Ashes:H.O.P.E

Abraham was given a promise.It was a descendantal promise.Your generations will be so numerous like the stars in the sky and sand in the sea shore.

Abraham obeyed the call of God,but waited for the promise for a long time.He turned 100,till He saw the promise.When your body fails you,when circumstances fail you,don’t foget HE who called you is faithful. His promises are true and He will never fail.The Bible says that Abraham hoped against Hope believing in what was said by the almighty God. Believe in Him.His promises contradicts facts and theories.

We just need to HOPE.Abraham was not only the father of faith,but also a man of Hope.

 

Blameless and upright he feared God and shunned evil.also He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.But this man was not exempted from the fiery test which every one faces in life.A situation which comes so that you will question God and curse and blame Him.He suddenly encountered a series of losses in His life.Lost wealth,health,shattered hopeless the Innocent Job remained.But He did not let go of one thing.Hope,a hope about what His redeemer can do.In His words He says

Oh, that my words were recorded,  that they were written on a scroll,  that they were inscribed with an iron tool on [b] lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer [c] lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. [d]  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet [e] in [f] my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another

The bible goes on to say” the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before”

This man was in the pool of Bethesda.38 years in the same place in the same condition.He hoped that someone would help him to get in the pool.He never gave up His hope.He used to always keep his eyes focused on the waters,though he could nt get ther,The hope was so strong that the master came to the poolside and changed His situation.He started to walk with his bed in his hand.Hope changes circumstances.

 

Dear friend,you may be facing disappointing,discouraging circomstances but let not hope disappear for my book of Hope says in

Proverbs 18:23” There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Jeremiah 29:11; For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

Ashes-Catch up with your Vision!!

In Exodus 24 we read of Moses and some elders of Israel being called by God to meet Him. A divine appointment!!Do not forget the times when our Spirit is heavy, the hearts are troubled and longing for God, it’s all a sign of divine appointment!!

We read that they saw a glimpse of God after which the elders “sat to eat and drink” but Moses continued to be in His presence.

The  vision we catch up with will be revealed in our acts.

The extent to which we acknowledge God, the way in which we “take Him for granted”, all reveals what is the vision we have of God.

Moses carried the presence of God so much that it was revealed in His face, but the elders like abihu “sat to eat and drink”.

 Moses sat in God’s presence for 40 days and 40 nights. I can’t imagine of such a situation in our “modern busy world”. Forget 40 days, what about one day, just sitting in His presence, hearing His word??Forgetting everything else??

A Moses with a correct VISION will have good discretion and direction, but distorted vision of the “elders” caused Division and destruction.

 

Let’s see Martha and Mary. Jesus their friend and Lord was in their House, but their responses were different. The extent to which both saw the Lord was different. Martha was too busy in “activities”. She just then lost sight and grumbled to the Lord. She was anxious. Many a time we fall in anxious heavy situations because of a wrong vision or a distorted vision of the Lord. Mary knew that no one else will get this UNIQUE opportunity. Out of all the other families, Jesus visited them. She just wanted to sit at His blessed Feet and the Lord commended Mary’s attitude that IT SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER. Vision of Mary and Martha was different, the extent to which they saw and knew the Lord was different and we read the difference in the peace and power they possessed.

 

Two criminals were hanged on the either side of the Cross of Christ. One started reviling Him and questioning His credentials. He said “If you are Christ Save yourself and us”. The other man looked straight to TEAR STAINED EYES of Jesus and said “Lord when you come in your kingdom remember me, We suffer for what we have done”. The difference in vision made a huge difference to their destiny.

One doubted and questioned, the other confessed and believed. Child of God, what is the vision you have of your GOD.Is it corrupted,dim,distorted??or is it becoming more clear to you??

Ask Him to reveal more of Him to you. The Hymn writer sings “be thou my vision o Lord of my heart

 

 

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

 

 

Thanks and With Best Regards

Ashley Benjamin

Infosys Technologies,

Bangalore

Mob:9900427670

 

April-New "Spiritual financial" year;-)

A new financial year has dawned and corporates and individuals are finalizing new plans for the

same. We should also be on constant check of our Spiritual situation which is so much important.

May i share some insights on this.

 

1)THE KINGDOM INVESTMENT PLAN

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We all make financial investments that will fetch a higher value after a particular span of time.

We first make sure of which plan we join and what returns it gives.

Child of God, the Lord desires your heart. That’s the greatest investment you can make in your life.

Returns are guaranteed in on a day to day basis with an eternal point of view

When your heart is His, your life becomes meaningful.

Sowing in the Spirit is Important and Jesus rightly said “Where your treasures are there your heart will be".

 

Have you got treasures in Heaven??Is your heart fixed on heavens where your treasure adds up

when you proclaim the gospel, be insulted for His name's sake.

Many of us have a wrong notion, that Heaven is a bank...Kingdom of God essentially is based on love

Whatever you do in love will be rewarded. Whatever done in an evil, selfish motive will bring disaster.

 

May our hearts be opened to the Almighty God. May our hearts be driven by a passion for Him.

As we in Love, sow seed in the ministry, the church where we belong and the fellowships we attend

The poor and needy amongst us, be assured of heavenly returns. YES MAKE A PLAN of using your tithes,

make a plan for monetary investments and prayer and whole hearted labor in to where the Lord leads you.

 

2)The Systematic Savings plan

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Its from our savings that we invest. The bible in proverbs quotes from the tiny creatures the ants,

they gather food in favorable time and they store for the season where they cannot work.

Children of God, the daily mercies and grace we receive should be stored. The promises, the seeds of new vision

and dreams should not be written of, but in Habakkuk we read, WRITE THE VISION.

When God is near, sit at His feet like Mary. Martha was distracted by the multitude of activities.

The church today sadly represents a SAD,ANXIOUS,WORRIED Martha. We are so full of activities that

we forget to sit at His blessed feet. Remember what the Lord said “Mary has chosen the right portion

and this shall not be taken away from her. Times of reading and feeding on  the blessed word, fasting and praying is never in vain.

It all adds to your savings.

 

 

3)Reduce the EXPENSES

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Reduction of unwanted expenses should be taken care off.Spiritually speaking,we should be aware not to

give our times to the hands of the devil.Many a time the devil steals our joy by sowing in doubts,worries,

fears.Lets not give in to the devil.The Bible clearly says"DO not give the devil a foothold".

"resist the devil(and His tricks) and he will flee from you.

maintain sanctity in relationships and lifestyle.God is a God of grace and He is calling us this month to

draw close to Him.Do His work and proclaim His word.Have an attitude of worship that surrenders our life

to do His blessed will.

 

 

4)Invite the audit of the Holy Ghost

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The Spirit shall guide us unto all truth. He will give us strength. may we ask Him to fill us and lead us

He is the best auditer.Like psalmist cried lets pray “Search me and know my heart. see if there is anything wicked in meand lead me in the path everlasting"

 

 

Pray that prayer sincerely this month. May the Lord prosper all of us spiritually and when

that happens I believe "all the other things (which are needed for us) will be added unto us.

 

Have a beautiful rewarding APRIL

 

 

Maranatha

Ashley

http://ashleybenjamin.blogspot.com