Expiration Date

While shopping, don’t we look for expiration dates? While buying perishable goods, the obvious answer is yes. So we look for something that was produced closer to the date of purchase and so that the product has a longer shelf life.

But do we knowingly or unknowingly put an expiry date on our prayers to God?

You see, it is very easy to lose hope when we have been earnestly praying for something for so long and we do not know whether the answer is a definite “Yes” or “No”, and since it hasn’t been answered for so long we tend to assume it’s a wait and after a while we feel that the prayer might not have reached up to heaven at all. Those are the times we are tempted to take things into our hand and do something about it.

It is a very difficult situation to go through.

Even so while baking bread there is a perfect temperature at which the baker removes it. If it’s removed a bit early, it tastes raw and a bit later, then the bread becomes hard. The baker knows the exact time that the bread must be removed for it to be perfect.

Similarly with God, He knows the exact time to answer our prayers too. He is never too early nor too late. God knows the exact time and what we must go through before He answers our prayers so that we are ready and prepared to enjoy God’s gift.

For if we did not know know the dry deserts, would we have known the value of green land. And if not for the valleys, how would we have known how high the mountains are.

“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” – Psalm 61:2

Grafted in Life!

John 15:5 – He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.

We have often heard people say, “Nobody ever gave me a single thing. I did this all myself.” Isn’t that blasphemy? I don’t say this to downplay people and their accomplishments but isn’t it even more gratifying to know that the gifts and achievements in life are a sign of His presence, His touch in our life? He that abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, (***for without me you can do nothing.***) Shouldn’t that make us think twice before using those two four-letter words “self-made!” Not a single being is self-made. There are only two kinds of beings: Uncreated: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Created: The whole universe! Nobody succeeds in isolation. Our success always comes because of God and because someone in our life helped us.

Let us look at the various ways of abiding in Christ . St. Paul talks about grafting. When a branch is dying it is stuck into a hole in the living tree and tied. It then takes life from the tree and begins to bear fruit.  In baptism you and I were taken out of a dying vine and grafted on to Christ. We are called to remain in Him, stick to Him so fruit will come out of our life.

10 Bible Verses to Give You Hope

The other day, on my way back home, I was stuck in traffic as usual. I observed two women who passed time in chit-chat, waiting for the traffic to clear. After a good fifteen minutes, they drew their attention to the stalled traffic. One of them said, “Oh! It’s just the next stop and it’s taking so long! Will we ever move?” To which, the other stood up, stared through the windshield and optimistically said, “I see it. I see the stop. It not very far. Let’s walk the distance.”
Here are two women who responded differently to the same situation. One saw what was right in front of her, the other saw the future over the traffic.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) Very often in life we encounter similar situations but what makes us stand out is the faith with which we approach the matter. Here are 10 verses to help you remain faithful,

1. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
   -1 Corinthians 2:9
2. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
   -Deuteronomy 31:6
3. “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
   -Joshua 10:25
4.  Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
   -Matthew 11:28
5. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
   they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
   -Isaiah 40:31
6. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
   -Revelations 21:4
7.   And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.
   -Romans 8:28
8.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
       and my thoughts than your thoughts.
   -Isaiah 55:8-9
9.  “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
   -1 Corinthians 2:9
10. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
    -Jeremiah 29:11

Find other verses that give you hope? Let us know your favourite in the comments below! 🙂

Daddy’s got my Back!

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

-Romans 8:31[a] 

Little Ryan had just moved cities with his parents and it was his first day in the new school. He came back home in tears that evening because a couple of senior boys bullied him on his way back. The next day his dad decided to walk him back from school, the senior boys saw him with his dad and stood motionless at a distance. The next couple of days, Ryan walked back by himself and though the senior boys noticed him they did not dare come anywhere near him. Why? Because Ryan’s dad was the principal of the school and no wants to mess with the principal now, do they?

The next time life throws these bully sized problems at you, show it the magnitude of your mighty God; who is by you like a cloud during the day and a fire by night (just like with the Israelites in the wilderness.)
When we begin to focus on how big our God is and the magnitude of His love and power; our problems seem really tiny, for real. Keep confessing faith over every difficult situation in your life, “If my mighty God be for me, [insert problem] cannot be against me”.

Lord, thank you for you are such a good good Father, thank you for you always have my back in every battle of life! 
Thank you Lord that nothing – nothing living or dead, angelic nor demonic, present or future, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can separate me from your love that is in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Written by Reethu Joseph

The Portrait of Perfection

This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

-Psalm 18:30

Life is a roller-coaster. It has its ups and it has its down. It has moments of joy and moments of restless anticipation. And all through this one journey, you will be able to experience a plethora of emotions (some of which you didn’t know you could feel), learn and toughen up for a more challenging ride. Some stop this ride halfway, some tough it up and look it straight in the eye with a brave face. Each of us has our own way of looking at situations and reacting to it. Nobody comes with a manual.

Replacing things is easy. Avoiding certain experiences is simple. Recently, someone asked me if there is anything in my life that I would like to replace. I thought about it for some time and responded, “No”. Honestly, I would pick that response over and over and over again. Why? If through all the joys and sorrows, all the victories and failures, all the loved and the lost we can see perfection in our lives, how much more perfectly will God’s plan for us be. He’s the maker after all. So when things seldom make sense to you, lean back and relax. Let the Maker take charge. He knows perfection.

Lord, teach me your way and give me the grace to follow. When life gets hard, help me to fall back on you and acknowledge your strength as my own. Be my strength O Lord; be my shield. Help me live life through your perfection and live in the light of Your truth. Amen.