Author: techadmin

God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain. CS Lewis

The Grace of God

Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
Daniel 4:29-31

Nebuchadnezzar was a very powerful and prominent king. Although he experienced and witnessed the power of God working through those whom he had taken captive from Judah, he did not give God the glory but instead, boasted of his own strength and power. He was warned in a dream to repent of his pride and arrogance but he did not heed the warning and had to learn the hard way.

The Lord caused him to become insane, behaving like an animal and eating grass like oxen. After Nebuchadnezzar was humbled, he understood the purposes of God, acknowledging Him as the supreme ruler over the entire universe, the One who was able to give and hold back all power on earth.

We, also, are sometimes warned by friends and spoken to by God but are we humble enough to change? If not, we may be faced with difficulties and uncomfortable circumstances until we learn our lesson and submit to His correction.

The Lord desires all men to come to repentance and is not slack concerning His promise. He is long suffering toward us. (2 Peter 3:9) After seven years, God restored Nebuchadnezzar as king, a king who had learnt valuable lessons about the sovereignty of God.

Just as the Lord is patient in His dealings with us, so He desires that we show the same grace to others.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace that has saved me. Please help me to extend the same grace to others, serving them in love and humility, because You first loved us. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. Charles Stanley

An All Powerful God

And the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Daniel 3:27

 

When the enemy throws God’s children into the midst of a fiery trial, he likes to expect the worse and will wait around for the outcome. When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furnace, the king and other leaders crowded around, expecting to see a spectacle of three men being burnt alive.

 

God, however, had other plans, and the only people they saw being burnt were the ones who were throwing Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego into the fire. The three young men remained unharmed and it was only the cords with which they were tied that were burnt, allowing them to walk around freely in the furnace.

 

This is a great illustration of how the power of God can overcome any harm that the enemy tries to inflict on His children. If we remain steadfast in our faith and obedient to His Word, He is faithful to set us free from the enemy’s cords that bind us.

 

Therefore let us not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging, let us trust Him. (Psalm 46:2-3)

 

Dear Lord,

No weapon fashioned against me will stand and You will refute every tongue that accuses me;this is the heritage of the Lord. Thank You that I can live by these promises. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju

Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God’s word. Billy Graham

Fiery Furnace

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

Daniel 3:17-18

 

Daniel’s friends were about to be thrown into the fiery furnace as punishment for not bowing down before King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol. In the natural, that would have been a very fearful experience but these three men considered their obedience to God to be of much greater importance than their own existence.

 

The King, on the other hand, was very angry and did not believe in their God; he considered this as a great insult and blow to his pride and therefore commanded that the furnace be heated seven times greater than normal. Were the young men fearful?

 

Faith and trust in the Lord has the power to overcome our fear of the things of the world. Although the three men were cast into the fiery furnace, the fire had no power over them because the power of God was greater. Furthermore, the Son of God, Himself, appeared beside them, walking with them in the midst of the fire.

 

So let us be encouraged to walk in obedience to the King of kings, not submitting to the power of the world that would have us bow down to its idols. Even if our obedience to God requires us to walk through fiery trials, we can be confident that He will be with us, walking beside us and setting us free from the cords that bind us.

 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is my Teacher, my Guide and my Comforter. Please grant me the faith to walk in obedience to Your Word, that Your Name may be glorified. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju

Since If the Lord says to give more than you think you are able to give, know that He will provide for you. Whether things are sailing smoothly or the bottom has dropped out, He is always trustworthy. You can count on Almighty God to keep His everlasting Word.Charles Stanley

 

Excuses

 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.

Exodus 4:10

 

We will all have, at some time in our lives,asked to be excused from certain events or occasions. Some excuses may be quite valid but others are given because we are fearful of the situation.

 

We need to recognize that fear is a common tactic used by the enemy to prevent God’s children from accomplishing the perfect will of God.

 

In Moses’ situation,he used his lack of eloquence as an excuse, hoping that the Lord would choose someone else for the task of setting His people free. God, however, in His infinite grace and wisdom, reminded Moses that it was He who had made his mouth, and promised to give Him the words that he should say.

 

We need to remember that our calling is dependent on God’s grace and not our own ability. He calls us to do what He will enable us to do. If we persist in making excuses, we will lose out on discovering God’s perfect will for our lives.

 

God wants us to cast away our fears and anxieties, to be totally reliant on Him. As we walk in His faith, we will experience the joy of living a life that fulfils, not just the good and acceptable, but also ultimately, the perfect will of the Lord.

 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for this day. Please forgive me for making excuses because I have been fearful and reliant on my own strength. Help me to be obedient to Your call so that I may walk in the perfect will of the Father. Amen.

 

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo & Manju

Dear All,

The bottom line in the Christian life is obedience and most people don’t even like the word. Charles Stanley

A Rod

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
Exodus 4:2

Moses had nothing but a simple shepherd’s rod in his hand, but the Lord was able to use that rod to demonstrate His power and authority over the Egyptians. God, our Creator, can give life to the lifeless and power to the powerless, using whatever little we possess.

We can see a similar example in the case of the widow of Zarephath. A handful of flour and a little oil in a jar provided sufficient food for both Elijah and her household for many days until the drought ended.

There are similarities in both these stories. Moses had to throw down his rod which was very significant for a shepherd because he uses his rod at all times to lead, guide and correct his sheep. Similarly, the widow had to give the last of what she had to the prophet, trusting that he would be true to his word.

When Moses and the widow obeyed, they were able to witness the manifested power of God. By surrendering what was vital to their needs, they demonstrated a heart faith that was active and alive to believe that God would be their Provider.

So today, let us be mindful of obeying the voice of God, being prepared to lay down what is close to our hearts, knowing that we can trust Him to supply our every need.

Dear Lord,
The widow, who only had two little copper coins, gave freely of all that she had. Help me, Lord, to surrender all that I have to You, so my faith may grow as I see Your immeasurable love for me. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

Since God knows our future, our personalities, and our capacity to listen, He isn’t ever going to say more to us than we can deal with at the moment. Charles Stanley

But Suppose

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
Exodus 4:1

Often, when a business plan is made, a contingency plan is also put in place in case things go wrong and the original plan fails. God’s plans, however, do not need any backups because He is the great ‘I AM’ whose will and commands are sure and absolute.

When Abraham was told to leave his country, he simply obeyed the word of God; he believed and acted immediately.

When we look at Moses, however, we may wonder why he hesitated. He had met the Lord at the burning bush, been given His full assurance and yet, he still doubted his ability to fulfil God’s plan.

Perhaps he had gotten too comfortable, living a life of a shepherd for forty years; or perhaps he remembered how he had failed in reconciling the two Israelites who were fighting. Whatever his thoughts may have been, he needed to focus on what the Lord was calling him to do, and trust that God would empower him to carry out His plan.

When the Lord calls us to do something new in our lives, we should not look at the former things and be plagued by doubt, but we should prepare ourselves to walk in faith. Today, if the Lord has called you to a new opportunity, trust Him with all your heart and move forward in obedience to His call.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. May I not dwell on my past failures and miss the opportunities that You open up for me, but help me to trust in You, so that by Your strength and grace, I will fulfil Your purposes for me. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don’t be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do. Billy Graham

I Am Who I Am

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:13-14

We are all given names when we are born and in the Bible, names often reflect the person’s character. Barnabus means ‘son of encouragement’ and true to his name, he was a great encourager to Paul. Today, Biblical names are chosen by parents because they want their children to have the qualities and attributes of that character.

Many names are given to God in the Bible: He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48); the Good Shepherd (John 10:11); the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). So when we are hungry, He will feed us; when we go astray, He will find us; when we are lost, He will show us the way.

However, when the Lord gave Moses His personal, divine name of “I AM”, He was emphasizing His authority as the eternal and unchangeable God, the Creator who existed before time began. Moses could approach both the Israelites and the Pharaoh, with confidence that the everlasting God of the universe was with Him.

So let us proclaim this promise over our lives this morning, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5

Dear Lord,
I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Thank You that I have the assurance that You will help me when I call upon You in the day of trouble. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

“Live in the faith that there is a Presence and Power greater than I am, that nurtures and supports me in ways I could not even imagine. I know that this Presence is all knowing and all Power and is always right where I am.” Ernest Holmes

His Presence Will Go With You

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:12

Moses was very fearful of the task that God had set before him and having lived in the king’s palace for forty years, he knew how Pharaoh would react. It was not going to be easy and the Lord was the only one who could pave the way for the children of Israel to be released.

God reassured Moses by promising to be with him; His presence that was seen in the burning bush would continue to be with Moses. Furthermore, the Lord gave Moses a sign that would be a reminder that God was the One who was sending him to Pharaoh; Moses would lead the Israelites back to Mount Sinai where they would worship the Lord.

His presence will always lead us in the right direction; if we follow His presence, we will be led to worship Him. As His presence with the Israelites appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so should we seek to be continually led by Him.

Life is not without its challenges and at times, when we are discouraged with our spiritual journey, that is when we have to hold on with an even greater faith and determination, seeking His presence, because He has called us and will accomplish what He has begun in each of us.

Dear Lord,
Into Your presence I come, not by the works I have done; but by Your grace and Your grace alone, into Your presence I come. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

 

Dear All,

The Bible tells us that God will meet all our needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the splendour of lilies. How much more, then, will He care for us, who are made in His image? Our only concern is to obey the heavenly Father and leave the consequences to Him. Charles Stanley

Who Am I?

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3:11

When the Lord told Moses to bring His people out of Egypt, Moses considered the task set before him and thought he was inadequate for the job. Knowing that he would be responsible for over a million Israelites, questions such as “Do we have the resources?” and  “How will we feed them?” would have been foremost in his mind. Furthermore, the thought of going into the palace to negotiate with Pharaoh was a major concern.

Moses knew that the Lord had called him but questioned the Lord’s choice. Often, our unbelieving minds would rather have the Lord choose somebody else for the task but the Word says that He chooses the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

When God called Gideon to defeat the Midianites, he replied in a similar manner, saying“How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15

Another example is found when the Lord called David; he was not even considered significant enough to be called in from tending the sheep, to stand in line before the prophet, Samuel. The Lord, however, had His plans and chose David above his brothers, to lead His people.

When the Lord calls us to doing something for Him, we need to look to the Lord and not ourselves. We will not be able to accomplish anything in our own strength but all things are possible through Him.

Dear Lord,
Sometimes I feel very weak and tired and the task seems too burdensome for me but at times like that, teach me to look to You, my source of help and strength. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju

There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away. Henry Ward Beecher

He Is Watching Over Me

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
Exodus 3:7

The Lord is close to the broken hearted and those who are crushed in spirit. The pain of the Father watching His children suffer can be even greater than the pain that the children have to endure.

God’s ear was not to dull to the cry of His people but He was making the perfect plan to deliver them from their bondage. It is the same for us when we go through challenging times; His eye is on us and He sees all our struggles and pain. Be confident that He will deliver us.

I know of a family who met with a serious accident in the middle of the night and there was nobody around to help them. The husband was seriously injured and losing blood; the children were also suffering from injuries but the Lord gave strength to the semi-conscious wife to do what was needed at the most critical time because He was with them and was watching over them.

Therefore, let us commit the day to Him, trusting that He will watch over us because He loves us.

Dear Lord,
I believe in Your word which says the Lord of Israel does not slumber nor sleep; I know that Your eyes are always on me. Therefore, I shall not fear but commit my days to You. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo & Manju