Conscience Pure

Acts 23:1 And Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, Men, brothers, I have conducted myself in all good conscience before God until this day.

Acts 24:16 Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

The Lord has given me opportunity after opportunity to learn to exercise my conscience. These days, I have been blessed with elderly men with needed my help. To the best of my ability, I took time out to help them. In fact, both are retired Government officers of high ranking; one in the foreign ministry of India and the other in the state department of Haryana. The Lord has sovereignly brought me to contact with them. Despite being my father's age, they treated me like their "friend" and "son." And I am glad to render help in whatever way I can; in fact, I did best, whenever they requested help.

In a few cases, out of their gratitude for my assistance, they even wanted to offer me money which I outrightly denied. In some of the ways I help, there were also opportunities from my side to take advantage of them, if I wish to. But the Lord warned me to maintain a good conscience in all my dealings with them. I spent my time, my energy, and even my money for their sake. I took that as a blessing, learning to serve people. My intention was that their hearts would be touched, melted and that they would see, believe and receive the Christ that enables me to befriend them and help them. My only goal in helping was to somehow show the love of Christ to these friends of my father's age. In their case, I prefer to preach the gospel by my good deeds. Of course, I did not gag my mouth from preaching the gospel. I did preach the gospel a couple of times too to both of them when I felt it was alright to do so.

I continue to maintain my relationship with them as their friends or helpers and pray for them that they would experience the love of God and be saved, especially one of them who is an unbeliever. I learn from brother Paul and learning to be able to say, "I have conducted myself in all good conscience before God until this day."

The unbelieving friend has offered me his cow milk which I promised to pay as per his rate. Last week, I went to settle the milk fare I owed him. I decided to do at the beginning of each month and maintain a proper record of milk supply and payment made by me. I did this purposely not to give any ground to the enemy. Though he did not want such formality and asked me to simply give him whatever I felt good about. But I insisted that I should give him exactly what is due with a proper record. And in doing so I told him I did not do it for the sake of money, but for the sake of conscience. That touched him so much as I could see in his facial expression. Money matters must strictly be dealt with with utmost accuracy. It's for the Lord's testimony to touch his heart and let him see the true and living God in His believers. In this way, I can testify like Paul, "I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men."

Praise the Lord for such opportunities to be able to exercise my conscience with all purity by His sure mercy and amazing grace! Lord, preserve my conscience pure. Amen.

Brothers' Visit

Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget hospitality, for through this some, without knowing it, have entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

Last weekend, a brother from Mathura visited us here in Gurugram for fellowship and also for participating in the Lord's day meetings. I had visited him last month, accepting his invitation. The Lord has been preserving a good number of believers in Mathura for His testimony. As he was with us, it was my pleasure to serve him in the way I can. It was a good exercise for me. Giving hospitality to the saints is what I need to learn as I am not good at it. So I did my best to serve any guest the Lord would bring to our family.

The day he arrived last Friday, I also requested him to share his testimony in the online gospel meeting. It was such a blessing to hear his life's story and an encouragement to many new believers who joined the gospel meeting. On the Lord's day he participated in the bread-breaking meeting of the church in Gurugram; in fact, the first-ever for him to partake of the bread on the ground of oneness. He was so impressed. He even requested for the hymn in Hindi for him and the other brothers to learn to sing. Generally, new-seeking groups who are from charismatic backgrounds would stick to the "praise and worship" song and follow the local way of singing. But in his case, without us touching the way of worshipping God, he himself initiated to learn the proper way with the proper hymns. May the Lord lead him and all the believers to take the way where everybody functions for the building up of the Body of Christ.

A few days later, two brothers from the Christian group I used to be paid me a visit. With them too, I simply ministered whatever the Lord burdened me to. I respect them as fellow believers in Christ and gifted them some free Rhema books. This is how I am learning to give hospitality to others. 

Generally, I used to defend the truth whenever believers from other Christian groups fellowshipped with me. But this time, the Lord led me not to unnecessarily try to minister if the Lord Himself did not lead me so. I no longer depended on the knowledge I have but looked to the Lord for what to speak and how to speak. In this way, no room was given to the enemy.  This is an important lesson I have been learning through giving hospitality.

In the two visitations by brothers, I have been trained as a host to give hospitality to guests who could have been "angels" sent by God and also learn to let a brotherly continue among fellows Christians.

Praise the Lord for such brotherly visits!

Adieu Old Friend

On the 11th of October, one of our high school classmates died. In fact, the first one among the rest in his middle age. Though I was not very close to him, I served with him in the students' union; I was the President and he was the finance secretary of the SSPP when we were in Class IX at St. Mary's School, Tuibuang, CCPur, Manipur. As far as I know, his grandfather was the first person who translated the Bible into the Paite language. His demise was very unexpected yet not very surprising to me either.

When I got the information in our school WhatsApp group, my first thought was to remind the others who are alive about the importance of our lives while we are on this earth. I shared a gospel hymn that speaks volumes, Life at Best is Very Brief. And use this opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who may not yet have been saved.

Besides, I also send the following message as a reminder to all my classmates:

“Teach us then to number our days That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  (Psalms 90:12, RecVer)

As we mourn the demise of our beloved classmate, let us also consider the life we live on this earth today. All have to die one day, it's just a matter of time. 

When that day is yet to come, may we number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom; 

a heart that seeks God, 

a heart that loves God, 

a heart that believes into Jesus Christ and receives Him, and

a heart into whom Chrst makes His home.

That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be full of strength to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and height and depth are, And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19, RecVer)

Imitating the apostle Paul, I was grasping any available opportunity to preach the word in season and out of season; whether by audible voice or readable text. The latter was most convenient in these days of social networking. Having preached the gospel message to the ones who are still alive, it's adieu to my old friend and office-bearer. Adieu, old friend... 

Pure Milk!

A few weeks ago I did my medical check-up and I was found to be Vitamin D deficient with a little high on bad cholesterol. This report was an alert to me to take care of my health. During the past two years of the pandemic, in order to boost my immune system, I ate a lot of food supposedly to fight against the attack of the virus. But this also resulted in gaining weight. I took the medical report as a message from the Lord to take care of my health when I can. Therefore, my lifestyle has changed and I adopted a new habit.

I felt best to take an afternoon walk under the Sun for receiving Vitamin D, for weight loss, and at the same time for listening to the Life-study program on the radio over the internet as I made the goal of reading through and listening to all the Life-study messages before the end of 2022. In this way, I could do triple works in one go. And I enjoyed doing it. The Lord also has been gracing me to do so.

On dieting, I have reduced my intake of white rice and significantly reduced my dinner. In fact, I have completely stopped consuming white rice for dinner and replaced it with Chapatti, a wheat-baked bread.  On top of that, I also felt the need for pure milk. There is no way I can get pure cow milk in the city. What all is available is company-packed pasteurized milk. But the Lord provided a gospel friend who rears cows for milk. One time he asked me if I wish to order milk from him. I felt that was also the Lord's provision, and therefore ordered two liters of milk every day.  Since this provision, I have been consuming pure milk at least twice a day. 

The Lord knows my need, in fact, my all-inclusive need. Spiritually, He is my need, and He also provides all the best physical needs my body requires too. In fact, this has been the first time in my life where I can enjoy pure milk every day! 

The Lord is the Supplier, I must look to Him for every need, be it physical, psychological, or spiritual. He does care for me and my family, and all His children. As much as I long for the guileless milk of the word and the solid food for the healthy teaching of the word of God, He also provided me with all my physical needs. Praise the Lord!

Our Online Meeting

Since the time a virtual reunion started via WhatsApp with my high school classmates, I have been having the thought and the burden to propose an online meeting. I have been waiting and waiting until I felt the leading of the Lord to finally propose it. It was on the 28th of September that I proposed to the group for such an online meeting. Only a few responded positively and one doubtfully replied that such meeting might not be feasible for the group. After a couple of days of waiting, I felt like this was not going to work out. However, I kept praying and committed the matter to the Lord. Then I proposed again for starting an online meeting. This time with more positive responses, and finally through one friend's post, I felt the confirmation to go ahead and start.

Well then, I had to plan the schedule; propose the date and time, and also tentatively suggest what need to be done in the meeting.  Later, I felt the peace to call for volunteers according to the gift and grace given by God to each one. For the opening prayer, testimony sharing, special songs, hymn singing, and the word of God followed by open sharing, prayer, and finally wind up with a  closing prayer. Since nobody volunteered, I myself proposed who should take part in what item as I felt the leading to do so. And later, it was confirmed.

Finally, on the 2nd of Oct at 8:30 PM Saturday night, we had our first online meeting after twenty-seven years! The Lord's presence was with us in our first meeting which I called, "OUR ONLINE MEETING". By the way, I bore the responsibility of creating Zoom link, making and sending invitations, and executing all the practical needs. Since it was the first meeting, I volunteered to host the meeting, I also ministered the word of God on "God's Plan", and also volunteered to pray for the prayer burdens. 

The entire meeting lasted for about an hour and was recorded. It was later uploaded online for all the members to view; the link was made available for one whole week. 

That was a spiritual battle I had to fight in prayer with some friends joining me. And now the group has decided to conduct such online meeting once a month, on every first Saturday of the month. 

In this way, through such an online meeting and through the sharing of messages in the group, I have been doing my best to minister the word of God to all my high school classmates. May the Lord continue to bless this little endeavor for the shepherding of my fellow high school Christians and save those who are yet to be saved.

About Bliss Palmei

Behold, children are the heritage of Jehovah, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalms 127:3

A sweet, simple, and sincere sister, my fiance in 2006, had fellowshipped with me that if I were to marry her I would never become a father for she had been advised by medical doctors that she would have difficulties in childbirth due to certain health issues. My innate reply was, "I am not marrying you to become a father. I am marrying you because you are the one God has chosen for me. If God wants us to have children, He will bless us in His own time." Once I was clear of God's will, nothing bothered me at all. We got married and I never had any expectation that I would become a father. I learned to be content with what God has given and commit every matter to Him who cares. 

Two years later, in 2008, our first child, a baby girl, was born. My joy knew no bound. To the blessing of God, what can I say except to thank Him? To express our feeling with God's blessing we named her Bliss, literally means, perfect happiness; great joy. The name we chose reflects our inward feeling.

Thirteen years later, she has attained her teenage age. Time ran so fast. I felt like I was dreaming; transiting from being a single man to a married man and then to being a father.  Thank God, I was not dreaming. It's true! I have become a father of a teenage daughter!

This is our photo together. Bliss Palmei and her dad!

This is the message I posted on Facebook after many years of opening an account. Perhaps, I will be posting more as the Lord leads, using suitable media outlet for the testimony of Jesus!

Marital Bliss

Three days ago, three of my high school classmates posted their wedding photos. Seeing those, I was inspired to write a message on marriage life, which I call, "Marital Bliss". These are lessons I have been learning from the Lord through my own marriage life He has blessed me with.  My message reads:

The love and joy on our bridal day should continue "until death do us part." In fact, since the day of the marriage, the romance and the love with all its purity should persist. Once the bridal knot was tied before God and men, God reckons it holy. 

Hebrews 13:4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and the bed undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers, God will judge.

To preserve the sanctity of the marriage, much more, to enjoy marital bliss and union, as Christians, there are certain principles we have to strictly keep.

Prayer and the Word of God 

Ephesians 6:17, 18

And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints,

Married couples praying together and always abiding in the word of God is one of the best practices. It is a healthy habit to be in prayer and in the word together. In fact,  they should be a spiritual companion to one another. These will preserve the couple from the subtle attack of the enemy. To fight against Satan's attack, the best way is to put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, by prayer. One of Satan's tools is creating misunderstanding between husband and wife out many petty little things and big things too, concerning health, finance, in-laws, children, clothing, even food, and many others. Guard against the enemy's attacks! 

Love and Romance 

Matthew 22:37-39

And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

This is the great and first commandment.

And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Only God is love. Human love fluctuates with time and situation. Real romance is triggered only by the pure and divine love who is God Himself. Therefore, both husband and wife must love the Lord as their first love to genuinely love one another. Only the divine love can preserve the romance between husband and wife and cause them to be subject to one another. This is the key to enjoy the marriage life. Without this, it will be two strangers under the same roof with two differing hearts as one divided family.

Ephesians 5:21, 22, 25

Being subject to one another in the fear of Christ:

Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord;

Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her

Oneness 

God's ordination in marriage is that the two, husband and wife, become one.

Mattew 19:5, 6; Mark 10:8; Ephesians 5:31

Ephesians 5:31For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.

In the eyes of God, the married couple is one. Therefore, both have to exercise to practice oneness in every matter, as much as possible, especially in money matter, as money is so tangible. Many marital issues can be pinned down to money. All that the husband has, including himself, is his wife's, and all that the wife has, including herself, is her husband's. This is oneness. If this matter can be settled in mutual understanding, especially with those who both have income, many needless troubles can be avoided.

The end of the matter is, as a married couple, learn to pray together with your spouse every day; love God and the love of God will cause the couple to love one another with genuine love, no matter what. And finally, learn to exercise to be one with one another in every matter great or small. Thus, marital bliss and union shall be all yours to enjoy! 

I have been practicing these. And the Lord has been teaching me these life lessons and He has been blessing my marriage and family life too. 

May God bless all our marriages.

Just a sharing with the sole intent for the reader's benefit.