A Poignant Parting

It was in December 2016 I met a brother after over one and a half decade, when we had sweet time of fellowship amidst the critical health issue his wife was facing then. Eight months later, with a brother and myself, I met his wife again when she was quite normal and could sit and converse. I remember, We fellowshipped on "Calling upon the Name of the Lord." Another few months later, I could meet only the brother as her health became even more critical, she was in the ICU. As a brother I had been encouraging him to leave all to the Lord as He knows best, and just trust in Him. Often we prayed together over the phone and even arranged a fasting prayer for her health with a couple of other brothers. Only to finally learn that she went to be with the Lord. I was not very surprised though I wish her a complete recovery. I did go to meet the brother and had a word of prayer, but what else could I do? I had no words, but encouraged him to amen whatever the Lord did as He knows best. I sincerely had nothing to say, but prayed for him. When all the condolences and funeral services were over, he sent me some photos of her grave. My deep feeling before the Lord was messaged as thus. 

Dear Brother D...., 

One thing we do know amidst the multitude of mysteries, He is God and He has the supreme sovereignty over all, not excluding​ our lives. Only He knows why He did things the way He did. And, is and ever He will be who He is. He is God, and we simply say amen to all His deeds, though many times, painfully, perhaps, even with bitter tears. Despite such, we still worship Him for He is God. 

May we experience grace in hard times as this, and gain Christ. Blessed shall we be, if we are graced to trust Him, and experience Him deeply even in sickness as much in health, in poverty as much in riches, and even in death as much in living. 

Much grace to you my beloved brother. Remember, the God who takes also gives much more, in His time.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. 2 Tim. 4 :22 

Let us consider the death of Rachel as well in the light of the Word. 

The Death of RachelGen. 35:16 - And they journeyed from Bethel. And while there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth; and she had hard labor.
Gen. 35:17 - And while she was in hardest labor, the midwife said to her, Do not be afraid, for now you have another son.
Gen. 35:18 - And as her soul was departing (for she died), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen. 35:19 - So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Gen. 35:20 - And Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave, which is there to this day. 

Note from the Holy Bible Recovery VersionRachel was Jacob’s natural choice according to his heart’s desire (29:18-20). The death of Rachel was the loss of Jacob’s natural choice. This was a deep and personal dealing for Jacob. Jacob lost Rachel, but in the process he gained Benjamin, who was a type of Christ.

“Rachel” had to die so that “Benjamin” could be born. In the same manner, God will eventually take away our natural choice so that we may bring forth Christ for His expression. God’s goal is not to make His chosen ones suffer loss; it is to bring forth Christ through them.

It was a poignant parting, but we can learn and learn and gain Christ. I am aware over FB post that today there was a memorial meeting at his locality. Despite all the pain, parting while on earth is just a matter of time. Mostly sad, yet in the Lord, all is for good.

In fact, one night I could not sleep, and as I was praying for my dear brother, two hymns came to mind which were written based on similar poignant parting. One being, "It is Well" by Horatio Spafford and the other "Day by Day" by Carolina Sandell. The Lord gives and the Lord takes in His time. Though a poignant parting, amidst the pain, it is the Lord's pleasure to do so. And having grace and accepting the fact with thanskgiving is a blessing.

New Testament Recovery Version India

Nehemiah 8:8   And they read in the book, in the law of God, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the reading.

Today, the 11th of January 2017, after two and half days of fellowship and training with brother Kerry S Robichaux and Joel Oladele, with thirty serving ones mostly translators in six different Indian languages, namely Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Mizo and Kannada, and this after more than two and half years of Greek learning, having passed through four major exams, and all qualified to translate the New Testament Recovery Version from the Greek to the aforementioned six Indian languages, the actual translation works have thus begun. Hallelujah! 

This is truly the hand of God; the prayer of the saints in India and abroad, blessed by the God of blessing, and honored and confirmed by the Body; this historic move of the Lord, the Head of the Body, in union with the members of His Body have truly indeed begun. From man's point of view, at least mine, it's a dream come true. Safe for the Lord's leading, this could never have transpired. And to this I say, amen, praise the Lord! 

Step by step, I could in detail recount of what the Lord has been doing. Though not a translator myself, by His sovereign mercy, I have been graced the honour of coordination with a host of brothers for this glorious project. With many uncertainly in the past yet full of faith and hope, I have been graced to sail along the courses of the tough terrain of Greek classes. Often, burning midnight oils, many times at the verge of giving up, yet the Lord has graced us through to the point of being "qualified" to translate from the Greek, at least in the eyes of our teacher, but not to my self assessment. Since no student can be greater than his teacher, our teacher must be right, so are his decision, faith and trust. We sail along with him, and here we are, ready to set sail on on the vessel of "Recovery Version" for another five years "New Testament" journey. Bon voyage? Only the Lord as the Captain must sail us through the stormy winds, heightened tides, flashing lightnings and sounding thunders to complete the voyage He has begun. We trust the Lord as the Alpha is the Omega as well. Lord, grace us and lead us through to the end. Amen. 

Besides overcoming the personnel matter, there are many other factors too. The financial support for this project, the health of all the serving ones both physically and spiritually, the need to meet the lag that would be left when the translators are shifted for this Bible translation project, and a host of other practical things are still a concern. But we trust the living Lord and live and walk by faith, one step at a time. As of now, I have no idea how all the above concerns will be taken care, but I do have the faith that the Lord definitely will take care of all of them. In fact, I personally have been witnessing how the Lord has practically in time met the needs one by one. Recently, I have been witnessing the Lord releasing translators and providing the financial supplies. I simply trust, all the needs God will meet as He has already been doing so. 

Now praying and looking forward, in faith and hope, for the day when the translation of the New Testament Recovery Version Bible project will be completed. And the saints and seekers in India will read the book, in the law of God, the New Testament Recovery Version, interpreting and giving the sense, so that they understood the reading.

Fasting Prayer

And He said to them, Because of your little faith; for truly I say to you, If you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:20-21

I used to fast and pray every Saturday night for many years since I got saved. In fact, it had become a part of my life, and in course of time, a ritual rather than a genuine prayer. So instead of a routine ritualistic fating prayer, I continued to pray but not in a religious way anymore. But that also had another side effect of not being regular and persistent. Still I maintain the genuineness of prayer whether by physical fasting or not, but off late, I was reminded of the need for real fasting too.

It was in the recent co-workers' training that the Lord burdened me afresh to maintain a persistent and set-time fasting prayer again, yet not getting into ritualistic practice of religion. The Lord grace me to restart again. It was indeed very refreshing and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This practice must be strictly adhered to, lest the enemy distract us from such persistent prayer.

Yesterday, a dear brother and a friend too, requested a fasting prayer for the recovery of his wife who is unconscious in ICU due to cancer. It has been a year since she was first diagnosed. And in one accord, a couple of brothers and also friends from college days, we decided to fast and pray for this very burden of our brother's wife healing. I personally was burdened to stand in oneness with my brothers and released a strong prayer before the Lord. As I prayed I had a confirmation within that our prayers have been heard. Later, at midnight, I called up a brother and prayed with him over the phone that the Lord must heal his wife. The Lord indeed blessed us with such a faith. In my prayer I told the brother, "we believe in God's word, we trust in Him and also believe in our prayers."

This prayer burden also led us to create a WhatsApp group, "One in Christ," bringing together some brothers for the purpose of fellowship and prayer. 

There are certain burdens that can be released only by genuine fasting and prayer. Though I never would subscribe to the literal meaning of fasting, emptying the stomach or abstaining from food, I sure support the genuineness of prayer rather than the "fasting" per se. Fasting prayer is not an act of religiously duty, mere emptying of stomach, but genuine fellowship with the Lord and praying the Lord's burden back to him. Such genuine fasting prayer must be a practice of a normal Christian life. The more the better, and at least, once a month, and better is, at least once a week. Such prayer times are meant for the Lord and Him alone, in sweet fellowship, praise, thanksgiving, worship, and petition.

The Lord Himself confirmed the need of fasting and prayer when it comes to dealing with the enemy in a strong way for the carrying out of His ministry on the earth. He emphatically stated, "nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

This kind of prayer is also related to the exercise of faith, fighting spiritual warfare, practicing a oneness with the Lord, binding on earth what have been bound in the heavens and loosing one earth what have been loosed in the heavens, for the fulfillment of His will on the earth. 

The question posed now to us is, "When the Lord Himself fasted and prayed, why not we His believers?" If the Lord fasted and prayed when He Himself is God, much more we must fast and pray according to His will!

Lord, grace me to live a life of normal Christian life; even of fasting and praying once a week, all the days of my life.  

A Brother's Dream

On morning I received a surprise message on WhatsApp, and after reading the message, one important thing transpired in me, in real life, which was foreseen by an old friend of mine during college days, a decade ago.

The text message reads:

[14/12, 10:24] : I was dreaming about u

[14/12, 10:43] : I saw that we r staying in some sort of a hostel and suddenly one of the guys went to your room and challenge u for a fight. So there was a fight between u and that guy and I was lying in my room. Immediately, both of you who was fighting came to my room and told me that u guys have to do some rituals to settle the matter. So all of u guys start kneeling down and uttered some words from a language unknown to me. After a while you compromised the matter with that whom u were fighting and handshake each other. While u guys were uttering some word I was so scared that I start praying and holding u and I was so relieved to see u both handshake each other later. After that, both of you left my room and I was alone again. Suddenly one lady came to my room and tempted me to fall into an adultery with her. At that moment there was a hesitation from me but the saddest thing is I fall into the temptation. That very moment I heard my wife calling my name from outside and I left that lady. 

At that very moment I woke up.

I was really really sad. I sat down on my bed and start crying asking the Lord to forgive me. I was praying and begging for forgiveness and weeping on my bed.

Then I heard my wife had also woke up. So I called her to come to my room. She came and I told her everything about my dream. I told her that I have failed the test n I have sin. I told my wife please pray for me.

Dear brother Palmei, back these days I feel very happy and peaceful after confessing all my past sin to my wife. For the last four weeks I so happy and peaceful.

But my dream had made me realised that I have given my heart fully to Jesus. I have just left Him outside my room.

Brother, please pray for me so that I would be string in the Lord.

[14/12, 10:46] : I mean Strong in the Lord

[14/12, 10:51] : My dream made me realise that I have not given my heart fully to Jesus. Instead I left Him outside my room and He is still calling my name.

Please pray for my spiritual life so that I'd  be strong in the Lord.

After I read the message, I called him and we prayed together.

Perhaps, it might just be a dream. Nevertheless, dreams can also be from God or the enemy or from the self. On pondering over it, I realised that there was a message in the dream. 

The date was 14th December, the day in which one of the brothers which I have been so burdened for, won the election as he re-entered politics. There indeed has been a struggling, perhaps, a spiritual fight, for the recovery of the golden lampstand in that city since I first met him and the believers in that locality. At least thrice, I was personally involved in the fellowship of "reconciliation" among the brothers who, for some reasons, have been under the guise of "misunderstandings." 

And when this brother decided to take the way he has taken, I sincerely prayed for him that the Lord would lead him through, and that the church would go on in sweet fellowship with the Body of Christ in other parts of the world even outside of their locality. And when on that day he won the election, I praised the Lord, not for the election per se, but for His leading for His move. This was symbolic of what a friend had seen in the dream.

The later part of the dream may be a matter of concern related to his personal life which also was good as it led him closer to the Lord, and initiated a fresh brotherly relationship with me, and I believe, a fresher love towards the Lord and his wife.

Pressed!

These days the Lord has been dealing with me in a very specific way, in all areas of my life. But His grace is sufficient for me to bear all the precious trials He soverignly arranges. On the one hand I have been deeply pressed, yet on the other hand, I have been experiencing the Lord's perfecting hand in every step, graced with His divine provision to bear His dealings.

My two Onesimus's have been creating a lot of trouble these few days, outwardly speaking. Both of them have been undergoing their worst case and exhibiting extremities in their deeds. Nevertheless, they turn out to be precious lessons for me to learn, in handling them practically. Generally, I have been a quite and patient person, but with these two, I have been exposed of my shortages. I was not quiet nor patient at all as I used to presume. This time round I have said thing which I never used to, and even raised voice which I hardly used to. Perhaps, a training to be more strict and tough in dealing with "disobedient brothers?" and at the same time an exposition of me who needs more learning, perfecting and growth in life. Despite this scenario, I love them both so much, and consider them as God's blessing in disguise, at least to me, if not to my family as well.

Officially, I have made official decisions that put the company I am serving in a very tight spot as far as financial matter is concerned. Yet, those decisions were truly needed to effectively accomplish solid official works. I never remembered having been so bold in making corporate decisions. But those decision are yielding good returns for the company, only "time of return" is the factor to consider. Its like rowing a boat safely to the other side of a stormy and thunderous sea with so much gasps and uncertainties in between. Now, at the fag end of the year, I could foresee sailing through all obstacles. The hand of God indeed is behind the scene. The prize foreseen is worth the prices paid.

Family matters are pressing too. In taking care of the two Onesimus's, the extra burden they brought to my wife and niece, and the anxious concerns for them, and the helpless state they have been into, are pressing too. But these also led me to change my stance towards them and adjusted my life style; which actually is very good for me and my family. So even in these "troubles,"  we are the beneficiaries, especially myself.

Church affairs are even at trying times. We have been busy with our own official and family affairs, and the church affairs are not given proper attention and sufficient time as it should normally be. Besides, we do not have official full timer to fully serve the local church we are in; we are all working saints bearing the burden of the church. Though this fact cannot be an excuse, the increase of the church in numbers is not happening, which we all shamefully agreed. Though our burdens are clears, we have failed in not being able to fulfill it. Or perhaps, the Lord wants us to learn some precious lessons first before He could bless the church? The matter of "not increase in numbers" is definitely and deeply pressing upon me. 

All these "pressings" are persistently pressing me. This reminds me of Simon Peter in John 6, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." I can come only to the Lord, and to Him only I come, in this pressing time. 

66 From that time many of His disciples went back to what they left behind and no longer walked with Him.67 Jesus therefore said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away?68 Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.       

Two Onesimus's

Onesimus was an useful vessel to Paul and to the Lord despite his black background. I already have one whom the Lord gifted to me to shepherd and care for. Through many ups and downs, he still is my Onesimus. And now the Lord is adding another Onesimus. Its not my choice to accept or reject, rather it is the Lord's blessed gift.

A brother was in a very desperate need for wholesome shepherding. Again because of the many distressful and inexplicable experiences he had been through since his first failed marriage, he was in the depth of depression and often lost his mental balance. Now he is facing another marital disaster, and history seems to repeat itself. All these bitter bombardments blasted and bruised his brain. 

But he is a very dear brother in the Lord, who loves the Lord, and is beginning to intensely love the Lord all the more through all these sufferings. He has survived serious series of legal battles and are now in the verge of another series. Be it fate or folly in his decision making, only God knows. But the fact is, he's been mentally, physically and financially drained off. And the fact that he is still a brother does not change. No matter what he has gone through, no matter what his problems may be, he is still a brother, in fact, a very dear brother. I begin to love him all the more, then when he was much better off. Despite his dire strait of human hardship, he still is a brother. So I must receive him and shepherd him in all possible way. He, thus, has been added to our family as another Onesimus.

The two Onesimus's are now with our family, and in fact, they are blending with us so well, so far so good. These two are suprisingly of two opposite nature, origin and character, almost in every respect. One from a high caste, very well educated, intelligent and very qualified person, and the other almost the exact opposite. But praise the Lord, through inexplicable circumstances, they both ended up to be a part of our extended family. This arrangement was never forethought, it just transpired in time, and me and my wife can only amen. This, to me, is meeting the need of the moment. Else, where else they will go?

I have been learning many new and deep spiritual lessons through these two Onesimus's. The lessons were learned through their problems. They were helpless, and I in their midst, to shepherd them, turned to Lord and the Lord taught me some deep and precious lessons which, I believe, can never be learned otherwise.  It even revolutionized my living and ways of shepherding. I have been praying for people to be saved and shepherded, and the Lord gave me brothers who are saved and are need of shepherding; not in a way of once or twice meeting in a week with some prayer and pursuing, but in a way of living together with him. Perhaps, this is the best way of shepherding, and I am learning it, and I guess, I am loving it too. I have been doing it in the past too, but this time in a more matured way. Praise the Lord for this opportunity!  

Today, as I was spending time with the Lord in prayer, He impressed me deeply with shepherding and perfecting these two Onesimus's. Doing a background check, they both are literally helpless and hopeless, and their own relatives have literally gave them up. But the Lord's speaking to me was, if I cannot shepherd hopeless and helpless ones to become hopeful and helpful ones, I am useless. This was a very strong word from the Lord. My innate reply was that the Lord would shepherd me and them together and make us hopeful, helpful and useful. Sometimes, the speaking of the Lord is sudden and shocking, yet soothing and shepherding too.

Though I deem myself unworthy, I trust the good shepherd to shepherd all of us. These experiences, perhaps, may be my "Tale of Two Onesimus's." 

Lord, shepherd us all, and turn us- 

Our helplessness to helpfulness,

Our hopelessness to hopefulness,

Our uselessness to usefulness.

And dear Lord, do these to us.

Amen. 

Life Lessons

What has transpired of me, I do not know. Whether for good or for bad, only God knows. I seem to have changed in the way I do things and deal with business affairs. By and large, I have been a very soft person, always graceful to others even at the cost of misjudgment. I always like to be gracious to others as much as I could and defended their cause if questioned. But things seems to have changed. I hope for the better. 

In official matter, I think I ought to be strict and straightforward. Often many have taken advantage of this, which definitely has a kickback. But recently, I learned my lessons of not to be too soft. When duty demands it I have to be tough, yes, real tough. But there must be a striking balance between being soft and being tough. I am learning this lesson, and hope I learn it well. 

A brother who has come for food and shelter has often taken advantage of me. As he took me for a ride I had to help him learn his lessons as well. So whenever necessary I was strict with him. In matters related to handling his finance, time management, cleanliness and discipline, I was strict and demanded that he adhere to it, should he desire a help. Brotherly love cannot be taken for granted, and "it's OK" attitude must be rectified. So I spoke a strong word to this brother to take care of his things and his living. Though I spoke such a strong word, deep within my heart I wish he would learn his lesson and be normalised and be established as a proper man. Even with such words, my heart yearns for him, that he be established and "pillarised" to bear the Lord's testimony. 

Another incident was when our office gas company worker unduly asked for service charge when no service was done, and when I requested him to replace the gas pipe he put aside by saying it's OK, but he said it needed to be replaced in his first visit. This outright lie I could not tolerate and refused to pay the service charge for no service. He threatened to cut the connection, but I retorted that he change the pipe first. Then in fits and fear he left. Later, I thought to myself, am I so tough? I did feel sorry for the strong word I uttered, yet at the same time, I felt it was necessary for me to exercise in such way to deal with money-monger. 

Another case was with my own family, when to discipline my children I began to be strict with them. Often I did use strong words of rebuke and chastening. And oftentimes with punishment. Though I did all these outwardly, my inward being was yearning for them that they be disciplined and be God-man children. As and when necessary, I exercised strict discipline upon them. Sometimes, I often do the same to my wife in few matters, not much, even as she does to me a couple of times. We love each other and chastened one another. 

By all these experiences I am learning to handle matters as it should be. But I am willing to be corrected or adjusted. This experience is not so sweet, but needful for my growth in life. These are what have been transpiring these days. Hope it all will work out for good.

Lessons of life are for all man;

For all sinner and saint

Amidst its pain and gain, 

They must be learned now and then, 

In this journey of life, till the end.