Reflection after 4 years

This is quite a long time after I posted my first few blogs. In fact my last blog in here was from June 24th, 2011. Well that tells that I’m not a consistant man. I make mistakes, leave things without completing, mess up things, feel tiered after a while and on and on, now those are not escuses those are simply my sins.

I’m deeply thankful to God that I’m alive to write this blog after these years. And not only that many things have changed in this past four years.

When I joined at my work four years ago I had a very different perspective than the one that I have now regarding film making and video production. I joined the company filming the dialogue and here i’m quitting it by filming it again.

It was an absolute privilege for me to do this live shoot. I heard both the speakers well this time I could at least follow what they were saying not that it was not clear in the past years but I was more alert at the time.

Things I learned this last years

1) God is in control and not me

2) Things what you like now might not be the interest for you down the line (What you like now might be what you like 5 years from now)

3) People change but God doesn’t!

4) Pain makes you perfect (both spiritual and physical) Pain reminds us to think higher than our ability to solve. It forces us and gently reminds us that God is in full control and only He knows what is next.

Knowing Christ Jesus is sweetest joyfully peace that a man will ever know. He is the definition of Love and Perfect peace. None can live in this world in peace without repenting theirs sins and accepting Christ Jesus as their personal saviour and LORD.

I’m deeply thankful to God for all His blessings. I pray that all the coming days, weeks, months and years that I glorify His name, make His name know among the nations.

 

All things God works for Good

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Yesterday in my bible study at the church one of our friend raised this verse and I was delighted to hear it and meditate on it today thinking that I should keep these key verses in my mind and meditate and reflect on it day in and day out.

So I thought may be I will share this today. All of us think of the circumstances that we go through and if it is hard to take it or not the way that you wanted it to be then we think why did God brought this to me and why he is not giving me peace. But what authority you the clay has to question the potter. When we read the story of Apostel paul in jail he still used that opportunity to minister the Gospel to the guards who were there to watch him in the cell.

Paul talks to the saints in philippi

” Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really 
served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the
whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains of for Christ.”

Philippians 1:12-13 

We see here that paul the apostle used his time wisley even in chains to minister the Gospel to others, I think we need to see the depths of the essence of the gospel and the glory of God. So I would urge you to continue trust in the lord in all situations. Now its easy to say it but the question is how would we practically do this in our lives.

I like to mention two main points to keep in our mind

a) Walk in Spirit
b) Be killing the sin

 This should be a continues process everyday, because everyday for christians its a battle and we need to fight and stand every day, but how do we do it, we need to know the truth and the scripture says the truth will set you free.

The truth is the Good news of Christ. That God send his only son to die for us on the cross to save us from our sins, and those who repent and believe in christ will be saved. But to know the Good news we need to understand the bad news. Here is a Video from Mike’s new book “Am I really a Christian” He is explaining the bad news and lead us to the truth of the Gospel.

I met mike couples of months before in our church, he is a great brother with a passion for the Lord and to preach the Gospel.

What is the Gospel? from Crossway on Vimeo.

Knowing God

Knowing GOD is a fantastic book by J.I. Packer. I’m currently reading through it with one of my brother from church. We are encouraging each other by praying and supporting spiritually. The best part of our time is spend on talking about how God graciously lead us through these difficult times. I love fellowship and it’s good to spend time with mature christians, If you are a young christian you should definitely be hooked up with a local church and get involve in small groups. And also try to keep an accountability  partner.

Something I like about this book is how Packers simplicity in communicating complex matters. I heard about this book a lot and I had a desire to read it but it was not available locally. But when the time came Lord provided a copy for me free. So I’m just thrilled to see things happening in God’ timing.

Packer nail down points clear that every genuine christian could understand. My prayer is that as we read these Good books we may not side tracked to a new trend of reading books and not the scriptures. Scripture is the ultimate source of knowledge, and where we see the charecter of God from the OT and NT. God is revealing him self progressively through out the scriptures. There is no other book in this world that can put down the Bible.

2011 Is it still new year?

That’s a Good question to ask. Is it still a new year? I think my last post was about starting the new year with asking some good questions, to be honest I’m not following the whole list. I thought this time would be a good time to see and analysis the status of my spiritual growth. Three main points I like to share today.

1.Read, 2.Write, 3.Speak

Reading is a great gift and this is not everyone, but you see that as you start gradually with one page a day you could grow in steps with more pages a day. Start with scripture, the ultimate source of knowledge is the best place to start. Dive in to it by reading book by book, chapter by chapter. Always good to keep a consistency. Don’t jump around different books in the bible but rather keep one and be faithful in reading that.

Points to keep in mind

Read it! Understand it. – Make sure you are grasping what you are reading. (Go through it again if you don’t get it)

Underline important points or Make notes on the side margine this will help you always to come back to it and remember your thoughts.

2. Write

I like to jot down every point or Information that I get both in my work place and my personal life. So as I mentioned in my first point its good to keep notes to support your study, For eg; If you are reading Gospel of John in your quite time, its good to keep a small note book with you to write down some of your comments, thoughts & questions.

3. Speak

Now all the knowledge and information you receive shouldn’t just puff up in you but rather you should share it with your neighbour in love. As paul the apostle puts it This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Cor 8:1. Knowledge should be shared in love with complete humility.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2011 with some questions

It’s 2011, I’m still thinking about the 2010 New Year. The years are going really fast. Any way I thought in this new year I could share some Questions.

Here is TEN Excellent Questions that Don Whitney helps us to think in this new year.

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year or On Your Birthday

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

To learn more please visit the site http://biblicalspirituality.org/newyear.html

Let the NATIONS be GLAD

Usually people give a review of the book when they finish reading it, but my way of giving review is when I start reading a book I really want my friends and co-workers to know what I am reading and to make them know what the book is all about.

So here is another book that I started reading, another brilliant work from John piper. Feel free to comment on this blog or tell me some thing that you guys found out motivating.

This book clearly demonstrate that worship is the ultimate goal of the church and that proper worship fuels missionary outreach. So please go ahead and grab a copy for your self, read it and give it away.

The Main thesis is the Supremacy of GOD in missions.

Here is an outline from preface to the Third Edition

My passion is to see people, churches, mission agencies, and social ministries become God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered, soul-satisfied, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilizing, soul-winning, and justice-pursuing. The supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ is the central, driving, all-unifying commitment of my life.

If you would like to read more click here

The Author of this book is John Piper, Preface out line and Graphics belongs to Desiring God Ministries.
http://www.desiringgod.org

What is the Gospel?

This is one of the Most important question that we need to ask. And as a Christian this is the most Important question you need to be able to answer. Many people have many different answers, but here is the book What is the Gospel? written by Greg Gilbert, who helps us to see the bigger picture of God’ redemption plan for his man kind in Four simple points.

This is a great tool for the beginners and mature christians to simply and clearly share the Gospel with others.

Main Points of the Gospel

A) God the Righteous Creator
B) Man the Sinner
C) Jesus Christ the Saviour
D) Response – Faith and the Repentance

This book is good for all Pastors, elders, decons infact every christian and the person who investigates the gospel. The Foreword is written by D.A. Carson. One other thing I like about this book is the depth and details that Greg has given to the each topic, And how it relates to the scripture. This is the message which is not clear to many churches and many Individuals.

Practical Applications

It’s always good to read books, but never quit studying the scripture. Think and Pray the Gospel every morning, which is the great way to remind ourselves of God’ love for us through his Son. Spend time in fellowship, discussing and praying the Gospel.

As it is written in (1 Pet. 3:15) .. always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,..

Are you able to answer some one, if they ask you about your faith? what will be your response?

Book I’m currently reading

Test, Train, Affirm, and Send Into Ministry is a great book by Brian Croft and is a highly recommended one. Currently I’m going through this book, Although I’m still at the third chapter. This is the book that you really wanted to work in detail, Well all the books you read has to be done in similar manner, but I think if you have a genuine desire to be in the ministry and yet not sure what you suppose to do then this book is a good start.

I like how the author talks about the Internal call and External call, To be honest I never thought about external call, I thought it never existed. But it does really play an Important Role.

Keep studying, you will never ever graduate from the Gospel.

Good Online Resources

Internet is a great tool to find out good informations, I would say use the Good resources out there. Here are few Good sites that I visit often for  sermons, articles, books and much more.

The Gospel Coalition
www.gospelcoalition.com

Desiring God
www.desiringgod.com

9 Marks
www.9marks.org

Soverign Grace Ministries
www.sovereigngraceministries.org

more in coming weeks.

Beautiful Sermon on Biblical Theology

9Marks at Southeastern – Biblical Theology: Session 1 from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

I have come across this Video yesterday. Mark is clearly unpacking Biblical Theology in a beautiful way.

Three Points of the Sermon

A) A Particular History

B) A Passion for Holiness

C) A Promise of Hope

Most Christians simply Ignore the Old Testament. But to complete the Big picture understanding of God’ plan we need to know the Old Testament. God’ wonderful revelation of Christ is revealed in the Old Testament.

I was really inspiresd by his sermon, were he said ‘We need to have an affection to what God want to reveal to us’. I hope this sermon should give us an outline picture of God’ Big Picture.