A friend once told me,in the books of judges a man had to give his daughter as a sacrifice,but God didn’t stop him from doing,isn’t GOD loving?

I kept pondering over the statement and sort the LORD for an answer .The truth is that we only chose to see GOD as Love and we expect GOD of LOVE to always show love and mercy on us regardless of our choices and decisions and promises we make out of the free will that GOD has gifted us with.

As much as GOD is LOVE ,HE is also JUST.

Both Love and Justice are part of HIM.HIS very nature and quality.

If someone promised you to give some amount of money in exchange of a valuable you own and has failed to do so and you took this case to the court of justice. How would you feel when the Judge in the court of justice is biased towards your opponent because he loves the opponent.Would the judge seems fair to you.

Let us look back into history of the bible about a JUDGE from the old testament named Jephthah.

(Judges 11)

It says that Jephthah was a brave warrior, his family abandoned him on the streets and had a gang who was worthless and unprincipled men. They raided people of their wealth and did immoral things to the people.

Due to the constant oppression and war against Israel during those times, The people of Israel approached Jephthah to be their Judge,(if we study the book of Judges , Judges were raised by GOD till then ,but this man was chosen by people of Israel(except Abimelek)).

Then came the time for battle, Judges 11: 30

And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands,whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

It was Jephthah who made a vow to the LORD in exchange of the victory against the army of Ammonites for the life of his daughter who came out of the door first to greet her father of his victory

The LORD kept his word and gave victory to Jephthah,It was also fair for Jephthah to fulfill the promise he made to the LORD.

Did the LORD ask for it?Clearly No.Is the LORD loving? Clearly Yes,It is He who gave victory to Jephthah.Is the LORD Just towards this situation?Clearing Yes ,that is His quality along with love.

In the believer’s journey we make many choices and decision and Promises . How we choose to respond to our loving and just GOD is given into the free will of man. The word of GOD warns us of the very thing .

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the Lord your God, don’t avoid keeping it. The Lord your God expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn’t. If you didn’t make a vow, you would not be guilty

It is always good to ask the Holy Spirit of the LORD, to guide us and help us in living a life favorable to GOD.

As the below quote speaks for itself….

“CHOOSE YOUR WORDS RIGHT!”

We live in season where fear is dormant all around us. We go out we see an invisible virus taking our life. We go to sleep at night knowing we are safe at home but a gas leak releases harmful gases in the air we breadth. The justice system which is supposed to protect our life executes it. We see storms destroying the major metropolitan cities, Loss of jobs, families perished out of hunger and what not. Fear is a natural response to situations as these.

THE GREATEST FEAR OF ALL IS THE FEAR OF DEATH

Even during the times of fear the word of GOD brings assurance and Hope to our fearful souls.

It says in Proverbs 29:25- The FEAR OF MAN brings a SNARE; but whoever puts his trust in the LORD SHALL BE SAFE.

You may wonder, How do I put trust in the Unknown GOD who is promising me this safety ?The answer is very simple

It says in 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He(GOD) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

All we need to do is confess our sins to the LORD Jesus Christ and accept Him as your personal savior and believe that he died for our sins and rose again and GOD will abide in us and will take care of us.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness, I turn from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and lift. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior. Help me to be free from fear and keep me safe in you.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

A friend walked to my desk and said .,”Soundarya would you come to movie with me”. The Past dawned on me. It was always hard to say  NO when people close to you ask you ‘ lets go out watch a movie’, ‘lets gossip’,’ lets complain’ ,’lets do things out of the  morale’.

I choose to live a secluded life with GOD with absolute no interference of people between HIM and me.

I always thought I am rejected from this world for choosing to stay faithful to GOD in my values ,I felt nobody appreciated it! I always had to move out of the group, losing their friendship or I thought so  I did until, that day, the very same people who walked out came back with a prayer request saying ‘would you pray for me, I know GOD hears you’. As prayer request started flowing in from every direction from people of ages who were so much soaked up into the world ,Seeking after GOD.

My heart rejoiced, the difference has been set, the hardship did had a silver lining  after all, and every prayer request heard for salvation.

The same world who tagged you as crazy, religious ,mad for GOD, fool actually see you as Child of GOD, Prayerful, Humble with HIS joy and peace

How GOD works brought Goosebumps to my whole self, but HIS mysterious ways are well always mysterious and the lesson began.

Meanwhile in my joy my life was mirrored to me, the spirit of the LORD said. ,DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A CHILD OF GOD? was missing souls in my weakness, I hardly remember that I was bought by HIS blood and set apart for HIS glory alone. The fruits and the  spirit gifts fading away. HE struck me with his presence and said, I still LOVE YOU ,I am ready to restore are you ready?.

And my Answer was YES and AMEN!

Remember that we are set apart from this world, yes we are the chosen generation, Even when the enemy strikes you down with pressures and pleasures of life. Take a stand for GOD for HE is faithful and HIS mercies everlasting and Promises fulfilled

‘STAND UP for GOD in your most LOW and WORST time and HE will STAND UP forever for YOU!’

Back in the year of 2014,I was a young working women in Chennai with high hopes and dreams of the future. I was rather a shy person and was new to the city of Chennai. I was part of church which has the biggest congregation down south.I remember the first day I visited the church, I was sitting at the last row of that huge church being ignorant and never knowing the plans He has in store for me.

Since day one I had an urge to serve GOD in the church I was part of ,as days went by there was an announcement for audition for the choir. I was fretful about the whole idea of auditioning amongst the elders of the church as they are a renowned team. I was reluctant to give my name for the auditions

As the day of audition was nearing, there was something in my heart which was nudging me to make it to the audition. I knew it was the Holy spirit and I started giving excuses with whole range of emotions bursting forth  saying Lord I am not that good,I don’t have a good voice, I am scared to face them all alone.

Finally on the audition  day I obliged to the loud nudging of the Holy spirit, with much fear in my heart and absolutely feeling alone I stepped into the church only you see the church full. I started feeling nervous seeing the multitude for the audition. Sitting there trembling I whispered a pray.

JESUS BRING COMFORT and CONFIDENCE..Amen

Even before I could open my eyes ,there was a girl who was already sitting next to me. she saw being nervous and said to me “Do not be nervous, even if your family is miles away we are all with you, make us your family”. As we started conversing about various things of life, the nervousness left me and I was comforted and equipped with confidence.

We all  have those moments where we feel helpless and hopeless ,but time in and again GOD has been faithfully. Not only does He nudge you with His purposes, He also send His care ,comfort and protection along the journey.

I cleared the audition and got into the team, from the last row of the big church to the center stage to worship Him.

 I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Every time I travel, it is always a chaos I rush, I run, I get stuck in traffic ,I miss the trains,the bus or train I am in gets delayed,ticket go missing and what not and like everytime my travel day start with head ache when I woke up,with number of cabs cancelling my bookings accounting to further delay.

Every time I travel, it is always a chaos I rush, I run, I get stuck in traffic ,I miss the trains,the bus or train I am in gets delayed,ticket go missing and what not and like everytime my travel day start with head ache when I woke up,with number of cabs cancelling my bookings accounting to further delay.

I boarded the airport bus by 4 PM not knowing how my destination would receive me. After 2 hours of travelling I still haven’t crossed the city and airport was 2 hour away ,I sat distressed in the bus with no solution to think of, I finally reached airport just to know that it was gushing with passengers as it was the holiday season ,the airlines helped me with priority check in and security and after much of running and pushing I was the last one to board the flight. I was checking if the seat next to me was empty, but it was already occupied by a person.

Many years ago when I boarded the aeroplane as an amateur flight passenger , the experience was rather a scary one due to bad weather. As a little child I was terrified and made a pleading prayer asking GOD to confirm that He was with me with an empty seat next to me as an assurance.

I have not given a thought about it but just sat there in the seat in silence as I was panting from all the running .Then something unusual happened ,the person next to me had to move the seat to sit with his family. The moment I realised the empty seat , my panic left me and the peace of GOD filled my heart,filling me with Love and Thanksgiving for the GOD whose love is never changing.

No matter how busy you are today, no matter what races you are running today, no matter how occupied your life is, no matter how many times you failed Him and people around you. HE still says, that He loves you and never fails to keep the promises He gave you . I have reached my destination safe with HIS comfort and protection.I have reached my destination safe with HIS comfort and protection.I have reached my destination safe with HIS comfort and protection.

THERE WAS NOT A DAY ,I TRAVELED WITH A PASSENGER NEXT TO ME,GOD KEPT HIS PROMISE AND NEVER FAILED ME.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1 :5