Random Thoughts- 1,2,3......

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 19

As I walk to work each day, I come to a place where I have to cross 3 traffic signals simultaneously. Sometimes I have to wait at each signal, wait for the green and cross, then wait again for the green and cross and the same again for the last crossing. But today was different. As I reached the 1st crossing, the green was blinking and I hurried through, the second had me walking through casually as the signal was green and as I crossed the 2nd, I could view the green at the far end of the 3rd crossing starting to blink green. As I scampered across and reached the other side, the red was on and the vehicles rushed past.

Funny how life is so similar to these crossings. Some places we get stuck with problems and have to wait for God's openings and deliverances, sometimes we just have to hurry to keep pace with God's moves and some places we just scamper through escaping the evil one's schemes by a small fraction.
Sometimes doors just open up one after the other like the 3 green signals that I crossed today.

I just thought about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. They were all walking on dry ground with the walls of water on either side. Most of them must have hurried through, not very sure whether they would really get to the other side. There were no traffic signals though, just a man of faith raising his staff and stretching out his hand over the sea.

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 20

I saw a tigerstriped kitten jump from one bonnet of a car to another in a parking lot. It seemed to have taken it as a new game. It jumped from one to another and then another. I don't know what the owners would have thought about that but it seemed not to care a hoot. We exchanged glances for a second; it looked at me like I was a predator, so I just walked ahead. The next vehicle that it had to jump was higher and a bit far, so as I walked I thought that would be the last it would be jumping. Thud.. came a sound from behind and I looked back expecting it to be on the road and in discomfort, but to my surprise I found it standing tall on the Pajero bonnet.

Could that have been a "leap of faith"? Perhaps it was, though the kitten may never have realized it.

There's always an element of risk when we attempt things/projects with faith in God and His Word. That "suppose it doesn't work" thought often hinders us from doing things for the Lord.

King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered Daniel's friends to be thrown into the fiery furnace. But they answered,
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17,1Cool

They had faith in God, but there was an element of risk involved too as we see from what they told the king. But God honored their faith and no harm befell them.

So shall we put our faith in to action?

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 21

I was at the super-market the other night and was buying some groceries when I saw a cute little girl, maybe 4-5 years old running through the store, tapping her father's hand and then running back. She did this for a while enjoying it to the maximum and my spirit rejoiced at the innocent mirth. Then I lost sight of her until I came near the ice-cream section and there she was with her hands in the open freezer scooping out some ice at the sides. She saw me and suddenly there was that look of being caught red-handed by someone. I looked the other way, then out of curiosity just looked back and there she was filling her mouth with the ice she scooped out. I had a good laugh seeing that and as I walked back home, the scene still lingered in my mind.

Sometimes we as believers also indulge in such minor mischiefs and I guess at that time we just do it thinking that no one is seeing, but the Father is always there, watching. I wonder whether he smiles at our discrepancies! Perhaps he does, except when we overdo it and hurt the Holy Spirit.

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 22

Walking back from work yesterday was an ordeal. I was dejected and depressed and thoughts of defeat were hounding me. I had been praying for receiving my labor contract and labor card for the past 2 months, but it had not yet arrived. On it depended my sponsoring my wife and children in Dubai, UAE where I stay now. The children had to submit their visa page in school.

With all this burden on me, I had a prayer meeting to conduct at 8 pm. I didn't want to do anything. Didn't want to pray, to sing, to preach, nothing.....
But for me there was no option as far as I saw. In the past 15 yrs. or so of my ministry, many such situations have arisen, but the Lord has taken me through them by His amazing grace.

So here I was again standing before a small group of people with so much heaviness in my spirit, yet when I did what I had to do i.e. conduct the meeting as I usually do- praise, pray & preach; things started changing. The burden started to lift and by the time I finished with the closing prayer & benediction, I was free from all the problems that were plaguing my mind. It's not that I had received an answer to my prayers, but the promise of the Lord was being fulfilled:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)"
Praise God for His mercies.

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 23

I marvel at the timing of God. Though we do not always know what is going on, God is in control of everything.

Like this morning (22/05/0Cool when I was reading the Word, the Lord reminded me of a childless christian couple in Dubai where I live now. It had been quite a while since I had spoken to them. I felt like sending the guy an sms. "You both are always in my prayers. Tell me when there is some good news."

A little while later, I felt in my spirit to send him another sms with a Bible verse. So I typed in Joshua 1:9 which says,
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Then I got busy with getting ready to go to work.
As I walked to work, the guy to whom I had sent the sms called. We exchanged "Praise the Lord's."
He said, "I just got up seeing a dream in which I saw my mother die and I was very sad, then I saw the mobile reminder ringing again and there were your 2 messages. I believe God is with me at all times and loves me that's why He made you send this message."

This maynot be a great happening for you as you read this but for the one who experienced it, it was God's Loving Touch.

God is good, all the time. Praise the Lord.

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 24

I was walking in the mall holding my younger daughter's hand and we came to an escalator. As we neared it, she said, "Hold my hand properly Dad, I am afraid, I may fall while I am on it." I smiled and for a second I acted as if I was releasing her hand from my grip. She held on tightly and as we reached the top, I told her half in jest, "I will hold your hand like this till I give you in marriage to someone who will hold your hand from then onwards." She smiled and we went ahead with our shopping that evening.

Later as I thought about it, God put a few thoughts of His in my mind. He said, "The Holy Spirit does the same thing for each and every believer. He holds your hand and guides you through the path of life here on earth and then will hand you over in to the hand of the bridegroom when the time comes. Fears may come in your lives but He will never leave you till He has completed his duty to take you through to the end."

The Lord says and we read in the book of Isaiah,
"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)

He also says,
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Praise the Lord.

 

[jeremiah7]

Random Thoughts- 25

Why try to open a door that is already open? But that's exactly what I did when I absent-mindedly pressed the elevator button for the lift doors to open up. The doors were open, waiting for me to step in but there I was, not comprehending reality.

It's reported that a man was able to escape from every confinement, from straight-jackets to iron shackles. None could hold him. But there was one time when he was challenged and failed to free himself from a prison cell. He entered the cell wearing only his street clothes, and the cell door was shut behind him. Once alone, he pulled a piece of metal from his belt and began working the lock. But something was wrong. No matter how hard he worked, he couldn't unlock the door. For two hours he applied all his skill and expertise to the lock, but failed again and again. Two hours later he gave up in total frustration and slumping to the floor, hit the cell door with his head, and the door sprung open - it had never been locked.

God opens doors for his children often and then wait for them to enter and find peace, joy and fulfillment, but the children keep doubting and ask again and again for the door to open up. They place several fleeces before God, even though God would have already given them a confirmation. You can't open a door that God has already opened. Just enter and find rest. God bless.