We understand only a little

As humans we are constantly trying to rationalize the reason for how things work around us. This curiosity has helped to start many fields of study and much money goes into these studies. Researchers, research institutions and universities are constantly chasing grants to support their efforts for these research studies. Much has been discovered over the years but there is still a lot more we do not know. There is a quotation attributed to Aristotle,“The more you know, the more you know you don't know.”

Ecclesiastes 8:17, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

The writer gives his observation that the wise and the wicked both seem to enjoy each other's consequences for their actions. This question is repeated many times over. Why do good people suffer? And the obvious second question is, why are bad people flourishing? Yes, we can use the word vanity again here.

The challenges of life are obviously not limited in scope in terms of who they hit. But our relationship with God helps us to deal with them. Sin in this world has created an environment for bad things to happen along with the good. However with God, we have all we need to handle the bad things. We may never understand why, but we know God is on our side. Praise the Lord.

Father, commit my ways to You.

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My Journey of Faith

Sreedhar standing to the left of his grandfather in the center Almost 55 years ago a son was born to a Hindu family. The parents were 2nd generation Malaysians raised in a rubber estate near a small town called Sungei Petani in Northern Malaya at that time. This first child was given much love and care by their parents and had the privilege of growing up in 3 different states of Malaysia, most of which was in Petaling Jaya. He was blessed with his first domestic airplane ride when he was 10 years old, and made his first trip by airplane to Bangkok at the age of 11. In the mid 1970's the family moved to a large house in a relatively exclusive neighborhood in Petaling Jaya. This was a result of the favor his father, aged about 35 at that time, had in the workplace,. As a result, this son grew up in a mostly multicultural environment with Indian, Chinese and Malay children. In the process, his perspectives became cosmopolitan and racially neutral. On...

The commands are clear

Crossing of the Red Sea in the history of mankind was a spectacular event. The next spectacular event is the interaction with God on Mount Sinai. Cloud and smoke and ground of sapphire. Exodus 24:10, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. The sight and sounds must have been pretty amazing. This is where Moses gets the commandments from God. Exodus 24:12, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” There is such clarity in what God was doing here. The record makes clear the full situation as it happened after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea. Important details are captured and presented for us to read thousands of years later. This is preserved and taught until today just like the days of Moses. Father, we h...

Rags to riches need something else

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Stand and raise your hands

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It is premeditated

Have you ever found yourself in a corner? I am sure you know what I mean. Yes, this term comes from war campaigns, and widely used chess games. You pray that you are able to get out of it. David was also in a corner. He was about to go to war with his own people with the Philistines, but God provided a way out. 1 Samuel 29:9, Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ He is given favor to live among the Philistines, but in this major campaign against Saul and his army, David's loyalty was not tested. God orchestrated a way out for David. Yes, God made a way when there is no way. Father, I will always look to you for your directions in everything that I do.

See the greatest piece of artwork

All artists visualize what the final product is going to be before they start. They have their perspectives, the strokes, the colors and the condition of the piece. They start with a blank canvas and the painting comes to be. They continue to detail the work until it gets close to the visualization that they originally had. The greatest artists in the world have a view that is so unique that their final piece is worth a great prize. It is rare and shows something of the heart and mind of the artist. God is like that and He has had a view of the kingdom before creation. Luke 13:18-21 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Jesu...

Sreedhar's Journey

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