Children of God: When the Angels hold them dearly

We lived in the third floor of a building.  We used the stairs every day.

There is no escalator or lift service in our block.  Only for some fitness freak people, we are their envy.

Stairway

For instance, walking in the lofty stairs could be risky as we have small children.  One day, as we walked down the stairs:

 

”Dear, walk slowly.  Let me hold your hand,” I said to my five-year-old son, cautiously.

“Papa, the angels are holding me! I will not fall” he replied joyously.  And he was right!  Sometimes, when he is galopping down the stairs, I couldn’t hold him.  The angels did!

Although this time, he was hinting at me that I don’t need to be over-cautious when his confidence is building up, as he walked.

Accidents and/or mistakes occurred in split-seconds.  In all the other remaining time, we are protected and hold dearly.  Even those split of seconds are priceless.

“Oh! I also wanted to have that kind of faith,” I sighed heavily.

Certain number of my life’s trouble would wither away in thin air, should I have that kind of faith in me.  My son was always a good reminder, or an agent of assurance from above.

It also reminded me of Psalms 91, also referred to as the Messianic Psalm in the Bible. The deliverance of how the Messiah would be.  We are blessed to have Him in our life.

Many times, Fear takes over my Faith, which sometimes, makes me wanted to live in reclusion: the short-lived joy, seeing the future as bleak, no way out in my reach, seeing self as a burden.

In those moments, in the least expected way, God speaks in a still small voice, as we waited on Him.  Troubles and sorrow are for life-long but His assurance in our pursuit of Happiness, is what we longed for.

Psalms 91 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High.  (He or She) Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”*

Now, this is what I talked about or that my son had reminded me today.  Psalms 91:11-12 says,

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

How much care is bestowed upon us!  To us, the unworthy souls!

Had I knew it and be in Him, day in-day out, in all possible path of life, why would I be weary and so tired?  I said to myself over and over.

One very important thing to be noted here: The devil (read as Satan here) who is trying every possible way to deceive us, simply, did not take rest either.  The devil quotes these very verses (Psalms 91:11-12) during the Temptation of Christ. (Luke 4:10-11)

Once in a while, our eyes are blinded and we missed our path.  And, we wandered away from the protection of God via the angels.

In the end, let us remind each other, again and again, God binds us with His ever powerful words and deeds.

As the Psalmist declared; I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (v.2)

*my emphasis added.

Abiding Grace: Small Stuff Big Stuff

 

In life, some make it big some make it small.  Achievements are what we are talking about.  Unlike any other thing, it depends on who measure it and how it is measured.  Some are born to perform big things while some performed small but very important things in life.

At least before you do something worthy, your life here on earth will not end.  God has purpose in your life.  That purpose, not everyone knew in their lifetime.  Still they have done their part.  Some knew it but deny it.  However, they came back to the One in time, before it’s too late.  You are surely to have contribution at least for people around you.  How you contribute will differ.

Moses with his staff as command by God

There are times when we felt we aren’t contributing.  We are supposed to be leading but it’s just impossible to achieve that Herculean task.  You hit a dead wall on your road.  You have no strength to overcome that particular obstacle.  Let me draw one instance in Moses’ life;

Moses denies his calling but he humbled and gave in to be part of God’s mission in bringing out the Israelites from Egypt.  With God by his side, the Israelites were delivered to begin their journey towards Canaan, the Promised Land.  But then, the Red Sea stands in their way.  What Moses did here was worth mentioning; he cried out to the Lord, and he obeyed His command to hold out his stick towards the sea. (read Exodus 14)

That’s not huge at all.  He needed to hold out his stick.  Moses did the small stuff; God did the big stuff.  Moses took time to talk with God in the midst of tumultuous groaning of the Israelites.  He had conversation with God, he seeks words from Him.  That gave him way forward.  The Red Sea was divided.  The children of Israelites walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.

When life’s tempest tossed, talk to Him; seek words from Him.  We needed to do something on our part as we see here in what Moses did.  Try to do something with what is in your hand however little they might be.  To reveal the faith within us, God wanted us to do the little thing.

Joshua was given seven days to perform the small stuff, that’s what he can do best in his might.  On the seventh day, God did the big stuff for His people.  The Wall of Jericho collapsed and they conquered the city. (read Joshua 6)

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…., God will do the big stuff.

Take your time and talk to God.  It is the contribution that matters whether big or small.  You don’t have to script your big time life story.  Perform the small stuff, with great faith.

*stuff: things, activities.  Little things Big things

An Old and Rusty Small Boat: an ode to Faith and Fear

One evening, two friends were late from work on their way back home.  Darkness was descending fast.  All their friends reached home already.  They were more tired than yesterday.  But they have to cross a river on their way home.

All the boat seems to have left already.  There was this old and rusty small boat, which was left for them. They are happy to have one anyway.

Someone was spying on them, they felt.  Near the bush, was an old man who came forward and offer help in their situation.  For the two friends, it was awesome to have company in this situation, so they welcomed him warmly.

A second old man was approaching them, who told them he was always there in this kind of day.   Now they had two old friends with them.  They looked experience in whoever the field they worked.

“We don’t need to introduce ourselves.  Soon you will know who we are,” they said. “But we are not good friends, anyway,” the second old man added.

Now they boarded the old and rusty boat.  The river current was stronger than yesterday.

Soon the second old man said alarmingly, “We must go back.  We are going to get drowned, we wont make it to the other side.”  The two friends don’t know what to do.  In reality, what they heard seems a good advice in their situation.

The first old man watched them patiently.  He uttered, “As long as this old man is here, we won’t be able to move forward.   We must throw this old man in the water.”

“Why?” they asked astonishingly.

“Look young man, my name is Faith.  His name is Fear.” He said.

“So?”

“Fear and Faith cannot be on the same boat,” he added.  “And that is why we are not good friends.  But we happened to exist together everywhere.”

So they threw Fear in the river and strive forward to cross the river despite the strong current.   They crossed the river and that is when Faith told them he did his job.  So they thanked him and go their own way.  They reached  home safe and sound but most importantly with great lesson learned.

Had the first old man not win the game, they might go back or drowned in the river too. This happens many times in life.  Let no fear defeat your faith in God.  Have faith, pursue your goal.