8 years since we promised, “for better or for worse”, we’ve seen better, we’ve seen worse.
8 years since I saw you dressed, “beautiful in white”, we’ve come farther, together, stronger & better.
8 years since the 1st “Inter-dependence day”, we’ve learnt that a ‘cord of 3 strands is not broken easily’.
8 years of learning that Yahweh is a covenant keeping God and marriage is a covenant to be honoured.
8 years of realising that my spouse cannot complete me and vice versa, we can find our completion only in the One who made us.
8 years being continually made into the likeness of God, pruning is painful but essential for fruition.
8 years of understanding what it means to be His hands and feet, His co-workers in the field.
Philippians 1:6 NLT [6] And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
One famous quote attributed to Napoleon says, “The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people.”
The silence of good people in our generation can partially be attributed to the widespread epidemic of cancel culture. The flip side of this has been the raging intolerance towards difference of opinion. While the woke culture constantly erodes the biblical foundations, every truthful opposition is hushed with an anaphylactic counter response! In the post-truth culture, truth has become relative and inclusive. If an all-affirming view is not endorsed then we are labelled radicals and bigots.
The fear of offending someone is so crippling that it prevents so many of us from speaking or doing what is right. The Bible is unequivocally pro-life, pro-Israel & pro-family, still most of our gatherings and conversations actively bypass these issues!
Is it humanly possible to please everyone, all the time? Even Jesus couldn’t care less about public opinion, as His followers can we speak up enough to become outspoken? Will we be remembered as the generation which cared more about pleasing men rather than God?
John 1:4-5 NLT [4] The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. The candle need not worry about offending the darkness, it must do what it was created for. Wether your light is a candle, a flashlight or a flood light we must do what we were meant to do.
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. John 13:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.13.1.NLT
He knew His hour had come, He could see the cross and the thorns which lay ahead, but something important was yet to be done. As the disciples prepared for the last meal together, He prepared to wash their feet. The rabbi exchanged His robe for a washcloth, the King who came not to be served but to serve.
The feet which had followed Him across the Judean-Galillean landscape. The feet which danced at the wedding in Cana. The feet that had accompanied Him when He turned funerals to celebrations. The feet which were drenched and soaked as He calmed the storm. The feet which had travelled to diverse places bringing the good news when He sent them out two by two. The feet He had authorised to trample on snakes and scorpions. The feet which climbed the mountain when they saw Him tansfigured in His heavenly glory. The feet which would run in fear just a few hours later. The feet which would stealthily hurry to the conniving High priest to betray the One who was to wash them.
As He washed and wiped these dusty feet, He not only saw the past of these weary men. He could see beyond the cross to how they would go on to change the world. Their checkered past would not limit their present appointment or their future impact. He washed their feet with water because on the morrow they would be cleansed with the blood He would shed.
These washed feet would climb the mountain as He would ascend to the right hand of the Father. These feet would walk from the upper room to the ends of the earth bringing the good news. These feet would become the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of beautiful feet which bring good news, peace and salvation. These feet would facilitate the spread of good news where both the prince and the pauper could find hope and life. These feet would go on to gain more ground for the Kingdom of heaven than the gates of hell could ever prevail. These feet would walk them to their untimely deaths for the proclamation of the good news.
In a few hours these washed feet would travel from the foot of the cross to the empty tomb and eventually to the ends of the 🌎.
These feet had followed Him diligently.
Oh! Be careful little feet where you go and whom you follow!
Dear friends, allow me the pleasure to take you through this narrative, I’m sure there is a gem or two of life lessons for everyone.
When we moved to Kolencherry, Kerala 2 months ago, little did I know that we’d have some unwarranted, omnipresent guests in our home – house lizards. When I grew up in Ahmedabad and later lived in Ludhiana, Punjab, lizards were few and not an eye sore. Now we’ve a couple or more in every bedroom and bathroom, every other day we come across baby lizards, which are like little cretins not differentiating between the walls and the floor.
Shalom told me lizards are part of every malayali household, the invited guests to stay, the silent listeners to every conversation and the mute spectators to every dometic drama! But these unwelcome reptilian fiends got the better of me so I decided to find a solution. We got this organic gecko repellent from Amazon (not the rainforest), it said it doesn’t kill them but only makes them uncomfortable (hopefully in the same measure they do to us). Following the severe infestation protocol, I sprayed (read attacked) all their usual hideouts for two consecutive days. Surprisingly, it worked well and they disappeard. In a few days time, I noticed a rise in the bug (read insect) population in one of the bathrooms. It was then that I relalized that I wrecked a delicate ecosystem and these crawly fiends were actually crawly friends!
So many times in our lives, our insistence to have things our way, at our pace lands us in murky waters. From our vantage point we can never see the greater picture or the grand design so in our best interest it would be wisest to wait on Him who ‘makes all things beautiful in His time’!
Some day we will look back and realise that the unpleasant things we use to whine about were essential for our greater good.
King Solomon has an advice for our insatiable urgency and impatience, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all…” Proverbs 3:5-7 The Message
Am I late for Christmas? The title sounds, like the curt – unexpected answer to the famous poetic song by Mark Lowry, ‘Mary did you know’. Indeed, Mary did not know, although the song puts these across as rhetorical questions that Mary may never answer. Just as it was with Mary, we may never know the full extent of the power and purpose as God fulfills His promises in our lives.
He chose an unsuspecting, peasant Jewish girl to carry the One who carries us in His arm, to calm the baby who would calm the storms and calm our fears too. He chose her to play with the One who calls each star by name, to answer the calls and cries of the One who answers our prayers. How could she know what the future held for her, isn’t such knowledge too wonderful for human minds!
Michael W Smith wrote in his famous song, “Nobody knew His secret ambition Nobody knew His claim to fame He broke the old rules steeped in tradition He tore the holy veil away Questioning those in powerful position Running to those who called His name But nobody knew His secret ambition Was to give His life away” Nobody knew, neither Mary nor His brothers, nor the disciples. None of them could even begin to fathom when He would expound from the scriptures the things that would come to pass. They just had to trust Him completely.
Mary did not know what her future held, as she held the One who holds our future. Mary chose to keep things in her heart, things which were beyond comprehension. Let this be a call for us to keep things in our hearts, to trust where He leads, there He will provide. We may never have all the answers in this life, we were never meant to, the sheep only needs to follow, trust & obey.
The 150-year-old hymn exhorts us thus, “Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, Gives unto each day what He deems best, Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.”
Although I’m a bone doctor, children’s bone doctor to be precise, I’m not qualified to treat all the 206 bones in the human body. Here I want to highlight the beauty and intricacy of the human body, hence the psalmist wrote, “I’m fearfully and wonderfully made”.
Femur which is the largest and longest bone in the human body can be up to 48 cms long and can take upto 30 times the body weight. This in itself is an unparalleled engineering marvel. The orthopedic surgeons (such as I) commonly operate on this big bone.
Stapes, the smallest bone which is stirrup shaped is inside the middle ear cavity (inside the skull). It’s just 2-3 mm in size and the ENT surgeons require either microscope or a magnifying loupe to operate on this small beauty. The stapes serves to relay the sound vibrations from the outside to be transmitted to the brain which in turn deciphers the sounds.
The dichotomy between the largest and the smallest bones in the body in terms of structure and function is fascinating. While one can bear many times the weight of the body the other can vibrate discreetly to relay the sound signals to the brain.
The God who made both the femur and the stapes is as much concerned about the minute and mundane as He is about the big things in our lives. Even the tiny and the inconspicuous details in our lives are woven into the grand picture of our lives. From our vantage point we may never fully comprehend the unraveling of divine plan and proposes for our lives. The Creator knows His creation best. It takes decades of learning to unravel even a fraction of what the good Lord made from dust.
Psalms 139:13-14 NLT [13] You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. [14] Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
2. Àwengen, D. F.; Nishihara, S.; Kurokawa, H.; Goode, R. L. (April 1995). “Measurements of the stapes superstructure”. The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. 104 (4 Pt 1): 311–6.
Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.’ If I may add, ‘the Christian sees the opportunity to praise in every difficulty.’
In Psalms we find a perpetual exhortation to bless the Lord, to praise His name. King David and the other Psalmists constantly praise His Holy Name irrespective of their circumstances. Psalm 103:1-2 AMPC [1] BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! [2] Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits–
Apostle Paul reiterated “praise-posture” to the New Testament Church. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT [16] Always be joyful. [17] Never stop praying. [18] Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Praise is the love language of a grateful heart! Praise/worship doesn’t diminish the sting of the trials or failures that besiege us but it allows us to focus on the only unchanging and unshakeable hope in our lives, the sovereignty of our Father. He’s the Father who never changes nor does His love and faithfulness end.
From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same let the name of Adonai be praised.
The words “inheritance” and “legacy” are synonymous and are used interchangeably yet they are poles apart in terms of their impact.
Good inheritance equates to a comfortable life for the next generation. Legacy relates to the impact the next generation will have on the world around them. Inheritance is usually material. Legacy transcends the tangible.
Inheritance impacts the family and children. Legacy outlasts familial boundaries. Inheritance is proportional to the vocation and hard work. Legacy is impacted by the life lived not just the work done. Time spent away from the family contributes to the inheritance. Precious time with the family and children shapes the legacy.
The race to work the fingers to the bone and hustle culture will probably translate to an eventual huge inheritance (economically) . Memories and moments around the dinner-table, bed-time stories and family time and activities influence the legacy left.
The castle constructed and bequeathed is the inheritance but if it’s not equally matched with an impactful life and legacy then the castle is just another decoration on the landscape. May our children be always assured that their applause matters more to us than the accolades that adorn our walls. May our legacy outlasts generations.
Matthew 6:19-21 NLT [19] “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Times change, people change, relationships change, workplaces change but Jesus doesn’t. In a culture which normalises change and diversity Jesus is the only constant.
Jesus our constant
Jesus the only true constant assured us, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” Luke 21:33 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.21.33.NLT.
Many times in our lives when we find ourselves surrounded by the unknown, change in our circumstances and comfort zone unnerves us or makes us uncomfortable but He who is the author of our story isn’t surprised a bit.
He is constant through the trial and in the triumph, constant in the sunshine and in the rain. Because He is constant, we need not be afraid of the storms Because He is constant, we are not alone in the valley Because He is constant, we’ve a hope for tomorrow Because He is constant, we’ve grace for today Because He is constant, we will not be limited by our yesterdays.
He is the unchanging one and what He says (Word of God) is unchanging, so what He says about us will never change irrespective of the changes around and about us. Our hope is hinged on an unshakeable and unchanging anchor.
Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13 TPT https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.15.13.TPT.
joyancejames 