AND GOD SAID --- How to speak right

AND God Said   Genesis Chapter 1 (King James Version)

Vs. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Vs. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Vs. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

Vs. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Vs. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Vs. 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Vs. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Vs. 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

As we all know this is how the Creation started. I want to highlight here AND GOD SAID.  Seven times it is said before God says Let us make man in our image.

What is the significance of AND GOD SAID? God created the whole universe by speaking it into existence.  Be it the lights, the firmaments etc. All things were created by the WORD of GOD.

John 1: 1 Says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The WORD is very important to GOD. Because HE is the WORD.  And in Genesis 1: 26 God says Let us make man in our IMAGE and LIKENESS.   Have we pondered on this in light of the above discussions?

Let us make man in our image: We are the express images of GOD. To put it into simpler language, we are the carbon copies of GOD.  Each of us reflect God within us. Then why should we discriminate people based on colour creed etc.? We as Christians should show the world how we ought to treat our fellow brethren.

Let us make him in our LIKENESS: This is what I am more interested in. The WORD we speak should reflect this. Are we speaking right? Are we speaking of HOPE, FAITH, POWER and CONFIDENCE in Christ Jesus or are the words we speak of Failure, Loss, Defeat and Despair.  

Take a moment to reflect back on what we spoke to our Parents, Spouse of Children this morning? How many of us actually lifted up their spirits? Every WORD we speak should be of MOUNTAIN MOVING POWER because that is what GOD is and we are created in HIS Likeness. .

I know that to practice this is to make it a daily habit will take time. But let us consciously think and refocus our attention on the words we speak.

There are a lot more references in the Bible which talk about our WORDS. I will leave it to you to read and study it.

 Our loving gracious Father, We thank you Lord for we have been created in your Likeness, May we speak Victory, Faith and Power into our lives Fill us with your Holy WORD so that we can enrich the lives of those who come in contact with us today. May we be used for your Glory. In Jesus Mighty name we pray    AMEN

Interesting Women in the Genealogy Jesus Christ.

Mathew  Ch 1 Vs: 1-16.   The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…..

Many of us have read this portion of the bible a number of times. I have at times skipped the same also as it only deals with the family tree of Jesus Christ beginning from Abraham. Verse 17 summarizes this as three periods of Fourteen generations each.

Many of us would have missed out that there are actually five women in this narration. Mary the mother of Jesus and four other interesting women. Whose stories we all know but I am sure we have not linked the stories to them being the grandmothers of Jesus Christ.   Let us briefly introduce these four women

1 Tamar – The daughter in law of Judah.  She begat twins Zerah and Pharez through her father in law. She played the role of a prostitute and slept with her Judah.    (ref: Genesis 38)

2 Rahab - She was known as a harlot. She is the one who hid the spies at Jericho. She later became the wife of Salmon the mother of Boaz.   (ref: Joshua 2:1 and 6:17)

3 Ruth – She was a foreigner in the land of the Jews. She was a widow and she followed her mother in law Naomi to Israel. Ruth was married to Boaz one of Naomi’s relatives.  (ref: Ruth 1 and 4)

4 Bathsheba - Was the wife of Uriah the Hittite and she and an adulterous affair with David and begat Solomon.  (ref: 2 Samuel 11: 1-27)

   What is the most common thing among the 4 women?   Except for Ruth, all the others did not lead a good life as per our worldly views. Ruth was a Moabite .She decided to follow the God of her Mother in law Naomi and through her we have we have linkage to David.

   What more interests me is that part of the other four women. None of them were of a clean character. All of them bore the children through an adulterous relationship. Let us not go to that right now.

   Why are they significant in the lineage? Why did God choose his Son to be of this lineage? Why are the women in this lineage having an adulterous relationship?

  I think that God just wants to show us that no matter what circumstance we are in, He will forgive us and completely wipe out the past. That is really significant as this shows our redemption, our Salvation. No Matter how our past has been. We need to surrender to Him, He will then lead us to greatness which we must use for His glory

 What ever be our past , He is more than willing and able to forgive us . Submit to Him and God bless you

The Greatest Commandment

       Matthew 22:36-39

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

This is an oft repeated passage for any a sermon. I hope I will be able to share a different view point of the same. Loving the Lord your God I am sure needs know explanation. Let me focus on the second part.

Many a time we wonder what it is to love another as yourself. As human beings we are all basically selfish. That is by nature to us. It is always me first and then the other. This is applicable to one and all.

Why do many a marriage fail is also because the selfish nature is given so much precedence over the other person in our life that the marriage fails.

Looking more closely at this verse this is what I understand.

We need to love another as ourself. It is simply saying ACCEPT the other person. Each of us is born unique. We have our own individual traits some good some bad. The bad traits which others see in us we don’t accept. However if we learn to ACCEPT the other person as they are with whatever their streaks are then we will learn to EXPECT more from us .

EXPECTING more from us to ACCEPT the other person is simply saying Love thy neighbour as your self.

It is so simple to write it down, now I have been practicing this for the last one week and I am able to see that I can improve relationships etc through this. I finally got the light go blink in my brain and was able to relate this to the greatest Commandment.

How do we ACCEPT the other person?  He has wronged me. He betrayed my trust, He is not doing what I asked him to. ( can be he or her)  When we feel such thoughts in our minds we need to just think back and Accept that person as they are and expect more from us to go one step higher and accept and go ahead and do what you have to do. In due course you will see that the other person will change to your liking

God bless you in ACCEPTING  others as they are and EXPECTING more from you.

The Lord is my Shepherd – A psalm of david

The Lord is my Shepherd – A  psalm of David   

I am diverting away from the covenants but I was lead to write this out. I firmly believe this too is a covenant which was given by God  through David.  I hope and pray that as you read this you will be blessed to feel His presence in your life. His Oveflowing abundance , His care, His Guidance.  God bless you .

Ps 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The meaning of the word Psalm is – a sacred song. I am not going to the the details of the Psalms. This Psalms  by far is the most known psalm. Every child is taught it. In many a house hold this psalm is repeated daily during common prayer. Many a time we just repeat it without feeling it. Without knowing what is in it for us. 

I hope to give some thought to the above.

Vs 1 :  I shall not be in want.

     The shepherd takes the sheep to the best pastures. The best grass which is available for the whole flock.  The loving God is also taking us to the Best pastures. The best things in life are already planned for us. Many a time it is our doubts that rob us of the grand things God has planned for us. When we say “I shall not be in want” do we really mean it?

Vs 2 Rest in green pastures and leads beside still waters.

    A shepherd will allow his sheep to rest when there is plenty of grass and will lead his sheep along the banks of a river or stream in which the water flows slowly or at a lake. Why? Because if the pastures is not good then the sheep will not be able to rest. If the waters are not still the sheep might fall in the water and drown.

 Our heavenly father will also lead us like this. Will not allow us to slip and fall. He will guide our paths if we walk astray. This verse also tell us about the rich abundance that God has provided for us. Are we willing to partake in this blessing?

Vs 3 Restores my soul for his names sake.

     Chirst died for our sins and has redeemed us from all our sickness and our pains. When we feel down, when we feel lost we must reassure ourselves that it is not us but HIS grace that helps us in restoring our soul to a refreshed state. Look unto Him only for all your needs.

Vs 4 I will fear no evil.- your rod and staff they comfort me

     We really need to understand the shepherd. The rod is a small stick which can be handled well by the shepherd. It is used to guide sheep on the pathway. To throw at an animal that is trying to stray away from the flock. To throw at predators. Etc.

      The staff is used to help the guide sheep specially new born lamb to their mothers.

To us in today’s life we need not fear any evil. The Lord will protect us from all harm and danger.

Vs 5  You prepare a table and my cup overflows.

     This is what I really like. A shepherd will get his sheep to the pasture but the sheep has to have the grass. For Us the Lord will prepare a table. A table filled with His abundance. A table filled with His blessings. Where is He preparing this table, “ in the presence of my enemies” You will be blessed above those who seek to make you fall. You will be blessed to showcase the power of God.

    The second part of this is that the cup overflows. When our table is full with His abundance the cups will overflow. We should give out the blessings to others who need it. Only when we share what ever we have will more blessings come our way. If God were to think like us, Saying no he has got enough many of us will be wanting in many things. We should give out more to get more.

Vs 6 Goodness and mercy will follow me

     If we abide in Him Surely goodness will always follow us In all that we put our hands to do .Every day of our lives. When we do this we will always live in his house, with all our tables always full and our cups always overflowing.

Dear Father

     We thank you because you are our Shepherd, you are our Guide, You are our fortress May out tables be full and our cups always overflow with your blessings. May all those who come in touch with us in our lives be blessed, May we be a blessing to others. Be our source and our protection. be our Hope when we feel down. We know that you Love us and that we are your sheep.

Thank you for your hand of protection .

Amen

I got this part forwarded to me by a friend. It was very useful. Hope you like it too. 

his        This is  an eye opener.... Some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way.... even though they say it over and over again.

 The Lord is my Shepherd …….. That's Relationship!

I shall not want …… That's Supply!

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. ……. That's Rest!

 He leadeth me beside the still waters. ……. That's Refreshment!

 He restoreth my soul ……. That's Healing!

 He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. ……..  That's Guidance!

 For His name sake ……. That's Purpose!

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. ….. That's Testing!

 I will fear no evil. …… That's Protection!

 For Thou art with me …… That's Faithfulness!

 Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,  ….. That's Discipline!

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. ….. That's Hope!

 Thou anointest my head with oil, …… That's Consecration!

 My cup runneth over. …….. That's Abundance!

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. ……. That's  Blessing!

 And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. …… That's Security!

 Forever  …….. That's Eternity! 

God Bless you Abundantly