Devotional

 05/21/09
 

Habakkuk 3:17 to 19 – Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength. He will make my feet like deer’s feet and He will make me walk on my high hills.

 

Amy Carmichael often said faith never wonders why. Through the journey of life she was severely tested many times. Often she and her companions would travel many a mile, in the heat, enduring sleepless nights and very poor means of transport; to rescue a baby from being sold into temple prostitution, only to see it die a few days later.
 

Her three close companions in ministry passed away earlier than she had expected. The girl she had trained and invested everything in to take over the ministry after her (Arulai) died suddenly.
Once when everything seemed lost and the devil seemed to say “Now you have to fall back”. She replied, “Then, we fall back upon God”.

05/17/09

 

James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world

 

It was around 6:30 am in the morning in Chennai, India. I was fast asleep when the German shepherd dog in our verandah started barking. I was annoyed that my sleep was being disturbed. I got even more upset when I realized that it was caused by beggars banging the front gate of our compound asking for money. I rushed outside to give them a word or two for coming at such an early time of the day asking for money. When I reached the verandah I saw three elderly people at the gate. On seeing their countenance my anger was immediately gone. They smiled at me and asked if we could donate for an old age home under construction. I told them to come back later as it was too early in the morning. They kept smiling and politely nodded. No sooner had I gone back in, it struck me that they were (possibly) angels. I rushed back outside but they weren’t there. I went out to the street to look for them but couldn’t find them .I enquired a few standers by if they had seen people of that description. They replied that they had neither seen them at our gate nor pass by. My conscience was pricked and I repented for my hardness of heart.

05/13/09

Romans 8:28- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

Several years back, during one of those intimate times with the Lord, His overwhelming Love initiated the response “Lord whatever it takes perfect that which concerns me”. “Be it hardship or pain or trials, have your way”. Little did I comprehend what I had said or where that would lead me into.