FAITH BOOK

Lent Thought

Lenten Devotion Day 2: Beginning of Lent – Reconciliation (Shubkono) pulpit humour

Healthy Fear
The only healthy fear is the fear of our Creator in reverence. If we do good, we will be accepted. If not sin will take us out. Our Father gives His Word is given to educate us on good verses evil. We can fear Him and run to Him for shelter in obedience. Fearing Him is to take Him at His Word. He means for us to be hearers and doers of His Commands to afford the pitfalls and danger in this world for ourselves and others. Everything outside of His Will is dangerous, deadly and destructive. If He leaves us on our own we would self-destruct in no time. He is shortening the time to slow destruction down. He is allowing as many as will come to repentance to be saved. Heathy fear causes us to trust and obey Him. He gives favor to all who are willing and obedient. It angers Him to be ignored, disobeyed, profaned, and, or mocked. All who do not fear Him do harm to themselves and others without fear of the consequences of their behaviors. Trouble would never end for mankind if those who disregard His Word, Will, Wisdom, and Ways would be allowed to remain throughout eternity. He will w**d out all who are not willing and obedient to operate in a fearful safe, reverence to do good. This is the beauty of Holiness projected for all who will persevere in healthy fear.
Genesis 4:6 And יהוה said to Qayin, “Why are you wroth? And why is your face fallen?

7 “If you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should master it.”
Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption to His people, He has commanded His covenant forever. Set-apart and awesome is His Name.

10 The fear of יהוה is the beginning of wisdom, All those doing them have a good understanding. His praise is standing forever.
Proverbs 1:6 For understanding a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of יהוה is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 8:11 “For wisdom is better than rubies, And all delights are not comparable to her.

12 “I, wisdom, have dwelt with insight, And I find knowledge, foresight.

13 “The fear of יהוה is to hate evil. I have hated pride and arrogance, And the evil way, And the perverse mouth.

14 “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, mightiness is mine.
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to יהוה; Hand to hand: he goes not unpunished.

6 By kindness and truth crookedness is pardoned. And in the fear of יהוה one turns away from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please יהוה, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, So that you are wise in your latter end.

21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, But it is the counsel of יהוה that stands.

22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of יהוה leads to life, And he remains satisfied, He is not visited by evil.
Matthews 10:27 “What I say to you in the dark, speak in the light. And what you hear in the ear, proclaim on the house-tops.

28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in Gehenna.
Philippians 2:12 So that, my beloved, as you always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much rather in my absence – work out your own deliverance with fear and trembling,

13 for it is Elohim who is working in you both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all matters without grumblings and disputings,
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, then, under the mighty hand of Elohim, so that He exalts you in due time,

7 casting all your worry upon Him, for He is concerned about you.

8 Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in the belief, knowing that the same hardships are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Renaming Folks
When we were born again our Father changed our name as it pertains to us. He gave us a new name in reputation and characteristics. It may look and be pronounced the same but it has a brand new meaning as it pertains to us. We can tell if we have oughts or favoritism towards others by the pronouns that come to our minds when we encounter them. We might rename them, sweetheart, beautiful, stupid, ugly, jerk, dummy, smarty, ignorant, sour, etc. We have to be careful not to disdain people in our hearts by assigning negative new names to them. Remember we were given a new name. Let's not mess it up. We do better to look for some good qualities in them and place emphasis on that. Build up their good qualities. Tell them how good they are going to or can be. The prayer of faith avails much. Let's speak life and delight ourselves in seeing the work our Father does in others according to our prayers. If they are anyways ugly, pray the ugly off of them by faith in the beauty of Holiness. Our Father renamed us. Let's be willing to give others a good new name as our heart's cry to our Father, for their good, healing and deliverance. Rename the lost as the potentially redeemed.
Psalms 141:2 Let my prayer be prepared before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

3 O יהוה, set a guard for my mouth; Watch over the door of my lips.

4 Let not my heart be inclined to evil, To practice deeds of wrongness With men working wickedness, And let me not eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous one smite me Or reprove me in kindness – It is oil on my head. Let my head not refuse it. My prayer is still against their evil deeds.
Proverbs 3:2 He who walks in his straightness fears יהוה, But he whose ways are crooked despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise guard them.
Proverbs 13:2 From the fruit of the mouth a man eats the good, But the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

3 He who watches over his mouth guards his being, But he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 15: 3The eyes of יהוה are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

4 A healing tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it crushes the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s discipline, But he who heeds reproof is clever.

Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the tongue of perverseness is cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, But the mouth of the wrong speaks perverseness.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother transgressed against is a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.

20 A man’s stomach is satisfied From the fruit of his mouth; He is satisfied with the increase of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

Luke 6:44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

45 “The good man brings forth what is good out of the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.
James 1:2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance.

let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

2 For we all stumble in many matters. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body.
1 Peter 3:8 To sum up, let all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, humble-minded,

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, in order to inherit a blessing.

10 For “He who wishes to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit,

11 let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it.

Lifting Our Hands
As We lift our hands up to our Awesome Father let's surrender our hearts to Him continuously. May our lifted hand indicate to our souls that we are totally giving ourselves over to Him. Let's trust Him to lead us and guide us in the way we need to go. He is the only one who knows the way we should take. His is the Way, He is the Truth which sets us free. He has made a Way for mankind to escape the evil of this world. The sooner we yield ourselves and cares totally to Him, the better off we will be. We may have to continue to lift our hands to Him reminding ourselves that He is our Waymaker. He can part the sea and enable us to move the mountains by our true faith in Him. Our yielding is evidenced by our obedience to His every Word. Come on souls, say yes to His Will. Where He leads does us well to follow. It is His world, we are His Creation. He made all things to work together for those who love Him and are called for His Purpose. Lifting our hands to Him indicates our love for Him. HalleluYah!! let's work with Him. He never fails. Praise Him with unlifted hands until He reaches down and takes our hands. Let's command our souls to Lift our hands in praise.
Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra blessed יהוה, the great Elohim. Then all the people answered, “Amĕn, Amĕn!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped יהוה with faces to the ground.
Psalms 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to Elohim with a voice of singing!

2 For יהוה Most High is awesome; A great Sovereign over all the earth.

3 He subdues peoples under us, And nations under our feet.

4 He chooses our inheritance for us, The excellence of Ya‛aqoḇ whom He loves. Selah.

5 Elohim shall go up with a shout, יהוה with the sound of a ram’s horn.
Psalms 63:3 Because Your kindness is better than life, My lips do praise You.

4 Therefore I bless You while I live; In Your Name I lift up my hands.
Psalms 141:1 יהוה, I have cried out to You; Hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

2 Let my prayer be prepared before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

Psalms 143:6 I have spread out my hands to You; My being is like a thirsty land for You. Selah.

7 Hasten, answer me, O יהוה; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those going down into the pit.

8 Let me hear Your kindness in the morning, For in You I have put my trust; Let me know the way in which I should walk, For I have lifted up my being to You.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O יהוה; I take refuge in You.
Praise 150:1 Praise Yah! Praise Ěl in His set-apart place; Praise Him in His mighty expanse!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the blowing of the ram’s horn; Praise Him with the harp and lyre!

4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with sounding cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals!

6 Let all that have breath praise Yah. Praise Yah!

John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him.

24 “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”
Colossians 3:14 But above all these put on love, which is a bond of the perfection.

15 And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks.

16 Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.

! Timothy 2:5 For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע,

6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be witnessed in its own seasons,

7 for which I was appointed a proclaimer and an emissary – I am speaking the truth in Messiah and not lying – a teacher of the gentiles in belief and truth.

8 So I resolve that the men pray everywhere, lifting up hands that are set-apart, without wrath and disputing.

Obey our Creator, the Mechanic of our beings. He knows what is good for us, body and soul. Hear Him. He can repair everything.

കോലാഹലങ്ങളുടെ ലോകത്തിലാണ് നാം ജീവിക്കുന്നത്. ഒത്തിരി ശബ്ദങ്ങളഉടെ മദ്ധ്യത്തില്‍ മൃദു സ്വരങ്ങള്‍ നിശബ്ദമാക്കപ്പെടുകയോ നിസ്സാരവത്കരിക്കപ്പെടുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്ന ലോകം. ആടുകള്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ ഇടയന്റെ ശബ്ദം കേള്‍ക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, തന്റെ സൗമ്യമായ ശബ്ദവുമായി നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളെ ഇണക്കിച്ചേര്‍ക്കാന്‍ യേശു നമ്മെ വിളിക്കുന്നു. പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥനയിലൂടെയും തിരുവെഴുത്തിലൂടെയും പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവിന്റെ പ്രേരണകളിലൂടെയും, മത്സരശബ്ദങ്ങളുടെ ആരവങ്ങള്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ നാം അവന്റെ ശബ്ദം തിരിച്ചറിയണം. അവന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിന് വഴങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍, അവന്റെ സത്യത്തിന്റെ പരിവര്‍ത്തന ശക്തി നാം തിരിച്ചറിയുകയും അവന്റെ ആട്ടിന്‍കൂട്ടത്തിന്റെ ഐക്യത്തിലേക്ക് അത് നമ്മെ കൂടുതല്‍ അടുപ്പിക്കുന്നു

Great Lent Meditations| John 10: 16| Sheep that do not belong to this fold Great Lent Meditations

കേവലം ധാര്‍മ്മിക മൂല്യങ്ങളുടെ ഗുരുഎന്നതിലല്ല ക്രിസ്തുവിനെ ഉള്ളില്‍ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് അവനെ രക്ഷിതാവും കര്‍ത്താവും ആയി അംഗീകരിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്കാണ് ഈ വെളിച്ചത്തെ അതിന്റെ സാധ്യതകളില്‍ ആസ്വദിക്കുന്നവാനാകുന്നത്. അവനില്‍ ഇല്ലാത്തതുപോലെ അവരിലും ഇരുള്‍ ഇല്ല.

പ്രകാശം അന്ധകാരത്തെ നീക്കുന്നതാണ്. ഏത് സാഹചര്യത്തെയും രൂപാന്തരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതാണ്. ഇരുട്ട് എത്ര കഠിനമെങ്കിലും അല്പം വെളിച്ചം സാഹചര്യത്തെ രൂപാന്തരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. എരിയുവാനാവാതെ വെളിച്ചത്തിന് വെളിച്ചമായി നിലനില്ക്കുവാനാവുന്നില്ല. സ്വയം എരിഞ്ഞ് മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്കായി വെളിച്ചത്തെ നല്‍കുന്നവനാണ് ക്രിസ്തു. ഇരുളിന് വെളിച്ചത്തില്‍ വസിക്കുവാനാവാത്തതുപോലെ അശുദ്ധികള്‍ക്ക് വെളിച്ചവുമായി ചങ്ങാത്തം കൂടുവാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നില്ല. അത് വിശുദ്ധിയുടെ അനുഭവമാണ്.

ഞാന്‍ ലോകത്തിന്റെ വെളിച്ചമെന്ന് മാത്രമല്ല, നിങ്ങള്‍ ലോകത്തിന്റെ വെളിച്ചം എന്നാണ് ക്രിസ്തു പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. താന്‍ എന്തെല്ലാമായിരിക്കുന്നുവോ അതെല്ലാം തന്റെ വിശ്വാസികളുമാണെന്ന് ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ഇത്തരം പഠിപ്പിക്കലുകളിലെ പരാമര്‍ശങ്ങള്‍ ശ്രദ്ധേയമാണ്. അന്ധകാരം ഭൂമിയെ മൂടുന്ന ഈ സമയത്ത് നീതിയിന്‍ സൂര്യനായ കര്‍ത്താവില്‍ നിന്നും വെളിച്ചം സ്വീകരിച്ച് വെളിച്ചം പങ്കുവെക്കുന്ന വലിയ ശുശ്രൂഷയിലേക്ക് കര്‍ത്താവ് നമ്മെ ക്ഷണിക്കുകയാണ്.

Great Lent Meditations| John 9 | Jesus heals the Blind Great Lent Meditations

നാമെല്ലാവരും ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കരുണ ആവശ്യമുള്ള പാപികളാണെന്ന് ഈ ഭാഗം നമ്മെ ഓര്‍മ്മിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. പരീശന്മാരെപ്പോലെ, നാമും ന്യായവിധിക്കും കാപട്യത്തിനും ചായ്വുള്ളവരാണ്, സ്വന്തം പാപങ്ങളെ അവഗണിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ തെറ്റുകള്‍ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാണിക്കാന്‍ തിടുക്കം കൂട്ടുന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങള്‍ പരിശോധിക്കുകയും അവന്റെ ക്ഷമയുടെ ആവശ്യം അംഗീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുവാന്‍ യേശു നമ്മെ ക്ഷണിക്കുന്നു.

അതിലുപരിയായി, പോകൂ, ഇനി പാപം ചെയ്യരുത് എന്ന യേശുവിന്റെ ആഹ്വാനം, നമ്മള്‍ ഓരോരുത്തരുടെയും മാനസാന്തരത്തിനുള്ള ആഹ്വാനമാണ്. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കല്‍പ്പനകള്‍ അനുസരിക്കുന്നതിലാണ് യഥാര്‍ത്ഥ സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യവും സമൃദ്ധമായ ജീവിതവും കണ്ടെത്തുന്നത് എന്ന ഓര്‍മ്മപ്പെടുത്തലാണ്. ഈ വലിയ നോമ്പ് ദിനത്തില്‍ നമുക്ക് നമ്മുടെ സ്വന്തം ജീവിതം പരിശോധിച്ച് സ്വയം ചോദിക്കാം: പാപത്തിന്റെ മേഖലകള്‍ ഏറ്റുപറഞ്ഞ് അവയില്‍ നിന്നും വിട്ടുനില്‍ക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ടോ എന്ന് നമ്മുക്ക് പരിശോധിക്കാം? നാം മാനസാന്തരപ്പെടേണ്ട ന്യായവിധിയുടെയും സ്വയനീതിയുടെയും മനോഭാവങ്ങളുണ്ടോ? നാം ഏവരും ക്ഷമ ആവശ്യമുള്ള പാപികളാണ്. കര്‍ത്താവേ കരുണചെയ്യേണമേ എന്ന പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥനയോടെ നമ്മുക്ക് അടുത്തുവരാം. പിതാക്കന്മാര്‍ നമ്മുക്ക് തന്ന ദൈവിക ആരാധന കര്‍ത്താവിന്റെ കരുണയില്‍ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്ന ഒന്നാണ്. ദൈവമേ നിന്റെ നീതിയുടെ കണ്ണുകൊണ്ടല്ല, കരുണയുടെ കൊണ്ട് ഞങ്ങളെ കടാക്ഷിക്കേണമേ എന്ന് നമ്മുക്കും പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥിക്കാം.

ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കരുണ അതിരുകളില്ലാത്തതാണ്, നാം എത്ര ദൂരെ തെറ്റിപ്പോയാലും എത്ര ആഴത്തില്‍ പാപത്തില്‍ വീണാലും ദൈവസ്‌നേഹം എപ്പോഴും നമുക്ക് ലഭ്യമാണ്. നമുക്ക് യേശുവിന്റെ vachanangal ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുകയും മാനസാന്തരത്തിലൂടെയും അവന്റെ വചനത്തോടുള്ള അനുസരണത്തിലൂടെയും വരുന്ന ജീവന്‍ നല്‍കുന്ന പരിവര്‍ത്തനം സ്വീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാം. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കരുണ നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളില്‍ നിറയട്ടെ, സന്തോഷകരമായ അനുസരണത്തിന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിലേക്ക് നമ്മെ നയിക്കട്ടെ.

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