tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60064279651388782092023-11-15T06:53:07.938-08:00365 Blessings- Christian DevotionalsDaily Devotionals by Dr. Johnson Cherian MD.PhD. Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-58915329746762131712018-03-15T01:03:00.001-07:002018-03-15T01:03:45.145-07:00365 Blessings- April 8<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers,
they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had:
We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose
and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to
it." (Genesis 37:5-7)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> <br />
<br />
This dream given by God to Joseph took more than 20 years to be fulfilled.
Joseph was sold by his brothers to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and
then sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's (King of Egypt) officials in whose
house Joseph worked till he was thrown into prison by Potiphar whose wife had
wrongly accused him of trying to forcibly lie with her. He spent two years in
prison for no fault of his. Through a strange turn of events, all perfectly
planned by God, Joseph was called in from prison to explain the dreams that
Pharaoh saw; dreams which no one else could explain. <br />
<br />
Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole of Egypt to manage the crisis of
famine that was to come upon the land after a season of abundance. As
prophesied by Joseph famine struck the land and even Canaan was afflicted. So
Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to get food for his family. That's how Jacob's
sons who had tried to destroy Joseph's future by selling him as a slave now
found themselves in Joseph's presence. <br />
<br />
The Bible says, <br />
Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all it’s
people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their
faces to the ground. (Genesis 42:6) <br />
<br />
...they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground...fulfilling what
Joseph had dreamt several years before.....my sheaf rose and stood upright,
while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it..... <br />
<br />
Perhaps a dream that God gave you several years back has not still been
fulfilled. Take courage from Joseph's story. The dream will find fulfillment in
God's time. The Holy Spirit is working on it, even now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-54988963978108027952010-10-16T18:58:00.001-07:002013-05-25T07:31:19.358-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 326<b>But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1) </b><br />
<br />
"You are mine!" That's what God told his chosen people, the Israelites.<br />
This day Jesus says the same to you. He created you, formed you, redeemed you and summoned you. You are his treasured possession. Do you believe that?<br />
<br />
As always, his comforting words are for you and your loved ones. He says, "Fear Not".<br />
Of course, the problems in life are real, but so are the promises of God. Hold on to the promises in the Word of God. They will strengthen you in times of trouble.<br />
<br />
The Psalmist sang,<br />
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1, 2)<br />
<br />
Remember, Jesus is your fortress, so you will never be shaken. Your salvation and your honor depend on God ; he is your mighty rock, your refuge. Trust in him at all times. He will deliver you from the troubles that you are going through these days. He will make you sings songs of victory very soon. Praise the Lord.<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-26465681142269702772010-09-04T19:05:00.001-07:002013-05-25T07:31:34.712-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 325<strong>And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)</strong><br /><br />This promise was God's answer to Moses' question:"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" <br />Moses was apprehensive and did not consider himself eligible for the job God was calling him to do. He was no longer in any authoritative position; just living an ordinary life. Gone were the days when he weilded power as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pharaoh was not on good terms with him anymore and Moses was fearful. He considered himself insignificant to do great exploits as God desired.<br /><br />But God gave him a promise and a sign to go along with it. God promised," I will be with you" and also said, "when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain." <br /><br />God is always certain of what he can do through us though we may think we are not up to the task at hand. That's because we look at the present and have not much idea of what is there in the future. But God knows the future and is certain that he can work in us to make the impossible happen because he is the one who is leading and guiding us.<br /><br />What God promised, he fulfilled in the life of Moses and truly, the Israelites worshipped God at Mount Horeb later on.<br /><br />Are you in two minds regarding the call that God has upon your life? Please do not look back. This day, the Lord says to you, <br />"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)<br />Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-9241360033797534422010-08-18T19:07:00.000-07:002013-05-25T07:31:49.587-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 324<strong>He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)</strong><br /><br />A proverb that came true in the life of Joseph, son of Jacob. He was a man who pursued righteousness. In distress, he did not accuse God, but waited for his deliverance. When pursued by sinful temptations, he chose to run away from it as is evident in the following verses.<br /><br />Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, (Genesis 39:6-13)<br /><br />Joseph could have lived in sin, but he chose not to give into the temptation. For pursuing righteousness, he landed in prison for 2 years because Potiphar's wife falsely accused him. It was not only righteousness that he pursued; he also pursued love, in that he forgave his brothers who had thrown him mercilessly into a pit and later sold him as a slave. God's watchful eyes were on him at all times and when God exalted him, the rewards were what we read in the title verse....life, prosperity and honor.<br /><br />May it be so in our lives too. God bless.<br />Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-30841599254686209272010-08-13T18:49:00.001-07:002013-05-25T07:32:05.751-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 323But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalms 33:11)<br /><br />No one can thwart the plans of God. He is Almighty. From the beginning, he weilds all power and everything, living and nonliving are subject to him. The Psalmist exhorts all in this manner:<br />Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. (Psalm 33:8, 9)<br /><br />The Apostle Paul writing to the Colossians says this regarding Jesus,<br />He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)<br /><br />Jesus said, <br />"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)<br /><br />As a believer in Jesus Christ, you must always remember that you serve an Almighty God. All authority in heaven and on earth is with Jesus. Even though circumstances in your life say otherwise, he can change everthing in a moment. He can change rules for you. He can make unyielding officials yielding. He can change governments for your sake. You are precious to him. If your plans are his original plans, he will make a way. It's only a matter of time. Hang in there. Keep praying. God bless.<br />Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-18949785097742498422010-08-06T02:24:00.001-07:002013-05-25T07:32:34.062-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 321<span style="font-weight:bold;">And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. (Exodus 3:21)</span><br /><br />God had planned to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and he didn't want them to go empty-handed. He told Moses that he was going to make the enemy be favorably disposed to them. And it did happen as God said.<br /><br />The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:35, 36)<br /><br />God can touch the hearts of men to be favorably disposed to his chosen ones and here is an example.<br />So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. (Genesis 37:17-22)<br /><br />Later on.....Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. (Genesis 37:26, 27)<br /><br />God touched the hearts of Reuben and Judah at the right moments and so Joseph remained alive though his brothers had earlier planned to kill him.<br /><br />If you are in a situation where others are oppressing you and not giving you what is just, take hope from the promise in the title verse. God is able to make the enemy be favorably disposed to you. The Israelites had suffered at the hands of the Egyptians; what was justly due to them as wages were withheld for quite a long time and now God wanted them to have what they had been denied earlier. God is just and he will see to it that those who have purposely withheld what is due to you, be favorably disposed to you and give you what you have asked for in prayer. Praise the Lord.<br />Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-38154724078634475472010-07-30T01:39:00.001-07:002010-07-30T01:39:32.891-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 320<span style="font-weight:bold;">O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever. (2 Samuel 7:29, 29)</span><br /><br />King David was overwhelmed with the plethora of promises that the Lord gave him through the prophet Nathan and here he acknowledges God’s faithfulness and prays for God to bless him and his descendants continually. The promises given him were awesome. God told him,<br />1) I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.<br />2) I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.<br />3) I will give you rest from all your enemies.<br />4) I will establish a house for you.<br />5) When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.<br />6) Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.<br /><br />God is faithful in all that he says and does. As David says here, “His words are trustworthy”. He does not go back on the promises that he makes if we remain faithful to him. Many promises are conditional and require us to obey him in what he has told us. There are other promises that he gives and fulfills because it is his absolute will. Like here we see God proclaiming that David’s son would be the one who would build God’s temple and it was fulfilled by Solomon building it. <br /><br />Another thing noticeable here is David repeatedly acknowledging that he is God’s servant. You and me, we too are God’s servants; put here on earth in our places to fulfill God’s plans through us. Shall we then be faithful in our callings, so that God may bless us and our families as he blessed David? Praise the Lord.<br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-66677186022425332332010-07-13T08:48:00.001-07:002010-07-13T08:48:33.030-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 318<span style="font-weight:bold;">But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22)</span><br /><br />Have you read this verse before? It very clearly states the condition of the present world; meaning it's inhabitants collectively....A PRISONER OF SIN. Not all are prisoners though. There is a minority for whom the promise of eternal life will be fulfilled because they believe in salvation through Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Long ago, during the days of Noah, the world had become a prisoner of sin and God destroyed it with a flood. The Bible says,<br />The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)<br /><br />And now again, the world has become A PRISONER OF SIN. And this is what the Bible has to say regarding this prisoner.<br />"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7)<br /><br />Judgement and destruction is definite. So what must one do?<br /><br />The Apostle Peter exhorts us in this manner,<br />"The LORD is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."(2 Peter 3:9-12)<br /><br />Summing it up, he writes,<br />But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)<br /><br />The promise will be fulfilled for those who have trusted in Jesus and are living for him. Praise the Lord.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-56838570494349276232010-07-04T18:48:00.000-07:002010-07-04T18:50:49.872-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 317<span style="font-weight:bold;">Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? (Numbers 11:12)</span><br /><br />Frustrations come easily in this earthly sojourn of ours, and Moses, the man chosen by God to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, was no exception. The constant bickering that he had to endure from the Israelites in the wilderness frustrated him no end and the dam burst forth one day and Moses cried out to the Lord........ <br />"Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now--if I have found favor in your eyes--and do not let me face my own ruin." (Numbers 11:11-15)<br /><br />Quite pithy statements, I would say. <br /><br />I think we have all felt like Moses sometime or the other in our lives too. He told God that the burden was too heavy upon him. He wanted to die. And there were several occasions where he desired to die....for several reasons.<br /><br />But God had some instant answers for Moses.<br />The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone. (Numbers 11:16,17)<br /><br />Wow! That would have been a big relief to Moses. <br />God saw his plea for assistance justifiable and provided a wonderful solution. <br /><br />Is your plea justifiable in the Lord's sight? If yes, "Do not worry." He has a solution at hand. And you will see and experience it in your life very soon. Praise God for what you are about to receive. Yes, "Praise God."<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-51365762904218781162010-07-03T09:32:00.001-07:002010-07-03T09:32:35.535-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 316We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:12)<br /><br />"Imitate them who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." That's what the author of Hebrews prescribes us as medicine if we happen to be lazy.<br />Here's some more pep talk from the author of Proverbs for the lazy...<br />Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4)<br />The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.(Proverbs 12:27)<br /><br />Some believers dilly-dally a lot with regard to worship, prayer, meditation of the Word and eventually stagnate in their spiritual lives. They never seem to make up their minds regarding building their spiritual lives.<br />King Solomon wrote,<br />If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks. (Ecclesiastes 10:18) <br /><br />There are many a leaking spiritual houses these days. Like Jonah who disobeyed God's command to go to Nineveh. When he was asked who he was, while on his way to Tarshish on a ship, he replied,<br />"I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."(Jonah 1:9)<br /><br />Mostly true, but there are a couple of hidden things in that statement...like his disobedience and rebellion.<br />So, how's your spiritual life? Are the rafters sagging?<br /><br />The Bible exhorts us,<br />Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)<br />Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:8)<br /><br />Jesus exhorts us,<br />I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)<br /><br />Let's give ear to the Holy Spirit's voice in these final days....and......"Imitate them who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-1213859703533397212010-06-27T18:52:00.001-07:002010-06-27T18:52:51.988-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 314<span style="font-weight:bold;">Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. (Deuteronomy 6:18)</span><br /><br />Why is it so important to do what is right and good in the Lord's sight? Moses, here says that, it is intimately related to your wellbeing and the Lord's promise being fulfilled in your life.<br /><br />Regarding a couple of kings of Judah, the Bible says,<br />Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.(2 Chronicles 14:2)<br />This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.(2 Chronicles 31:20)<br /><br />All the years that these kings did good and right, the Lord blessed them abundantly, rescued them from their enemies and gave them peace. But later on when they did wrong and did not trust in God, they paid the price for it. <br /><br />In his latter years as king, Asa chose to befriend a wicked king and God sent a prophet to him who said,<br />"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." <br /><br />King Hezekiah did an foolish thing of showing off all his treasures and riches to the envoys of a wicked Babylonian king and God had this to say to him,<br />The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.(2 Kings 20:17)<br /><br />The Apostle Paul, writing to the Philippians exhorts them in this manner:<br />Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)<br /><br />To the Church at Thessalonica, he again writes,<br />And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.(2 Thessalonians 3:13)<br /><br />Surely, doing good and right is a pleasant sacrifice in the sight of the Lord and his blessings will be upon them that do so.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-8278454530850829732010-06-23T19:06:00.000-07:002010-06-23T19:07:18.879-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 313<span style="font-weight:bold;">Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps? (2 Kings 20:9)</span><br /><br />Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD."<br /><br />Then Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?" And to this question, Isaiah gave the reply that we read in the title verse. Isaiah told him that the Lord will give him a sign...in the form of a miracle....LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz (the sundial of Ahaz) .<br /><br />Are you waiting for a sign from the Lord regarding a promise that the Lord has given you? It will come soon. You will see a miracle. Keep praying for the Lord is at work. He will fulfill his promise to you.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-86359781340454230482010-06-19T05:17:00.001-07:002010-06-19T05:17:48.379-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 312And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:17)<br /><br />The Israelites were in a miserable condition in Egypt. 430 years of slavery. Pain, injury and shame were their wages for working hard. And God decided to end it all.<br />Long before all these years of slavery, God had spoken to Abraham regarding this bondage and the redemption. He said,<br />"Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions." (Genesis 15:13, 14)<br />And it happened exactly as God said.<br /><br />What God promises, he brings about at his appointed time and no one can stop him. The<br />Psalmist says,<br />Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.(Psalms 119:140)<br /><br />Again in Psalms 145, we read,<br />Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. (v13)<br /><br />Even in your life, If God has promised you something, he will bring it to fulfillment, because the Bible says,<br />For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)<br /><br />Shall we say an "Amen" to that!<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-64102377104585179962010-06-14T19:30:00.000-07:002010-06-14T19:31:02.644-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 311<span style="font-weight:bold;">"Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the LORD promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.' " (2 Samuel 3:17, 18)</span><br /><br />Abner, here, is reminding the elders of Israel what God had promised David. David was to be king over all the land and he was going to rescue the Israelites from their enemies. David had been anointed king over the house of Judah, but not as king of all Israel. Things had not progressed as David would have desired but God was at work. Abner, who was on Saul's side defected to David's side because of an argument with Saul's son Ishbosheth. Thus started a process by which David would be king. Abner was murdered by Joab, because Abner had killed his brother Asahel. Ishbosheth was murdered later on by Baanah and Recab, leaders of his raiding bands.<br /><br />Then the Bible says,<br />All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. (2 Samuel 5:1-5)<br /><br />God's promises to David that he would be king over all Israel were fulfilled, not partly, but fully, in God's time.<br /><br />His promises to you regarding any matter will also be fulfilled totally in his wonderful time. Keep praying.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-48107397623873467652010-06-06T18:52:00.000-07:002010-06-06T18:53:05.118-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 310<span style="font-weight:bold;">For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)</span><br /><br />Paul, the Apostle, exhorts young Timothy to focus on spiritual things rather than the physical. He doesn't condemn physical training and we shouldn't either because it is our duty to take care of our physical body which is the temple of God. But an over emphasis on the physical can be distractive and divert our attentions to the non-spiritual aspects of life.<br /><br />Paul lays an emphasis on godliness which in essence means having great reverence for God. He says that it has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. It's very true because the physical body that we have will not last forever but our spiritual bodies will live on forever in eternity with God if we live a life obeying the Word Of God.<br /><br />Paul again exhorts him saying,<br />But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11)<br /><br />Flee from worldly desires, especially the love of money is what Paul advices him here. Instead pursue things of much value in God's sight namely righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. A fine lesson for all of us who are waiting for eternal life with Jesus in heaven.<br /><br />Let us not forget this day that....His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)<br />Praise the Lord.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-44511669031490370712010-05-31T19:55:00.001-07:002010-05-31T19:55:48.195-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 309<span style="font-weight:bold;">But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. (Psalms 103:17,18)</span><br /><br />Serving God faithfully, yet worried about your children or their future? Here's a great promise for you, even though it's from the Old Testament. <br /><br />God really cares about your children; even more than you ever can. Here are a few other promises about your children because you fear the Lord and obey his Word.<br /><br />Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.<br />His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.(Psalms 112:1, 2)<br />He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)<br />The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him. (Proverbs 20:7)<br /><br />Do you believe that?<br /><br />King David, the great psalmist gives his testimony in this manner:<br />I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. (Psalms 37:25,26)<br /><br />The Lord is true to his promises and he will never fail you. God Bless.<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-60107421684744633732010-05-29T18:40:00.001-07:002010-05-29T18:40:55.287-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 308I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)<br /><br />This is one of the great promises of the New Testament. Jesus here, was telling his disciples that they were going to be clothed with power from on high. The disciples must have wondered what kind of power this could be. They had seen power flow from Jesus all through the time that he was with them. Could there be anything new? Jesus wanted them to stay in the city and wait for it. They obeyed him and so they could experience the power first hand. This is how Luke, the physician, writes;<br /><br />They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 1:14, 2:1-4)<br /><br />Have you been clothed on from high? Jesus told his disciples before ascending to heaven;<br />But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)<br /><br />And after the disciples were clothed with power from on high, the Bible says,<br />With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)<br /><br />Even regarding Jesus, Luke writes;<br />God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38)<br /><br />You need to be clothed from on high, to be constantly victorious in your war against sin and satan. May the Lord grant you that great blessing if you have still not received it. God Bless.<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-73664679996675594872010-05-24T09:06:00.001-07:002010-05-24T09:06:40.215-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 307Simple Thoughts On Promises- 307 <br /><br />All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. (1 Chronicles 25:5) <br /><br />King David, together with the commanders of his army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying. The Bible gives a list of 14 sons of Heman and then we read, "All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters." <br /><br />Notice the part of the title verse that says, "They (sons) were given him through the promises of God to exalt him." <br /><br />There are some in our generation who consider "children" a burden and a nuisance and some choose not to have children though they are married. Here, "children" were a gift from God to Heman the seer. <br /><br />Do you consider your child/children as a gift from God? <br /><br />We read in Psalm 127; <br />Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. (v3) <br /><br />Do you consider your child/children, a heritage and reward from the Lord? <br /><br />And about "grand-children", the Bible says, <br />Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. (Proverbs 17:6) <br /><br />As a parent...Are you the pride of your child/children? <br /><br />Many questions to be answered here! Hope your decisions and answers match well with the Word of God. God Bless.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-36565166999537013912010-05-13T05:06:00.000-07:002010-05-13T05:09:16.472-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 305<span style="font-weight:bold;">If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him. (2 Chronicles 30:9)</span><br /><br />Hezekiah, when he was king of Judah, sent word to all Israel and Judah, requesting them to come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord, according to the law, because they had not kept it in great numbers. So runners went with letters from the king through all Israel and Judah, saying, "O children of Israel, come back again to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may come again to you who have been kept safe out of the hands of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were sinners against the Lord, so that he made them a cause of fear. Now do not be hard-hearted, as your fathers were; but give yourselves to the Lord, and come into his holy place, which he has made his for ever, and be the servants of the Lord your God, so that the heat of his wrath may be turned away from you."<br /><br />Hezekiah ended by saying,<br />If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him. <br /><br />The last part of the above verse is so very true. God does not turn his face from those who return to him. Yes, God is compassionate and forgiving, and he doesn't turn his face from those who repent of their sins and back-sliding.<br /><br />If you have been unfaithful to the Lord in your walk with him, God is calling you today to repent and come back to him so that he can have sweet fellowship with you again. God Bless.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-20662609768279679082010-05-07T18:37:00.001-07:002010-05-07T18:37:55.171-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 304<span style="font-weight:bold;">Simple Thoughts On Promises- 304 <br /><br />Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:8)</span> <br /><br />Called to the work of the Lord at a very young age, Jeremiah was anxious of how he was going to fulfill the Lord's commission. But we read of God assuring him that he would be with him. <br /><br />Not only Jeremiah, God assured many of his chosen ones that he would be with them and help them to fulfill his plans in their lives. <br />Here's the assurance he gave to Jacob, <br />I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:15) <br /><br />And this is what he told Moses, <br />"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) <br /><br />The Lord God who assured Jeremiah, Jacob and Moses is with you too as you do his work of building his kingdom. <br /><br />We must never forget what Jesus told his disciples when he entrusted them with the Great Commission. He said, <br />"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) <br /><br />Yes, he is with us always, to the very end of the age. Praise the Lord.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-69539482142583114952010-04-30T19:00:00.000-07:002010-04-30T19:01:25.349-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 303<span style="font-weight:bold;">Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)</span><br /><br />God asks for purity in the lives of believers and there is always a blessing attached to them who strive to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Not an easy task but achievable with the help of the Holy Spirit. Of course, sins and short comings do come in the lives of all believers, but God is always willing to forgive and help us go forward.<br /><br />The Church at Sardis in Asia Minor during the days of John the Apostle, had a few faithful believers and it was accounted by the Lord. But most of the people in the Church there were in a bad spiritual condition and this is what God had to say to them,<br />I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Revelation 3:1)<br /><br />God wanted to them to repent and said,<br />Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. (Revelation 3:2)<br /><br />He also issued a warning if they did not repent.<br />Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3)<br /><br />Sadly, they did not repent and the Church did not last very long. But the faithful were promised by God with this eternal promise:<br />They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)<br /><br />To us the Holy Spirit says,<br />He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:5)<br /><br />May the Lord Jesus Christ help us all in this endeavour.<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-39576832642699721922010-04-25T07:46:00.001-07:002010-04-25T07:46:18.503-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 302<span style="font-weight:bold;">Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20)</span><br /><br />God emphasized the word "justice" here and wanted the Israelites to obey his laws and be just in their dealings, so that they could possess the promised land. But many of them were corrupt including priest and prophet.<br /><br />Our God is a "just God". He is just in his dealings with mankind. He expects his children also to be just in their dealings.<br /><br />The Apostle Paul writes,<br />Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. (Philippians 2:14, 15)<br /><br />Crooked and depraved generation...perfect words to describe our generation.<br /><br />Yet, God expects us to be blameless and pure children. Is it possible? With the help of the Holy Spirit, Yes. By ourselves, No. <br />That's why Jesus said,<br />The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)<br />But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)<br /><br />God will definitely bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night. He will not keep putting them off, because he is a "just God".<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-66358155800362181832010-04-19T05:13:00.001-07:002010-04-19T05:13:53.265-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 301<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7, 8)</span><br /><br />Is God able to fulfill the things that you read in the above verses? Yes, he is! And he does it countless times in the lives of believers. Doesn't mean that believers don't fall sick or get injured. But the restraining hand of God prevents what would have been catastrophic.<br /><br />Jabez prayed to God,<br />"Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.(1 Chronicles 4:10)(NIV)<br /><br />...keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain....That's a neat little prayer we can pray each day. In the KJV, it's a bit different. There we read....keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. <br /><br />The thing to notice here is that God granted his request. <br />We all need divine protection, what with the devil prowling around like a roaring lion seeking to devour. But God's promises stand us in good stead if we pray them.<br /><br />Jesus prayed,<br />I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:11)<br />My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15)<br /><br />Yes, God will protect you and your family from all calamities if you live a life pleasing to him. Sin opens the way for satanic attacks, so we must strive to walk with God, obeying his Word. Then his promises will be fulfilled every day of our lives.<br /><br />The Apostle Paul affirms,<br />The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.<br />(2 Thessalonians 3:3)<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-37352630726554101312010-04-15T18:26:00.000-07:002010-04-15T18:27:23.254-07:00Simple Thoughts On Promises- 300<span style="font-weight:bold;">But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:23) </span><br /><br />A promise to the Israelites for obeying God's commands in the promised land. God knew the fears that the Israelites had in their hearts regarding the strength of the nations that they would encounter. <br />Regarding this we read in the book of Deuteronomy. <br />You may say to yourselves, "These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?" But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. (Deuteronomy 7:17-19) <br /><br />Are you being attacked by evil forces these days? Has Satan stolen the peace, joy and satisfaction in your life? Is he playing truant with your family? <br />Do not fear. The Lord God who delivered the Israelites will fight for you. He will set you free. Satan will not win. <br />Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. (Deuteronomy 7:21) <br />He will do awesome miracles for you yet again. So glorify him this day.Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006427965138878209.post-41229545888494671652010-04-12T18:05:00.001-07:002010-04-12T18:05:26.429-07:00Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 10<span style="font-weight:bold;">Dr. Johnson's Devotionals From The Word Of God- 10 </span><br /><br />On April 9, 2010, the Frankfurt-bound Condor Airlines flight and Qatar Airways plane heading for Melbourne came close to each other in mid-air over the Arabian Sea off Mumbai, India, but a collision was averted after the Air Traffic Control alerted them and asked one of them to descend by around 3,000 feet. The two flights were flying at the same altitude, and were just four miles from each other. Flights are required to maintain a safe vertical distance of at least 1,200 feet from each other. <br /><br />A disaster averted in the nick of time. Obeying rules are so important for safety. <br /><br />The Bible speaks of how mankind has transgressed by not acknowledging God or his will and are thus paying the price for their foolishness. <br /><br />"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." (Romans 1:18-27) <br /><br />God doesn't want anyone to perish eternally; he desires that all come to repentance and do his will. <br /><br />Are you doing his will? If you are, here's a promise for you. <br />The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)<br /><br /><embed src="http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/veenajohnson/Miscellanous/bloggertitles-1.swf" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="50" width="500"></embed>Dr. Johnson Cherianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12175238859599391961noreply@blogger.com0