Forget the mistakes of the past

When we are coming up to the end of the year, we are usually compelled to do a review of our accomplishments and our plans for the next year. It is a good place and time to "take stock". In the work that I do, we request leaders to set goals for 6 areas of their lives: Ministry, Family, Spiritual, Intellectual/Professional, Physical and Financial. Some of you are familiar with Paul Meyer's goal setting framework. This is an adaption from his framework with permission. Whatever season of your life you may be in, I believe God has a special and unique plan for you. Mistakes are in the past, but God is prepared to restore if we come back to Him just like the people of Israel. Jeremiah continues the message of restoration in chapter 31.

Jeremiah 31:33-34

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.

This is a new covenant from God. We will all serve the Lord as God redeems us. This is the ultimate restoration that is fulfilled through the Lord Jesus Christ. The message of salvation has been foretold and it needs to be told today. Father, help me tell it.

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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...

Seek a good personal testimony

In the same way you can have professional wedding planners, you also have funeral planners. I know some of you who are superstitious will be saying "touch wood". I have written something on this before and you can read it here. Have you planned your funeral? I have not and neither did Abraham plan his wife's funeral until her death. Don't get me wrong. Nothing wrong with planning your funeral but there is something interesting here in this chapter. Genesis 23:6, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” Abraham is recognized as a Mighty Prince. He is about to have his first big funeral, and it is for his wife. The people of the land were ready to give whatever Abraham wanted. He gained huge respect because of the favor that God had given him. He insisted on paying full price for the burial ground and he paid in cash. G...

Rags to riches need something else

Can the impossible become possible? I have read many stories of rags to riches and have been naturally impressed by everything that has been said. It required great persistence, hardwork, endurance and something else. That something else is what differentiates between one rags to riches story, and the many other rags to rags stories. Unfortunately, we do not hear or read many of the latter. The successful ones had a "good break" that is a gift from God. Psalms 126:6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. The people of Israel could only dream of being released from captivity. That is how this chapter started. Yes, the sowing of seed is needed. Hard work cannot be missed. But, along with the hardwork is the weeping. Weeping before God. He alone provided the deliverance when the people cried before God. Father, my heart's desire is to see all saved. Hear my cry O Lord fo...

He has plans to prosper you

Over 30 years ago I was contemplating my plans for the future while helping a dear Brother in the Lord do some minor repairs around the house. Nothing serious was moving in my applications for jobs in Canada or the US. At a Monday night College and Career Bible Study at Stone Church , Toronto, I got my direction through this passage and some other information God placed there that night. And so within a week I bought my one way ticket to Malaysia. That was a significant move for me as a 23 year old. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. The move to Babylon was probably quite significant for the people of Judah that were taken captives and there was great uncertainty as to when they could eventually return to their homeland. Jeremiah was clear. Be ready to stay for a while. You are going to stay in Babylon for a bit. Just like the people of Judah, God can take...

You will look good

In today's world many are not happy with how they look naturally. They do everything possible to get it "right". Some of these include almost permanent changes that affects their bodies for the rest of their lives. This includes tattoos. I am not going to saying anything about this but we need to be careful about the agenda of people that do these things. There is something better. Revelation 22:4, They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. How God's name is going to be on our foreheads, I am not sure. But it would be like wearing a uniform of an organization that you are very proud of, and want to be associated with publicly. There will also be the tree of life. There will be no more pain. No more sorrow. God's presence will be so tangible that we can see His face. Revelation 22:12-13, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and t...

You are powerless

Years ago I watched a movie that played out the end times based on Revelations. It was quite dramatic and scary, but had a happy ending. This is what has been planned from the beginning of time. This chapter in Revelations gives a quick snapshot of the end. Revelation 20:4, And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. It did not occur to me until much later in my Christian life that there will be a thousand years when followers of Christ will reign on earth. Satan will be bound at this time and he will not be able to touch the saints that will be resurrected at this time. Yet there will still be those who reject God. These will be destroyed as mentioned in verse 9. Revelation 2...

Sreedhar's Journey

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