Gods Silence

Has God trusted you with His silence— a silence that has great meaning?
God’s silences are actually His answers. Just think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany!(refer to John 11:6) Is there anything comparable to those days in your life?

Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking Him for a visible answer?

God will give you the very blessings you ask if you refuse to go any further without them, but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into an even more wonderful understanding of Himself.

Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response?
When you cannot hear God, you will find that He has trusted you in the most intimate way possible— with absolute silence, not a silence of despair, but one of pleasure, because He saw that you could withstand an even bigger revelation. If God has given you a silence, then praise Him— He is bringing you into the mainstream of His purposes. The actual evidence of the answer in time is simply a matter of God’s sovereignty. Time is nothing to God.

A wonderful thing about God’s silence is that His stillness is contagious— it gets into you, causing you to become perfectly confident so that you can honestly say, "I know that God has heard me." His silence is the very proof that He has. As long as you have the idea that God will always bless you in answer to prayer, He will do it, but He will never give you the grace of His silence. If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, then He will give you the first sign of His intimacy— silence.

During this season of Lent, learn to quieten down your soul. Learn to be more silent and in tune to the voice of God. 

Investing your money in God’s Kingdom – Experiencing the joy of giving.

Obedience, along with faith and trust is the essential ingredient of Christian living. Jesus says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” -John 14:21

We know that Jesus gave us many commands to help us live holy lives. All the commands direct us toward God and toward neighbor. One such command is found in Luke 6:38 where Jesus says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Now this particular command Jesus does not specify what we are to give, but when we give, it promises that it will be returned to us in a cup that is running over. Personally, I am glad Jesus does not specify exactly what we are to give because this works to our advantage. Here is how. Anything we give is multiplied and returned back to us. If we give our money, money is multiplied. If we give our time, our time is multiplied. If we give our talents, our talents are multiplied. If we give our love, love within us is multiplied so we have an ever greater capacity to love. I have been blessed to have been given an opportunity in the last few years to give of all the four: Money, Time, Talent and Love. But the one that I have been giving the longest is money, so I want to talk about that.

I started to give a tenth of my income to God’s work seven years ago at a time I was in a severe financial crisis. I was debt ridden. I had no savings and owned no property. On top of this I had financial obligations that had to be paid out in US dollars. The first few months of tithing were very hard. I was tempted often to stop or reduce the percentage. A tenth of my salary amounted to a healthy sum. I would be tempted to visualize all the ways in which I could spend that 10% to alleviate my financial situation. But I resisted the temptation I faithfully gave: a portion to the church where I received my sacraments, a portion to my prayer group that was helping me grow spiritually, a portion to missions abroad, and a portion for spontaneous charity towards individuals I knew were in need.

In these seven years of faithful giving of a tenth of my income, I can testify that God has been faithful to his promises, in both, Malachi 3:10-12  which says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” and also Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Since I came to Dubai in 2004, I have never been without a job except once for a brief period six months during which time God provided for all my needs. My income has steadily increased and my lifestyle has improved along with it. I have never had a health problem except for an occasional cold or flu and an intermittent backache which is more than manageable. And because God knew I could not manage my finances, two years ago He brought into my life a life partner, who unlike me, is excellent at managing finances. She put my financial house in order in no time and supported my practice of tithing. I also experienced a complete sense of financial security which comes from knowing that a portion of my income was regularly supporting God’s work here on earth. If my income is affected, God’s work is affected. It is in God’s interest to help me maintain my income.

Let’s just say for instance that I am sponsoring a seminarian for priesthood or paying fees for a disabled person to stay in a care home. If I lose my income, God has to find an alternate means to take care of them. And this world, there is shortage of givers. So the more I invest in God’s work, the more secure my income.

Now these are only the material benefits of tithing. There are others benefits as well. God has made it easier for me to trust in Him for my provisions. I feel less attached to money or possessions than I used to before I began to tithe. It is easier for me to give. The grip on money and material possessions has been loosened. I worry less about these things which gives me more peace. But even more importantly are the benefits I am accruing in heaven. For every penny that I give to God, he is crediting to my account with a hundred fold interest in heaven, where “neither moth destroys nor thieves break in and steal”- Matthew 6:19-21
 
Now you might say that all of this sounds very selfish and business like. I give just so I may receive even more. In some ways, it is that. But over time my attitude towards giving has changed. I no longer give because I will receive a hundred fold in return. I now give simply out of love for Jesus, because it gives me immense joy to please him and to obey his commands. Initially, I started giving for ME, but I now I give for Jesus. Even if he did not bless me (which would not happen as He will not go against His word), I will still continue to give because of the joy it brings me.

If you are struggling financially, especially if you have a job but you find that your money simply vanishes at the end of the month, start giving to God and see the miracle. If you are doing well financially but find yourself unhappy or unable to put that wealth to good use, start giving some of it back to God (it all belongs to Him in the first place) and see the miracles that will take place in your life. He will bless you in both cash and kind. Both in this world and the world to come.  







Jaime DeMelo
HSI Media

He knew the right gift.

As Luke tells us the stories involving the birth of Jesus, he wants to evoke the same kind of sensations we feel when we step outside of a hot and suffocating office and into a cold December morning, and drink in a fresh, invigorating, breath of clean air.

At the coming of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God — one of the key promises of the New Covenant — burst on the scene like a breath of fresh air. His presence was everywhere. The Spirit came with power and conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary.

• The Spirit was present with John the Baptist from his mother's womb, so John leaped for joy inside his mother's womb when the newly pregnant Mary came to see her. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth affirmed Mary's faith and praised God.
• The Spirit broke Gabriel's imposed silence of Zechariah and inspired the old priest's great proclamation of praise and joy.
• The Spirit lead, convinced, and inspired Simeon to meet and praise God's Messiah, baby Jesus, in the Temple.
• The Spirit came upon Jesus and empowered him for his ministry.

 The weather had definitely changed!This Breeze from heaven's grace started everything!

Luke helps us feel the cool breeze of God's refreshing Spirit as He wafts His way through the hearts of God's people. The Old Testament prophets had spoken of this special time: God's Holy Wind, his Powerful Breath, his Comforting Spirit would blow through God's holy people and begin a new day, a new age, and the New Covenant. (The word spirit, breath, and wind are all translated by one key word in both Hebrew and Greek.) Luke wants us to know God's refreshing Breeze has begun to blow!

This Breeze was for all who became children of God (Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; Romans 8:1-16).

This Breath of God was poured out by Jesus upon all who became Christians (Acts 2:33; Titus 3:3-7), born of water and Spirit (Acts 2:38; John 3:3-7). The presence of this Wind insured that everything would be different and refreshingly new (Acts 3:18-19; Acts 5:22). Most importantly, this change in the weather assured us that we could be changed as well
(Acts 2:38-39;Acts 9:17-22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

So as we gather around and tell stories of baby Jesus, wise men from the East, shepherds in their fields, mean old Herod in his palace, and a long journey for a couple expecting their first baby, let's not forget the weather! You see, God sent one glorious new air mass, pushed through by his mighty, refreshing, and Holy Wind. This Breeze from heaven's grace started the events that gave Mary a baby and changed everything for you and me!

So while Bing Crosby may have dreamed of a white Christmas, God preferred to send his refreshing, mighty, holy Wind, the Breath of Heaven, and brought us new life and fresh hope.

It's almost Christmas Eve. It's almost time. Enjoy the gift.Celebrate the breath of Heaven our loving Father sent us on Christmas.

Heaven's Light Shines into This!!

We live in a world of light, darkness, and shadows. This is the inescapable reality of our physical world. We may experience only one of these, but the other two are closer companions than we often realize. We also live an existence of goodness, evil, and uncertainty. We can experience one of these in its overwhelming pervasiveness, but the other two are usually nearby battling to be the supreme influence over our lives. 

But God is light, perfection and goodness:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

And Jesus is God's most perfect gift! That's why Matthew sees prophecy declaring Jesus' arrival:

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16).

But was that darkness — the spiritual evil and uncertainty and those shifting shadows of the spiritual world — real or was it simply religious metaphor, hyperbole, and religious fear mongering to manipulate superstitious people? 

Yes, the darkness was real. Jesus confronted it at every stage of his journey. From Herod's determination to murder him as a baby (Matthew 2:1-18), to his battle with the demons who took over the man we know as Legion (Mark 5:1-20), to his attack by the religious leaders in the Temple (Luke 22:53), to his betrayal by Judas (John 13:2-30), and through his time on the Cross (Matthew 27:45). 

Yet all that the evil one threw at Jesus failed. Darkness was defeated. Darkness could not extinguish the light of God in the face of Jesus:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5).

Is that darkness real in our lives?

O yes! We see it in a million different ways in the brutality, evil, unfairness, brokenness, death, disease, disasters, exploitation, abuse, and violence that mar our world and invade our lives. That same darkness comes for us. It's knocking at our door and it desires to have us. Paul describes it this way:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Heaven's light shines into this darkness and drives it away!

This is why Jesus came: to bring light, to cast out the darkness, and to drive away the shadows. The baby proclaimed by angels, welcomed by Shepherds, and worshiped by Magi from the east brought God's light to all of us caught in darkness. Paul gave this promise to those of us who recognize this baby in the manger as our Savior:

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).

So what do we do with this Savior, this grace, this light from heaven?

We receive it, we live in it, and we celebrate it. Most of all, we share that light! We are "the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference" he has made in our lives (1 Peter 2:9). 

We live in a world of light, darkness, and shadows. Yet this child in the manger and this man on Golgotha's cross is also our Lord who left behind an empty tomb and ended darkness' reign over our lives. So no matter where you are or what is going on in your life, realize that God sent Jesus so we could know that heaven's light shines into this darkness and drives it away! 

Take time out and watch this video: 

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/21215/Heavens-Light-Shines

Have a very blessed 3rd week of Advent!:) 

" Poisoned Apples "

Write an article for a movie review magazine, giving your critical opinion on a movie you saw when you were younger and have re watched recently.

Poisoned apples, missing glass slipper and princes in disguise; these fairytale themes were the outline of my five year old life. Being a little girl, I enjoyed living in a dream world with my “princess friends”. My inspiration poured out of movies such as Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and so on.

Two months ago, I visited a video library back in my hometown after several years of living in the city. A wave of memories washed over me as I passed the “Children’s section”. Eager to reminisce in the joys of my past, I picked up one of my all time favorite movies “Snow White”.

Watching the movie again, I expected it to be laughs and fun, but in turn I was left speechless, unable to digest the Grimm fairytale before my eyes. As a child watching the animation of “Snow White”, my main focus was the little dwarves and the (rather premature) romance between Snow White and her prince. Having an innocent, uneducated mind of ignorance, that’s the most you would expect from a child.

However, 10 years later after phases of interest in symbolism, my eyes were open to a completely different story behind the story... Now you may accuse me of reading too much into a fairytale, but I do believe that “Snow White” was much more than a children’s story; in fact I believe Snow White was an allegory.

Let’s begin with some background information; Walt Disney was a Christian man who believed in the use of symbolism. He would occasionally put symbols into his animation to either encourage a belief or raise awareness of a situation. He couldn’t possibly have gotten into trouble for this for his silent messages were always hidden behind the happy faces of his cartoons. You may be wondering what I’m going on about, but think about it; could the rescue of Geppetto from the whale be a reference to Jonah in the Bible, or purely coincidence? In the movie Lion King, was Scar’s promise to the hyenas (and their Gestapo-like march in the song “Be Prepared”) a connection to the rule of Hitler in Germany, or was it just an evil plot conjured by another villain?

Going back to Snow White; much of the symbolism in this movie is based on Christianity, even paralleling some stories from the Bible. Let’s begin with the three colors she is associated with- White, Red and Black. These are the three colors of the life cycle. I have chosen to relate Snow White to Jesus’ life. White being the colour of birth and his pure nature, Red being the color of his life and passion, Black used to refer to his death and the cruelty against him.

The next significant thing I noticed in the movie was the names and number of dwarves. There are 7 dwarves, possibly representing the seven days of the week, or the time in which God made the earth (including his final day of rest). These dwarves in the original fairytale had no names; the names were added for the Disney version. These names show the seven moods of man, such as grumpy, dopey, happy etc.

Snow White encourages work and wash with her constant smile as she sings her way through her chores. On one occasion, she convinces all the dwarves that they must wash properly in order to be clean and healthy. After this “washing” the dwarves seem to have changed, seeing life in a brighter light and enjoying every moment together. This is a clear message of baptism, a life-changing experience involving cleansing through water.

Altering the plot of the Grimm brothers’ tale, the evil stepmother only visited Snow White once, offering her a poisoned apple. If we remember back to the Old Testament, the downfall of Eve was a bite from the apple of a forbidden tree. This can be seen very clearly as Snow White falls into a deep trance after eating a bite of the poisoned apple. There is an obvious link between the story and the Christian religion.

Towards the end of the movie, death and resurrection is displayed in its mild form. Snow white falls into a deep sleep leaving her dwarves mourning her loss. After a period of waiting, the prince comes along and wakes her. Thinking back to the time of Jesus, he too rose again after a period of waiting (3 days to be exact, this number is related to the primary colors of the tale).

This movie has left me amazed with the fact that children’s movies may not always be what they seem. Watching it again, I was no longer following the plot, but I understood the humor, grasped more of the dialogue and searched for a deeper meaning that Walt Disney may have been trying to send.

Again, you may accuse me of reading too much into a fairytale, but I do believe that “Snow White” was much more than a children’s story; in fact I believe Snow White was an allegory.




Amy Abraham


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Amy Abraham is a 11th grader who studies at the Hebron School, Ooty, India.

                 

Christmas Fear factor?

 

"If you know the movie is scary, why watch it?" we questioned our teens who had nightmares afterward. "You don't understand! It's fun!" they said. 

Many adults have long given up the notion of being frightened as a way of entertainment. We have vowed never to get on any rides in the amusement park that will raise our blood pressure or churn our stomachs. 

Unfortunately, many of us have also mellowed spiritually. We prefer not to be emotional or passionate about any thing. Even Christmas has become just another holiday tradition — mildly fun, but hardly exciting. 

For the shepherds, that very first Christmas was an action-packed thriller, filled with all sorts of fear factors. 

Would they still live after witnessing the angels and the glory of God? Humans were not normally allowed into the presence of God's glory! 

How would the Messiah's family receive them? After all, they were only lowly shepherds!

What would others think of them and their story of angels? 

Their story hardly seemed believable.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!" (Luke 2:8-10)

Has the Christmas story become dull?

 

Admittedly, for many of us the Christmas story has become predictably dull. Yes, we know the where and how of Jesus' birth, we know the plot but long have forgotten the purpose of the Nativity, and many even contend that we cannot know the date of the Lord's birth with certainty so why even bother with celebrating it on a certain day? For us, there are no more fear factors — only tradition, routine, and detached discussion. 

What would make this Christmas a little bit more thrilling like that holy night the shepherds first met God's Messiah and their Savior? 

What would open our hearts to the Lord's glory like the shepherds experienced the heavenly host in all of their heavenly glory? 

What risk are we willing to take at Christmas to share in the joy of Jesus' birth like the shepherds? 

Maybe we've forgotten that it's fun ... and thrilling ... and glorious ... joyous ... and holy! 

News Flash: There's just 25 days to Christmas!! He was born so that Man no more may Die. Start rejoicing. 

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A Day of Thanksgiving!

Before I start with todays article, heres a story that will help set the pace.

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As the holiday season approaches I get excited! The thrill of families coming together, enjoying great food, cooler weather, long held traditions, and, of course, great food, is the recipe for my perfect time of year. There are so many traditions and rituals taking place during the holidays it can be difficult to tell one year from the next. The same family members eat the same meals, discussing the same issues, around the same table. 

Only when something changes or a new tradition is born does the year stick out clear in my memory. A year I will never forget was not long ago when a new tradition was started. On Thanksgiving Day as I gathered around the dinner table, it was suggested that we each share the things we are thankful for. I had seen other families practice similar traditions, but this was the first time I was asked to share my list of blessings aloud.

As I went to work compiling my list of things to be thankful for, I started to feel a little embarrassed. How is it that all the Thanksgiving Day’s of my past had come and I had forgotten to actually give thanks? Then I realized just how long of a list I was going to have! A scripture came to mind …

Call out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Be glad as you serve the Lord. Come before Him with songs of joy. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His field. Go into His gates giving thanks and into His holy place with praise. Give thanks to Him. Honor His name. For the Lord is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. And He is faithful to all people and to all their children-to-come (Psalm 100).

What better time to remember our blessings than on a holiday that was meant for giving thanks.

I’ll never forget the feelings of thankfulness I felt on that day. A great tradition had been born.

It can be difficult at times for us to see God’s blessings; the holidays are not always full of good memories. People are forced to deal with tragedies and struggles even on holidays. In difficult times it’s important to remember that “the Lord is God ... We are His people and the sheep of his field.” We can be assured of God’s love for us and find comfort in his blessing. 

In hard times or times of blessing, we are never without thankfulness. We all need an occasional reminder to stop and thank God for his goodness. What better time to remember our blessings than on a holiday that was meant for giving thanks.

- Author Unknown

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From the beginning, this American holiday was not about food and football, as much as it was about reserving a day to celebrate the spirit of thankfulness. It was, and still is, a national reminder to be grateful, and, yes, a calling to reconnect with grace.

Although defined by many as an emotion, I believe thankfulness is a choice — a life choice. Followers of Jesus choose gratitude because they have experienced an undeserved and unexpected outpouring of grace.

As you go through today,  Take a walk and thank God for his grace.
Think about the gifts God has given you in spite of, and in the midst of, your pain and grief, your frustrations and failures, and your mess-ups and bad choices. Your impossible times are more than enough reason for the Thanksgiving season.
Thank HIM for growth and change and understanding that has come through watching others show grace and faith in the middle of adversity.
Thank God for the good you have experienced, especially the good you didn't earn or deserve.
Look for the fingerprints of God in the strangest places and share the spirit of thanksgiving with at least one other person.
Do something that encourages others to be grateful. It's infectious.
Write an unexpected "Thank You" note, or send an email. Unwrap the gift of grace and find the power to choose thanksgiving.

Give thanks, with a greatful heart
Give thanks, to the Holy one..
Give thanks, cos he has Given
Jesus Christ his son..

~GIVE THANKS!~




Olivia Pereira
HSI Media
olivia.hsimt@gmail.com

Small things..Big Value.

This article probably is best described as a sudden realization that came to my own mind. Over the past weeks, the blog featured articles along the lines of making a difference in the world as we know it- there was the article on thinking differently, of God using us no matter our background, of us being the difference and so on. Somewhere down the line I think, I may have missed the "smaller" picture. You will understand what I mean by the end of today’s article, and I hope that you to find as much of a joy in the smaller things there is to Life, as in the big things.

Big things in your time O Lord. And not in mine!

- Olivia

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Is it possible that we have misunderstood, or ignored, the value of small? Jesus saw something in smallness that we may overlook.

Consider these statements:

"'When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25:39-40).

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25:44-46).

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest" (Luke 9:47-49).

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:19-20).

Jesus saw the value of small. We must learn to pay attention to the small stuff.

We tend to focus on big. Big cars. Big houses. Big churches. Big budgets. Big signs. Big events. Big bank accounts. Big projects. Big attendance. Big numbers. Big buildings.

From the outside looking in, would it appear that we believe that big equals better?

Jesus did not seem to be implying that big is necessarily bad. He also encouraged us to have enough faith to do big things. He emphasized having a faith that will move mountains, faith to walk on water, and that the disciple's faith would enable them to do even greater things than they had seen Him do.

However, we must not forget that those big things begin with something small: faith the size of a mustard seed, taking one step outside of the boat, serving one another, and washing feet. Jesus pointed to children as our example of what "the kingdom is like." He spoke of being the least in the kingdom. He reminds of the importance of simply offering someone a cup of water.

Perhaps we should consider our plans and re-evaluate our approach to life and to ministry. We would do well not to allow ourselves to be so enamoured by the big that we miss the value of the small. It may very well be that the greatest impact you will have this week in the life of another human being will come from doing something small. One conversation. A word of gratitude. A kind comment. A one-on-one conversation. A moment of listening. A small group study. Two or three gathered to pray. A single thoughtful act. A good application of the Scripture. A phone call. A text message. An email. A gentle touch. A note of encouragement. A small gift. An hour of your time.

Just this week, pay attention to small. Let God turn it into something big ... but only if He wants it to be big.

Living in a world of Faithlessness..

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing -Psalm 145:13-16

A man and a woman stand in the front of a church building and promise to love one another “until death separates us.” Troubles come. The joy fades. Temptation gets the best of them. One of them gives in. “I could not help it. It just happened.” They file for divorce. What happened to faithfulness?

The job offer comes with the promise of a hefty salary, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to advance. The economy slides into a slump, a recession, and things change. First come the rumors of about layoffs. Then, come the layoffs. The perks are gone. The retirement is gone. The security is gone. The future is dark. What happened to faithfulness?

The church felt like home. It seemed to be a good fit. People were coming. Numbers were increasing. People were being encouraged. Plans were being made. Life was good. Then, something changed. Plans were changed. Promises were broken. Hearts were broken. Relationships were broken. What happened to faithfulness?

Look to the Lord!

 

There was a day when a man’s word was his bond. A handshake was good enough. A promise was kept. Vows were sacred. How elected figures talked in public was how they lived in private. When politicians made promises they tried to keep them. Something changed. What happened to the faithfulness?

Does faithfulness still exist?

Has faithfulness disappeared?

Perhaps we are looking for faithfulness in the wrong place? As Psalm 145:13-16 indicates, it is the Lord who is faithful. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His dominion endures. He is faithful. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. He satisfies the desires of every living thing.

If the political speeches leave you empty, if personal integrity seems to be missing, and if you are weary of the endless contracts and paper work required to provide proof that the person with whom you are doing business will keep a promise causes you to ask what happened to faithfulness, then look to the Lord.

Look to the Lord, He is faithful. Look to the Lord, He will keep His word. Look to the Lord, His Kingdom will last and His dominion will endure. You can trust Him. You can depend on Him. You can rest in Him. You can rely on Him. He will not betray you, forget you, or reject you. He is faithful.

The Lord is faithful.





Olivia Pereira
HSI Media
olivia.hsimt@gmail.com

Walking Wounded..

God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars. -- Elbert Hubbard

Proverbs 4:23  says, “Guard your heart with all wisdom, for it is the wellspring of life”

The Word of God is full of deep and wonderful truth. Many of us have been advised to “guard our hearts” in friendships. It is indeed wise to guard both our emotions and our expectations. We must be wise, and not needlessly expose ourselves to hurt or disappointment.

Even those of us who have had wonderful families, perhaps Christian families, will know that no person is perfect. We are always going to get let down or hurt at some point. Those of us who have come from more troubled backgrounds will probably have learnt that really you cannot live with your security based on people. Parents and other friends should be an encouragement to us; loving us and being a positive input into our lives. But when this is not the case, we can be devastated. How ever fortunate or not we are with the people we have around is, our security must be in God. He is the one who made us and who loves us like no one else could. Although it is very normal to look for encouragement and approval from those around us, we must not allow disappointment to devastate us if our hopes are not realised.

In this life, we need human companions as well as God for a companion (Genesis 2:18). If there is no one around you at the moment who is providing this friendship, at least in some way, then actively try to find it. Life can become a constant test of survival, where you have no real choice apart from just to accept suffering and to stick it out.

God - The Rock, is secure
It can take time to know healing from our hurts and disappointments, and with this to trust God and truly place him as our security. Disappointment is a nasty enemy. We may hope for just simple, basic things in life. Maybe good friends, or a partner to share our live with. But our track record registers disappointment. However, we need not loose hope when we know God. We may not get all we want or hope for, and this is hard to accept when other people seem happy and are enjoying themselves.

With God, all good things are possible. If it is confidence you need, he can bring it, and if it is a miracle you need, he can answer your prayer. Don’t give up or loose hope, and do gain encouragement and help form where ever you can. If there is some sort of a spiritual curse over your life, which stifles you living in freedom and enjoying good things, then he can break it by his power (Colossians 2:13-15)

Grasping to hope
You may be in the depths of pain and disappointment. It may be of some hope to think that Jesus has always been through worse than us. Perhaps it is as if you are finding it hard to breath, such is the fear and depression that chokes you. Jesus must have experienced this and more as he suffered for us on the cross. We at least get to catch our breath, though we suffer.

When we feel very low or isolated, even very basic recognition from other Christians can lift us and bring us hope. It allows us a wonderful glimpse of God and of how life can be for us on earth. Sometimes we feel that we are hanging on for dear life. A friend once used an image to encourage himself. It was of seeing himself in deep waters, drowning. That’s how he felt at the time. He saw a helicopter - which represented Jesus, hovering over the water, and someone reached down to rescue him from the seas. This brings to mind Psalm 18:16:
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me, he drew me out of deep waters”.

Selfless Trust in God
Healing really can take time. However, we find moments of relief and hope, and quickly learn to take every bit of encouragement that we can get. There is so much hope and encouragement in the Word of God. Don’t ever loose hope when you know God, as he can restore and heal, and he will never leave you. If you do miss out in life, and do not get all that you hope for on earth, he will make things up to you in Heaven. Provision and healing will be made complete. God is perfect, and he will richly reward us if we are faithful, he will not deprive us of good things.

We are all on our way home to Heaven, and on the journey we can know the healing and power of Jesus in our lives. We can know comfort, peace and provision, as well as the privilege of serving others and sharing God with those who do not know him. Hold on, and hold fast to God’s hand. He will never let go. 

You may walk wounded today, but know that the greatest Healer is at work.In His time, He makes ALL things beautiful!!




Olivia Pereira
HSI Media
olivia.hsimt@gmail.com

God can use US!

There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you.

But don't worry.  You're in good company . . . .

§  Moses stuttered.

§  David's armor didn't fit.

§  John Mark was rejected by Paul.

§  Timothy had ulcers.

§  Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

§  Jacob was a liar.

§  David had an affair.

§  Solomon was too rich.

§  Jesus was too poor.

§  Abraham was too old.

§  David was too young.

§  Peter was afraid of death.

§  Lazarus was dead.

§  John was self-righteous.

§  Naomi was a widow.

§  Paul was a murderer.

§  So was Moses.

§  Jonah ran from God.

§  Miriam was a gossiper.

§  Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

§  Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.

§  Elijah was burnt out.

§  John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

§  Martha was a worry-wart.

§  Mary was lazy.

§  Samson had long hair.

§  Noah got drunk.

Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul -- well, lots of folks did.

But God doesn't require a job interview.

He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our Dad than our Boss.

He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.

He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. As much as we try, God's gifts are free.

We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be . . . Wonderful.

Satan says, "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "So what? . . . I AM."

Satan looks back and sees our mistakes. God looks back and sees the cross.

He doesn't calculate what you did in '98. It's not even on the record.

Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't have called us.

But if we are magically in love with Him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like.

Pray that as Christians, we will step out of our limitations into the illimitable nature of who God is. Then our passion for God and our passion to communicate with Him will make out-do of our limitations.- Author Unknown