Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: 2015

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

LIFE: Determination

John and Washington Roebling are two of the most determined men I’ve ever heard of. John was inspired in 1883 to build a bridge that would connect New York with Long Island but his engineering peers thought he was crazy and that I couldn’t be done. John convinced his son, Washington, that it could be done and they began building the bridge. After a few months, there was a traffic accident on the bridge and John was killed. His son suffered partial brain damage and could not talk or move.

Washington did not let this tragedy keep him down. He was determined to see that bridge built. Eventually he could move one finger and he learned how to communicate with his wife using a code of communication using his finger. For 13 years he used his finger to tap instructions to some engineers and the result was the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. Washington, despite many odds, never gave up and allowed his determination to overcome a monumental obstacle.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

HEALTH: Let our medicine be our food

Hippocrates said, “Let our medicine be our food.” What this means is that when we are not feeling well, the food that we decide to eat plays an important role in our recovery and general function of our bodies.
Ensure that the foods that you are eating are beneficial to the body. Take time to evaluate what you have been eating, Make a list and replace the foods that are not healthy, such as high sugar sweets, chips, and soda, with healthy alternatives such as water, fruits, and vegetables. It will take effort and determination, but the rewards will be well worth it. Your physical health will improve and your energy level will increase.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

LIFE: Dreams/goals

If you stopped and asked ten people on the street today what their dreams and goals are, most of them would not be able to give you a detailed answer. Most people think about their dreams every so often but tend to stay in the “dream mode” instead of actively making the effort to attain their dreams.
You may hear things like, “I want to lose thirty pounds,” or, “I want to be an architect,” or even, “I want to be financially sound,” but what you might not hear is the steps they are taking to fulfill these dreams.
Dreams create passion and passion causes action. Begin writing out your short term and long term dreams and begin taking action toward them. Ask God to help you and don’t be afraid to dream big.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

HEALTH: Physical Health

Eating to satiate our physical need happens frequently. We feel hungry so we grab something to eat. We need food in order to live. But what about our spiritual appetite? It hungers as well. Do we feel our spirits stomach growling in hunger? Are we aware that our spirits need fed?

Our physical health is important, but our spiritual health is more important. If we are sick spiritually, it affects every aspect of our being. God wants us to feed our spirits with him. Whether it is through reading his word, or directly communing with him in prayer, it is important to take time daily to satiate spiritual hunger. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with God’s spirit. Take time today to fill yourself up with God.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

LIFE: Motivation

Have you ever met someone that was always motivated? It seemed like they were always doing something to achieve their goals and with great passion. If I had to guess why they were so motivated, it was because one, they were passionate about their goals, and two, they found ways to keep themselves motivated.
If you’re finding yourself unmotivated, I encourage you to form some goals. You also may find it helpful to read inspiring and motivational literature. Look up some quotes on success, motivation, and passion and print them out and read every day. Use positive affirmations such as, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Think of motivation using this analogy. An airplane is powerful and has plenty of potential, but unless there is a pilot to start it up and actually fly it, it just sits there, not moving. The pilot is the motivation to get that plane off the ground and you have incredible potential as well and motivation is that internal drive that will activate it.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

HEALTH: Eating Healthy

Eating healthy is important, but try not to become stressed out if everything you eat is not considered healthy. Balance is key. Sometimes we cannot afford to buy all organic foods and that’s alright. Inorganic foods have nutritional value as well.

I Corinthians 10:31states, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Making the effort to change your eating habits from unhealthy to healthy is wonderful, but be careful not to go to the extreme. God tells us that whatever we eat or drink, do it for his glory. If you are only able to eat inorganic foods, or you eat foods that aren’t very healthy once in awhile, don’t give yourself a hard time. Be thankful for the food, ask God to bless it to your body, and be sure to give God thanks.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Grateful, Always

Let thankfulness rule in your heart. As you thank me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens. It is as if scales fall of your eyes, enabling you to see more and more of my glorious riches. – excerpt from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young Gratefulness changes everything. More than 75 percent of the world’s population lives in areas that we would deem unindustrialized. There are no Starbucks. No indoor plumbing. No mass transit systems. Yet there seems to be an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the little they do have. We need to adopt that philosophy.

According to the above excerpt, when we allow thankfulness to rule in our hearts, the scales of indifference, discontentment and self-indulgence begin to fall off our eyes. We begin to really take stock of all the wonderful blessings in our life—big and small. Running water, grocery stores, friends who love us, the jobs we have, healthy children, the ability to love, all of these things begin to resonate in our hearts. We spend less time worrying about the things we do not have and more time honing in on all that we do.

I often wonder how different things would be if Adam and Eve had adopted this train of thought. They allowed the serpent to plant a seed of discourse in their hearts. This eventually led to their focus shifting from God’s splendid provision to God’s suppression. They seemingly forgot about Eden’s beauty and God’s presence. Instead of rejecting the lies of the serpent or going to God with what they had heard, they simply allowed the seed to become thought which becomes action which lead to their spiritual death.

Seeds of discontentment will sprout roots and bear fruit. As believers, we have to rip those seeds out of our hearts and minds. Being grateful uproots those seeds and forces us to center our attention on things that truly matter. There are riches around us. There are blessings, abundance and joy that journey with us every day. When we avail ourselves to acknowledge their presence, we can begin to see just how blessed we are.
God is a praiseworthy God. We may not have everything we want to have but He does provide us with all that we need. If you find that your thankfulness reservoir is on empty, try beginning your day with thankfulness. Begin your day with prayers that thank God for who He is. Father, I thank you that you hear me and always hear me. I thank you for your love and your grace. Lord, I thank you that you continue to bless me even when I least deserve it. I thank you for the ability to bless others. Help me to be a blessing and to see your blessing, in Jesus’ name amen.
Simple prayers like these open our hearts and allow our souls to be receptive to God’s provision. We want to see more of His glorious riches. Ratnas refers to this as having a right faith.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

A Praiseworthy God

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! 5For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. – Psalms 100:4-5
Max Lucado, renowned Christian author says it best:
Next time your day goes south, here is what you do. Steep yourself in the grace of God. Saturate your day in his love. Marinate your mind in his mercy. He has settled your accounts, paid your debt. What a gift he has given you. You’ve won the won the greatest lottery in the history of humanity and you didn’t even pay for the ticket! Your soul is secure, your salvation is guaranteed. What more do you need?

If you could not think of a reason to sing His praises or lavish Him with words of worship and adoration, this ought to get you thinking. Aside from the many blessings God bestows on us, the chief reason He is deserving of praise is because of his son Christ. Because Jesus dared to pay the price, the gift of salvation is ours for eternity. Our soul is secure and our redemption and reconciliation with the Creator of the Universe is guaranteed. Therefore, we should gladly come to God with gratitude, offering sincere thankfulness. We should open our mouths and bless Him and affectionately praise His name.

In case you did not realize it, God is great and is greatly to be praised. His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting. Remember those times when you deliberately refused to do the thing He asked of you? Whether it was to apologize, even when you weren’t in the wrong or remain silent, you politely declined to do what God requested—we all have. Still, He never turned his back on us. He never despised us, wrote us off or even became angry with us. His faithfulness and His mercy covered us because we are His children.
Just like we would not discard our children for making mistakes, God does not discard when we do wrong. God’s mercy has no limits. For this reason, He is a praiseworthy God. He hears us when we pray. He moves and brings change when we ask. Why? God delights in our praise. The word of God says that God inhabits the praises of His people. He manifests His presence and power to His people especially when they offer Him sincere worship and praise Him. God is moved by our sacrifice of praise. He is moved by our heart-felt worship. What parent could hear their child crying and not want to do something about it? God is the ultimate parent, who answers when we call. Sikhs enjoy building close relationships with God. As believers, we know that sincere praise and worship help us to strengthen our relationship with our Father.
God is faithful. He is just. He is a praiseworthy God!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Hear it. Do it.

Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts.

Show of hands: how many of us enjoy being told what to do? As I child, I remembered thinking that my parents were brutes. They constantly told me what to do, where to go and how to do things. Many times, I simply refused to do the things they required and I paid the consequence for it. But isn’t that what we do with God? He lovingly implores us to forsake our own wisdom and rely on Him and we do the opposite. He pleads with us to conduct ourselves with patience, kindness, long-suffering, and self-control. Instead, we’re haughty, self-absorbed and insensitive.

As children of the Most High God, it is our responsibility to listen to our Father when He speaks to us. We cannot harden our hearts and turn away from His instructions. Doing so opens doors to calamity, needless pain and confusion. We do not have the luxury of picking and choosing which things we will obey. Selective hearing is not allowed for believers. We cannot obey half of what God says and expect Him to move freely in our lives. Let’s look at what happened with King Saul, King David’s predecessor.

King Saul was instructed to wait seven days for the prophet Samuel to arrive. At that time, the prophet would offer up peace offerings to the Lord to ensure victory against the Philistines. During the seven days, however, the king and his people suffered devastating setbacks. They became afraid and desperate. Even though King Saul was forbidden from performing any offerings before the lord —that was the prophet’s job—he did so. He became impatient, afraid and desperate to prove that he was a king who could lead his people to victory. For refusing to listen and obey God’s instructions, Saul lost his kingdom and his reign came to an end.
We do not get to pick and choose which of God’s instructions we will follow. Remember, doing a good thing at the wrong time or with the wrong motives, is still the wrong thing to do. If we really want God to be Sovereign in our lives and guide us in how to conduct ourselves, we must be open to hear what He is saying. We must be receptive and obedient. The word of God says that we should not be hearers of the word but doers as well. If you hear what God says and refuse to respond to it then you are operating in disobedience and pride. You are setting yourself up for failure, pain and disappointment. Taoists believe in carefully weighing each action before taking it. Before you decide to choose what you’ll hear, make sure you’ve weighed the consequences.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Got Troubles? Seek God.

2It was told Jehoshaphat, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Edom; and behold they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. 3Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah. – 2 Chronicles 20: 2-3
Tsunamis are gigantic waves that destroy everything in their path. They obliterate buildings and cities as though they were made of paper. Few things can withstand their power. Such are the things of life. We encounter colossal storms that wreck havoc on your psyche. They tear down our esteem, and fill our souls with debris. We are left ravaged but not without hope.

King Jehoshaphat knew what that felt like. Can you imagine an army of hundreds of thousands coming against you? Can you imagine the fear that punches you in the gut when you weigh your situation? The bible says that the King was afraid and rightfully so. It also says that he sought the Lord as though his life depended on it—probably because it did.
Many of us do not seek the Lord when things seem like they are at their worst because we do not believe our life depends on it. There is still some small part of us that believes we can handle or manage it on our own. WRONG!

Our personal wisdom and insights will only take us so far before we crash and burn. Our livelihood of peace, joy and faith depend on our relationship with God. We need to pursue Him as often as possible. His ways and thoughts far surpass ours. King Jehoshaphat understood this. When His enemies decided they would all attack Him, he had to know what his strategy should be. Should he leave? Should he stay? Should he fight?
A tailor-made strategy from God for your situation is precisely what you need. You need to know what direction to go in, when to do it and how to do it? The only way to obtain that is by seeking the Father. When we look further down in the passage, we see that Jehoshaphat received his answer from the Lord.
The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.16Tomorrow go down to them. Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.

The King did not have to fight. He did not have to leave. He simply had to worship. Matsuri is the worship of the living God. Because he worshipped, God said the battle would be His.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Restore My Soul

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. 4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Holy Spirit, take rest in me. Make me your temple, restore my soul. For I am yours, Lord, this I decree. Holy Spirit, take rest in me.¬ This is one of my favorite worship songs; it is titled “Take Rest.” One of the reasons it speaks to me so much is that the song isn’t really a song—it is a prayer. Every time we sing this song, we are imploring the Spirit of God to take rest in our hearts, to fill us with His splendid presence. Restoration is not something that materializes by happenstance—it occurs when the Spirit of God rests in us. The above passage drives this point home. God is our Shepherd. He cares for us, tends to our wounds and protects us from life’s wolves and predators. He leads us beside waters that are still and peaceful.
He refreshes and restores our soul. When God refreshes He restores our strength. When God restores, He brings us back to into His glory where we can behold His marvelous wonders.

Restoration means to restore us to our rightful places in God. Think of it like a 2-hour hiking trip in the woods on a hot, humid day. You’re sweaty, smelly, famished and dirty. If God were to refresh you, He’d feed you and give you a drink to restore your strength. If He were to restore you, He’d bathe you, dress you, make sure you hair was styled and anoint you with your favorite scent thereby restoring you.
Restoration is all about intimacy and relationship. All of us can be refreshed but only those who truly thirst for restoration will ever have it. Why? Restoration can only come if we ask. God can only restore us if we invite Him to take rest in our souls. We need the splendor of His presence to saturate the cracked, dry places in our mind. We need His grace to wash and refresh the barren wells of our hearts. We need Him to take rest.
If you desire a weary-free heart, a lack of sorrow and anguish or a joy-infused livelihood, ask the Spirit of the Living God to take rest in you. He is your God and He loves you. Shintos practice their faith through worship and honor of the Master of Creation. Remember, restoration is not something that simple occurs. It has be cultivated and harvested.

Friday, October 9, 2015

He’s Able

God is able to do just what He said He would do. He’s going to fulfill every promise to you. Don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you—He’s able! – Excerpt of He’s Able by Deitrick Haddon
God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever hope or ask for. The bible says that we cannot even begin to imagine the wondrous things God can do. We serve an Almighty God. All power, all dominion and all glory belong to Him. He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. In His appointed time, the bible says that God will release His promise and cause it to manifest in our lives.

Remember Abraham and Sarah? Both were well past their reproductive years when God made them a promise. Of course, like most of us they grew tired of waiting on God and decided to take matters into their own hands. Hence, Ishmael was born to Haggar and Abraham. However, when God’s timing arrived, God did exactly what He promised Abraham he would do: cause Him to have a son. Yes, Abraham and Sarah were just about 100-years-old when Issac was born; but God fulfilled His promise. Their age did not veto the decree He issued in the presence of heaven’s tribunal. The condition of their bodies did not thwart His promise. The fact that they arrogantly tried to manifest the promise themselves did not even cause God to miss a beat!

So My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it [to do]." – Isaiah 55:11
God’s word never returns to Him unfulfilled. It will accomplish everything He designed it too. Therefore, if you are waiting on God to satisfy a promise He made to you, know that He is able. It does not matter how much time has elapsed or what things seem to look like. When David was anointed King over Israel it took years before he was able to operate in that call. When God made His promise to Abraham, it is estimated that it took twenty-five years before the promise, Isaac, was born.

God is not confined by the laws of time or space. He moves effortlessly through dimensions and space-time complexities like a swimmer glides through water. He is all powerful and omnipresent. He is able to do what He promised and He will—wait on Him. One of the most important things we can do is give God time to move. Abraham and Sarah failed to do this initially.

They became impatient and made decisions that were grossly unwise. What kind of person thinks it is a good idea to let their husband sleep with their personal assistant? Clearly, the person was prideful and impatient. God is God all by Himself—he does not require our help. Sikhism teaches there is only one God.

Friday, October 2, 2015

You Win!

24 "[The LORD also said,] 'Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have handed Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land over to you. Begin to take possession [of it]; engage him in battle. 25 Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you, tremble, and be in anguish because of you.' – Deuteronomy 2:24-25

How many of you know that when God hands your enemy over to you, your victory is sealed? God never sends us into a situation that will result in our failure. He promises that He will not allow our enemies to put us to shame. He guarantees that our enemies will not triumph over us. When God sends us into a place or circumstance, it is because the outcome is already determined—we win!

Although the outcomes of our battles are determined by God, we still are required to get on the field and reinforce God’s spoken promise of victory. This is heavily chronicled in the Torah or Pentateuch. If you’re expecting to kick your feet up while others do all the work, you are sorely mistaken. Get up, move out, and cross the Arnon Valley. We do not have the luxury of remaining stagnant in our thought or deeds. The Almighty God is commanding us to get up off our behinds, move forward and go where God sends us. While some battles—like with Gideon—may not require us to pick up a weapon, others call for more combative methods. God tells the people to possess their inheritance and engage the enemy in battle.

We have an enemy whose sole purpose is to rob, kill, destroy or distract us. He is not going to give up without a fight. In truth, neither will we. When God sends us into the battle, He always goes ahead of us to make sure we have the advantage. What an awesome God He is! In this passage, God began to ignite fear in the heart of the enemy so that when the people showed up, fear, chaos and retreat showed up too.
Battles are not pretty. If you’re looking for a place to sit back, relax or sip on your favorite iced beverage, then this is not the place for you. The battlefield is not the place to make friends, play nice or goof around. Battles can be fierce, long and draining. Often times there are casualties. Some people who started out with you may not be there when the smoke clears. Some people may turn their back on you. In battles, people get wounded and sometimes they are victims of friendly fire. This is why it is important to have your marching orders before you get on the field. Know what you’re fighting for and why you’re fighting.
When God sends you into the battle, know that you even though you are in the trenches, victory is yours.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Don’t Go It Alone Pt2

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it is all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. – Ephesians 6:13-18

Trying to handle our problems by ourselves is not always the ideal way to gain victory. In fact, according to the passage above, God suggests that, whenever possible, we seek out help. We cannot allow pride, arrogance or a sense of sufficiency, to trap us into biting off more than we can chew. Instead, we should take all the help we can get and allow others who know and love us to bless us.

According to this passage, we have weapons at our disposal. God has an extensive arsenal just begging to be used. Yet, we still rely on old weapons to fight new wars. You cannot use past strategies to thwart present day trials or tribulations. Where personal prayer may have catapulted you to victory in the past, it may be deficit for your present circumstance. For this reason, God tells us to use every weapon that God has issued. Prayer, fasting, the principle of touching and agreeing, speaking the word of God, intercession, faith through service to others, humility, gift giving or prayer partners—all are weapons at our disposal. After all, what good is having an arsenal if we’re not even going to use it?

Utilizing weapons like these will help ensure we are standing on our feet when the dust settles. It will ensure that the mouth of the roaming lion is clamped shut. We will be enclosed in the safety of the Father’s arms. Wisdom, revelation, love, honor and the Master’s involvement in our lives will be ours. Sikhs believe that only God is worthy of worship. God does not fight fire with fire. His weapons are mighty and pull down strongholds. He is now—was then and will forever be—undefeated and unmatched. Our adversary will never be God’s equivalent. Just ask the Arch Angel Michael. It was he, not the Father, who dealt with the sin uprising with Lucifer.

There is safety in numbers. Don’t allow the enemy to isolate you from those who can help you. Don’t allow pride to stand in your way. As believers, we must keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. We are in this fight together. We have an extensive arsenal at our disposal. No one retreats. No one surrenders. No one compromises. No one goes it alone.

Friday, September 11, 2015

More Please

Show me your glory. – Exodus 33:18
In this passage, Moses makes his request known to God: I want to see your glory. In modern day terms it may sound like this: “God, show me your radiance. I want to see you flex your biceps. Let me see the S on your chest. I want to see your preeminence. Your heart-stopping, ground-shaking extraspectacularness. Forget the money or the power. I can live without those but I cannot live with you. I want more God, please. I’d like to see more of your glory.” – Max Lucado

Moses got it. He understood that everything in existence pales in comparison to the glory of God. He had been with God on the Mount Sinai. He radiated God’s glory so much so that the bible says Moses’ face shone brightly. Even the children of Israel were initially afraid of Moses because the glory of God rested on him. Despite having spent quality time with God, Moses wanted more. It is one thing to feel God’s glory. It is another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes.

Remember the first time you saw a rainbow or watched a sunset that seemed to radiate every color known to man? If you were like me then your heart almost leaped from your chest. Nature’s most pristine wonders filled you with deep awe and gratitude. In that moment, you forget about the bills that need to be paid or the worries that swam in your head. The Master’s workmanship takes center stage as everything else wanes in the distance. Your soul sighs contentedly.

Moses developed a relationship with the Father. They talked often and God revealed His plans for the people. But somewhere along the line, Moses’ soul ached for God in a manner he could not contain. Somewhere inside of him, he longed to experience God in a way that would change Him forever. He yearned for an intimate encounter with the Master of Beauty. He hankered for the glory of the One who loved Him. He was not concerned about the people he shepherded. He was not focused on ministry, answered prayers or the receipt of blessings. Moses longed for the full glory of the Father.

It is said that when we yearn for and request to see the glory of God that we cross a threshold. In that place, self-centeredness dies and true dependence on Christ is born. It becomes less about our own wants and more about the Father. We want to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. We, like the deer, pant for the manifest glory of God. Our soul aches to behold His splendor and majesty. Our heart thirsts to sing praises of adoration at the mention of His name as indicated in the Torah. Because Moses dared to ask, God answered. There is an upside to being bold and very courageous. If you can dare to ask God for it, God is often inclined to answer.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Part-time Lovers Not Allowed

34 When (A) the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together in the same place. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: (B) 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" [a] 37 He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (C) (D) 38 This is the greatest and most important [b] commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (E) (F) 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend [c] on these two commandments.- Matthew 22:34-40

Which of you would like a spouse or significant other to only recognize us or spend time with us when it is most convenient for them? Which of you reading this article would be content with seeing the love of your life on a part-time or sporadic basis? My guess is none of you. Love is meant to be experienced in all of its many splendid facets. There are ups and downs in any relationship but love (commitment) allows you to easily wade through those tough times. Love evolves. It is not so much of an emotion as it is an intentional effort to deny self so as to strengthen the union.

Love spends time with others. It is attentive, kind, long suffering and patient. Love does not envy. It does not mock others nor does it always need to be first.

Knowing these characteristics makes it easy to understand why God want us to love Him. He does not just want our time or our deeds, He wants it all. The Master of Heaven and earth is not looking for a part-time lover. Similarly, Brahma-charya implores fidelity in relationships. God is looking for a committed significant other—one who desires to pledge themselves to Him for all eternity. God is looking for His bride. God is not looking for any old bride; He’s looking for the one who love Him with all their heart, all their soul and their entire mind. Christ expounds on this saying: THIS is the greatest and most important commandment.

From this we can conclude that God takes love very seriously. He is not looking for brides who profess to love Him but continue to live a worldly-centered or unholy life. It is impossible to love God and live a lifestyle that is contrary to His ordinances. The bible clearly tells us that those who live like that will not inherit the kingdom of God. In truth, those kinds of believers disgust God. The same way you expect loyalty and fidelity from your spouse or significant other, is the same way God expects it from us. We cannot love the things of God and love the ways of the world. The bible says that is impossible to serve two masters because you will end up despising one and loving the other.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Paparazzi Praise

Search me, of God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever lasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

Few things aggravate me more than phony or showy people. They are the ones who like to be seen all the time. They like to take credit for team work and cast blame when things don’t turn out well. In church, they are the ones with the empty “hallelujahs” or the insincere compliments. Often times, they are so busy trying to be seen that they end up being a complete distraction and hindrance to others. Sure, they lift their hands during worship but one must ask: are they humble hands or prideful ones? The bible is quite clear about paparazzi praise.

1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They've got their reward! – Matthew 6: 1-2

God is not pleased when we make a spectacle or put on a performance when doing good deeds. Some of us tend to only volunteer if it means we will be recognized publicly. God calls them hypocrites. Instead, He admonishes us to expect no credit for any acts of kindness. If we are looking for public approval, the bible says that that’s exactly what we will get and nothing else. God will not reward us.

The scripture verse also strongly suggests that if we are to help the poor or donate a financial gift, it should be done in private. The spirit of Mammon or the love of money, tends to bring out phoniness and the need to be seen. Giving gifts in secret is an effective way to curb the paparazzi syndrome. In doing so, the Father promises to reward us.

In verses four through six, the scripture cautions us against making a public spectacle during our worship or prayer times. In short, God rebukes those of us that fake our spirituality so that we can impress the people around us. In doing so, God says we are hypocrites—counterfeits who have little more than a form of godliness.

Worship and prayer are intimate exchanges between you and the Creator of the Universe. The bible says that when we pray we should: go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Every Sikh believes prayer is a result of faithfully believing in one God.

God takes hypocrisy and pride very seriously. When we endeavor to impress people with our deeds, win the approval of others or engage in paparazzi praise, God is not glorified—self is.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

A House Divided

One of the most fundamental precepts in the bible centers on love and service. Christ went so far as to say that the commandment to love God with our whole heart, body and mind was the greatest and most important commandment. He expounded on this great commandment by adding: love your neighbor as you love yourself. Both attest to importance of love and service.

It is written unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor to build it do it in vain. In other words, God has to be at the center of all things because without Him, anything we do will be of no effect. Imagine that the house the Lord desires to build pertains to our family, relationships or our purpose. In that context, it is not difficult to understand why God says that He needs to build it. If we hope to have a sturdy, well-constructed house that will not collapse at the first sign of bad weather, we have to make sure that God is the foundation. If God is not our foundation, we can find ourselves coming up against various things that will eventually tear our homes down.

One of the primary things that can destroy any relationship or family is the thirst for control. Gruhasth-ashrama endorses a strong family life, family centered principles and right action. Everyone wants to be lead but no one wants to follow.

Can you imagine what would happen if our body adopted that same philosophy? Our legs would refuse to cooperate because it deems itself more important than the neck. There would be absolute anarchy and chaos. The need to win via self-glorification and the lust for control will eventually lead to pride which always brings disaster, bitterness and resentment. With control and self-centeredness come division and dissension. No one wants to partner with anyone who does not have their best interest at heart.

When we become flooded with disunity and strife, it inhibits our ability to see the good in others. Instead, we constantly draw attention to their flaws and mistakes. We do not operate in grace or love. We tear down others instead of edifying or encouraging them. When respect is absent, immorality makes an appearance. When immorality is present, commitment and loyalty become things of the past.

When God is not the one responsible to design the course of our dreams or relationships, we set ourselves up for failure. If He is not the force driving our desires or purposes, whatever we attempt to do in our own strength will be useless and in vain.

Love directly correlates with service. When we give of ourselves to help others fulfill their dreams, God helps us fulfill ours. He rewards our sacrifices. The Father wants us to be more concerned about serving others than serving ourselves. Why? He understands that when we serve another person’s dreams, we often end up finding and fulfilling our dreams along the way. It is a win-win situation.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Never Give Up

Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 Sometimes life’s storms rage against us. They toss us back and forth, up and down and from side to side. We find ourselves angry, confused and spent. We cry out to the Lord while feeling shipwrecked or broken. Although life once radiated golden rays of joy and hope, now we feel isolated and rejected. When it seems like the storm’s full power is unleashed on your life, the author of 2 Corinthians offers this advice: don’t give up!

It seems like commonsense; however, when you’re facing some of your toughest challenges, commonsense is not all that common. In times like those, we are often ruled by our emotions and our thoughts. In other words, rhyme and reason are no where to be found. Still the bible says that every detail works to our advantage and to God’s glory. This means that every storm, painful experience or annoying event works to our benefit and will of course, glorify the Father. Despite what it looks like or feels like on the outside, we are admonished to cling to hope because the Father is at work. While our circumstances may appear chaotic, on the inside the Father’s grace strengthens, heals and equips.

Remember, today’s problems are like stepping stones to tomorrow’s future. Contrary to popular belief, pain does not last forever. Our circumstances can and will change for the better. Say it with me: my tomorrow is not determined by the outcome of my today. My latter days will be greater than my former days. The psalmist said “I believed it, so I said it.”

There is power in the words that you speak. Satya implores us to speak truthfully. Grumbling, complaining or lashing out at others only accomplishes one thing: nothing. The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness because they grumbled, complained and lashed out at Moses (and God). Their example of what not to do speaks loudly for itself.

Don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on God. Despite the storms that come, know that God’s grace can guide you through anything.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Your Blessing is Coming

Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

One of the most wondrous things about God is that He’s always so gracious and accommodating. He does not get overly frustrated with us when we perpetually rely on our natural sight instead of our spiritual insights. He continually reassures and guides us knowing we are fragile and easily bruised. He prompts us, encourages us and lights the way for us to follow Him. Look at the passage. He is admonishing us to forget about our pasts. He knows that it is impossible to move forward if we are looking backward. Not only does He was us to forget about the past, He doesn’t want us to even pay attention to past events. Sometimes, we forget about certain things that hurt us but once we remember, all the details begin to flood our minds. While the pain may have healed eons ago, we are reliving the event as though it happened yesterday. God wants us to not even pay attention to those things. Don’t allow them to clutter your mind. Here’s why. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.

The bible tells us that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Clearly, this is a prime example. In the passage, God is admonishing us to forget about yesterday’s woes so that we can focus on the “new thing” God is manifesting. The first thing He tells us to do is look. God wants us to be aware of His blessings and what His plans are for our lives. He wants us to know that provision is in route. Remember the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery? She was going to be stoned by everyone because that’s what the law required. However, after Jesus admonished the people to throw the stones if they were sinless, they all turned and left. The woman was crying, probably condemning herself for her past behaviors, and did not notice that her accusers had vanished until Jesus brought it to her attention. We must be careful not to allow emotion or thoughts to inundate us to the point of blinding us to God’s provision in our lives.

Next, God reveals His future plans for us. Buddhists call this Prajna which is indicative of wisdom and insight. He says I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. The bible tells us that God is not a man that He would lie. Through its many accounts, we know that when He says something is coming or happening, it does. The word of God never returns to Him unfulfilled or void of action. Whatever God releases will be manifested.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Speak Up God, I Can’t Hear You!

Have you ever prayed to God but was unsure of whether or not you heard Him? Are you confident that the voice you hear during prayer belongs to God? As we journey through everyday life, hearing God can seem impossible. We’re often bombarded by the demands of home, work and family that sometimes it seems as though we wouldn’t know the voice of God if it blared in our ears on a microphone.
In order to live victorious lives and operate in the fullness of all God has for us, we need to hear from God. We need to trust that when we call Him, He will answer. For many Christians, this can be a difficult thing to grasp. Some tend to struggle with recognizing God’s voice while others experience problems in hearing God for themselves. Below are few things that perpetually impede our ability to hear from God.
The primary reason many of us do not hear from God is unbelief. The bible reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. It also explains that a double-minded person will receive nothing from the Lord. Your faith can move mountains. The second reason we don’t hear God is immaturity. Remember the prodigal son?
Because he was immature and unwise, he spent his entire inheritance on nothing of great importance. He did not want to listen to his father because he honestly believed he was doing the right thing. He shunned his father’s advice and scoffed at his pleas for him to reconsider his decision. Immaturity often leads to disobedience which ultimately results in destruction.
The next reason we are not hearing God is un-forgiveness. Expecting to hear from God while you’re harboring un-forgiveness in your heart will typically result in one nothing: frustration, anger or rage. Try to think of un-forgiveness as a spiritual blocker or inhibitor. It clouds your mind and heart making you insensitive to the prompting of God’s spirit. Refusing to forgive those who offend or hurt us means we ourselves cannot expect the Father to forgive us. And forgive my sins as I forgive those who sin against me. Offense causes us to stew I a cesspool of emotions which traditionally leads to sin.
We all know that where sin abounds, God’s grace abounds that much more. However, we also know that Christ teaches that sin begins with our thoughts—it begins unresolved baggage stemming from offense or un-forgiveness. When sin is present, we traditionally neglect God. We do not pray, spend quality time with Him or even listen to Him. Instead, we rely on our own understandings and judgments which always lead to pain and suffering. It does not have to be this way.
We can live victoriously through Christ but it requires our full cooperation and commitment. We must begin to trust God. Baha’i believe prayer can help with trust. We have to allow our faith to guide us beyond what we can see, feel or think.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Be Not Afraid

Today, we will talk about Jeremiah. By far, it is one of the most powerful accounts in the bible about transcending fear and operating in the call of God for your life. There are several lessons I learned from this account.

I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. But I protested, “oh no Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” Then the Lord said to me: do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth…” Jeremiah 1: 5-9

The first thing I noticed about Jeremiah was his fear. He was afraid and rightfully so. Several biblical connotations indicate that Jeremiah was a teenager when God revealed Himself to him. He was terrified especially in a society where youth were taught to revere and respect their elders. Culture and tradition dictated that youth could speak when spoken too. Clearly, one could understand Jeremiah’s reluctance.
However, God created each of us with a purpose. He interwove our destinies into the very fabric of time and space breathing life at the appointed time. It is a done deal—all that is missing is our obedience. Lesson 1: when God calls you to your destiny and begins to ignite your passion for something, it is already too late for excuses.

In this passage, God says that He handpicked us for our purpose even before we were conceived! He saw the end of our destiny before we even knew what our destiny entailed. This tells me that God equipped us with the ability to operate in our destiny. He breathed expectations, desires, and plans into each of our hearts.

Hence, when fear presses us give up, we need only lean on God, trust Him at His word (about our destiny) and allow Him to orchestrate our steps. Lesson 2: What God starts, He finishes. He does not abandon us—ever. Much like Jainism, God speaks truthfully.

God told Jeremiah do not say you are only a youth for you will go…and speak…for I will be with you to deliver you. In other words, God was telling Jeremiah to stop giving Him excuses. God knew Jeremiah was a kid when He came to Him. God was saying, Jeremiah I already took that (his age) into consideration. Age is never a factor with God. Whether young, old or someplace in between, God’s purpose for your life is not determined by age. Lesson 3: it is God who empowers you to be able to operate in your purpose. The same way God touched Jeremiah and caused him to minister to a nation, is the same way God can touch you.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

LIFE: Self vs. Spirit

God is also serious about me setting my heart on spiritual matters and not the fleeting shallow temporary pleasures of this world! God’s Spirit can sustain me; give me life, love, joy, peace, and so much more! Why why why do I continue to look elsewhere for these things???

Humanity struggles with this: self vs. spirit. But let’s encourage one another to remain spiritually minded and deny self. Let’s love and serve others, animals, and our planet instead of just caring about “us four and no more.” James says God gives grace to the humble. What is grace? Unmerited favor. We don’t deserve it, but God gives it when we are humble and our heart is concerned about pleasing God and living compassionate and loving lives here on this earth.

I know for myself I’m going to make more time to get quiet before God. Let God’s spirit refresh and renew me. Take a deep breath and contemplate what is really important in this life. Be grateful. Accept the peace and joy God has so freely given.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

WORK: Career path

If you are wondering if you are in the career that God has called you to fulfill, you will know by your passion. Do you look forward to going to work? Do you feel productive? If you are not passionate or dread going to work, perhaps you are not doing what God would like you to do.

Take some time to evaluate your options. Do you have to stay in your current job? Perhaps you may for a season, but not necessarily forever. Ask God to lead you to a career path that you would love and that you’ve got gifts and talents for. You have every right to change careers if you are not satisfied with your current one. Just do it.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

HEALTH: Don't wait to get healthy

Oftentimes people wait until it’s too late to begin eating healthy and taking care of their bodies. Perhaps they go to the doctor and are told they have a serious condition or high blood pressure, or are obese and it is affecting their health. It is always hard to hear such news, but it also can motivate people to begin making lifestyle changes at that time.

Little by little, step by step, we can make changes that can help prevent sickness and disease. Drinking more water, eating healthier foods, and exercising more are all things that will benefit your health.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

LIFE: Friends

Life without people close to you is like fish without water. One needs to have friends, family whom they can go to, spend time with and enjoy their life with. When such people are close to you, there are bound to be issues one has with other people, there are likely to be fights, and misunderstandings. Therefore, one should always be forgiving, and understanding, even if things don’t go according to the way one imagined. Unless one is considerate and kind, there are likely to be regrets and relationships ended over small petty issues.

As it says in Mathews 5:24 “Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Forgiveness is extremely important in one’s life, the more you give chances to people, the more chances you have at happiness.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

MARRIAGE: A prayer for marriage

Lift your marriage and your spouse up every day in prayer. If you are not sure what to pray, begin by praying the prayer that follows and ask God to help you learn how to pray according to his will.

“God, we submit to you wholeheartedly. We come before you and thank you for blessing us with such an incredible love for each other. We delight in you as well as each other. We ask that you continue to bless our lives as we bless and serve you. Help us to honor and cherish each other. Help us to walk in love, humility, and forgiveness. May we shine bright with your love wherever we are and be a reflection of your awesome glory. Amen.”

Thursday, March 5, 2015

HEALTH: Faith

"For 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

God wants what is best for us. It is necessary to believe that our physical, spiritual, and mental health is important to God and he has provided means for us to have optimal health in all areas. God’s word is our guidebook toward a healthy and prosperous life.

When you get frustrated or disappointed, have faith that God knows your struggles and will be with you as you walk through them. He has a plan and he sees the big picture, whereas we only see the present situation. Believe that all things will work out for your good and God’s glory.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

MARRIAGE: Intimacy

Intimacy is a spiritual, emotional, and physical giving of oneself to another and it is a beautiful thing. God created us with a desire to be intimate and we long to share intimacy with another. God loves intimacy as well and longs for an intimate relationship with us. Sharing a deep closeness and love with another is so rewarding.

As we share intimate time with our spouse, we are allowing God’s love to flow through us into each other. It is an amazing experience and the depth of intimacy can grow to great heights as we commit to fostering intimacy. Devote time to develop a greater intimacy with God as well as your spouse and take time daily to nurture your relationships.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

LIFE: Achieving goals

Everyone wants to achieve a lot of goals in life; they may be finding a good job, a good spouse, a big house or the latest car. The wishes may vary with people, but the needs and wants for something is always there in people. Everyone tries their hardest to become better than they are. Everyone strives to attain the level of perfection in their capacity.

However, once you achieve what you get, you should be proud of your achievements, but not be too proud to become vain or conceited. As it says in Psalms 147:6, “The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground”, Lord dislikes the people who become arrogant once they have achieved their goals. Live life humbly as you can, and then others around you and Lord will appreciate you even more.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

MARRIAGE: Don’t be shallow

If you know anything about wells, the depth of the well is important. In order to get pure water, your well must reach a certain depth. A shallow well will not produce pure water.

Shallow thinking is not pure either and may be dangerous. With depth comes clarity. A shallow relationship will not produce the fruit that God would like to see. Challenge yourself and your spouse to explore the depths of each other. As you dig to the core of each other, you will find treasures and a purity that God has placed there. Begin digging today.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

LIFE: Rewards

As George Bernard Shaw says, “…the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one.” People without any purpose are the ones who are the most confused, as they are lost and don’t know where to move forward to. A purpose in life not only adds meaning to life of a person, it also gives him the direction in life which is necessary for all individuals. It also gives him a reason to go on in life and motivates him to try harder in every aspect.

To live for yourself to the fullest is extremely fortunate for the ones who do, but one feeling even more wonderful is living life for a purpose which is bigger than yourself. To make efforts for a social cause, or helping someone else, is a great act, rewarded by God, and the satisfaction one feels after being involved in an honorable act exceeds all the rewards and recognition.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

HEALTH: Eating healthy

I Corinthians 10:31states, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Making the effort to change your eating habits from unhealthy to healthy is wonderful, but be careful not to go to the extreme. God tells us that whatever we eat or drink, do it for his glory. If you are only able to eat inorganic foods, or you eat foods that aren’t very healthy once in awhile, don’t give yourself a hard time. Be thankful for the food, ask God to bless it to your body, and be sure to give God thanks.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

LIFE: Live life

“Live Life” is a term that we hear very often, but it is understood by very few people. People believe in being happy and for them happiness means to have everything perfect and having no worries in life. No life is perfect; one cannot have all the luxuries in the world- everyone has to face the ups and downs of life. To enjoy one’s life, he has to feel life, as Lord Byron says “the great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain.”

One of the greatest blessings in life is to feel the thrill, the adrenaline pumping, and heartbeat rising. That is when one knows one is enjoying life. One can live life by feeling every aspect of life-happiness and pain, success and loss, and only then has one truly existed.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

LIFE: Positive thoughts

Recently a lot of research has gone into the as yet unexplored power of the mind-how, by merely thinking and focusing on positive thoughts, hopes and aspirations, one can make them actualize into living realities. It is explained by some as the science of energy, and the ‘law of attraction’ by others: by thinking positive thoughts, one exudes positive vibes into the universe, and simultaneously, attracts positive energy to one’s self from the cosmos.

For many old school-ers, however, such abstract concepts are hard to visualize and digest. Hence for them, it can be explained in the words of the Bible “Through prayer, you can gain control of any negative, self-defeating thoughts and turn your life around. Just tell yourself: “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) Which explains the above mentioned concept in simpler words: by keeping a positive outlook to life, by hoping, meditating and reflecting upon all that is positive, life tends to become miraculously easier.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

LIFE: Questions

One of the questions most frequently asked us is what we want to do in our lives. From the time we begin to speak, this favorite query of all and sundry plagues us till we are fit into some stereotypical role that they have outlined for us already, irrespective of our wishes and desires.

Although, after a certain point, the world stops demanding an answer to it, this central concern of our being continues to haunt man from the inside, incessantly trying to figure out our purpose of being, the meaning of our existence, what role we have in this great play of the universe. The Bible gives a clear cut answer to this question, by defining explicitly what the purpose of man in this life should be when it says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” To achieve something bigger than the gratification of one’s own needs; to move beyond the mere Self, and enable one to contribute to the world and humanity.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

LIFE: Static mind

The greatest threat to life is a static mind. An uninspired individual, thoughtlessly following the dictates of society does not hold the power to add anything to the already existing pool of human knowledge and experience. When one willfully gives up his faculty to think and reason for himself, to make active decisions, bogged down by the mundane reality of everyday activities, he kills his propensity to give life to new ideas.

The Bible instructs us to break out of this induced insipidity when it says: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Our individuality and uniqueness, the faculty of our imaginations and our souls, when inspired and allowed to manifest themselves, are what create life, and reassert the being and message of God.