Unplanned

Yesterday, I saw the movie "Unplanned". Maybe it wasn't the right choice of film for my tired soul which wanted to relax. I went to my bedroom and cried my lungs and heart out. I hugged and kissed my child, not letting him move for at least half an hour. I wonder if he thought what made his mom cry and hug-arrest him frantically.

I sense that many of my dear friends are going to disagree with entirely or even unfriend me for what I am trying to share in the next few sentences. Every child was, is and will be born in God's heart first (Jeremiah 1:5) and a blessing (Psalm 127:3). He/she is a child and a human being from the day of conception. Please do not consider brutal manslaughter by means of abortion, of a helpless little baby in the mother's womb.

For those who are pro-freedom, pro-choice, yes, you have the freedom and choice, but please have the wisdom to choose virtue over evil.  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, flee from sin, choose to lead a holy life so that you will not face the temptation of abortion.   Dear parents, teach your sons and daughters to lead a respectful sexual life which incorporates God's design of family and parenthood.

Again, this is my plea to all doctors and those who work in the medical profession. Please do not use your position to manipulate facts or exert influence on anyone to select this kind of killing. If a fetus is diagnosed with a disability, kindly encourage and strengthen the parents to raise the child, instead of getting rid of such an 'imperfect' creature. In this perfection-obsessed world, use your designation, knowledge and talents to add some room for imperfections too, and lend your hand to help, nourish and above all, love children with special needs.  Their souls are perfect in God's eyes.

To those who went through abortion, the grace of God is not short not to forgive you. Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for ALL of your sins. All you have to do is to repent and turn back to God who is waiting for you with open arms. God bless!

SJ

The Pillars of Cloud and Fire

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:21-22

The story of God's guidance to the Israelites during their epic 40-year exodus from Egypt to the promised land is one of the exhilarating stories in the Bible. The pillar of cloud during the day and of fire during night enabled them to travel day and night.  I had personally witnessed my son's amusement when I taught this Sunday School story; he even went out to monitor in the sky to find the pillar of cloud.

Where is the Cloud Today?

I don't know about you, but I am one of the believers who asked God to make me see Him physically and hear His voice and His plans from Him so that I will not make any gibberish decisions in life. I also feel green-eyed when I hear powerful testimonies of people to whom Jesus made a personal encounter.  It would have been easier to make sound decisions that have 0% chances of going wrong if God Himself is directing us. I am sure this could be the spiritual battle many of the fellow believers are facing today. The truth is that we can still hear God's voice through a tangible object - THE BIBLE! Yes, the very much God-breathed, Holy Spirit -inspired Word of God.

Learning the Bible 

The need to learn the Bible is undoubted as the need of God, except for the minority who have no access to the Bible or cannot read it. It's sturdy, alive, active and can deeply penetrate to the heart (Hebrews 4:12). It can transform even an atrocious criminal into a servant of God.

The movie 'War Room' stresses the importance of praying with the word. One thing which caught my attention is the effectiveness of writing the prayers and answers, bible verses etc. and framing them on the wall. This habit could help in remembering the prayer requests and the ways God answered your prayers (even differently, but beautifully). Our human minds are fragile and can be easily sidetracked by the enemy employing storms, but having these visual reminders can get us back to the One who created, guided and sustained us in the past and still does in the present and future. You know what - it's biblical practice too. God instructed the Israelites to engrave the commandments not only in their hearts but also on hands, foreheads and doorframes.

Learning the Word without a heart to follow Him could be disastrous. King Solomon portrayed this clearly in Ecclesiastes 1:18. More than the head - knowledge, God looks for heart -  knowledge; your trust, hope and your willingness to be submissive to His will.

Stay abundantly blessed!

SJ

Know Your Father: This Man Welcomes Sinners

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1-2.

Whenever I read this portion of the Bible, which is followed by the story of the lost sheep, my mind goes through a roller coaster of emotions. At first, I could visualize myself as one among the group of sinners. Secondly, I feel ashamed that my sins failed God to the extent that Jesus had to come down and sit with me. Grace is not depicted just on the cross but throughout the life of  Son of Man.

The world is full of weirdo's - people who love (God) with words, not by action, people who claim themselves as God or Godly, people who do not believe in their creator, and the ones who genuinely understand their helpless estate to save themselves. Have you ever thought of a state where our minds can be read by everyone just like how God can?  Will anyone on earth be able to hold their head up?

The good news is, we have a loving Father. He loves you with no strings attached, no matter how much ever you messed up or how much ever you are defiled. He welcomes you to experience His unmatchable love and joy. Are you ready to open the door of your heart to let Him inside?

SJ