Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine …

When children were young, we used to watch Robin Hood an American animated musical comedy produced by Walt Disney Productions very often. Actually, we still sometimes do! This film is based on the legend of Robin Hood but uses anthropomorphic animals instead of people. The story follows the adventures of Robin Hood, Little John and the inhabitants of Nottingham as they fight against the excessive taxation of Prince John. When Prince John tripled the taxes, most of the townsfolk end up in jail since they could not pay. In one of the prison scenes, all look famished, and a crumb from the hand of a Rabbit falls down. The Rabbit picks it up and gives it to the mouse. The beauty is, even though it is just a little ‘crumb', the mouse staggers under its weight and is abl...

Jesus, Lover of my soul…

As I was reading ‘Daily Bread' one meditation on Leah caught my attention. We read about Leah in Genesis 29. Peter Chin says that Leah longed for the love of her husband Jacob which is reflected in the names of her first three sons. Their names tell a remarkable story! She called her first son Reuben saying, "The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now, therefore, my husband will love me(v32)." She called her second son Simeon saying, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also(v33)." When she conceived again and bore another son, she called him Levi saying, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons(v34)." Sadly,...

A New Beginning!

Soon after we got married, we set up home in KK Nagar, a suburb in Chennai. It was there our first son Sushil was born. It so happened we moved the next year to another house also in KK Nagar, and by the time we built our own house in Anna Nagar and moved in on Jan 22nd, 1981, we had moved through two more rented houses! One day when I came back from office, I found Sushil scribbling on the wall and when I asked him he just said, "Amma, now this house has become dirty. Let us move to the next house!" Somehow our frequent house changes had made him believe that once a house becomes dirty, we can actually move to a new home!

Peter was a remarkable disciple. He was quick with his responses and firm in beliefs. Peter declared that even if everyone else stum...

That I may not cause pain…

The prayer of Jabez became famous suddenly a few years back and everything from wall hangings to promise cards to read, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory…." (1 Chronicles 4:10). We do not have much information about Jabez. We know that he belonged to the tribe of Judah. The Bible tells us that he was more honorable than his brothers and that his mother called his name Jabez because she bore him in pain. The Bible also tells us that Jabez called on the God of Israel. Jabez prayed seeking God's blessing, and he listed four ways by which those blessings be bestowed upon him - that God's hand would be with him; that God would enlarge his territory; that God would keep him from evil; and that he may not cause pain (NKJV...

Never give up!

This phrase has been immortalized by Winston Churchill. But there is a lesson for us to learn!

I am always amazed at the persistence of the Syro-Phoenician woman. We read about her in Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28. This gentile woman had a great need. Her daughter was severely demon possessed. She must have known that Jesus had healed Gentiles before (Matthew 4:24-25; 8:5-13). This Gentile woman also understood who Jesus was. Many of Jesus' own countrymen did not know who Jesus was, but this woman of Canaan knew Jesus as ‘Son of David' and addressed Him as ‘Lord.' So, when she heard that Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, she decided to seek His help.

The meeting itself was very extraordinary. Though the mother interceded for her...

El Roi, The God Who Sees!

Epiphany refers to the revelation of God; of Jesus coming to us so that we can see Him and surrender ourselves to Him! But God sees us at all times for the Bible says in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

When Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away with just a little bread and a skin of water, she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. There she sat down at a distance from Ishmael not wanting to see the boy die. Sitting alone in that wilderness she lifted her voice and wept. And the Bible says that God saw her (Gen 21:17). Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and told her not to fear, for God h...

Give me also Springs of Water!

The story of Achsah, daughter of Caleb, is nestled in the first chapter of the book of Judges. It was the period after the time of Joshua, and all military conquests had not been completed. The Lord commanded the tribe of Judah to start the conquest of the Canaanite tribes. Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah, said, "Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife (Judges 1:12)." Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it and so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife. Caleb had given his daughter Achsah land in the South. Achsah wanted to ask her father for a field. So, she came to her father said to him, "Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in...

Walking, Leaping and Praising God!

Victor Manoharan uncle of Youth for Christ Ministries was a frequent speaker at the CSI Redeemers Church in the seventies! One day he shared testimony from his life. While he was on his way to a speaking assignment in an auto rickshaw, due to the rash driving of the auto driver, it seems the auto rickshaw went in for a somersault! After one complete turn, by the immense grace of God, it had landed right side up, and uncle got out unhurt! Immediately, he had burst forth thanking God for His protection. It was at that moment that he had heard the voice of God in his heart saying, "Son, how many times you have had uneventful journeys but you never thanked me for them." How very true! We thank God profusely when we have great escapes but all our safe travels, we tak...

Joy to the World!

There are many questions people ask about the birth of Jesus. Some of them are: Where was Jesus born? When was Jesus born? How was Jesus born? Also, why was Jesus born? Matthew says Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Luke tells us about the miraculous conception. He tells us that Jesus was born during the time of the first census called for by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governing Syria. Luke also tells us that He was named Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. However, in my mind, the most crucial question that needs an answer is: who were those for whom Jesus was born?

The birth of Jesus was announced not only to the shepherds who were watching their sheep in the local Judean hills but also to the Magi from the Far East! Jesus' birth was...

The Four Sundays of Advent!

Generally, the four Sundays that precede the Christmas day are called ‘Advent' Sundays. Four different themes are assigned for each of those Sundays by the Church for reflection. The first advent Sunday stands for hope or promise and points to the many prophecies that were fulfilled in the birth of Christ. The second one stands for faithful preparation for the fulfillment of the prophecies of His second coming. The third advent Sunday stands for Joy for Jesus came for the humble, unimportant people like the shepherds, too. The fourth one stands for peace! Jesus came to bring peace between God and man. He came to go to the Cross so that your sins and my sins can be forgiven. The four Sundays are celebrated by lighting advent candles for Jesus came as the ‘Light of...