Surprise Invitation

On the 8th of October, my wife and I attended an official meeting conducted by the Taiwan Embassy in New Delhi at the Hyatt. This was indeed a surprise invitation as it was an official meeting with many high-profile Government officers and businessmen. We are neither officers nor businessmen, and literally did not fit in any category of invitees. However, my wife, being a Taiwanese citizen, and of late, we frequented the embassy for our daughter's application to the universities in Taiwan, we got to know some of the officials in the embassy. Perhaps, due to such interaction, we got to be known to the embassy staff and got invited. For whatever reason, I believe the lord has a reason for this invitation and visitation, too.

For us, this was the first official meeting we ever attended. We have attended many meetings for spiritual purposes and church related matters, but anything secular, this was perhaps the very first. In the past, we generally avoided meetings not related to the church or Christian matters. The Lord also knows when we can handle secular meetings for some official purpose if need be. I believe the Lord has started opening up an official channel for us to be able to be a "light to the world." For everything, there is a time and season. When the time comes, and the Lord opens the door and leads, then we will follow the Lord's leading. There are many things we have no idea about, but the Lord may have some specific plan.

Once we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by some officials and one of the embassy staff recognised us and invited us to have a photo with the ambassador of Taiwan to India along with his wife. Therefore, the official photographers captured a couple of photos of me handshaking with the ambassador, and a group photo with the ambassador and his wife, with my wife and me. 

While the ambassador delivered his official speech, he narrated in detail all the works Taiwan government has done and is endeavoring to do in establishing a strong diplomatic relationship with India in the fields of education, research, business, arts, and cultural relations. From his speech, it was made clear that Taiwan wanted to establish a strong relationship with India for whatever reason. I believe this is the Lord's doing for His divine purpose. Though the meeting was purely official, to me it was the Lord's move in the world situation for to accomplish His divine purpose. As we have been fellowshipping on the line of proactively writing the divine history within the human history, I believe this is one such incident to write such a history.

One thing that caught my attention was a small brass batch of India and Taiwan flags crisscrossed. In fact, this was the best thing I liked the most among everything presented in the five-star hotel; buffet food and many other things. I see God's move concealed within the human government.  The Lord will reveal it in His time. My marriage to a Taiwanesse citizen and my children all born in Taiwan, definitely have reasons as planned by God. The will of the Lord be done. Amen.

Bible Reading for the Youth

As the church in my locality, we have been blessed to host another time of meeting for the young people in the NCR region. When it was first fellowshipped, to me it was always an immediate YES. For hosting such a meeting, the Lord has blessed the church very much in many unseen ways. First, in enlarging our hearts to care for the next generation; second, in increasing our capacity to serve the saints whenever the need arises; third, training and perfecting the young people through such meetings; and finally, in commanding the Lord's blessing upon the church. This kind of meeting, for both the host and the guests, will be an eternal memory. For these are times when the Lord has a definite and practical way to dispense His riches into the being of the saints. Though outwardly, there was much practical labor, inwardly, there was an intense move of the Holy Spirit. 

Personally, I felt that what I, as a father, or we as parents, could never do to our children could easily be done through young people meeting. The content of the meeting, for example, this time is on Bible reading. I have been trumpeting this in my family and to my children time and again. In fact, they have also read the Bible a couple of times already. Even what I taught them is much more intense than what was taught in meetings in general. But the Lord's speaking and anointing in such a meeting cannot be compared with what I, as a father teach my children. I praise and worship and thank the Lord for His leading through the serving ones to take care of the needs of the young people. What a blessing!

I appreciated the fact that our young people were led to read the Bible daily. This time the burden was to help them read through the entire New Testament by reading those books not yet read in their daily reading poriton that was assigned to them. I believe, this wonderful experience of Marathon Bible reading will go down their memory and become an eternal memorial all throughout their lives. As I have been trum,pteing Bible reading, i am very glad to see the young people hlepd inreadingthe Bible. The Bible is the best book worth reading again and again all the days of our human life. 

There, indeed, was the paying of the price for such a meeting as there was also a lot of fellowship among the serving ones, among the saints in the church, and even among the brothers. All the "difficulties" are the price we pay to perfect the saints and also perfect one another. This is the church life. This is the way we pursue the Lord and get practical training and perfecting from the Lord through the Body in coordination.

Praise the Lord for such a meeting in our locality. It was indeed a blessing and we are willing to pay the price for such priceless blessing. The expenses we incurred and the labor we exercised were in no way comparable to the work the Lord has accomplished in each one of us. Halleluijah!

Against My Feelings

The Lord does lead by the inner feeling; however, there is a need to discern the natural man's feelings from the Lord's. There is a thin line between the inner feeling from the Lord and the inner feeling from man, for both are intertwined most of the time. The mingled spirit is in our spirit, and oftentimes, it needs further discernment to discern the inner feeling from the Lord, and that from man. Therefore, in my experiences, I do not immediately conclude what I feel as the Lord's feeling immediately. Because deep within, despite my feelings, I need further prayer and consideration, and if need be, further fellowship with the saints involved in the matter until I can finally decide without doubt what the true feeling of the Lord is. 

I have been graced to take every matter to the Lord before I can confirm the feeling in peace as truly from the Lord. For this reason, I take sufficient time to pray and wait and wait until I am fully clear. This way of decision-making helps me to pray more and more. In fact, these matters help me a lot in my prayer life and in my walk with the Lord. In this way, I am learning to pray and pray, seeking the perfect will of the Lord in many matters. Thank the Lord for such situations, which occur very often these days, and they help me a lot in my Christian life.

Of late, there was an instance in which I had this kind of experience, where I initially had no peace at all, but took time to pray and fellowship, and then it became very clear to the extent that my feelings changed totally. 

First, there was a proposal for a store-room construction which costs quite an amount, though an official expense. Though my initial feeling was a definite NO, I took the matter before the Lord in prayer. And after a couple of days of prayer and fellowship, I became very clear that it was proper to take the proposal. Finally, I made the decision with an emphatic YES, which previously was an enigmatic NO. 

A similar case was with a brother concerning his health, which, after much prayer and fellowship, led to an increase in his support. The increase was quite significant that he was paid even more than what a secular company would pay for the same kind of work, for we considered his work together with his family's need in caring for the serving ones. Even in this case, my initial feeling was a definite NO when a proposal was brought for his increase in support. because I truly felt that he has been supported sufficiently according to the nature of work in par with other serving ones. However, he had a special need with some complicated medical issues. Though official insurance was provided to him and many medical tests were done for him, especially when the matter about his health was discovered during a proofreading project in Bengaluru. In fact, a sufficient amount had been spent on him. However, after prayer and consideration, it was gradually made clear to me, and the fellowship from the brothers confirmed the consideration I had within. Then, his support was increased significantly. 

These are the cases in which I learned a specific lesson on following the leading of the Lord rather than depending upon my own feelings. Feelings are sometimes deceptive. Therefore, it is imperative to bring even the feelings before the Lord in prayers and discern the perfect will of the Lord. These are circumstances arranged by the Lord to train us how to depend on Him and not merely on inward feelings, though the Lord is in our spirit. 

Bible Reading: Forty Ninth Time

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 

On the 12th of October, the Lord graced me to read my Bible for the forty-ninth time. Yesterday, I started all over again with my fiftieth time, as I have a goal of reading through the Bible at least a hundred times in my lifetime, if the Lord gives me the grace. This is my personal goal, and it gives me immense joy to be able to read and read the word of God. To me, the only book worth reading again and again is the Bible. To me, the only time that must be spent at any cost is to read the Bible and spend time in prayer every day, even if it means doing it as a habit. Let it be a habit and be a part of my life. I reckon this is a good habit. God forbid, if I say that reading the Bible and prayer are the only things that must be done every day at all costs, even at the sacrifice of other things.

My prayer has been that the Lord would grace me day by day to be able to read the Bible with good eyesight; with a renewed mind filled with the shining of the divine light, sight, vision, and revelation; and a strong spirit to absorb the word as spiritual nourishment. And that, no matter what my circumstances may be, the Lord may grace me with the reading of the Bible and prayer day by day. I cannot think of a life without the word of God and prayer. They have become a part and parcel of my life. I have been married to the word of God and prayer. I can't help but keep reading the Bible and praying. And it has been my joy and enjoyment day by day. I can sacrifice anything else in the world, but not my time with the Lord in prayer and the word of God. 

I pray that all my children, family members, saints in the church life, and all the children of God should love the word of God and read it to be constituted with it, and be a man of prayer. To the extent that we all be "living Bibles" and "talking Bibles" for others to see and read the Bible. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16

May the Lord grace me with the taste and enjoyment of His word that I may read and eat the word of God every day, all the days of my life.

Incidental Journeys

After much prayer and consideration, I preponed the ministry literature journey in the month of September this year so as to be able to join the college training in Chennai. However, I had to join it by coming from Hubbali in Karnataka. The Lord had arranged even the journey in such a way that I could catch the only one weekly train that runs straight to Chennai, and that too, on the last day of the distribution, so that I could reach Chennai exactly on the first day of the college students' training. For this reason, there was no transportation from Chennai Central station to the venue, which was about a two-and-a-half-hour journey, as the train arrival time was only after the last bus that was supposed to leave from the railway station arranged by the serving ones. Despite knowing this, I was not worried at all. I trusted the Lord that He would make the necessary arrangements, even for my transportation, as He led me to join the training.

As I arrived at the Chennai Central station on time, a group of saints from Maharashtra, twenty-four of them, also boarded the same train I was in, as their train was delayed for over five hours. This, to me was the Lord’s arrangement, so that I could go along with them to the venue from the station. And the bus that was assigned to pick them also waited, though delayed, so that I could also join them. Otherwise, I had to make my own arrangements to reach the venue. 

For over two hours, I was sitting in the front row with a brother on the bus. As the brother inquired how I got saved and came into the church life, we both had a wonderful time fellowshipping and sharing. For the entire length of time, I shared what the Lord had done and what He still has been doing in my life; His saving grace, His clarion call to serve Him, and His shepherding me into the church life step by step. This was the first time I enjoyed fellowshipping with this brother on how the Lord is so real, practical, wise, and yet mysterious in leading His people to His heart's desire. I understood then that it was the Lord’s perfectly timed incident. 

Incidentally, the last time there was a similar training in the same venue a few years ago, we were together in the same bus after the training on our way back from the venue to Chennai Central station. At that time too, based on his request, I fellowshipped with him about how the Lord recovered the seeking believers in Mathura. 

These two incidents, spanning over a few years apart, truly were the Lord’s arrangement for fellowship. In fact, incidental journeys for fellowship and blending! If not for these two incidents, I would never have fellowshipped with the brother, especially on personal testimonies. These were the only times that I could have a time of fellowship, though we had known each other for many years now. In every incident, the Lord has His intention. Praise the Lord!

Ministry of the Word to Ballari

In Ballari, on the 29th of September, three saints from the nearby city, Hubbali, joined us. We were visiting a family that needed shepherding. As the burden was for shepherding, and this being our first time to the city and first time meeting with the new family, the Lord burdened me to fellowship on a very fundamental and foundational practices for a healthy and normal Christian life.

I began by showing them God’s plan in creating man with three parts: body, soul, and spirit. Then, the process God passed through in incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and becoming the life-giving Spirit. Then, the regeneration of man, being born of God, with the Spirit dwelling in the human spirit. Then, the need to daily exercise the spirit in calling upon the Lord’s name, reading the Bible, and pray-reading some key verses, and spending personal prayer time with the Lord daily. And concluded the fellowship with prayer.

The family was so supplied by the ministry of the word. I introduced the Shepherding Materials, online version, for their pursuit, and also the Holy Bible Recovery Version for their Bible study. The father and mother testified that their son, who was a higher secondary school dropout, would never sit for spiritual fellowship or listen to the ministry of the word, but was keenly listening to the word of God and was present at the meeting throughout. Not only that, he also served us with coffee and snacks after the meeting. Their son's reaction was a great testimony to the entire family. To them, this was the first time he ever paid attention to fellowship and meetings. The daughter also testified to how much she enjoyed the ministry of the word and expressed her interest to continue enjoying the word. By the way, they all promised that they will read the Bible daily henceforth. 

After this fellowship, I realised that the Lord did not lead us any further for anything else. Therefore, the three brothers who accompanied me for the last one week ministry literature journey departed from this city after we enjoyed a meal together. And I, along with the saints from Hubbali, took another route towards Hubbali for another round of distribution. The Lord assigned certain portions for His move to certain ones. I have been learning this lesson, just to follow the Lord step by step, not to overdo or underdo. 

Lord, bless Your move and raise up Your testimony in Ballari!

Ministry of the Word to Gadag via Belgavi and Hubbali

After a hectic day of traveling the whole day on the 1st of October, the church in Belagavi gathered together for a time of fellowship and prayer where I gave a brief report on how the Lord blessed His move in Karnataka. This was a part of the church regular prayer meeting too. Then, the saints treated me with lovefeast in one of the famous restaurants.

The following day, a brother and I went to another locality, Gadag, for the ministry literature introduction. It was again a drive for over three and half hours. Like the day before, half of the time we were praying for ourselves, the saints and serving ones, and strongly for the Lord’s move in India. And the other half, I was testifying on how the Lord brought me into full-time service.

In Gadag, at a Christian meeting, the ministry books were introduced and some key Pators purchased the New Testament Recovery Version in Kannada. 

Later, I had a time of fellowship with a group of saints in Hubbali in a brother's house where I ministered the word on the need to grow in life daily by taking care of some basic yet crucial practices. I emphasised the need to spend time with the Lord daily for prayer and for the reading and study of the word. Together with this burden, I encouraged them to deal with their hearts before the Lord by using the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 that they all can become the good soil to bear forth spiritual fruits. 

Thus, with this, the ministry literature journey this time came to a conclusion. Though I wanted to cover the remaining districts of Karnataka that were not covered before, still one more district remains untouched. Despite my earnest desire to cover this remaining district too, it has to be postponed. Perhaps, the Lord has reserved this for another round of distribution. May the will of the Lord be done.

In fact, if I cancelled the following young people's training in Chennai, I could have covered this remaining district too. However, as I considered before the Lord, I need to make a decision wisely. So I decided to choose joining the training and not prolong the distribution further. Besides, the circumstances made it clear that I should join the training despite my burden for distribution. The Lord will arrange a better time to complete distribution in the remaining districts of Karnataka. 

In all these meetings in all the three localities, I richly enjoyed the Lord’s sweet presence and His rich anointing. In all the meetings, it was the instant word the Lord gave to me when I was given time to minister. The word of God as living waters just flowed forth to water all the ones who were receiving the ministry. Praise the Lord!