Sreedhar's Journey

There is a famous song by Frank Sinatra called "My Way".  I have seen many senior people in my country Malaysia use this song in karaoke sessions.  It is almost sung with arrogance to say that what they have accomplished is due to their ingenuity and the work of their hands.  They neglect to see and acknowledge the "hidden hand" like many from ancient times.  And yes, God has intervened in history for the sake of His people and kingdom. Isaiah 22:11 You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago. Much of people of Jerusalem's defense was based on their own ingenuity and design.  The people of Jerusalem tried different ways to defend themselves but they were being admonished by Isaiah's words that said they were were not looking to the one that "made it" and "planned it". I am again reminded of the pass

Things can get very grim, very fast.  This is especially so when people are against you.  Enemies are ready to take a pound of your flesh and do evil against you and your plans.  That is the story of the Babylonians and the like. Isaiah 21:7-9 And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care. Then he cried, “A lion, my Lord! I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night. And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!” Then he answered and said, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.” What is the point of you gaining the whole world and losing your soul. Paul the Apostle's message is clear as recorded in the New Testament. You may think highly of yourself today. The world may present you with many accolades, but ultimately your superiority cannot last.

Learn from history is what we are continually told from years past. But what do we do? We fail to learn from the failures and victories. I suppose we are poor learners in general. Isaiah 20:5-6, Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory. And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?’ Here we have Isaiah symbolically showing the people of Israel that they should be ashamed of trusting in the Egyptians and the Cushites. No, trust in the Lord only. Man may fail but God never. It may be difficult for a period of time but God is there always to provide us the peace that passes all understanding. Every issue and every anxiety are with you Lord. Father, my entire ways and approach must be to trust in You only. 

When I noticed and Egyptian cotton shirts it did not occur to me to think about how it got to be called Egyptian. As I read this passage of scripture written more than 500 years before Christ, I realize how ancient this industry was in Egypt. Isaiah 19:24-25 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” The other more shocking statement is the turning off the hearts of Egyptians and the Assyrians to God, and the building of the peace highway between them through Israel. I noticed this passage 3 years ago. Miracles do happen and the great wise men of Egypt could not figure it out. This miracle can and will happen. I need to continue praying for West Asia and the Northern Africa region. A political hotbed for a reason, but ready for revival. Father, continue to intervene for the worl

I was just speaking with a friend last night and we noted how God can bring the nations together for the sake of the kingdom.  There is really little that divides us except our human need or tendencies for position and power.  If all would demonstrate humility and care for others, we would be a united world walking in God's ways. Isaiah 18:7 In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts From a people tall and smooth of skin, And from a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, To Mount Zion. A friend on Easter Sunday exclaimed how tall an African man was when she noticed him after church. A Cushite? A nation tall and smooth? These are the black Africans referred to that lived along the Nile. A mighty empire at one time based on history. Yet they were to bring tributes to Israel. God has His way of taking us from a point of total w

Have you ever depended on someone or something and saw that your dependence was all in vain?  Yes, disappointment can come when you least expect it, especially if you have been told over many years that you could trust the person or the piece of equipment from a respected brand name.  How about a belief system?  You could have looked to something and trusted it for years, but it never quite gave you clear certainties.  It is time to clarity and be certain. Isaiah 17:7-8 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars. When you hear of the future destruction of Damascus, what do you do? You Google the phrase and this is what I got . As we hear of everything that is happening today in Syria, it makes you think that the fulfillment of this prophesy is imminent. You have

It is only human to try and justify your actions.  Even if they are wrong.  Our tendencies are to make sure we look "good".  However, it will yield negative results.  If the condition is bad, say so.  Enough of boasting. Enough of pride. We may be the only one ready to face the facts and say something needs to change. Isaiah 16:14, But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.” The chapter refers to a people that have a long history of conflict with the people of Israel. They occupy territory to the south east of Israel. The Moabites are related to the Israelites in the distant past. Moab was the son of Lot the nephew of Abraham. Perhaps there was envy. But certainly the lineage had something to do with the blessings they received. But they moved away from the God of their heritage.  Judgement came and still a remna

It can be very depressing to see a losing team, especially if it is a team that you are supporting.  Some can take it so personally that they go to extreme measures to mourn the loss.  The team could have worked very hard, but not hard enough.  The tactics and plans could have been well rehearsed, but the other team had better ideas and/or better execution.  Some would attribute their loss to "luck".  Ultimately, God is in charge. Isaiah 15:3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses And in their streets Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. The Moabites whose territory was modern day southern Jordan were one of those kingdoms that came against Israel. The entire chapter is devoted to show how the Moabites would cry out to their gods till their cry is heard far away when they are overcome. Indeed those that oppose God will face His wrath that was prepared for Satan. Like the Moabites, Satan must have felt tot

If you are human your needs are the same worldwide.  Relationship needs are the greatest need.  If you do not find in your family, you will look for it elsewhere.  This can be risky.  Many enter gangs early in life and get into vices that destroys them and many generations after them.  I am observing this in many countries, including developed countries like the United States and New Zealand, and Muslim countries where the family structure is very fluid with divorce and absent fathers.  Eventually it leads to a breakdown of the country. Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 3 nations are mentioned in this chapter as having judgement made against them. In today's continuing state of events we see these things happening. Continued calamity and destruction of these nations covering roughly the same geographical areas. Iraq, Syria and Palestine. There are others nam

I am always amused when people speak with arrogance about what they have achieved (or will achieve) with their own hands.  The sad truth is that they control very little of their present and the future.  The past is a "done deal", and looking back you will notice how little you had to do with the journey you took.  The first things to note is that you could not decide to be born, which womb, which city, and when.  There are many stories of successful entrepreneurs.  There are many more of failed ones that tried equally or more harder. Isaiah 13:19-20 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there. Many great civilizations and kingdoms have risen and collapsed over the centuries. Here we have the kingdom of Bab

Isaiah Chapter 12 is so captivating. I have decided to repeat it here to make sure we don't miss any of God's promises here. And these are given a few hundred years before Jesus' birth which is celebrated as Christmas, and His death and resurrection which is remembered as Good Friday and Easter. Isaiah 12:​ You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst

When I first reflected on this chapter for the day, the news of the bombings in Brussels was reverberating around the world. Most are condemning it and many others are celebrating this from their ungodly pretense of knowing God. If only they knew the heart of God. What does He desire? Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. Read this chapter. It is truly heaven on earth. No killings. No envy. No animosity. Those who oppose it will fail. There is a time coming when all this will end, and you better be on God's side. His ministry of reconciliation started in the Garden of Eden and continued through the ages with a major climax of His death and resurrection that is celebrated annually around the time of the Jewish Passover. Yes, the King is coming again as prophetically instituted by the first Passover event in Egypt,

We are always "full of ourselves".  We boast indiscriminately about our accomplishments to self-build a reputation.  There are people in history that have claimed this, but eventually they die and meet their creator, the ruler of the universe.  They have little to boast at that time. Isaiah 10:13 For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. As judgement is pronounced over Israel and Judah because of their ungodly ways, including worship of other gods, God declares His plans to redeem a remnant. This is the happy ending that we look forward to in every story. Truly there was one. The Assyrians were boastful of their conquest, failing to realize that it was given by God. God decides how things will work out. And He taught the Assyrians a lesson because of their arrogance.

1. Don't try to be an evangelist or a trainer of evangelists 2. Simply Know Him and Abide in Him 3. See God train 250,000 evangelists in the next 10 years to join His mission force in every nation 4. End Gospel Poverty 5. Every nation redeemed and transformed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

A mother (I do not subscribe to the notion or term "would-be mother") expecting her child waits with great anticipation and dreams.  She goes through a physical, emotional and spiritual journey that starts with conception.  A woman has complete charge of her body and cannot negate the fact that the baby in her womb has her blood flowing through the baby even it may be through a God given system that includes the placenta.  The greatest baby to be ever conceived was foretold about 700 years before it happened.  This baby was special because the DNA was "out of this world" but had human blood. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This chapter has good and bad news. The good news is that the region of Galilee is prophesied to have a deliverer who is said to have 5 names, Wonderfu

Some of you may have visited the Garuda Wisnu Kencana .  I recently visited it.  It reminded me of the deception that many live in.  When God is sought for something he expects nothing in return.  However, the stories shared at this iconic place in Bali show the craftiness of evil intentions and beings in holding captive those who are desperate.  Many in desperation seek mediums and the like for a way out.  My family was no different and probably cost my parents their marriage. Isaiah 8:12-13 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. The God of the Universe has spoken. He has clearly directed Isaiah in verse 11 not to walk in the way of the people. There is reference to seeking mediums and necromancers. Avoid them. No matter how desperate the situation may seem, only fear God. Nothing else.

Have you come up against challenges that you thought you could not handle?  I have!  The Lord continuously reminds me of His constant presence to be able to overcome every challenge.  Those who do not know the Lord have to lean on their own wisdom and strength.  Most people that I know rely on their own belief systems to help them.  But it is not the perfect solution. Isaiah 7:4 And say to him, Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. Yes, be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint! The key message from God through Isaiah to King Ahaz is that he needs to have faith.  Suddenly Isaiah rolls into the future by sharing the prophecy of Jesus' virgin birth and the fact that "God is with us". A confidence booster for Ahaz? I am sure it was. Father, No matter what the challenges, how big the ch

Life's journey can be quite a complex one.  You can only do so much to determine the outcome.  The rest is not for you to determine.  You can influence it with your actions, but you cannot determine the final outcome.  This puts many in a position of distress, and sometimes even depression.  It is time to not allow circumstances to dictate our state of mind.  How can this be done? Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” The dramatic cleansing and appointment of Isaiah as a prophet of God shows not just the majesty of our God but His holiness. We can determine to avail ourselves and be yielded to the ways of God.  These are personal choices that we CAN make.  The rest are in the hands of God who "loves us to bits".  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. The situation with Israel is the direct opposite at this time of history.  Israel is under treme

Things will never look good if one does evil for short term gain.  Short cuts do not work.  Thoroughness and hard work always win the day.  We cannot, and should not, take things for granted.  Many times we justify the means with the end.  This is a solid wrong. Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. The message in this chapter is clear. There was much injustice and profiteering in Jerusalem.  Judgement was coming upon them because they were not abiding in God. Everything is done for personal gain without due regard for others. Everyone probably did what was right in their own eyes. God gave them a great start by promising and giving the people of Israel the promised land. They prospered but yielded to greed and evil. I am reminded yet again of the need for those in authority, the government o

Are storms happening in your life?  They can be so relentless.  What is wrong, you may ask.  Sickness, broken relationship, loss of asset, failure.  My biggest loss that I have ever felt was when I failed my high school examination in Malaysia.  But God made up for it.  I rebounded with the best possible results for me in my Canadian high school exams.  However bleak it may seem, we will be able to recover. Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped. This chapter gives hope to the remnant that survive the judgement of God. The picture painted is so beautiful. Verse 5-6 says, "Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, for a ref

When you open the papers to the entertainment and lifestyle pages you see so much glamour. Clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfumes, hand bags and more.  I have nothing against them, but when they distract us from what is more important, it matters. Isaiah 3:18-23 In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; The nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; The outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes. In this chapter it also says the children will be part of the distraction.  We will be focused on making them happy rather than what the Lord requires of us and them.  Isaiah prophesies trouble for the people of Israel. The judgement of God being relayed to the people of Judah, especially the nobility is truly

Have you been watching the news?  Man is so full of himself.  Their perspectives, their focus, what gets them up in the morning is nothing but selfishness.  We need to break from personal and human agenda.  The best agenda is not from within, but without.  God's agenda! Isaiah 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Yes, truly God is great! The first part of the chapter refers to a period when all will acknowledge God and follow His ways. There will be no more need for war and peace will come upon the land.  This is true sustainable peace.  It is God made, not man made. Isaiah 2:17-18 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day, But the idols He shall utterly abolish. But the 2nd part of the c

Some people have the ability to work under many bosses in the same organization.  We sometimes call them "Survivors".  I reminded of people in history who were able to do that.  One was Daniel, and the other Isaiah.  Isaiah served Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  In spite of the issues and challenges each king brought, Isaiah stayed obedient to his divine calling to speak God's Word.  This verse especially stood out for me because God is ready to exercise patience with His people. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. There is new excitement as I start this new book. It reminds me of the many readings that I have heard from it. One of them that I will never forget is when my Senior Pastor, Rev Earl McNutt, of The Stone Church Toronto (more than 30 years ago when I was in universit

I am in the last chapter of the Song of Solomon and it continues in intensity about the value of love. It is priceless. It is equated to a mother's love in some sense. Money cannot buy it. The Song of Solomon 8:2 I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. If your interest is temporary illicit love, stop because it cannot be bought or earned. It is a God thing. Our relationship with our beloved wife is like a mother's. Do not take it lightly as it is a new permanent relationship. Don't enter it in haste. Consider it carefully and once the relationship is consummated it is permanent. Someone asked Lee Yen how many years we have been married.  I am not sure why the question was asked.  My relationship with Lee Yen is as permanent as my relationship with my Mum. Yes, till death do us apart. Praise God. Father, thank you for the wife

Another chapter of pure description of one's love for another person.  The bride and groom are openly and intimately sharing with each other.  There is a mention of nature and going out together to enjoy nature together.  Why not?  As mentioned earlier in my posts, this is within a God honoring relationship where husband and wife and enjoying their intimate God given relationship.  Many of the verses are too intimate to repeat here and so I only mention verse 5.  :) The Song of Solomon 7:5 Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, And the hair of your head is like purple; A king is held captive by your tresses. If husbands and wives today continue to share these intimate moments, there is no reason for souring of relationships, fights and ultimately divorce.  I once read the sad news of domestic violence that escalated to possibly one person killing the other with a firearm in New Zealand, and then turning the firearm on themselves in possibly great regret.  Why the fit of rag

Jeffrey Epstein is a name that has created media intrigue with his offences and lifestyle.  His ungodly ideas and actions were fueled by the power and money in his hands.  He was almost untouchable because of his long time liaison with very powerful people stretching over at least two continents.  His untimely death in the jail cell probably implicates some powerful people. The Song of Solomon 6:8-9 There are sixty queens And eighty concubines, And virgins without number. My dove, my perfect one, Is the only one, The only one of her mother, The favorite of the one who bore her. The daughters saw her And called her blessed, The queens and the concubines, And they praised her. Queens and concubines? Spending time in the garden collecting lilies? You may ask, "Is this normal?". In noble Chinese families and perhaps repeated in other cultures, this is normal. Is this right with God?  Let's be frank. Even if it is allowed, our God given conscienc

Yesterday, I sat in church and saw a very obedient young boy.  We were sitting in the balcony and as the boy approached the railings, the mother gave an instruction with a whisper and the boy retreated back.  Later the mother whispered for him to sit on the chair, and he immediately obeyed.  The mother must hold him very precious and taught him from young about the importance of obedience.  When we hold someone very dear and precious, we will invest in that person. The Song of Solomon 5:10-11 My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand. His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven. The writer describes how the bride missed her groom and went desperately looking for him. After that she elaborately describes his goodness using parallels of nature, precious stones and spices. Yes, we must not let go of something precious. Once I misplaced my passport when traveling overseas and a panic came over me. And so, I knelt and praye