The Calling

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens.
"Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry."
She looked and looked, hoping that somehow the lens had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there.
She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.
When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains.
She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

Brenda's father was a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."
I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Worship

These days the word 'worship' seems to be confined to the Sunday morning singing sessions. Music produces a colorful atmosphere. Worship leaders do their best to inspire the people with their skills. The book of Psalms says, play skillfully, praise Him with the tambourine and dance. King David wrote songs, designed instruments and appointed skillful musicians and trained singers for the Temple of God. During Solomon's dedication of the new temple, in unison trumpeters and singers performed in one voice along with the musical instruments. In the awesome celebration of praise, the house was filled with a Cloud. The ministers could not stand to minister because of the glory of God.

The worship that is acceptable to God is a living and holy sacrifice presented in the life of a true worshiper. The sacrifice you do to renew your mind according to the perfect will of God sanctifies your life and makes your worship acceptable to God. Music without anointing is a mood-altering drug that entertains people; it cannot make your life Holy.

Are you worshiping to please yourself? Without your heart and flesh craving for God, your worship fails to fascinate Him. Hello...where is God and His Glory inside the Church? Compromising leaders don't worry about Glory. Even with the state of the art sound and music equipment, world class musicians and participating multitudes, without the manifest presence of God, your worship is empty. The fullness of joy is only in His presence, a musical performance cannot match it.

When the Lord came you were too busy. When He spoke you were not around. When He left you didn't know, and you didn't give Him a kiss. The act of worship is going on, but God is standing outside knocking at the door. Will you stop the empty sound of music for one minute to welcome Him. Enthrone Jesus first, now with all your heart, soul, spirit and musical resources glorify Him!!! Songs can express your love for God but it cannot replace your intimacy with God. Humble yourself bow down, worship God. Amen.

Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness……….. (Matthew 6:33)

Unlike olden days, these days people wake up very late in the mornings. Since they sit before their television sets till late night, they’re unable to go to bed early.

Many have time to eat food to the full, time to dress luxuriously, time to work very hard, time to sit before the Television sets but no time to seek the presence of God.

Many strive hard to complete their physical works but when it comes to seek the Lord, they procrastinate.

Not searching the Lord with much importance and due reference dishonors the Lord more than not spending time with Him.

Giving importance to all other things of the world than not giving more importance to seek God’s grace is a greater weakness.

Jesus said “Just as it was in the days of Lot, so also will it be in the days of Son of Man“. The unrighteousness acts or the sinful acts that took place in the days of Lot were not the ones that Jesus was pointing out. People were “eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building“. (Luke 17:28)

Things that are mentioned here are essential for life on earth, but when they were obsessed in these things, then came the destruction. What went wrong? Being obsessed with the things of the world, they were careless about God and His Kingdom. They forgot to search themselves before God and reconcile with Him. The end was unexpected destruction.

It is necessary to look after business, necessary to earn money by working hard, necessary to be diligent in family maters, necessary to look after our children’s needs but amidst all these, God’s fellowship and God’s presence is the most important which makes life a blessed one. There is no profit in working hard lest we have His grace.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and then blessings over all things, grace, happiness and peace will be given to you. Have relationship with God and receive His blessings. Amen!!!

Courtesy: A Christian magazine "Araikooval"