message to academics

Even as we understand more things about the nature of particles, atoms etc..., may we be led closer to God . We should not be too wise to be taught and too learned to receive from God. The essence of our intellect and academic prowess is not for self glorification but to be efficient tools in the hands of the creator for use in some way, in the advancement of His kingdom.

anticipation

“Although you have hid­den these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Matthew 11:25) 

Have you ever played peek-a-boo with a baby? They can barely talk, but they rock with laughter when they see your face. It’s so fascinating to them that they can play this game long after we adults get bored with it. As children get older, they move on to games like hide-and-seek, but it’s really the same game. Even if they hide in the most obvious places, it’s a huge success when the one who is “It” finds everyone. Children just love to discover and explore.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that if we want to find him, we need to be like children. That doesn’t mean that he considers things like maturity and education to be bad. And neither does it mean that we should treat the spiritual life like a game of hide-and-seek. But it does show us how deeply Jesus treasures the curiosity and joy of dis­covery that most children have.

Notice, for example, the fact that Jesus makes this prayer immedi­ately after he laments the lack of openness he experienced from the people of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida. They had seen so many miracles, but they just could not see the wonder and promise that they held.
So what does this mean for us? First and foremost, it means approaching each day with a sense of anticipation: What will God show me today? How will he surprise me? What insight will he give me about his love or about my walk with him? It also means committing your day to the Lord every morning and tell­ing him that you want to find him there, in whatever way he wants to reveal himself.

Jesus wants our walk with him to be full of new discoveries. He doesn’t want us to be content with what we experienced yesterday or what we learned last year. Instead, he is invit­ing us on an ongoing journey. Today, ask him to give you a child’s heart, one full of curiosity and eager to know what lies around the next cor­ner in your relationship with him.

taken from wau.org

when fear challenges faith

The desire to please Him spurns me on
I want to do your will
Your plans for me are right, I know
Yet I don't see so vividly
I begin to trust what I see
But you call me to something beyond
You call me to faith.

Welling up in me like a spring
Bursting through my innards like growing roots
It seeks to draw me from you
To take your words from my mind and lips
To draw me into darkness and confusion
To rely on myself... no, no.... to rely on You.
The battle rages within
The challenge of fear.

But will your call prevail? I hope so
For your presence is my desire
a division of focus, I seek to discard
Because your call is real, your words are sure
So, when I come to that point again when:
fear challenges faith
May your call prevail.

Give thanks

Its Interesting how we fail to see the workings of God's hand in our lives, and how He uses human kindness and love to get His message through to us. Yet we do not recognize these, because we might be so full of ourselves or we expect Him to act in another manner; we set boundaries for God. Today, let us show appreciation to the Lord for His hand in our lives. GIVE THANKS!!!!

“He looked around to see who had done it.” (Mark 5:32)

Sometimes our prayer life can feel a little like a gumball dispenser. We put a quarter in the slot, turn the handle, and expect a gumball to drop out. If we say our prayers, attend church, or do good works, we may think we automatically receive God’s grace. We put in the time, and God dispenses his grace.

But God wants so much more for us! He wants prayer to be a time when we have a personal encounter with him. Look at today’s story of the hemorrhaging woman. It wasn’t enough that she pushed through the crowds and touched Jesus. He want­ed to touch her! He wanted to look into her eyes, listen to her story, and assure her personally that it really was her faith and trust in him that saved her. 

In a sense, Jesus was just as per­sistent as this woman was. It didn’t matter that he was on his way to heal someone’s daughter. He still took the time to reach out to this lonely, des­perate woman because she mattered to him just as much as the impor­tant, influential Jairus did.

God wants personal contact with us. It’s not enough for him to dis­pense healing and grace mechani­cally, as if from afar. He wants to see us, to touch us, and to assure us of his love. We don’t have to lower our expectations or reduce the Christian life to a matter of formulas and con­tracts. We were made for commu­nion with God—and Jesus longs for communion with us! 

So when you pray today, put aside your to-do list and reach out for Jesus. Push through whatever objec­tions may rise up, and grab hold of his robe. Then don’t be surprised to find Jesus turning and looking at you with love. Don’t be surprised when he speaks words of healing, encour­agement, and direction. He loves spending time with you! 

~Taken from The Word Among Us (wau.org)