Thursday, December 22, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Monday, November 28, 2016
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Bible Devotional for 13/11/2016
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:1-9)
Here is an exhortation for all of us to give thanks to the Lord because the Lord is good and his love endures forever. This small passage speaks about the people who were scattered perhaps because of the Assyrian or the Babylonian invasion of Israel. The psalmist exhorts the people to tell their story or their testimony saying that they should glorify God because he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy and he gathered them from different lands from the east and west, from the north and south. Because the people were scattered when the enemies attacked them, they wandered in desert wastelands and it was their desire to reach a city where they could settle. They experienced all the problems that one experiences in the desert or in the wilderness. They were hungry, they were thirsty and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distresses. The Lord led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
What we can learn from this passage is that God's eyes are always on his people. And when they cry out to him, he brings deliverance in their lives. The people of God had sinned and were living in rebellion. That's why their enemies could come and attack them and overpower them. Some went into captivity, some were scattered. And those who were scattered were subjected to hunger and thirst and all kinds of calamities in the desert. In their distress they cried out to the Lord and the Lord delivered them from their calamities. The psalmist sings that the Lord led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle and he exhorts the people to give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
God Almighty loves his children and when they cry out in their distress to him, he arranges deliverance for them in their lives. If you are troubled by circumstances in your life, if situations in your life are crushing you, cry out to the Lord because he is an unchanging God and he hears the cries of his people. If you've sinned and rebelled against God, confess your sins to the Heavenly Father. The Bible says he is faithful and just and he will cleanse you of all your sins and your unrighteousness. Seek him with truth in your heart and he will hear your prayers. He will arrange deliverance for you. He has more than one ways of delivering you from the perilous situation that you are in. But you need to call out to him in truth. And when you do that, these verses will come true in your life too...."Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses."
Lets give thanks to the Lord this day for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for all of us. Remember that he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.
Here is an exhortation for all of us to give thanks to the Lord because the Lord is good and his love endures forever. This small passage speaks about the people who were scattered perhaps because of the Assyrian or the Babylonian invasion of Israel. The psalmist exhorts the people to tell their story or their testimony saying that they should glorify God because he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy and he gathered them from different lands from the east and west, from the north and south. Because the people were scattered when the enemies attacked them, they wandered in desert wastelands and it was their desire to reach a city where they could settle. They experienced all the problems that one experiences in the desert or in the wilderness. They were hungry, they were thirsty and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distresses. The Lord led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
What we can learn from this passage is that God's eyes are always on his people. And when they cry out to him, he brings deliverance in their lives. The people of God had sinned and were living in rebellion. That's why their enemies could come and attack them and overpower them. Some went into captivity, some were scattered. And those who were scattered were subjected to hunger and thirst and all kinds of calamities in the desert. In their distress they cried out to the Lord and the Lord delivered them from their calamities. The psalmist sings that the Lord led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle and he exhorts the people to give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
God Almighty loves his children and when they cry out in their distress to him, he arranges deliverance for them in their lives. If you are troubled by circumstances in your life, if situations in your life are crushing you, cry out to the Lord because he is an unchanging God and he hears the cries of his people. If you've sinned and rebelled against God, confess your sins to the Heavenly Father. The Bible says he is faithful and just and he will cleanse you of all your sins and your unrighteousness. Seek him with truth in your heart and he will hear your prayers. He will arrange deliverance for you. He has more than one ways of delivering you from the perilous situation that you are in. But you need to call out to him in truth. And when you do that, these verses will come true in your life too...."Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses."
Lets give thanks to the Lord this day for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for all of us. Remember that he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Start Your Day Right- 12/11/2016
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO AT THIS LINK
http://www.podsnack.com/doctorjohnson/avzu8xxx
http://www.podsnack.com/doctorjohnson/avzu8xxx
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Start Your Day Right- 10/11/2016
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO AT THIS LINK
http://www.podsnack.com/doctorjohnson/a1n0x000
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Dream 2- Jacob
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO AT THE FOLLOWING LINK
http://www.podsnack.com/doctorjohnson/a1msr888
Monday, November 7, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Friday, November 4, 2016
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Monday, October 17, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Devotional for 29/09/2016
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (Psalm 106:3)
Is there anyone who constantly does what is right other than the Lord? I doubt. Maintaining justice and constantly doing right is no easy thing. Many people think that what they do is right, but unfortunately in the Lord's eyes it proves to be different.
A woman caught in adultery was once brought to Jesus. We read,
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (John 8:3-9)
Jesus is full of compassion. It's not that he was siding the person who was sinning. He wanted to give her a chance to change her life. Not only that, He wanted to show her accusers that they were no better. Thirdly, He also wanted to show that " Mercy triumphs over judgement"
As James writes,
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:12, 13)
Hope we too can find wisdom in that.
Is there anyone who constantly does what is right other than the Lord? I doubt. Maintaining justice and constantly doing right is no easy thing. Many people think that what they do is right, but unfortunately in the Lord's eyes it proves to be different.
A woman caught in adultery was once brought to Jesus. We read,
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (John 8:3-9)
Jesus is full of compassion. It's not that he was siding the person who was sinning. He wanted to give her a chance to change her life. Not only that, He wanted to show her accusers that they were no better. Thirdly, He also wanted to show that " Mercy triumphs over judgement"
As James writes,
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:12, 13)
Hope we too can find wisdom in that.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Devotional For 28/09/2016
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many. (Isaiah 51:1, 2)
"When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many."
The call came to Abraham and he set out from the midst of idol-worshippers to a land that God was going to show him. When God called him, He gave him a set of promises which He fulfilled eventually.
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3)
With Abraham set out many others and they too were blessed. Abraham was a man of worship and wherever he went he set up an altar to the Lord and worshipped him there. Because of his obedience and faith in God, God blessed him in all things.
And the promise is for us too. The Bible says,
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (Romans 4:16)
God has called you through Jesus Christ to be a part of His kingdom here on earth as well as in eternity and there is no greater blessing than that.
"When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many."
The call came to Abraham and he set out from the midst of idol-worshippers to a land that God was going to show him. When God called him, He gave him a set of promises which He fulfilled eventually.
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3)
With Abraham set out many others and they too were blessed. Abraham was a man of worship and wherever he went he set up an altar to the Lord and worshipped him there. Because of his obedience and faith in God, God blessed him in all things.
And the promise is for us too. The Bible says,
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (Romans 4:16)
God has called you through Jesus Christ to be a part of His kingdom here on earth as well as in eternity and there is no greater blessing than that.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Friday, September 23, 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Friday, September 16, 2016
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Monday, September 5, 2016
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Devotional 31/08/2016
The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing. (Job 29:13)
This is what Job said in one of his discourses. A dying man blessing him and a widow's heart singing. Why? Only because Job was a generous and kind man. He cared for the poor and for the orphans and widows.
The Apostle James says,
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)"
This then should be a part of our Christian life. The poor, the orphans and the widows; they need more love and care than those who are better off and in families.
Job said,
"I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger. (Job 29:14- 16)
Even in the Old Testament, some of the laws given to the Israelites were to help the poor and needy:
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21)
Love & Compassion, 2 great virtues that Jesus himself had in abundance. He expects us also to follow in the same vein. He said,
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
May the Lord help each one of us to live as the Lord desires.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Monday, August 29, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Random Thoughts
There are people watching you
With the new flyover being opened just adjacent to my workplace, commuting became easy. No more going through several zigzag roads and traffic signals to reach home. The only issue that seemed an obstacle was that there was no service road connecting the road in front of my work place to the flyover. But that seemed a non-issue when I saw people crossing over the broad divider with their vehicles; I too did the same. It seemed like a high to cross over to the other side with my vehicle, when smaller vehicles, for fear of hitting their vehicle bottoms on the divider, went round the flyover, came back to a traffic signal and then got on to the flyover.
This went on for a few days, till a staff at the clinic that I worked in inquired one day whether I had jumped over the divider the night before. I said "yes" and she said, "Sir, I and my brother were watching a vehicle like yours yesterday night as it jumped over the divider and we had an argument, with my brother saying, "You were the one who was driving" and me saying that "it wasn't you, you wouldn't break any rules." Her elder brother had concluded that if I could do it, so could he (they knew to be a minister of the Gospel and she had asked me for prayers for several issues of hers in the past).
I smiled when I heard that and told her that I did not realize I was breaking any rules and that I would not do it henceforth. A couple of days later, the police started imposing fines on all who parked their vehicles on the "said" divider and also them who were jumping the divider with their vehicles. A good lesson learnt.
As believers and ministers of the Gospel, we must realize that there are people watching us closely as we live out our faith in Jesus Christ, the spotless lamb of God. They are mostly watching whether we are just "talkers of the faith" of "true walkers of the faith." God help us.....
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Daily Devotional-7
He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. (Deuteronomy 10:21)
Moses tells the Israelites that God is their praise and reminds them of the awesome wonders of which they were eye witnesses in Egypt and in the wilderness.
Often we tend to forget the great deliverances that the Lord has wrought in our lives. Maybe we are forgetful or the present problems cloud out the works of the Lord in our not so distant past. If we kept a diary and jot down at the end of each day all that the Lord has done for us that day, there will be much to testify at the watch night service on Dec.31st. Of course there may not be any spectacular event every day, but being able to breathe freely and being able to enjoy the food that we eat each day are itself great things.
Ask the Asthmatic who is on oxygen in the ICU and he will tell you the value of a breath, because he is often short of it. Ask the one who suffers from Gastric Ulcer and Reflux and he will tell you the value of a good alimentary system for he can rarely enjoy the food that he eats.
Have a bed to lie on? Thank Jesus, for there are many who sleep on the streets and outside closed shops. Have a bed and can sleep well? —that’s even a greater blessing for there are many who hardly sleep because of fears.
Jesus is our praise. Let’s look back often and remember the goodness, kindness and compassion that the Lord has had on us and our families.
Small or great! Many are his works in our lives. So let’s praise him all the more.
Moses tells the Israelites that God is their praise and reminds them of the awesome wonders of which they were eye witnesses in Egypt and in the wilderness.
Often we tend to forget the great deliverances that the Lord has wrought in our lives. Maybe we are forgetful or the present problems cloud out the works of the Lord in our not so distant past. If we kept a diary and jot down at the end of each day all that the Lord has done for us that day, there will be much to testify at the watch night service on Dec.31st. Of course there may not be any spectacular event every day, but being able to breathe freely and being able to enjoy the food that we eat each day are itself great things.
Ask the Asthmatic who is on oxygen in the ICU and he will tell you the value of a breath, because he is often short of it. Ask the one who suffers from Gastric Ulcer and Reflux and he will tell you the value of a good alimentary system for he can rarely enjoy the food that he eats.
Have a bed to lie on? Thank Jesus, for there are many who sleep on the streets and outside closed shops. Have a bed and can sleep well? —that’s even a greater blessing for there are many who hardly sleep because of fears.
Jesus is our praise. Let’s look back often and remember the goodness, kindness and compassion that the Lord has had on us and our families.
Small or great! Many are his works in our lives. So let’s praise him all the more.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Monday, August 8, 2016
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Daily Devotional- 6
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. (Deuteronomy 8:10)
The word Deuteronomy means "repetition of the law". Moses and the Israelites were in the territory of Moab and as his final act at this important time of transferring leadership to Joshua, Moses delivered his farewell addresses which were were actually a covenant renewal to prepare the people for their entrance into Canaan. Here Moses exhorts the Israelites to praise the Lord Almighty for the good land that he has given them.
When blessings start flowing into the lives of believers, some often tend to think that it is because of their own goodness or holiness or ability or strength that they are getting these blessings. In the verses that follow the above verse, the Israelites are plainly given a warning. We read in Deuteronomy 8:12-18
"Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."
Whatever we are today or whatever we have is all because of the Lord. The Bible says,
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."(2 Corinthians 8:9)
So shouldn't we "Through Jesus, therefore, continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name."(Hebrews 13:15)
That would be appropriate I guess. God bless.
The word Deuteronomy means "repetition of the law". Moses and the Israelites were in the territory of Moab and as his final act at this important time of transferring leadership to Joshua, Moses delivered his farewell addresses which were were actually a covenant renewal to prepare the people for their entrance into Canaan. Here Moses exhorts the Israelites to praise the Lord Almighty for the good land that he has given them.
When blessings start flowing into the lives of believers, some often tend to think that it is because of their own goodness or holiness or ability or strength that they are getting these blessings. In the verses that follow the above verse, the Israelites are plainly given a warning. We read in Deuteronomy 8:12-18
"Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."
Whatever we are today or whatever we have is all because of the Lord. The Bible says,
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."(2 Corinthians 8:9)
So shouldn't we "Through Jesus, therefore, continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name."(Hebrews 13:15)
That would be appropriate I guess. God bless.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Random Thoughts
I read online about an interesting ritual among young girls in a community of the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. They are married thrice; firstly at age 9-10 to a god that they worship, secondly, a couple of years later, to the sun and thirdly to a man at around 25 years of age. Marriage to a god is symbolized by marrying the young girl to the fruit of the wood-apple tree, a representation of their god. Marriage to the sun takes place by the girl spending 12 nights in a dark room, a ritual that earns her protection according to local beliefs. Most of us may find this strange, even funny; but for them who have grown up believing and practicing these things, it's a part of life.
As believers in the salvation that is made available by God through Jesus Christ, for a moment, we may feel sad when we read such things, but does it spur us on to take the good news of the Gospel to the spiritually impoverished?
Here's what the Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Rome....
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:13-15)
Wherever we live in the world, we have all been assigned tasks for the kingdom of God. Only time will tell how faithful we have been to the Lord's calling in our lives.
As believers in the salvation that is made available by God through Jesus Christ, for a moment, we may feel sad when we read such things, but does it spur us on to take the good news of the Gospel to the spiritually impoverished?
Here's what the Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Rome....
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:13-15)
Wherever we live in the world, we have all been assigned tasks for the kingdom of God. Only time will tell how faithful we have been to the Lord's calling in our lives.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
Random Thoughts
I prefer to remain quiet during cab rides, because the moment, the driver knows that I am a Doctor, there will spill out a series of health related questions and a free consult. Not that I don't want to be helpful, but sometimes I am tired and prefer a peaceful ride. The cab driver that I got yesterday was into conversation with me the moment I stepped into his vehicle. There were quite a few random questions followed by, "do you work in a bank?" No, said I, "I am a doctor" now knowing, the series of questions that would follow. "A child specialist?" "No, I said, "I am a Physician". The rest of the ride was spent with him querying me about his diabetes, what all complications would ensue, his medications, a story how his friend who had diabetes died young and whether he would go the same way. Finally, when he dropped me off, he had 2 requests one for my visiting card and the other, to give him preference when he visited me for his diabetes. Looking at it from his point of view, he had gained much. His wages, a free consult and a few other free things.
"Free" is one word that attracts people so much. And product manufacturers of all kinds take huge advantage of the word. The internet is plagued with free offers from i-pads to i-pods to i-phones to free trips and what not. Spams and scams are the thing that every internet user has to deal with. Some fall for the traps, some learn from painful experiences and turn wise and some keep suffering looking for that "genuine" free though it rarely comes.
We all learn from our experiences in life and the Bible advices us to be wise. There is a great deal of wisdom to be gained from the books of wisdom in the Old Testament, namely, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon (Song of Songs).
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7) is what the Bible advices us.....
"Free" is one word that attracts people so much. And product manufacturers of all kinds take huge advantage of the word. The internet is plagued with free offers from i-pads to i-pods to i-phones to free trips and what not. Spams and scams are the thing that every internet user has to deal with. Some fall for the traps, some learn from painful experiences and turn wise and some keep suffering looking for that "genuine" free though it rarely comes.
We all learn from our experiences in life and the Bible advices us to be wise. There is a great deal of wisdom to be gained from the books of wisdom in the Old Testament, namely, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon (Song of Songs).
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7) is what the Bible advices us.....
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Random Thoughts By Dr. Johnson Cherian
Sometime back, I read an article that inspired me much. In 1775, a young preacher named Augustus M. Toplady, was caught in a sudden storm, which forced him to take shelter in a cleft of a huge rock. As he waited for the storm to pass, he thought about how God had been a shelter for him in his life's storms. He found a playing card on the floor of his newly found shelter and wrote the words of the wonderful hymn, “Rock of Ages.” A hymn which has been a source of comfort to countless souls.
The ending stanza says....While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Toplady died in 1778. Would he ever have imagined that a couple of centuries later, his hymn would still be sung in homes, churches and conferences. What an awesome blessing; something that no material gift can match.
Our testimony (written, spoken or sung) of the goodness of God is significant; it can do many things....refresh a weary soul, draw someone lost to the Saviour, encourage a depressed believer, challenge a Christian soldier and so much more.
If you ask Christians who Augustus M. Toplady is, not many will tell you. But to the question whether they have sung or heard "Rock of Ages" many will nod affirmatively.
Our testimony will probably outlive us, if the Saviour's return is delayed, and it will be a blessing to many; so let us do the Saviour's bidding while we can.....Remember the Master's words.....
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4)
The ending stanza says....While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death, when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Toplady died in 1778. Would he ever have imagined that a couple of centuries later, his hymn would still be sung in homes, churches and conferences. What an awesome blessing; something that no material gift can match.
Our testimony (written, spoken or sung) of the goodness of God is significant; it can do many things....refresh a weary soul, draw someone lost to the Saviour, encourage a depressed believer, challenge a Christian soldier and so much more.
If you ask Christians who Augustus M. Toplady is, not many will tell you. But to the question whether they have sung or heard "Rock of Ages" many will nod affirmatively.
Our testimony will probably outlive us, if the Saviour's return is delayed, and it will be a blessing to many; so let us do the Saviour's bidding while we can.....Remember the Master's words.....
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4)
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Daily Devotional-5
"When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19: 23-25)
This was one of the laws that were given by God to the Israelites to obey in the Old Testament. Imagine planting a fruit tree and then waiting for 5 years to eat its fruit. That would surely test our patience. The first three years the fruit was to be considered forbidden. Then in the fourth year the fruit became holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. Finally the fruit was ready to be eaten in the fifth year. A tedious process, but one that God planned for blessing them. For he said, “In this way your harvest will be increased.” He would be checking their obedience.
If believers today were called to obey the laws given to Moses and the Israelites, there would be few to run the race. Thanks be to Jesus that he came and fulfilled the law for us, setting us free and giving us freedom. But should we use this freedom to sin? No, never. Instead we should be always grateful and thankful to God that he has set us apart for himself, paying a heavy price wherein his only begotten son had to cry out to his father, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”
The Bible says, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”(Galatians 5:13)
It also says, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:20)
May the Holy Spirit help us all to be obedient and faithful to God and his Word. God bless.
This was one of the laws that were given by God to the Israelites to obey in the Old Testament. Imagine planting a fruit tree and then waiting for 5 years to eat its fruit. That would surely test our patience. The first three years the fruit was to be considered forbidden. Then in the fourth year the fruit became holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. Finally the fruit was ready to be eaten in the fifth year. A tedious process, but one that God planned for blessing them. For he said, “In this way your harvest will be increased.” He would be checking their obedience.
If believers today were called to obey the laws given to Moses and the Israelites, there would be few to run the race. Thanks be to Jesus that he came and fulfilled the law for us, setting us free and giving us freedom. But should we use this freedom to sin? No, never. Instead we should be always grateful and thankful to God that he has set us apart for himself, paying a heavy price wherein his only begotten son had to cry out to his father, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.”
The Bible says, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”(Galatians 5:13)
It also says, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:20)
May the Holy Spirit help us all to be obedient and faithful to God and his Word. God bless.
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