Strong like a mortar!

Each one has some most important people in their lives…some family, some friends, some more than just friends…

Our lives revolve around them… there are highs and lows…some bonds break, some remain intact forever… some go and never even look back… some we ourselves don’t pay a lot attention to, but they are never even an inch away from us whenever we need them… it’s all a part of life… we get hurt, we cry, we gather ourselves and get up… we also wish that the times we got hurt, never was there…

The struggles, the challenges in our lives, they just build us up…

Just like a mortar…till it’s not drenched with water (read: tears) and churned in a mixer (read: when life seems all toppled up), it doesn’t become strong enough to hold the foundation of a strong tower (read: our life)….

Do not give in to your struggles and pain… Be strong! Pray! Pray hard!

HE will give you strength. HE will not leave you as orphans. HE has promised!

Sep 5 2021, 11:26PM

Markham, Canada

Selling your birthright?

 Jan 7th, 2021

Markham

“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom. ) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25:29-34‬ 

‘Birthright’ - what is it? what does it mean? The dictionary defines it as - a right, a privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth!

God created this world. He made the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, Animals, Plants and God made Man - made him in HIS LIKENESS. That was the first ‘birth’ (creation of man by God with His hands, in His image!) God chose man to be in His likeness! He gave him charge of everything in the garden of Eden, to work it and to keep it. What a blessing! What a birthright - a right, a privilege, a possession -  to be made in God’s likeness and being blessed to be in charge of the garden planted by God, with everything so beautiful and perfect!

But what did the man do? Gave up God’s commandment of not eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Gave up his ‘birthright’ just for a bite of a tree? He was driven out of the garden of Eden, so dearly planted by God and had to labor and toil his whole life.

Whenever I’ve read the story of Esau and Jacob, my thoughts have always gone towards Jacob and his story ahead. And why not, God used him for His glory and made him into a great nation. But today, while reading this story, my focus went towards Esau! And him selling his ‘birthright’! Earlier whenever I had read it, I felt a bit sorry for Esau. But today, the last few words struck me - Esau despised his birthright! Jacob did ask for the trade but it was Esau who despised his birthright! He gave it away to crave for his hunger, something which would satisfy his appetite. Not realising, it’s a momentary satisfaction! Not realising, he would again be hungry by the night! Not realising the bigger picture at all of what he’s giving away. Just for something that could give him a pleasure and satisfaction for a moment, he gave up on what could give him pleasure and satisfaction for all his life!

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:16-17:

“that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”

...afterward when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected...he sought with tears, he found no chance!

When we sin, we indulge into things that God detests...even something as a lying tongue! For just a momentary pleasure and satisfaction, we don’t realise what we are giving up - something which is biggest of all - our right, our privilege, our possession...our birthright to be children of God!!

If we give up, no matter how much we would want it back, we won’t get it!

But then how can we go to heaven? There is no one on earth who has never sinned. Have we all lost our birthrights? Is all just a bad news? Where is the good news? Is there even a good news?

Well, there is... and it all starts with love! Love of God. God loves us so much, that He could not see us all die for eternity in the fire. God sent His Son and He took the penalty of death for us, once and for all. And He saved us! He gave us the gift of eternal life. IN JESUS, THROUGH JESUS, WE BECAME THE CHILDREN OF GOD! We got our birthright through Jesus, in Jesus! How blessed we are!

But the time is NOW! If not now, just like Esau, afterwards if we desire to inherit the blessings, we will be refused. The doors to the banquet will be closed once the Bridegroom arrives to take His bride!

Do not sin for things which matter only for a moment! Think about your life for eternity! Our life on earth is just a mere dot as compared to it, a dot which cannot even be seen. Don’t give up on what God has blessed you as your birthright!

P.S.:Jesus has restored what was lost, through His death and resurrection! He gave us the right to become the children of God, through Him. Come to Jesus NOW! 

Are you ready to welcome the Bridegroom?

 11.11.2020

Last night, while sleeping, I got a vision. I saw my sister, Anisha and I, we were somewhere outside. Suddenly, there was this unusual sound and there was the cross appearing from the clouds. Though there also was Jesus hanging on the cross, but we knew this was happening and it was Jesus’ second coming. We both started getting jitters in excitement and started wondering what will happen next. We started praying and contemplating did we do anything wrong? Will we go to heaven? We started praying and also, asking for forgiveness if anywhere we went wrong.

This vision seemed so real to me and when I woke up, I realised that it’s real - Jesus is coming soon!! It reminded me of the story of ten virgins in the Bible. Are we ready to welcome the bridegroom?

He is coming soon. This is the time to prepare ourselves and be ready. It’s time we repent and come to Jesus. Salvation is only through Jesus. He paid the price for our sins on the cross, the place where you and I should have been. But He took it all on Him and finished it on the cross.

Come to Jesus.... He is coming soon, this time to take His bride, His congregation to heaven! The door will be closed, my friend and you won’t be able to enter, if you’re not ready for Him. Repent and Come to Jesus!

TASTE AND SEE...

In historical times (yes, that’s before Covid19 changed the course of almost everything in the world), there used to be malls…with opened shops and eateries…. and crowded by people. It was no strange a sight when we would come across any new opened restaurant or any newly introduced dish by an eatery and at their entrance, there would be a couple of servers and THEY WOULD OFFER US BITE-SIZED SAMPLES TO HAVE A TASTE OF THEIR FOOD OR DRINK. A common sight…and it was such a delight! I mean who doesn’t like free food (though be it only a bite) and many a times, it actually compelled us to walk inside, buy and get involved in the gluttony (in positive sense, of course). A good way of marketing, indeed!

Good food gets our hearts happy and cheerful. We enjoy it, relish it, talk about it to our friends and our peeps. We become the extended Marketing Team for the eating joint, do our jobs happily and interestingly, voluntarily! We take our friends to that restaurant or café and get them try out that food or drink and THE NEVER-ENDING CHAIN STARTS AND GOES ON…. What else would that eating joint want?

But notice, it all started with the TASTING of that food! If I or You had not tasted it, we would never know in our entire lives, how delicious that dish was. THAT BITE-SIZED FOOD WAS ALREADY PREPARED, we didn’t require to get our hands in the dough and kneed it to feed us, be delighted and satisfy ourselves. All we needed to do is TASTE and SEE how good it was!

One thing which we can’t ignore though is – that this food is perishable! One day, it will not exist (or we might not exist to enjoy it any more!). It is also possible, the next day we walk into the mall and there is another dish laid out in front of us and we might get pulled by it to be our new favorite! This TASTING IS TEMPORARY!

There is something far and above this Tasting! Something which is PERMANENT AND FOREVER – beyond even our years on this earth… And most interestingly, it is not something which gets us bored of it and move to another food! Everyday, every morning, there is something new to discover, new to taste, new to relish, new to be delighted in, new to be strengthened in…

What is it after all?

The Bible says in Psalm 34:8: 

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD; BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO TAKES REFUGE IN HIM.

TASTE AND SEE!!

The food is already prepared for you and laid out on the table…. All you need to do is TASTE AND SEE…. THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!!

The LORD is GOOD! His MERCIES, His LOVE, His GRACE is never-ending. HE is calling us – to TASTE AND SEE…. THAT HE IS GOOD!

We are SINNERS. We DESERVE PUNISHMENT for our sins. No amount of good work can forgive our sins and No amount of good work can take us to heaven. The only way of forgiveness of sins is if God Himself takes away the sins of the world. God could not see us be punished and die in sin. He came on the earth, to be the Lamb – to be slaughtered on our behalf, for our sins….. JESUS, the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world! He who knew no sin, but became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Jesus said in John 3:13-14, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus! He is the Bread of Life. He gives the Living Water. LIFE – which is Not Perishable and is Forever!

COME, TASTE AND SEE…. THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

And yes, just like eating that BITE-SIZED SAMPLE, it compels us to go inside the restaurant, eat, relish and delight in the fullness of the dish, THERE  WILL BE NO LACK IN GOD’S ABUNDANT LOVE, GRACE AND MERCIES TO HAVE YOU STOP EATING THE IMPERSIHABLE FOOD! Not just that, THEY WILL BE NEW EVERY MORNING…That is HOW GREAT HIS FAITHFULNESS IS!

The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22-23:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

There will be so much joy in your heart, so much excitement, YOU WILL NOT STOP MAKING YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR PEEPS HAVING TO TASTE IT….. and THE NEVER-ENDING CHAIN STARTS AND GOES ON….

But Remember – it all started for you with the TASTING!!!

TASTE AND SEE.... THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

17.06.2020

Agra

A Heavy Baggage I Carry...

On my flight to Kolkata from New Delhi

Jan 22nd, 2018

Forgiveness is probably the most difficult thing in one’s life!

Yes, we move on, thinking the past is gone... But do we actually move on? Do we really leave the past behind? Someone who did bad to you, does the heart remember it no more? Does it not ache anymore thinking of that person or that thing that he did to you?

Yes, I pray daily and Yes, I seek forgiveness for my sins from God daily.... I’m such a sinner and still ask for forgiveness and believe that God does forgives us!

But I don’t!!

Wow...sitting on a plane, listening to music and this thought disturbs me... I have so much baggage with me!! 

People who I loved... People who I love... it still disturbs me and aches my heart thinking of what they did to me... Even if it’s been ages since something they did to me....

I just can’t forgive!!!

My craft itself doesn’t allow me to carry more than 15 kgs along, but I’ve just been carrying this heavy baggage since years and its just getting heavier...

It’s impossible to forgive!!! Oh! How things could be undone! I just cannot.... It’s me who has borne all the pain, I’ve cried, I’ve begged but they did not bother...did not listen... they did what they had to!! Even though they weren’t my enemies, but people who were so close always...

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest”

Have I given my all to Jesus? If so, then why do I still get disturbed? Its a question to ask oneself again - Have I given my all to Jesus? There can be only 2 answers, either a Yes or a No. If No, you know what needs to be done! If Yes, then we constantly need to hide ourselves in the Lord, as the devil prowls like a Lion to devour us. And brings thoughts like we cannot do this and we cannot do that... that we cannot forgive!! But the Bible says, “I can do everything through Christ, who strengthens me!” Its not by my strength but by God’s might, I can do everything!

And Forgive too! And you know why? Because “Jesus died for me while I was still a sinner”... He forgave even when I didn’t ask for forgiveness, even while I didn’t even bother if I was doing wrong...while I was actually doing wrong...into sin!!

If Jesus can, I being the daughter of Christ can too... in Him and through Him!!

This craft still allows to carry a baggage of 15 kgs, but Jesus has set me free... He has taken all my baggage on Himself on my flight to heaven... to give me His peace—the peace that surpasses all understanding!!

Forgiveness is not easy!! But if put forward into God’s hands, it’s nothing!

Why not then hand over the baggage to who can carry with all willingness and so much love?

is it true - God helps those who help themselves?

There's a saying called.... 'God helps those who help themselves!'.... Really?
I mean if we could help our own selves, why would we need God then? God would be jobless!
Yeahh..I know I know... many of you have your points to prove me wrong and you would say that's silly of me differing to the saying. Because if we won't study for exams and depend on God, will He help us pass the exams? And a lot many examples as such....
God is not stupid. And he has made you in His likeness. Which means He's not made us stupid either.... He has beautifully created us to use the organs He has blessed us with. He has not created us to fold our hands and sit with exam paper in front of us, knowing we'll pass. That's not the whole point.... God has already helped you giving you the brains to study and hands to write.... And trust God while studying and writing the exam that He will help you understand the content and be knowledgeable! And if you fail, it means you need more understanding of the topic and be thorough with it!
If God wanted us to help us first, then how would Noah had taken the first step when it started raining and He was in the ship - Coz when everything got destroyed, then why not his ship?
What first step of helping himself could Daniel have taken when he was inside the lions' den?
What first step of helping themselves could Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have taken when they were thrown into the kiln with fire?
What first step could Joseph have taken when he was thrown in a deep pit by his brothers?
So many examples in The Bible - the word of God.
God was the same yesterday, is today and will be always... In our lives too, He has done so many miracles that we could have never thought of or took the first step of helping ourselves, but they did happen to us.
God is a loving God. All He wants is to put our trust in Him, be thankful for His gifts and blessings and live a life according to His will.
Well.... the main point I want to state today is.... that God is the God of ages.... We are just mere human beings. We cannot even add a single second to our lives ourselves and then still we boast of ourselves! What a shame! If we were capable enough of helping ourselves, we would all have been Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg of this age... Coz this is what we all run for... Money and Fame! - which lasts for how long?? Do I hear eternity?? NO.... Not at all! They last only till our graves and get burried inside with our dead bodies...
Then what are we craving for? To live a life of money and fame on the earth and die....OR to live a happy and a purposeful life and a promise to live through eternity?
We all have been blinded by the worldy filth that we don't realize that it's not what we are here for.
In simple words, there is a God and there is evil. God gives you eternal life. Evil gives you eternal death. You can either live or die...and mind you, I'm not talking about worldly life or death... But a life forever and dying forever.
You know what, though we many times joke around this thing, but Heaven is for real. Happy to hear that? That's the greatest truth. Heaven is God's throne and we are God's children.
Now listen to this.... Hell is for real too. And you know what happens in Hell? You die every second and you still not die and this continues not just for 1 day, 1 month, 1 year or not even 100 years....but FOREVER! Just imagine, if your finger is put to burn on a candle's flame and you are in unbearable pain. And the flame doesn't go off for 1 whole day and you have to bear it. Would you be able to? Ask yourself this question and be honest to atleast yourselves!
Now imagine, if your whole body(or I should rather say soul) is in the midst of fire, probably a million times hotter than the sun and you don't die but feel all the pain it gives you and you plead for death but still you never die.... Do you think you can bear it? Trust me, this is not even a glimpse of what hell is all about.
On the contrary, Heaven is the most satisfying place of anywhere you might have been till now. If Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie want to build a house in the most beautiful place on the earth, they would chose Switzerland or may be Canada or any other most beautiful place in the world. And if you were honoured to own that house for free and be satisfied with all the good things that are there, would you leave any chance of not grabbing it?
I personally would never lose this golden opportunity!!
God...who is the maker of heaven and earth.... Heaven is where He wants us to live forever.... with HIM! It's beyond what I can even imagine! One who owns the whole universe calls me His child.... Am I worth it? What did I do to help myself attain it? ....Nothing... I cannot do anything by myself.
Turn to Jesus, my friends.... He is the ONLY way to heaven. Without Him, there is nothing. If we don't believe Him, we are on our way to hell....
The only thing you can help yourselves with is, believe in Jesus. Believe that He is with you..always... even through eternity!

what if I say 'IT'S A MIRACLE'??

Do you wonder miracles happen?
No? Yes? Maybe?
It all seems like fantasy, a dreamworld, so not practically possible.... Yeahh...miracles did happen in the fairy tales I read as a kid. The pumpkin turned into a caravan for Cindrella and not to forget the beast turning into a handsome prince in The Beauty and The Beast!!!
But before that, have you ever wondered What is a 'Miracle'? I just checked the dictionary, it defines'miracle' as:
an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. Blah Blahh Blahhh Blahh.....
Trust me, I don't understand a word. (If I did it would be a miracle for me... hehehe)
But Miracle, is also not anything very plain.... It means something that's a 'wonder', a 'marvel', which is 'outstanding'!! It is something 'unique', be it a thing or a happening!
What was so great about the pumpkin or the beast? A magical wand/hand behind it?? Ofcourse!!
Mmmm....means miracles need a magical wand/hand behind their happening!!!
Everyone says Jesus is a God of miracles! Yeahh, I've read it a thousand of times in the Bible, read the Red Sea story, Daniel in the lions' den, Jesus rising from the dead, and many more...., butSO WHAT? They were all old school stories, I don't see them happening any more? I watch the news everyday, nobody told me if the Red Sea parted again!! Oh! This is not a world of miracles any more.... We have to think practically!
If you think like that, trust me, you are no better than a blind!!!
Miracles happen!! Miracles still happen!!
If you don't believe in what I say, go look into the mirror! Are you not a Miracle? Created as a masterpiece where NO other person was ever like you, not even is and never will be! Because your creator made you as a miracle with His magical hands!!!
If you haven't studied Biology, google it and see how magnificantly you are made.

Oct 18 2012