Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalm 122:1
 
Happy 'Son'day everyone. Are we happy this morning? Are we rejoicing in the Lord this morning? Do we look forward to the fellowship of believers this morning?

When was the last time we had true fellowship of believers? Do we attend Church for namesake or do we make an effort to fellowship?

Today for a change, let us walk across the room, shake a few hands, hug a few souls, pat a few shoulders, say hello to a complete stranger. If we feel up to it, why not, go ahead and invite someone home.If nothing, at least invite someone to join us over Coffee with Jesus!

I can guarantee you, your joy will be greater. It only multiples in the fellowship of believers. Why so? Because God's word tells us that Jesus Himself will be in our midst when we are gathered together in His name. Not in a multitude but just two or three is all it takes! Praise the Lord!

If you don't take my words for it, just try it once and let me know if it works or not.

God bless you all! 

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

Even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. Zechariah 9:12

Amen! What a beautiful promise from the Lord for us this morning! I am so glad for all of you who didn't miss it over the weekend. May this very promise come true in each one of our lives.

In Isaiah we read, "Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs." Isaiah 61:7

Amen! Such powerful promises we have heard this morning over the coffee table. Let us pause, take a moment to let it sink in! Let us proclaim the promise by our mouth; please repeat this after me:

"Instead of my shame I will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace I will rejoice in my inheritance; and so I will inherit a double portion in my land, and everlasting joy will be mine."

One more time:

"Instead of my shame I will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace I will rejoice in my inheritance; and so I will inherit a double portion in my land, and everlasting joy will be mine."

Amen! It will be so!

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. John 7:37

How many of us can say we have feasted enough on the Bread of life this morning?! Can we set aside all other distractions, silence our peripherals and turn to the Scriptures for a brief moment this morning?

Let us read the above scriptures one more time and let the meaning of it sink in. If He is the Bread, are we having enough of Him? Are we hungry and thirsty for Him? Why wouldn't we take the time to eat and drink of Him if it will lead us to eternal life?

Let these Scriptures ponder your thoughts as you start the weekend. Pause once in a while to feast on His words.

May God bless you! Have a blessed weekend!

"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord." Psalm 116:12,13

King David asks a very interesting question that often crosses our mind - how will he(we) ever repay the Lord - and he also has an interesting answer - that he will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I visualize it as King David giving a toast (with his drink/cup) in honor of the Lord.

"Cup" could very well mean our hearts here or it could be the different roles we play. He fills it with His grace to the point it overflows... So, let's get back to the question which is the focus of our discussion for today: How can we repay the Lord for all his goodness to us? Ready to toast like King David?

"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure." (Psalm: 16:5)

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."  Psalm 23:5

Amen! Let us be grateful for His goodness in our lives. Happy Thursday!

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" Exodus 33:15-16

God is omnipresent. He is present whether we recognize His presence or not. God's presence was manifested in the lives of several individuals we read of in the Scriptures. In today's Scripture God is promising Moses that His presence will go with him and the people of Israelites. Moses reaffirms that he would not break camp and advance if he is not promised the presence of the Lord.

When was the last time we felt the presence of the Lord? Were we anticipating the presence of the Lord in our last worship service? This morning, last night when was the last time you were sure of His presence as you prayed? Are we actively pursuing God's presence?

King David was filled with the joy of the presence of the Lord, hence he sings, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

He was always aware of the presence of the Lord and so ponders "Where can I flee from your presence?" Psalm 139:7

His main concern when he had sinned against God was that he might lose His presence so he repents Psalm: 51:11, "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."

Can we declare we rejoice in His presence day and night? Are we aware of His constant presence? Do we have the slightest concern of losing the presence of the Lord when we are found guilty?

If our answer is not in the affirmative we are running far from His presence. Let us repent and return to Him so that we can rejoice in His presence.

Blessed Wednesday! God bless you all!

Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. Song of Solomon 2:8

This is one of the most beautiful passages in the whole Scripture, I would say. Not because the book is about an intimate love story, but because it is our love story! The story of how Christ loves His Church - which is made up of you and me!

I can't resist comparing today's Scripture to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 which goes: "For The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air."

In Zechariah 14:3 we read, On that day His feet shall stand on The Mount Of Olives which lies before Jerusalem...

Jesus Christ in His own words has assured that, "... They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:30-31

Amen! Before long our Lover will return - leaping across the mountains and bounding over the hills. Let us pay keen ears to His trumpet call as he gathers us to Him. Here He comes!

"Give thanks to Him... Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever" Psalm: 136:23

I am sure we all have experienced lows in our lives sometime or other. It could have been a health condition or unhappiness or joblessness or something else that we can all relate to.

Those were the days when help wasn't near; we were not sure whom to turn to, what to do, how to manage. Our faith was being tested to a great extent. Friends were rare and we were at the lowest of our lows.

But God remembered us! Our faith was restored & our joy was renewed.

Now, let us go back in time to see how God remembered us in our low estate - just scanning it all in our minds - and thank Him for that. Let us share our stories/testimonies of how God led us through certain hardships, with our friends, family and especially our children. Let us also be kind to those who might be in dire situations like we once were and help the best way we can...

For some of us, may be these are the lowly days... Our Lord remembers you as we speak - He has not forgotten you! What more proof we need than looking back in our own lives and see how His grace has been sufficient for us in the past?! Same grace is still available.

Let us remember to thank the Lord who remember(ed) us in our low estate! Praise the Lord!

"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone" Zechariah 10:1

The message comes loud and clear - Ask the Lord for rain. Rain? What rain? Showers of blessings of course.Whatever pressing needs we have let us bring it all at His feet today. Ask and you will receive! Let us ask our Lord to send us the showers of blessings we have been longing for.

It could be a job, it could be a much needed vacation or financial freedom or spiritual freedom or physical healing or mental healing - whatever it is, you know your need. Let us together bring it all at His feet and pray over these days; let's hold hands:

Dear Father in Heaven! We praise your name Lord. Thank you for your provisions in our lives so far this year Lord. Thank you that you are going to provide for us through the rest of the year too Lord. Dear Lord, the scripture asks us to ask for rain Lord. We are here gathered in your name - asking for the rain you have promised us Lord. Please send your rain at this very moment Lord, this very day Lord. Thank you Jesus! 

Please send the rain according to each need we have brought to your feet this morning Lord! Please Lord, we know you are mighty to save! We know your promises are ye and amen! We know you said if we ask we will receive it Lord. Now we are asking Lord. We do believe you are sending us the showers Lord. Please Lord, let the people not be disappointed Lord. Please meet their needs Lord. You alone can do it Lord. Send them the much needed rain Lord! In your beloved son our beloved Savior Jesus Christ's name we pray, Amen!

He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas. Psalm 78:15

One thing that truly amazes me is a Water Fall. It seems almost magical to see water gushing out between huge rocks. Does it not?

During the Exodus the Israelites experienced it first hand - water came gushing out from the rocks in the desert, not just little - but as abundant as the seas! Can you imagine that?

Same way our Lord can provide for our needs out of any rocky situation where there seems like no way out. Not just a little; but as abundant as the oceans! Praise the Lord!

Thought sharing a video of a waterfall will help us understand the context better... As you enjoy the video be reminded that the Lord who met our needs in the past is still able to meet all our present and future needs. Amen.

Praise the Lord! Have a godly weekend!

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. Isaiah 62:4

Anyone here whose name is Deserted, who lives in the land of Desolate? Well, this message is for you. The Lord will call you Hephzibah as He delights in you. Your land will be Married, no longer Desolate!

Praise the Lord.

The name Hephzibah equals us to the Bride of Christ, as the Bridegroom rejoices over His bride. Just imagine, the King of kings and Lord of lords calling you Hephzibah - my beloved! Isn't that absolutely overwhelming?! 

Indeed His love for us is overwhelming. And soon we will be married to Christ Himself. What a privilege!

Let us therefore get rid of our feelings of self pity, depression & doubts and celebrate knowing that His love for us is all the more stronger.

Have a blessed day Hephzibah! God's delight! Remain in His love.

Those who walk in pride He is able to humble. Daniel 4:37

King Nebuchadnezzar was a great and mighty king who suffered from mental illness because of his pride. In The Book of Daniel chapter 4, he gives his testimony to the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world, of how his health was restored by God Almighty. Today's verse is a reference from this chapter. I strongly encourage you to read the entire chapter to get a complete picture.

As you can imagine it was a very humbling experience for king Nebuchadnezzar to go through this illness. However when he realized it was his pride which got him there in the first place and when he started giving glory to God Almighty he was freed from his sickness and was restored to his throne and became greater than even before. That's when he shares this testimony with his nation and peoples of the whole world and ends it with a sincere statement: "...those who walk in pride He is able to humble."

Let us look at few more scripture verses from the Bible:

* The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Proverbs 16:5
* He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34
* Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6

If you look at the Scriptures closely great men of God like Moses, Aaron, King David, King Solomon, Daniel and the like, never failed to give glory to God Almighty which itself is a sign that they were humble at heart. Let us learn from their good examples and also from the tough lessons learned by King Nebuchadnezzar and clear off any pride from our hearts.

It is very easy to fall prey to pride as it can trigger from something as simple as a well intended compliment or an ill meant flattery. Let us therefore keep watch to stay away from pride. May all glory, honor and praise be to only God Almighty! Always!

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Revelation 3:1-3

Are we outwardly religious but inwardly decaying? Here's a direct warning to us - the modern day church - who are similar in nature to the hypocritical people of the Church of Sardis.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary explains it in detail:

Hypocrisy, and lamentable decay in religion, are sins charged upon Sardis, by One who knew that church well, and all her works.

Outward things appeared well to men, but there was only the form of godliness, not the power; a name to live, not a principle of life.

There was great deadness in their souls, and in their services; numbers were wholly hypocrites, others were in a disordered and lifeless state.

Our Lord called upon them to be watchful against their enemies, and to be active and earnest in their duties; and to endeavor, in dependence on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to revive and strengthen the faith and spiritual affections of those yet alive to God, though in a declining state.

Christ enforces his counsel with a dreadful threatening if it should be despised. Yet our blessed Lord does not leave this sinful people without some encouragement.

He makes honorable mention of the faithful remnant in Sardis, he makes a gracious promise to them. He that overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment; the purity of grace shall be rewarded with the perfect purity of glory.

Sure a wake up call for some of us, myself including. Now the question is what are we going to do about it?

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1-14

We will have a open discussion on this passage over the coffee table today. If anyone has questions on this passage bring it on or feel free to share your thoughts.

One question to keep in the back of our mind today is: Are we invited or chosen? Further, do we have the wedding garments?

... knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Asking we understand. Seeking we understand. But knocking? Knocking what?

I assume it is knocking when we shut ourselves out of the presence of the Lord. His heart is always open. He assures in Revelation 3:8 "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut."

It is our hearts that shut down from time to time. That is why Jesus says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3:20

Then there are times we can sense all the doors are shut when an answer to our prayers is delayed. Those are the times we actually knock. We knock so that God reveals the open doors to us. We knock to enter back into His joyful presence. And, we open to Him who knocks at our shut hearts.

Here's a promise of God for those who choose to believe it:

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:1-3

May God bless you and make this promise come true in your life.  Praise the Lord!

Ask. Seek. Knock. Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking.

* My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Psalm 27:8
* I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8
* Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4

King David sets us a good example of seeking the Lord continually, not just on Sundays's not just on mornings but continually - all the days of the week, every hour of each day, every second of each hour...

What does it mean to seek?

The following definintions are given in the dictionary:

1. Attempt to find (something)
2. Attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something)
3. Ask for (something) from someone
4. Search for and find someone or something
5. Go to (a place)

Now, how do we seek the Lord?

Based on the definition of the word 'seek' we can say,

1. Find out more of the Lord
2. Desire more time with the Lord
3. Pray
4. Search the Scriptures more for hidden treasures.
5. Go to His feet more often.

The Scripture assures, those who seek Him will find Him... (Proverbs 8:17)

Hope you will start seeking from now on... Let's start this morning!

 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Luke 11:9-10

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3

What is it we are asking Him this morning? What is the motive behind our plea?

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 10 we read of an interesting conversation between James/John and Jesus:

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said.

Do we know what we are asking this morning? Let us get right with our motives before we ask for anything. Then it will be given to us. Amen!

Happy Friday!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8

Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it.

Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveller asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we knock.

Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? This is made to apply to all that pray aright; every one that asketh receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, all are alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith.

It is explained by a comparison taken from earthly parents, and their readiness to give their children what they ask. Parents are often foolishly fond, but God is all-wise; he knows what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us.

Let us never suppose our heavenly Father would bid us pray, and then refuse to hear, or give us what would be hurtful.

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8

Just yesterday we learned how our King who breaks open the way will go up before us ... Today again as a reiteration of the same message, what the Holy Spirit shares with us is that the door He opens no one can shut.

I am sure it is for strengthening us in the Lord, that we are reminded of the same message a second time! Amen!

Whatever doors are shut before you, God is going to open it for you. He knows you have little faith, yet you have kept His word and have not denied His name. God knows it all - even if it looks like no one else cares.

Let us continue to hold on to His words and not deny His name. The doors are going to be open - very soon... and no one can shut it!

Amen! Praise the Lord!

One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head. Micah 2:13

Let us read the verse once again slightly differently - emphasizing the words in bold:

One who breaks open the way will go up before me; I will break through the gate and go out. My king will pass through before me, the Lord at my head.

Let's repeat the verse one more time...

Loud and clear!

One who breaks open the way will go up before me; I will break through the gate and go out. My king will pass through before me, the Lord at my head.

 Let's keep praying this verse against all the "closed doors" in our lives.

When our King takes the lead before us, He will break open the way for us. Amen!

If you believed, you would see the glory of God!

If only we believed...

With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8

We at times forget what is ultimately required of us by the Lord. Is it how much we give? No! Is it our being regular to church? No! How about we fast and pray for three days? That will be good idea but not something required of us by the Lord. Well, then what is really expected of us?

Today's passage has the answer: To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God! How do we do that? To find out let's discuss each of these in detail in the coming days:

* Act justly
* Love mercy 
*Walk humbly with the Lord

Please stay tuned and have a blessed Monday!

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6

We discussed the same Scripture yesterday as to how Jesus is our portion and our delightful inheritance is Home Eternal. Today's focus is on how it is also true for our lives here and now.

When Joshua had led the people of Israel into the land flowing with milk and honey, one of the first things the Lord prompted him to do was to give each tribe their allotment of land, or their inheritance or portions. You can read Joshua chapters 14  through 21 for the complete listing.

Even in present times aging parents allot their estate among their children according to what they have decided in their mind. When the family gets together to discuss their lots, it leads to lot of disappointments, heartbreaks and divisions among family members as they are not happy with their allotments.

However, here King David seems to be very happy about his lot. He sings confidently, "... the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance".

What makes him so confident? What keeps his joy going? What makes his heart singing? It is his unshakable trust in the Lord that He will give him only the best or that whatever he has been given will turn out to be a blessing for him.

Knowing that every little blessing is from the Lord, given as our portion, our cup and our delightful inheritance is important to keep our heart singing too. If on the other hand we murmur over our lot, disregard our rightful inheritance, abandon our portions, devalue our spouses, kids, jobs, family we will be the most miserable lot.

Let us therefore cherish the lot God has blessed us with - which includes our family.

Happy Sunday!

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6

The passage here has amazing resemblance to something our Lord spoke about, as written in the Gospel of John 6:51-56:

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Don't you see the remarkable resemblance here? One is the offer made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to share in His body (which is our portion) and His blood (which is our cup); the other is King David's claim that his portion and his cup was is from the Lord, due to which he is assured of his delightful inheritance.

Isn't that what is promised for us who share in His broken body and His shed blood? Our delightful inheritance is our eternal life. Amen!

Not only that, even here on the other side of heaven, God has given us our portion, our cup. He has made our lot secure. We will see the same in more detail tomorrow...

Happy weekend!

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Today's Scripture is the chief commandment in the Law of the Lord. How many of us can assure that we follow it just as it says.

Do we love the Lord? With all our heart? With all our soul? With all our strength? With a superlative love, above everyone else, with the whole of our hearts, with a fervency of our spirits, with such sincerity of our souls, with every little strength we have? Well then! You rock!

But for those who are not so sure, let us take a pause.

If God is not your first love, who else is? If it is not possible for you to devote your heart, mind and soul to God, who/what has hold of your being? What prevents you from getting closer to God?

Is there anything you can do about it this year? This month? Today?

Please do...

* And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:31
* In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.1 Corinthians 15:52
* For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:27
* For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 

The most important event we as Christians ought to look forward to on a daily basis is the The Last Trumpet Call!!

What is meant by the last trumpet call? The last trumpet call is the imminent return of our King and Savior Jesus Christ at the least conceivable time to gather His Church in mid air. The dead in Christ will rise and the faithful living will be transformed to be caught up with Him. This is also widely refered to by the term 'pre tribulation rapture'.

When will the last trumpet call be? No one knows the exact date/time/hour of the last trumpet call - which makes it all the more difficult to be ready for it.

What does it take to be ready? Knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and having our name written in the Book of Life is all it takes to be rapture ready. When Apostle Paul was in prison, a jailer asked him, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul's answer was: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts: 16: 30-31) If we believe in the Lord, we will be ready.

Are you ready?

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten--the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm--my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Joel 2:25-26

It is such an encouragement to know that the Lord will repay us for the years the locusts have eaten. What are these "locusts" we read about?

It could be our joblessness, our ill health, our failures, our disappointments, our broken relationships - but the Lord promises us that He is going to look into it that we are rewarded for our losses.

Our health will be restored, our bills will be taken care of, our joy will be full, our relationships will be stronger, we will be singing and dancing and praising the name of our Lord who led us so wondrously! Hallelujah! And we will never be ashamed!

Wesley's Notes on Bible explains: Wondrously - In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing. Ashamed - Neither disappointed of your hopes, nor necessitated to seek relief among the heathen.

That's right! We will be neither disappointed of our hopes, nor necessitated to seek relief among the heathen, because our Lord will restore our loss. Praise the Lord!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

"I'll restore your health and heal your wounds," declares the LORD Jeremiah: 30:17

Some of us have been hurt; financially, physically or even spiritually we have been wounded - which has impacted our health, joy and peace of mind.

In Jeremiah 3:22 we read, He will cure us of backsliding - which means that backsliding is also a wound.

The word of God today assures us that He will restore our health and heal our wounds. Amen!

Yet another scripture goes like this: I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. (Jeremiah 33:6)

Jeremiah prays, "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." (Jeremiah 17:14).

Let us also ask for healing this morning. Healing from stress, healing from backsliding, healing from financial insecurities, healing from ailments, healing from fear, and anything and everything you would wanted to healed of.

Our living, loving Father God affirms that He will restore our health and heal our wounds. Amen!

* "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. Isaiah 1:18
* "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King. Isaiah 41:21
* Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. Isaiah 43:26

It appears that our Lord is in for a long haul this morning. He is calling us to go reason with Him - to present our case before Him - to argue the matter together - in other words to have a heart to heart conversation with Him!

If something is nagging in your mind and you are not sure what to make of it, this could be the time you get His guidance on! Or the things you have no control on and which are beyond your reach, just surrender those to Him. I am sure He can handle it well. Of course tell Him about the certain things that were quite disappointing lately, the health report, the pressure at work, the weight gain, tell Him all in all. He will listen; you will feel lighter.

Sure, tell Him why you did certain things certain way and why something someone said you do not approve of, what you are really sorry about, etc. Tell Him about everything that has been bothering you lately and the little things that made you smile.

Remember, this is a two way conversation; He may also have something to say to you... Something you said or did that He doesn't approve of, or something you said and did that He is so proud of. He will assure you He loves you and has all your worries in control.

Overall it will be a great conversation to reflect on! So, let's get started now...

Happy Monday!

Nehemiah was a cup bearer for King Artaxerxes - king of Babylon. Most Israelites had been taken exile during that time and the wall of Jerusalem was broken down. When Nehemiah heard it he wept, prayed and had a desire to rebuild the wall. Since he has found favor with the king the king sanctioned his pettition and rebuilt the wall.

When it was all set and done, Nehemiah made sure the city was concecrated for the Lord, the temple grounds reestablished by bringing in Levites and Priests to serve there, appointing a choir, and reminding people about the laws and festivities Moses had taught their forefathers to do.

This is in this context he restored the Sabbath the day of rest God had commanded us to follow. The following text explains exactly how he restored it.

In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food.

Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? “Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness. Nehemiah 13:15-22

The question to us this morning is: Have we restored the Sabbath?! Do we give it the atmost reverence to spend in the fellowship of believers to worship the Lord? OR Have we allowed certain "merchants" in?!

Let us restore our Sabbath!

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

After singing about many aspects of his walk with the Lord such as the law of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord, the fear of the Lord etc, King David ends his song with a little prayer, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight..."

Following is an extract from Barnes Notes on the Bible commentary which helps us understand it better:

Let the words of my mouth - The words that I speak; all the words that I speak. And the meditation of my heart - The thoughts of my heart. Be acceptable in thy sight - Be such as thou wilt approve; or, be such as will be pleasing to thee; such as will give thee delight or satisfaction; such as will be agreeable to thee. This supposes:

(a) that God has such control over our thoughts and words, that he can cause us to order them aright;
(b) that it is proper to pray to him to exert such an influence on our minds that our words and thoughts may be right and pure;
(c) that it is one of the sincere desires and wishes of true piety that the thoughts and words may be acceptable or pleasing to God.

Though a simple prayer, it has such deep meaning in it. It would be a great idea to add it to our prayers everyday too; what do you say?

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4

If we were to come across a watch on a beach our first assumption is someone owned it at sometime. If we go on indulging in further thoughts, we would assume someone bought it, someone sold it and ultimately someone made it at some time.

In the case of a watch the watchmaker made it and then let it away independent of the maker. However in the case of us humans, our Maker, God the Father, not only made us but made us dependent on Him. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Every breath we breath is because of His grace. Many live as though they are 'watches let loose by their maker'.

The root cause of all sin is the constant desire by us humans to become independent of God. We want to live our life our way.

This can't be. We are mere branches. We need to be connected to the vine to be able to bear fruits. "Remain in me", says the Lord, "just as I remain in you".

Do you notice the fairness of His command here? He is not asking us to do something He Himself does not do. Both parties remain in each other so that together they can bring forth fruits - much fruits. Praise the Lord! The fact of the matter is He always remains, we often waver.

This morning let us refocus our attention to remaining in the Lord. For the rest of the day let our prayer be, "Help me to remain in you Lord, just as you remain in us, so that I can bear much fruit".

God bless you. Wishing you all a blessed May 2015!