(March 23, 2023) S. Sam Selva Raj encourages… and strongly challenges.
‘Your sorrow will be turned into joy! Your sorrows and tears will pass away, Do not be dismayed son, nor be dismayed daughter, Our Jesus will not forsake you.
‘Don’t be disheartened thinking of the past; forget the past that happened, God will do a new thing; you will see even today, today itself! Do not be disheartened; yes, do not be disheartened, Our Lord God will not forsake you.
‘God heals the broken hearted; He supports the bruised; Binds all the wounds, wipes our tears; yes, He wipes your tears. Do not be disheartened,do not be dismayed; God will not forsake you.
‘He will not allow you to be tested beyond your strength; Gives you the needed strength; He will show you a way out, yes, a way out! Do not be disheartened, do not be dismayed; He will not forsake you.’
What divine truths in the above song by Fr. S.J. Berchmans, song evangelist of Jebathottam Ministries.
Sorrow can be turned to joy! This truth links with the promise that God will never forsake us, whatever our sorrow may be (Hebrews 13:5). In trusting Him, they will be turned into joy! (John 16:20bNKJV).
(March 22, 2023) Mama Lava shares recipes for life…
Hi again!
How are you all? Had a good Saint Patrick’s Day? Baked something special? I had trouble!
Many of you may remember a post I wrote last summer where I told y’all I was struggling in the kitchen. Baking in my new high-elevation home was not going according to plan.
My most divine recipes were not working, epic failuresthat broke my heart! They didn’t look appetising, smell enticing, or taste right.
A few fun facts about altitude: Did you know the boiling temperature of water is different in the mountains? Or that thinner air causes bakery items to rise more quickly? (And subsequently fall dramatically?) After wasting time and ingredients, I turned to the internet for suggestions.
I experimented to no avail. Eventually I reached out to see if anyone had any tried-and-true high-altitude recipes for baked goods. I didn’t receive any which, on hindsight, makes sense because most people live closer to sea level.
Finally I broke down and bought a high-altitude cookbook. And let me tell you – it has been a godsend! My first bite into a soft, moist, sweet blueberry muffin nearly made me cry. I had feared I’d have to grow accustomed to dry, crumbly, volcano-shaped baked goods for as long as I lived here.
The new divine recipes made me think The right recipes for my location made all the difference. I’m sure if I took my new high-elevation cooking instructions and tried them at sea level, it would be a whole other kind of disaster. (Is it strange that I even want to try, just to see what sort of chaos it would create?).
‘Shekinah Glory’ has been often thought of as the remarkable change in Moses that the Israelites beheld when he came down from Mount Sinai, after having been up there so long in the presence of God. Exodus 34:29ESV reads, ‘… Moses did not know that the skin of his face shonebecause he had been talking with God.’
NIV says, ‘… he was not aware that his face was radiant…’ Verse 30 tells that all the Israelites ‘were afraid to come near him.’
Remember Charlton Heston playing Moses in the 1956 The Ten Commandments? He looked so different after being in God’s presence when he started down ‘God’s mountain’ to find ungrateful, sinning Israelites.
Moviegoers, including myself, an impressionable teenager, were immediately struck by the change in his face, his hair and beard.
But ‘Shekinah Glory’ is more than that! The presence of God highlighted above is the key!
May we know God’s presence Now the Bible doesn’t mention the term ‘Shekinah Glory’ at all in either the Old or New Testament… it was introduced by rabbis in their writings in the period between the two testaments. Their reasoning? To explain the very presence of God in certain contexts and associated with a visible manifestation more evidently apparent at certain times.
‘Shekinah’ is from the Hebrew word shākan, which means ‘to reside or permanently stay.’ And so literature by rabbis used the term shekinah to descriptively explain the following scriptures to the Jewish people:
God’s presence among His people (Exodus 19:16-18; Exodus 40:34-38; I Kings 6:13).
God’s glory dwelling in the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1).
God’s dwelling in the mountain (Psalm 68.16-18; Joel 3:17).
God’s divine appearance on earth!
This last ‘description’ was depicted in the following seven ways as a…
(March 20, 2023) Dr Jim McClure explains about God’s glory…
Christians often use the word ‘glory’ but usually do not have much idea of what it means! The Hebrew word for glory, kabod, is found 200 times in the Old Testament and its development is interesting.
Development The root of kabod actually means ‘heavy’ and is associated with the liver (Exodus 29:13) which is the heaviest of the internal organs. The use of the word as ‘heavy’ is seen in a number of Old Testament passages such as Psalm 38:4, ‘For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me’(KJV).
Glory developed into the concept of splendour.It referred to material wealth, that is, being ‘heavy with riches.’ Note Isaiah 10:3, ‘To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?’ Here ‘wealth’ is ‘kabod.’
The word continued to develop to mean honour. In Malachi 1:6 God asks, ‘A son honours (kabod) his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honour (kabod) due to me?’
Glory also came to be recognised as a characteristic of God’s splendour — ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1).
Regarding the word ‘Shekinah’, although some people use this when referring to God’s glory, it does not refer to a special dimension of divine glory. In fact this Hebrew word is not found in the Bible. It literally means ‘presence’ but doesn’t add anything to the concept that God’s glory reveals His presence.
(March 13, 2023) Richard Winter shares on something badly needed in church circles today…
I love stories so let me begin by telling you one that I heard many, many years ago and has stayed ever fresh in my mind.
Once upon a time… (original story opening, eh)… it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his evil equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.
On the big day of the sale, all his tools were attractively displayed… Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride, Idolatryand other implements of destruction, each price tagged marked.
Over in the corner by itself was a harmless-looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn down, but with a higher price than any of the others. Someone asked Satan what it was, and he answered, ‘Discouragement.’
We are very familiar with the festivals of Christmas, Good Friday and Easter that are commemorated each year. In fact they are so popular that the secular and commercial world has largely taken over Christmas and Easter as holidays rather than ‘holy days.’
Even so, as Christians, we do try to focus on the profound spiritual significance and meaning of those events.
Lent We are in the midst of festival of ‘Lent’ that is celebrated each year by millions of Christians throughout the world. It is a 6-week event that began this year on Wednesday, February 22, and will end on Saturday April 8, 2023 – the day before Easter Day. While many churches worldwide observe Lent, some denominations – and Christians – pay little attention to it.
What is Lent and why did it become part of Christian practice? Almost 1900 years ago one of the leaders of the church, Irenaeus, mentioned a time of prayer and fasting for 40 days before Easter. A couple of hundred years later it was generally practised by Christians worldwide. Its purpose was focusing on God, developing a closer relationship with Him and reflecting on the wonderful fact that Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from the tomb.
I am not suggesting that Lent should become part of the calendar of every church and every Christian. I wholly agree with the comment, ‘You could observe 1,000 Lents and it won’t ever accomplish in your life what the cross of Jesus has.’ That is absolutely true.
Nevertheless, I believe that that our relationship with God can be greatly deepened and strengthened whenever we seriously set aside time in prayer and think deeply about what it truly means to be a Christian.
(March 08, 2023) Norman and Margaret Moss reflect…
We were sitting in our car stuck in the middle of the road at the T junction a few hundred yards from our home in England. The engine had suddenly cut out and I, Norman, have seldom felt more helpless!
Cars passed by in all directions all intent on avoiding collision with ours, but failing to realise our predicament. However, soon people arrived, including two bright eyed youngsters eager to push and a strong man leaning through the window to help turn the steering wheel, since with the power steering gone I was not strong enough to turn it on my own.
Wrong directions Together the group managed to park the car on a double yellow line at the side of the road. We decided to phone the AA. As we waited the night darkened and the cold increased. Then, suddenly very quickly it got pitch dark and I confess that I was afraid the AA vehicle would drive right past us.
At last we saw two blazing headlights coming towards us, shining brightly in the dark. Telling Margaret to sit tight, I eagerly stepped into the road and waved the van down, directing to a point close to us.
Obediently the driver started to turn the van round to head back towards us. Only then did I see the large letters on its side… AMBULANCE! Oh no, I thought, this isn’t an AA van! I’ve misdirected this vehicle which is no doubt rushing to aid someone in trouble!
(March 8, 2023), Alan Higgins challenges us to be like Patrick– a radical disciple and missionary!
Next week, March 17, will be Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Personally, I’ll be remembering what Ireland’s patron saint achieved in respect of discipleship and mission… and I share some thoughts here.
The main scriptures – familiar to many – that I have chosen for this article are Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 28:16-20 … scriptures, I believe, that must have been on Patrick’s heart.
What can we learn from them… and what do they tell us about Saint Patrick, the Irish legend?
1. Patrick’s life… Exemplifies Jesus’ command to reach the lost. The gospels give us the following messages from the heartbeat of Jesus, not just Patrick, on the importance of fulfilling the great commission.
Matthew 28:16-20 is what Patrick set out to do in Ireland – to make disciples in this nation. His life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives.
His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future, but drew him into a love relationship with Jesus.
His relationship with Jesus helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in both his teen and later years.
His ability to draw close to Godand forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people.
His willingness to follow God’s callmakes him a hero of the faith.
Let’s learn from this man of God and ask ourselves a few questions. Such as: ‘Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times? Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life? Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me?’
If you do, you too could become a hero of the faith just like Patrick!
(March 06, 2023) Carol Round encourages us to reflect regarding our future…
It wasn’t like any funeral service I’d ever attended. Instead, it was a celebration of a friend’s life – a life well-lived. I can only imagine when she met Jesus face-to-face. Standing there to greet her, I’m sure Jesus was smiling. Then, those words we all hope to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
During the celebration of Terri’s life, there were tears and laughter as six of her remaining adult grandchildren shared their memories of the legacy she left behind. Sharing stories of a grandmother who attended their sporting events and other important milestones, they painted a picture of a woman who also made sure her grandkids knew Jesus.
At her bedside before she passed, our pastor and family members related stories at the gathering of Terri’s last words – words of hope and peace with a touch of humour. She was a faithful servant and was ready to meet Jesus.
Ready to meet Jesus In Matthew 25:12-21, Jesus once again uses a parable to answer a question from His disciples. The question begins in the previous chapter with Matthew 24:3 where the disciples ask, ‘Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?’
Although Jesus uses two parables to answer their question, the story of the bags of money spells out what we want to hear at the end of our lives. Jesus’ purpose was to remind His disciples to focus on their calling and be ready because they didn’t know the hour of His return. It’s also a reminder for us.
In the parable of the three servants, it is the third who falls short. Instead of investing the money his master entrusts to him, he buries it. When the master returns and hears this, he banishes the servant saying, ‘Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 25:30).
Don’t bury your talents None of us wish to be banished from our Master. But sometimes we become lax, taking God and what we have been given for granted. We’re currently in the season of Lent, a time of self-reflection, repentance, and spiritual preparation for Easter. It’s a time to remember we’re all sinners saved by His amazing grace.
During our church’s Ash Wednesday service, Pastor Ray asked us to reflect on several questions about our spiritual life, including the following:
Is my soul healthy?
Is my relationship with God what it should be?
Have I accepted His grace and believe that He loves me?
Is there some unconfessed sin separating me from a deeper relationship with God?
Have I accepted God’s forgiveness as a gift?
Is there someone or something holding me back from taking the next step in my adventure with Jesus?
Between now and Easter Sunday, may each of us intentionally dive deeper into our faith and draw closer to God. Then, when our time on earth comes to an end and we meet Jesus face-to-face, may we hear those sweet words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:23).
__________________________________________________ Carol Round is an author and inspirational speaker. Her encouraging articles have appeared in national and international publications and she especially loves hearing from readers.
Growing Confidently in Your Faith. Carol openly shares her own intimate journey in becoming more like Jesus, initially borne of pain, and now bathed in promise. (See: http://bit.ly/2LGOvKN).Links: A Matter of Faith weekly column: carol@carolaround.com / www.carolaround.com. ________________________________________________
(March 06, 2023) Richard Winter reflects some more on Mark’s gospel…
If we could ask Jesus just one question, what would you ask?
It may sound funny, odd, but what pops into my mind is a great line from a movie… ‘What’s it all about, Alfie?’ Only that it leads to the question I’d really love to ask my Lord – ‘So, Jesus, what’s it all about?’
And I’m sure the Lord would answer, ‘Richard, it’s all about Acts 1:8.’
1. Go! ‘Acts 1:8, Lord?’
This very important scripture… ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
This scripture links with Jesus’ Mark 6:7 direction of to His friends, the first disciples! His training program then had been three years of on-the-job training and now He tells His disciples to go into all the world: a case of ‘You’ve learned how, so now go and do it. Go get your feet wet!’
And they did! Jesus’ disciples boldly went out, getting their feet wet as it were, and with a new title… apostles!
The Greek word is apostolos – one who is sent into all the world and today we call them missionaries.
But note: In Mark 6:7NASB Jesus had sent His disciples out in pairs – a small team. Now we could think that this was good reasoning because lone rangers are an easy target for the devil… but behind this was the biblical understanding of…
Connecting with You! 
