7/30 - A Life Well Lived

Couple quick hits:
- I totally forgot to list what scripture that was yesterday, it was Isaiah 8:11-14.
- In about 2 hours and 15 minutes we find out the sex of the baby! Big announcement in tomorrow's blog!

Yesterday I went to the funeral for my friend who lost his mother and had the honor to serve as pallbearer. Never have I been to a funeral so beautiful, so moving, so motivating and even so convicting. His mother, Dr. Hanna Vinaya Kumari Vedala, was a professor in her time here on earth and yesterday that was so evident, because I got schooled. So many life lessons learned simply through the testimony of her life. Going in, I expected what I normally do from any funeral service and was really just there to support & sympathize with my friend.

Lesson 1 - don't go into the house of the Lord without any expectation of God moving. If He's there when 2 or 3 are gathered (Matt 18:20), and amongst believers, how can something not happen?

I didn't know her very well and it's quite evident I really missed out on that one. As the funeral proceeded and remarks were made by close friends and relatives, a consistent theme was forming - this was a woman of faith. Known for writing, composing and singing songs unto the Lord, devoting herself to study and speaking to doubters faith-filled statements like "You don't know my God." Another lesson came when I heard from two different friends that when they came to visit her, even as the cancer was progressing and her condition worsening, they found her studying her Greek. The doctor's report was that they couldn't do much more for her, yet she still found it necessary to grow in knowledge.

Lesson 2 - I've said with my own lips before that you're never too old to learn God's word, but would I have the faith to continue in that although my life was quickly coming to a close? We are to seek God diligently (Hebrews 11:6) and she understood that our diligence is to continue until the day we leave.

I don't know all the details of Dr. Vedala's life but I also heard from more that one person yesterday that she had some afflictions in her life, even some far worse than the cancer. The testimony of her children left no one in the room with any doubt to how much she loved them. The sacrifices she made for them, the example she left and even the fact that the children didn't want to let go in the end all testify to her love. I believe it was her daughter who said that she had packed her bags a long time ago (will come back to this later) and that she held on to her life longer just to comfort her children. That's love. Prolonging your own suffering, and delaying your appointment in heaven, just to comfort those you love. I have no doubt in my mind that God honored her for that. John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I'll write more on this tomorrow. The testimony of her live really had a termendous impact on me. Good day to all

The Beginning of Wisdom

In the midst of tough economic times, the best is usually not brought out in us. We fear what may befall the financial institutions, what actions Congress will take, how long this will last, how much more value our homes & IRA's will lose, and a host of other things. The glimmering hope in this darkness, however, is that it brings us to a place of need and that gives God something to work with. It gives place in our lives for the realization that we're insufficient without Him.


Beyond financial hardship, so many people I know are dealing with pain & heartache in their lives. Again, something God can work with, but it's very easy for us to rely on worldly tactics for coping. We distract ourselves with parties, gatherings, and whatever fun activities takes our minds off our situation in stead of seeking the One who can heal us.


God's word today, whether or not you're going through hard times, is to follow after Him, not the world.

^"11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said:

¹² "Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

¹³ The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,

¹⁴ and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare."

Let us fear God and no longer follow after the ways of this people. Study the Word to understand healthy fear of the Lord and to gain a desire to seek after Him. Don't be deceived, that desire doesn't come from will power alone. Don't be like some from the houses of Israel for whom God was a stumbling block. Rather let Him be the Rock on which you stand. Peace & Love

God, our Comforter

The blog postings have been a bit scarce lately. There's been a lot going on lately and my thoughts weren't very organized. I needed some time to pray through some of this before I shared. Again, I'm asking for your prayers today. Please click & read the scripture links as you go along.

My friend lost his mother yesterday. We've known for a couple days that her time here was quickly fading away. When I first heard the news my heart broke for him. All the time we had spent praying together and talking about his mother, I know he loved her very much and the news hit me pretty hard. Another friend told me Sunday that because she was saved this ought to be a time of rejoicing, and I thank him for that because truly it is. As I prayed for his family this morning, God spoke to me about all his mother was experiencing and, my God, what a time indeed to rejoice. A mansion prepared just for her (John 14:2), immunity from pain or sorrow (Rev 21:4), worship among a multitude of believers (Rev 7:9) in clear view of Christ who sits at God's right hand (Acts 7:55), beautiful words of praise coming from her lips like "holy, holy, holy" and "Hallelujah, for the Lord God Almighty reigns!" (Rev 19:1-8). Thank you Lord for your promise & for what you have in store for us beyond this life. I can't wait to meet you there, so let me praise you now as I will when I get there.

Other friends of ours lost their child this weekend immediately after birth. I can't imagine how that must feel. My prayer for them, and I hope you'll pray with me, is that this experience will draw them closer to God, not further away. Amidst the questions, confusion & pain I pray that God will impart on them a supernatural wisdom and peace. And though tremendous pain is there now, joy comes in the morning. We went to visit yesterday and could see that her heart was so broken. We offered what encouraging words we could but knew that God's Holy Spirit, the Comforter, would need to be with her for some time to come. I wanted to tell her so much more, but the day after may be too soon for preaching. Wanted to tell her that He loves her and even though He allowed it to happen, still felt her pain; that He is our High Priest that can sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15), and He also knows the pain of losing a son; that there's a purpose for her pain - that she can come out stronger, as purely refined gold (Psalm 66:10). In time God, reveal your words of promise to the child's parents and cause them to draw closer to you, and ignore the enemy's urging for them to drown in sorrow. Protect them, strengthen & encourage them Lord. Surround them with godly people and most of all, with your presence.

Finally, my grandmother is not doing so well in the hospital. She was supposed to be sent home this weekend but due to some problems with her kidneys will need to stay longer. I know her earnest desire is just to go home (she's been in hospitals for quite a while) and she's discouraged about staying longer. I just ask for your prayers for her strength and healing so she can make it back home. Also for patience with the process and doctors and bills and everything else that comes along with this. Pray for faith that nothing, even cancer, is too hard for God.

I thank you all. I know this post is fairly somber but growing in the Lord won't always be an easy or happy thing. But its so necessary and we're fortunate, those of us who are saved, to have been chosen by Him. What an awesome God we serve. Let us have the faith of Jeremiah who said,

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17)

Philippians 4, Part 2

I changed the format of the blog a bit, I guess I get bored easily. If you're getting this by email you may not notice, the changes are on the site itself [here]. Hope you enjoy.

If God has made anything clear to me this weekend it is that He's always speaking whether we care to listen or not. Sometimes that voice is easy to ignore, and other times its the only thing you can hear. I had several encounters with people this weekend in which I received way more from spiritually that I had ever expected. I tried my best to go through the normal motions of my day, just like any other Saturday but at every turn there was God speaking to me through other people. Honestly, a lot of it I did not want to hear. Each encounter was different - the brothers in my accountability group, the men at the prayer breakfast, my granny in the hospital, even the movie I watched with my wife - but the theme was so consistent ans so clear: God is calling me higher. I'm not sure what to, but it's clearly a higher level of responsibility, accountability, ministry, love for others & time with Him. It's a scary feeling because I feel so incapable and I even feel that my current level of responsibility is challenging. What's more weird is that I'm anxious about this call and I don't even know what it is.

I was supposed to be writing about Philippians 4 today but obviously that hasn't worked out. I'm asking for your prayers today that I wouldn't be fearful and that God would grant me the grace to hear clearly where He's guiding me. Grace & peace to you all

7/23 - Philippians 4

Good morning. Just a scripture verse today. This one really encouraged me.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7

My focus from reflecting on this - praise God & trust God. In all I do today, this will be my focus.

7/22 - Philippians 3, part 2

Is it silly to strive for something we know is impossible? As humans we're well aware that we're imperfect but is it worth our time to even strive to be perfect? We often fall back on the excuse that "nobody's perfect" when we fall short and it's a very true statement (Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2-3). So is it even worth trying? We also know that as humans we are limited to ground transportation (without the use of vehicles or any other device we weren't born with) so would it be a waste of time to stand around flapping our arms hoping we'll fly? Probably so. But as for striving for perfection, I'd say it's definitely worth it. The difference, while both are impossible, only one are we called to do. Striving for anything less than God's standard will guide us toward spiritual mediocrity and unfulfilled lives. When I say unfulfilled I don't mean unhappy - I mean it with regard to God's purpose for our lives. I believe that God has called us to much more than just happy lives but rather to fulfill His will here on earth. Paul explains here:

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (v.12-14)

Although realizing that he was yet imperfect, he presses on. This is the sort of perseverance worth having. Not only is he pressing on, but pressing toward the high calling of Jesus Christ, a calling of which there is none higher. God commands multiple times in Leviticus and we find it , here also in 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." We see the benefit of such perseverance is that we may attain that which Christ has for us. This is clearly something worth striving for.

One of the things that can buffet us from our pursuit is guilt & worldly sorrow. Of course our imperfection means that we will fall short sometimes and the enemy would love nothing more than for us to stay there and wallow in self-pity, guilt & hopelessness. His aim is to devour us (1 Peter 5:8) and what better tools to consume one's soul than these? In dealing with my own sin issues I'm all too familiar with the propensity to stay away from the Word, to distance myself, to dive headlong into self-pity and guilt to the point where ministry seems like something I'll never be qualified or able to do again. What else would the enemy like more? But nonetheless, we persevere: "forgetting what is behind and striving toward what is ahead." We press on to receive all that Christ has for us and to please the One who sent us.

So we follow Paul's pattern - walking in sound principle s of spiritual growth and no longer like the world for "our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (v. 20-21).

7/21 - Philippians 3

To those reading this who have confessed & believed in Christ and are now saved, reflect on this fact this morning: we have been chosen by God. Take a just a few moments. There's so much in that simple statement. So much to rejoice about, so much to stand in awe of.

"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," (v.3).

We believe in Christ as our only means of sufficiency, truly as our Lord - our leader & guide without whom we'd be lost. The more I read this chapter the more I realize that growing in faith is relying less and less on yourself and more and more on God. It's a rigorous process since everything around us tells us to be self-sufficient. Make sure you have an IRA, invest in your future, save enough emergency money for 6 months, always look out for yourself first, if you don't look out for yourself no one else will, etc. Hey, these statements may have some merit but I'm trying to establish that this manner of thinking is ingrained in most of us. Maybe this is why I trust in my own ability to handle my finances rather than give God full control. That might be a topic for another day but I just imagine that a check book under God's complete authority will look a little different than that of a half-surrendered, half-invested believer. Yea...topic for another day.

The verse says we should have no confidence in the flesh. Paul goes on to list why he could be confident in the flesh: "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless" (v. 5-6). Today that might sound like "I was raised in the church, I'm there every Sunday, my daddy was a deacon, uncle was a minister, mother was a trustee, a faithful tither, I read my Bible everyday and serve on 5 church committees." Again, nothing wrong with any of that. But the point in this chapter is that our sufficiency comes from true faith in Christ and all of our "stuff", no matter how good it is, is still inadequate for salvation. Our abilities and achievements apart from God are a wash. Verse 7, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ."

So we should continue on in our well doing, and even do more (as God has called us) but our confidence should remain in Him - "that [we] may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having [our] own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (v. 8-9, emphasis added)