Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Month: February 2012 Page 2 of 3

God’s agenda – Subsist, Speak and Show

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On February 15, 2012

In Christian

Ever wondered what God wants us to do? He chose his disciples and apostles and had very specific plans for them. Interestingly his agenda for all he chose was to for them to be with him and for him to send them (Mark 3:14).

So first, God choses so that we can be with him (subsist) and then his agenda is for him to send us. But, send us for what? Send us to preach (speak) (Mark 3:14) and show the way of salvation (Acts 16:17).

Points to ponder:
Are you abiding (subsisting) with Christ? If we are with Christ, we must be speaking (preaching)  so that others can be with him, but it must not be mere words. Our lives must also show that Christ is Savior, Lord and King – the only means of Salvation.

Mark 3:14-15 (KJV)
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Acts 16:16-18 (KJV)
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 

God as The Valentine

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On February 14, 2012

In Christian

On Valentine’s day, there are some who are blessed to have someone in their life that loves them dearly as their valentine, while there are many who are single, either by the death of their loved one or due to broken relationships that need reconciling, and they are seeking for the love of their life. Some are expressive of their feelings of love to the other, while others are not only bottled in but in some cases non-responsive. So while Valentine’s day is celebrated as a day of joy, it is in essence a day of mixed emotions.

In the midst of this, as I pondered of God’s love for each one of us, I realized that, unlike the conditional and wavering expressions of love by us humans, God’s love is not dependent on the extent of love that we have for him. We love him, because he first loved us. In other words, God takes the first step to love us, i.e., God’s love is INITIATING.

Not only is God’s an initiating valentine, God’s love is INSEPARABLE. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus (our Lord). Neither death, nor life (physical dimension), nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers (spiritual dimension), nor things present, nor things to come (temporal dimension), nor height, nor depth (spatial dimension), nor any other creature (everything else dimension), can make God not be our valentine (Romans 8:38-39).

Points to ponder:
God’s love is INITIATING and it takes two to Tango. God has taken the first step to be your valentine. Have you taken your step to be his?
God’s love is INSEPARABLE . There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can keep God from being our valentine. What is preventing you from being his?

1 John 4:19 (KJV)
19 We love him, because he first loved us. 

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Hello Fear, And If Our God Is For Us …, Blessings

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On February 13, 2012

In Christian, Music Musings

During the 54th Grammy Awards ceremony on February 12th, 2012, there were awards given to several outstanding songs and albums and their singers, but what I believe stood out in the awards were the songs and albums chosen in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian category.

The best Gospel song and Gospel album was won by “Hello Fear” by King Franklin.
The best contemporary Christian music album was won by “And If Our God Is For Us …” by Chris Tomlin.
The best contemporary Christian music song was won by “Blessings” by Laura Story.

The lyrics of Kirk Franklin’s “Hello Fear” song paints the story an individual who is severing his relationship with “fear” that had imprisoned him and stolen all hopes and dreams, as God’s healing of hurtful places and grace took its place.

Chris Tomlin in an interview said that he was constantly being bombarded with the thought of the greatest, strongest, most high, healing, awesome and powerful God, who was for us and so changed the originally intended title of the album from “Expectations” to “And If Our God Is For Us …”. He specifically calls to attention in this interview, the importance and significance of the last three dots (dot, dot, dot) at the the end of the album title, expressing that when Our God is For us, (you fill in the blanks), but there is nothing that can stop us, or stand against us. In other words, If Our God Is For Us, nothing is impossible and Scripture affirms that Our God Is For Us!

Finally, the song Blessings by Laura Story paint the imagery of the trials and tears of life to be blessings and mercies in disguise and with the singer, we can pray that we are given wisdom to discern and hear God’s voice, in the midst of the rain and storm; during the hardest and darkest hours of our life, for pain reminds us, that this is not our home – we are just passing through.

Points to ponder:
Putting the three Gospel and Christian winning titles together, we can see God’s message to each one of us, through these award winning titles and songs, that, since OUR GOD IS FOR US, there is NO reason to FEAR and we can call fear and say, “HELLO FEAR”, Grace has taken your place, so farewell, goodbye fear. It is now time for BLESSINGS  to flow in, even if it comes in the form of trials and tears. Our prayer Lord is that you give us wisdom to hear your voice and faith to believe!

Romans 8:15 (KJV)
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romand 8:31  (KJV)
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The Vital Stream of Love

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On February 10, 2012

In Christian

Theologian and medical Missionary, Albert Schweitzer, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his Philosophy of  the “Reverence of Life” writes the following about the Love of God. “There is ocean – cold water without motion. In this ocean, however, is the Gulf Stream, hot water flowing from the equator toward the Pole. Inquire of all scientists how it is physically imaginable that a stream of hot water flows between the waters of the ocean, which so to speak, form its banks, the moving within the motionless, the hot within the cold. No scientist can explain it. Similarly, there is the God of love within the gods of the forces of the universe, so totally different. We let ourselves be seized and carried away by that vital stream”.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; that we should be seized and carried by Him and His love.

Points to ponder:
Are you carried by the vital stream of the Love of God? The love of God is expressed in (demonstrated by) Jesus Christ, for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Do you believe in Jesus, The Vital Stream of Love!

1 John 3:1 (KJV)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: 

Romans 5:8 (NLT)
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

The Last Samurai – I will tell you how he lived

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On February 9, 2012

In Christian, Movie Motions

One of the entertaining movies, that I like to watch is The Last Samurai. It is the story of an American military advisor, Captain Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise), who embraces the Samurai culture that he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle and spared by the Samurai leader Katsumoto (played by Ken Watanabe).In the final scenes of the movie, Captain Algren is on his knees (out of respect), in the presence of the Emperor, Emperor Meiji (played by Shichinosuke Nakamura). The Emperor asks Algren about the Samurai leader Katsumoto and the dialogue transpires as follows:
Emperor: The Samurai is gone. The spirit of samurai lives forever. Tell me how he died.
Algren: I will tell you how he lived.

Like the emperor, many today want to think that Jesus, the Last and Only Samurai (whose fought and won against death and the devil) is gone and they are more interested in knowing about his death than his life or resurrection. Are we responding as did Captain Algren and telling all who question, “I will tell you how Jesus lives.” We can respond in such manner only if Jesus lives in us. The Bible says, that if we love Jesus and keep his words, then God the Father will love him and God as Father and Son, would come and live in us (John 14:33). This means we can tell about the life of Jesus in us, only when we love him and keep his words.

Points to ponder:
Do you and I love Jesus and keep his words (commandments)?
Can we resolve to be like Apostle Paul, who said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This way, our lives will be able to tell How Jesus lives (in and through us) and others will stop asking, “Tell me how Jesus died.”

Galatian 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

John 14:33 (KJV)
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

The sure recipe for success

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On February 8, 2012

In Christian

People aspire very hard to be successful in the things that they set their minds to and some even go so far as to measuring one’s worth by what the world would deem as successful (such as cars, home, a big bank balance), which is unfortunately a facade, since these things are all ephemeral. If you want to be successful in all of your plans, the sure recipe for success can be found in no other place, but in the Bible. Proverbs 16:3 states “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (NLT). The sure recipe for success is in committing our work to the Lord.

Points to ponder:
Have you committed your work/life/all to the Lord? All your plans would succeed, when you do so. It is time for the Lord to work (Psalm 119:126a).
Our job is to commit our actions (work) to God and God’s action (work) is to complete it, as his word promises. We commit, God completes. This is the sure recipe for success.

Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. 

Psalm 119:126a (KJV)
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work:

God repents – It is Enough cause It is Finished

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On February 7, 2012

In Christian

Did you know that even God repents? He does not repent in the same manner as we do, because He is sinless, blameless, pure and Holy, but he repents when he has to chastise us for our sinfulness. 1 Chronicles 21 records the incident of how David was enticed by satan to do the evil of numbering his people, which was an expression of his own abilities, and not his dependence on God. So God sent forth an angel and seventy thousand men were killed. God’s disciplining arm was actually an expression of his justice. But when God’s judgment fell on his people for the sin of David, God said, “It is Enough”, which was an expression of his forgiveness and love. In this account we see the just and loving nature of God.

Points to ponder:
God prefers our repentance over his retribution; our confession over his chastisement. The chastisement that brought peace to mankind from the wrath of God was on Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:5) and Jesus finished the work of redeeming and reconciling mankind to God, by paying with his life. When God sees the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ, he can say, “It is Enough” because Jesus said, “It is Finished.”

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on his hands, My name is written in his heart
and while I know in heaven, he stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, 
upward I look, and see him there, who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless savior died, my guilty soul is counted free
for God the just is satisfied, to look on Jesus and pardon me. 

1 Chronicles 21:15 (KJV)
15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Many players, One team, One Mission

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On February 6, 2012

In Uncategorized

While watching the second half of the nail biting Super Bowl XLVI game between the New England Patriot and the New York Giants, on February 5, 2012, my loving wife Sangeetha and I were explaining to our beloved first born son, Reuben (who recently turned six), the rules of the game. While I was explaining the technical details of the game, my wife, made an interesting observation and statement. She said “Look, Reuben, all the players in the team are working together to protect the Quarterback and/or the runner with the ball so that he can reach the goal.” In other words, she succinctly had summarized that though there were many players, they all played as one team, with just one mission, which was to take the ball to the zone where they are not allowed to and score a touchdown to win the game.

In our Christian life, it is not any different. There are many believers, each making the one body of Christ as one team, with just one mission, which is to be an ambassador for and of Jesus Christ. Unless all work together as one (in one accord), the likelihood of winning the game (race) is bleak. Unfortunately, the spirit of unforgiveness and pride often derails many believers in the game, allowing the devil to intercept the gospel of Christ from reaching the unreached zones.

Points to ponder:
Though we are many in persons, we are one as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12) with One Mission and so let us lay aside our petty differences, forgive those who have hurt us (Ephesians 4:32), humble ourselves esteeming others to be better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) and press on toward the goal that is in the high calling of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:14).

1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Self Deception Series :: Worldly Wise I am

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On February 3, 2012

In Christian, Self Deception

It is one thing to be deceived by someone else, but to be deceived by oneself is quite another. The Bible counsels us to be wary against self-deception and informs us of the conditions in which one is self-deceived.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 states “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”
Let us not deceive ourselves.
Instead of being wise in our own eyes, let us be spiritually wise and that means fear the Lord and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7). The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). To fear God is not only the beginning of wisdom, but it is also the whole duty of man and that is the conclusion of the whole matter (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Let us not be wise in our own eyes and deceive ourselves.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (KJV)
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s;
23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Self Deception Series :: Unbridled I am

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On February 2, 2012

In Christian, Self Deception

It is one thing to be deceived by someone else, but to be deceived by oneself is quite another. The Bible counsels us to be wary against self-deception and informs us of the conditions in which one is self-deceived.

James 1:26 state that if any man among you seems to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, deceives his own heart and his religion is vain. A word that is aptly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11) and a wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).
Let us not deceive ourselves.
Let us put the bit and bridle to our tongue so that our lives may be in the direction that God wants us to be and like it was on prophet Samuel, let the Spirit of the Lord be in us and his word always be on our tongue (2 Samuel 23:2).
Let us not be unbridled and deceive ourselves.

James 1:26 (KJV)
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

2 Samuel 23:2 (KJV)
2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

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