Enough to Receive

We would have often heard people it is God's grace. But how many of us live with the realization of the word "Grace". Grace has an in depth meaning and to live by grace is something that ought to be experienced to realize. I would like to share a short story in my effort to explain grace. There was once a little girl who was fragile and weak because in her body she suffered from multiple syndrome. She was in a condition where she could eat neither more or less to keep her body healthy. If she ate more she would throw up constantly to the extent she would become weak and tired; and eating less would make her weak and  unhealthy. So actually needed to eat in between which was difficult to estimate. Doctors wondered how she survived with multiple health conditions.

Moreover this child lived as an in patient in a hospital without much future and hope as she was abandoned at birth by her mother. Though this little girl lived within the walls of the hospital she had quite a positive outlook in life. She did not want to be a burden to the people in the hospital who took care of her and hence did her best to do petty work for other inmates in the hospital. All that she did was to visit each patient in her floor or sometimes other floors and inquired about their health. She just spent few minutes in displaying love, care and concern and did some petty work to help them like fetching a glass of water, or reading a passage from a Bible or say word of prayer, get them a flower from the garden, etc which made them feel good.

Many patients felt better and changed their perspective by seeing the way the child lived after having learnt about her health condition and her life. What the patients saw was the grace that she received from God to survive. They saw grace at work in her and realized that God gave her just the enough grace to live. The child neither cribbed about her condition nor questioned her past or future. She only knew that God saw it best to have her this way and His grace was enough. Though many would have questioned the reason for her survival within their heart, the patients who met with her and came to know her well, changed their way of thinking. They realized that God had all the grace to give, it was only in our hands to become humble enough to ask and receive it. The child was an exemplar of  grace changing the lives of patients she acquainted with.

John 1:16 (NIV)
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

I want to Know Him

Many children of God are preoccupied with the thought of doing ministry as the primary focus of life. Besides, doing worship and praise and attending regular church service and prayer meetings, Christ followers are primarily doers. Each believer in Christ may hold on to their own perceptions and may regard that as right. I am not here to judge who is right or who is wrong. But I personally am more convinced that being Christ-like is more of a priority than active service.

However, I was keen to look into the life of Apostle Paul who was the best minister for Christ and surprisingly Apostle Paul says, "I want to know Christ..."(Philippians 3:10- NIV) which was more of a chief priority for him. Reading this portion of the scripture I was convinced that knowing Jesus is the top priority of life and the more I know Him, the more I will be able to learn to change my attitudes, perceptions and way of thinking accordingly. Besides, only by knowing the Lord closely and personally will I be able to see my life through Him...Amen.

My Redeemer Lives

Whenever I sit to read a devotion or my Bible, I refrain from reading anything about suffering or trial. Without my knowledge I always didn't want to hear about predictions of trial or reasons behind why God allows trials. I am sure many of us do not want to listen to such stuff. When we take time to read God's Word inwardly we have an anticipation for words of hope, comfort, blessing and good tiding. I believe this is natural for us to feel that way. In fact that is exactly what we may expect our lives to be filled with - no pain, suffering or trials. Nobody likes to have trials or face problems. And worst of all nobody would like to hear or know such predictions for the future.

However, when I faced trials recently followed by a series of worries, unexpected turning of events and fears, I turned to reading my devotion again and prayed inwardly that I didn't want to read another reason for  trial and anything to do with suffering or disappointments. To my surprise I was ministered by God's word in a way which helped me to know Jesus and His love for me...

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15)

This scripture dawned something deep within me. Whatever be the phase of life- times of worry, problems, unmet needs, unexpected situations, etc...as a mother, I am there with my daughter to take care of her completely. Her concerns are my concerns. Her wants I make sure to meet it and her fears I ensure to deal with it. I help her to learn life skills and deal with everyday issues of life. I take all efforts to tune with her and meet her genuine needs and be there to take care of her. I am sure not to forget my daughter even for a moment. My daughter invades my thoughts throughout the day.

When I as a mother can be there so much for my daughter...How much more God who shed His precious blood to make me His child...though I may be unworthy of His sacrifice. I am sure my love for my daughter cannot surpass the love the Lord has for me or for each one of us...

I badly failed to know Him or His love for me. When He can take care of us as the apple of His eye...what a mistake it would be to think that we are not in His thoughts or that He is disconnected with what we are going through mentally. I came to realize desperately ..."My Redeemer Lives".