acapella favorite song, Everybody said but nobody did…. This is one tune which has the ability to draw anyone’s attention. I first heard it when I was in school, But when I went thru the lyrics again, I realized that there’s even more to the song… It goes like this….

Everybody said that anybody could do
The important things somebody should do
Everybody knows that anybody could do
All the good things that nobody did

Well the preacher came to me and said what I ought to do
If I wanted to make my religion true
He'd do it himself but he really didn't have the time
He said that the duty was mine

Well the deacon came by and said give me a hand
If you want to be going to the promised land
Here is something that I don't have time to do
So I better give it to you

Well I'm too busy so I tell everybody
The work's got to get done by somebody
It could be done by anybody
But nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody did
All the good things that nobody did

Many a times Isn’t this very true to our lives? There are so many issues often bothering us or we are often concerned about (Children being abused, poverty, people on the streets, orphan children, people affected by disasters, diseased, people not knowing who Jesus is, our friends,neighbours etc) we talk about them often, we express our views, we even criticize about someone who might try to do something regarding the same. But what have we done ourselves? Have we thought of giving out our time, resources, pray for them? None of us are perfect. The other day I was talking to one of my friend; we were talking about the movie slum dog millionaire. She asked me how I felt watching the movie… we had a little talk and that conversation made me think again. Am I too busy to think or react about these things..? Is my comfort zone making me think only about me, my family, what will I eat? And what will I wear? Let’s not be like people who watch it in the News, feel sorry and then get on with the normal way of life… let’s be ready to get our hands dirty. If something similar no matter what the issue is, if it’s bothering you and if you are not sure what u can do about it, one thing we can do for sure… we can start with a little prayer.

How long has it been…?

Its 4.30 in the morning and
I am in my bed, tossing and turning
Somehow I just can’t sleep and
My baby is wondering whats wrong with me…

I woke up silently and went to my table
Questions running deep in my mind
Is the love that I talk is True?
Am I doing little justice to this?
If I love the way I ought to be…
Why things aren’t the way I am told to be?

As more and more such questions
Seems arising from an unending well
I waited for that gentle voice and touch
Love would u please tell me the answers?
In the break of the dawn and chirp of the birds
I heard that feeble voice… which said..

How long has it been, since u talked with me……
And told me your hearts hidden secrets?
How long has it been, since you gave me a chance
To tell you how much I love you and all that I have for you?
Love cannot be this way honey; I gave you all that I have
Even my only son! But, what have you done for me…?

With tears in my eyes, I started talking…
I knelt by my bed and said to my love
Darling Please forgive me, I give my all to you;
I want you to be by my side every day, every hour, every minute& sec
It wasn’t fair that I was blaming you all this while.Its me…and Its me…
I went to bed with a strange peace, knowing that it’s been restored again.

Forever mine … Forever yours … Amen

Augustine

Art of Swimming:

I wanted to learn swimming for a long time and recently I got to go for my swim lessons. My Instructor there told me that I need to keep a few basic things in mind …
• Get use to the water- No fear
• Learn to float
• Coordinate - whole body
And as I tried doing these things, there you go slowly I was already half way thru the pool. The process was quite exciting. Now my aim is to Master this and so I can go from one end to the other.
As I went through this process, it reminded me of our own sail through the Christian journey in this life on earth, these laws apply pretty much here too.

Get use to the water - No fear : If it is that we need to swim through to get to the other side of the pool, we should be ready and willing to get into the water first throwing away all our fears no matter what that may, fear of drowning, dying etc. All these can make us not able to reach our goal, we may just remain there not knowing how to swim at all.

Float: let loose: Once we are in the water and if we are holding onto something along with us, it can still pull us down. All we need to do is forget everything and learn to float letting all that we hold close loose and allow the density of the water to take over. At the same time we also need to learn how to breathe as we are in the water, (not so easy to do) the timings, after every equal no of strokes u breathe out and in so that you may stay long enough in the water.

Coordinate: whole body: This is the a very important step, unless there is perfect coordination between our hands, legs, and our body we would probably just stay in the same place or go criss cross losing our track.

As we read this lets remind ourselves once again to throw away every fear and let loose everything that hinders from following, sharing and showing the love of Jesus in and through our lives. Let loose all that’s holding us down and let him take full control of our lives so that the purpose of our living on earth may be fulfilled according to his perfect will. To make this happen, the very important step is the relationship and communion between us and God. Let’s enjoy this beautiful relationship every bit, making our lives in perfect tune with Gods plans so that we can reach the other end of the shore……to be with Him for ever and ever one day. Amen

Happy swimming
Stay Blessed

Augustine

Count your Blessings...

Recently I was able to go with the folks from our church to help Scott mission in downtown Toronto which provided food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless and runs a food bank too. As we were driving I was quite amazed by the beauty of the nature surrounding us, the lakeshore, harbour, CN tower ,sky scrapers, also I was quite excited as this was my first visit to downtown Toronto. It was beautiful life was on fast track, street cars, BMWs and looked like everyone had a wheel on their shoes. We went passed the harbour, office blocks, china town and there we reached the Scott mission building.
The scene outside the building was quite a thing, there were so many people waiting to go in to get some food, waiting for the doors to be open. Old, young, children and families. Each had a story to say, one can read it in their eyes, sorrow, pain and suffering. No one can pass by without having a second look and thought.
I was awe stuck with that site. Just couldn’t believe that in Canada and in Toronto there are people suffering like this, with not even one proper meal. Just few blocks away were the high end buildings and offices making millions with whatever they did, there was the rotating restaurant in the CN tower were one would spend about 50- 100 $ a meal and few hundred yards away there were people begging for food, what a contrast…
Living in India this scene wasn’t new to me but then I couldn’t think of this in Canada.
As I came back one thought was left behind. Many a times when we have all that we need provided on time, we don’t seem to realise the importance of life. When life goes well, slowly we tend to forget or reduce the time spent with God. I thought I need to pause for a while and think if all the Blessings God has given us, not the miraculous ones but ones which we never actually think as a blessing say some basic things like
• Clothes- If u ever had confusion on what to wear tomorrow, thank god cos u have two sets of clothes to choose, when someone doesn’t have even one
• Food- If u get to eat three full meals a day, without a problem Be thankful cos there are millions of people who just eat one meal a day or not even that…
• Shelter- we have a nice place to sleep, if it’s cold we have a blanket to cover, and if it’s hot we have our air-conditioning on to cool it a bit, isn’t that a Blessing.
• Family & loved ones- It is indeed a great blessing to have parents, husband/ wife, children, brothers, sisters or someone who cares for us.
Moreover as Christians, we have a father and friend in heaven who is always there for us. Blessing in deed.

I ended up saying a three point prayer, lord today help me to

• Be thankful (for all that u’ve done for me)
• Be content (with all that I have) and
• Help me Have a heart like you(Jesus)to have compassion when we see people in need

Lets start counting our Blessings and specially when there’s something bothering in your mind, lets think of the people like the ones who come to Scott mission or the ones around the world, who don’t have any place to go….

In Times like these...

This was a song written by me recently. I was really upset about something and when i was praying came these words...

Everyday lord Oh every hour
Every word lord that You’ve Promised
Every minute Lord I am waiting for you
Oh let your Glory come….

But sometimes Lord I still feel lonely
Everyone seems heading so fast
Dark and weary knowing not what to do
I stand there waiting for you

In times like these, I come to you
In times like these, I feel your love (so close)
In times like these, you lift me up and I stand
Oh let your Glory be seen

Oh by the day and thru the night
The wall of fire and Glory cloud
To the glory land where milk and honey flow
Lord lead me I long to go

Lord take my life and let it be so;
Holy and worthy lord for thee
I am in your arms; mould me and make me to be
I surrender to thee