Category: US Blog

Humility, US Blog

Humility Of Mind – by John Fernandez

Jan 12, 2022 by Percy Parakh

Humility of Mind

The story is told of a group of people who went in to see Beethoven’s home in Germany.

After the tour guide had showed them Beethoven’s piano and had finished his lecture, he asked if any of them would like to come up and sit at the piano for a moment and play a chord or two.

There was a sudden rush to the piano by all the people except a gray-haired gentleman with long, flowing hair.

The guide finally asked him, “Wouldn’t you like to sit down at the piano and play a few notes?” He answered, “No, I don’t feel worthy.”

That man was “Paderewski”, the great Polish statesman and pianist and the only man in the group who was really worthy to play the piano of Beethoven.

Humility of mind in its distilled essence means a mind brought low. A gentle person is one whose emotions are under control. It describes the attitude that submits to God’s dealings without rebellion, and to man’s unkindness without retaliation.

It is best seen in the life of our Lord Who said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls”.

How often people rush in and do things when they have no gift for doing them. We say we have difficulty in finding folk who will do the work of the society, but there is another extreme – folk who attempt to do things for which they have no gift.

We need to walk in lowliness of mind. – Precept Austin “The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself; he simply does not think of himself at all!” — Andrew Murray

Stay Blessed My Friend

Forsaken, US Blog

Never Left Or Forsaken – Watchman Nee

Jan 12, 2022 by Percy Parakh

“Never Left or Forsaken” (Watchman Née)

Lillian Trasher (1887-1961) was a formidable lady. In 1910, she arrived in Egypt and began to care for orphans in the following year. She often saw God in action when the need was great.

Supplied

During the Second World War, the Italians (partners with Germany) invaded Egypt. The War caused great hardship. The orphanage now cared for some 900 children, and often required food and clothing.

By September 1941, many of the children’s clothes were worn and they had little food.

One evening at supper, Lillian announced that all school and work would be suspended for twenty-four hours so that everyone could seriously pray about the situation. Lillian heard some earnest praying that evening in the girls’ dormitory.

A little girl named Figa, whose head had been shaved because of a skin disease, prayed beautifully: “Lord, You have said that when our mothers and fathers forsake us, You will take us up [Psalm 27:10]. We need you to provide for us right now because Mama [Lillian] says there is no one else who can help us.”

Tears came to Lillian’s eyes; how right Figa was. A miracle alone could assist them.

The children and staff continued to pray. In the morning, a telegram arrived from the American Ambassador to Egypt: “Miss Trasher, please visit me tomorrow for lunch.” Lillian hoped this had something to do with all their prayers. She took the midnight train to Cairo and arrived at his place just before midday.

The Ambassador had important news to share with Lillian. Greece had just fallen to the Germans. A Red Cross ship near Greece got word of this, and was ordered back to Alexandria, Egypt.

Then a fear arose that the ships in Alexandria’s harbor would be attacked, and the ship was ordered to dump its cargo and head out to sea while it was still dark. A young Scottish sailor on the ship begged the captain to unload the cargo, rather than dump it.

He knew about the orphanage, and had a mother praying for it daily. At first, the captain did not want to do so, but the sailor insisted. He assured the captain that they could unload the ship and make it out of port before sunrise. The ship was quickly unloaded and the supplies placed in a warehouse.

“Tell me, Miss Trasher,” the Ambassador queried, “do you have a need for food and clothing at this time?”

What a marvelous provision—so many supplies for the orphanage!
A little while later, Lillian, the Ambassador, and a Red Cross representative were standing together, looking at crates of supplies. There were thousands of items of clothing and blankets, and masses of powdered milk and rice. Lillian burst into tears.

The Ambassador kindly declared that he would pay the delivery costs.
When the children heard the good news, the children cheered! Then as they waited to open the containers after delivery, Lillian said a prayer of thanks. How thankful she was to God for His supply.

Mercy, US Blog

Undeserved Mercy – The Source Of Justice

Jan 4, 2022 by Percy Parakh

Genesis 4:1-13 NIV

Cain and Abel

4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

Denzel Washington, US Blog

Denzel Washington Declares This Is Spiritual Warfare

Jan 4, 2022 by Percy Parakh
FILE – Denzel Washington addresses the audience during the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony honoring him on June 6, 2019 in Los Angeles. Washington turns 66 on Dec. 28. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

Actor Denzel Washington does not mince words when it comes to his faith in God. And in a recent interview with the New York Times, Washington reiterated that he is a “God-fearing man” while also warning people to not become too self-focused. 

“This is spiritual warfare. So, I’m not looking at it from an earthly perspective,” he said in the interview. “If you don’t have a spiritual anchor you’ll be easily blown by the wind and you’ll be led to depression.”

As CBN News has reported, Washington gave his life to God early on, but it took a few years for him to understand the weight of that decision. 

“Three times…I think we all go through that. I was filled with the Holy Ghost and it scared me,” he said. “I didn’t want to go this deep…I want to party. It was a supernatural, once in this lifetime experience that I couldn’t completely understand at the time.”

Now, the 64-year-old actor lives out his tenets of faith daily. 

“I’m a God-fearing man,” he told NYT. “I try not to worry. Fear is contaminated faith.”

Washington goes out of his way to help others and encourage them.

Actor Corey Hawkins, who plays opposite of Denzel in “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” told the New York Times the actor prays with him. 

“Sometimes we get talking and you see the preacher in him,” he said. “He’s just a natural-born charismatic leader who is not afraid to talk about his own faults or misgivings or shortcomings.”

Washington has become more outspoken about the pitfalls of social media. 

During his American Film Institute Life Achievement Award acceptance speech, he warned against the “twitter-tweet meme-mean world that we’ve created for our children.”

“The least we can do is consider what we have done and think about the young people,” the two-time Academy Award-winning actor said.

He also recently shared scripture encouraging people not to get too focused on social media. 

“The Bible says in the last days — I don’t know if it’s the last days, it’s not my place to know — but it says we’ll be lovers of ourselves,” he said. “The No. 1 photograph today is a selfie, ‘Oh, me at the protest.’ ‘Me with the fire.’ ‘Follow me.’ ‘Listen to me.’”

“We’re living in a time where people are willing to do anything to get followed. What is the long or short-term effect of too much information? It’s going fast and it can be manipulated obviously in a myriad of ways. And people are led like sheep to slaughter,” Washington added.

His focus has become more heaven-bound. 

“There are going to be two lines, the long line and the short line, and I’m interested in being in the short line.”

Pain, US Blog

The Prayer Of Jabez – and may the Lord grant you your request

Jan 4, 2022 by Percy Parakh

“HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY THE LORD GRANT YOU YOUR REQUEST FOR 2022”

Who Was Jabez in the Bible? Jabez is a very minor character in the Bible. He was only ever mentioned a few times, all in the book of 1 Chronicle. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, it is said that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’”

In Hebrew, the equivalent for Jabez means “he causes pain”. Also, in Jewish culture, it is common to give symbolic names for one’s children. So, for the reason that her mother took great pain in giving birth to her son – more pain than the usual childbirth – she named him Jabez.

Also, in ancient Jewish customs, the name of a person somehow foretells his future. By naming her son Jabez, the mother is probably giving a vision of what is yet to come for her son. She may have seen that her son would have a bleak future, with his life full of pains and sorrows.

However, this was not so. Jabez defied all odds, including his supposed destiny, and became a man of fervent prayer. He believed so strongly in the power of God that he cried out to him boldly.

Because of his good relationship with God, Jabez was described as honorable; in fact, “more honorable than his brothers.” For the author of the book of Chronicles to mention him, even briefly, tells us of the extraordinary character that this man displayed during his life. And the fact that he was named in the book means he had a very important role to fulfill as well.

Consequences, US Blog

The Consequences Of Justice – God Requires Justice

Dec 30, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Nahum 1:1-3, 6-8, 12-13, 15 NIV

1 A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
    and clouds are the dust of his feet.


6 Who can withstand his indignation?
    Who can endure his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
    the rocks are shattered before him.

7 The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8     but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.
13 Now I will break their yoke from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”

15 Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,
    who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah,
    and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;
    they will be completely destroyed.[c]

Beautiful, US Blog

Beautiful Brokenness

Dec 30, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Beautiful Brokenness

For Christmas, I bought the ladies in the family these necklaces with a beautiful colored glass charm on them. And the Japanese word “nozomi.” There’s a story behind those necklaces.

In 2011 a tsunami virtually leveled the Japanese coastal city of Ishinomaki. All that was left was fields of debris where homes and tearooms once stood.

Sue Takamoto was helping to clear away some of the debris one day when she noticed all these colorful shards of broken pottery that were everywhere. They were everywhere she stepped. It was all that remained of the tearooms and kitchens that had been swept out to sea.

Sue and her friends collected and washed those shards, because they saw in those broken pieces a way to help some broken lives. They began the Nozomi Project – Japanese for “hope.”

The tsunami had left a lot of single mothers without a job or income. The Nozomi Project enables them to create rings and necklaces and earrings from all those broken pieces. Then it’s sold online – to people like me.

Sue Takamoto said: “Many of these women lost their community and their neighbors are all gone. Their homes are washed away, and they’re living in scattered places. But God has taken broken pottery and broken women who think that life is over for them and do what He wants.

We are in the midst of seeing amazing things. In the rubble of our storm, we all have lots of broken pieces. We can leave them broken (she said), or with God’s grace and help, make them into something beautiful. Something called hope.”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Beautiful Brokenness.”

There’s a lot of “broken” today. Broken hearts, broken dreams, broken families, broken health, broken relationships. For me, the tsunami was the sudden death of my Karen, the love of my life.

Our word for today from the Word of God is a word of hope for all of us who have some broken in our life. It’s in Isaiah 61:1-3 and it’s about Jesus: “The Lord…has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to provide for those who grieve, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.” Did you get that, “Beauty from ashes.” Nozomi. Hope.

A broken heart is an open heart. It’s open in places that may have never been open before. And Jesus moves into those places with His transforming love and comfort and healing. For 2,000 years, He’s been making beautiful things in people’s lives from broken pieces.

I know He’s been keeping the “beauty from ashes” promise for me. Something’s been happening to me that’s hard to describe. My heart’s more tender toward other people and toward God than it’s ever been before. It’s like a new compassion.

I value each day more than ever. I live with a re-fired sense of urgency. I’m thinking legacy more than ever, being intentional about passing on to my children and grandchildren and young leaders what God has taught me in a lifetime. And there’s just something very special going on between me and God. He seems closer, seems more real to me than ever. Beautiful things when I just had broken pieces.

My prayer for you is that you’ll bring all your broken pieces to Jesus, lay them at His feet and open your hands to receive what He wants to give you. He loved you enough to die for you. He was powerful enough to crush death and walk out of His grave. He can be trusted.

You don’t have to stay broken. Jesus stands ready to lead you into a new season where you’ll make a greater difference than ever before. He knows broken. He was broken for you and me on a cross. And the Bible says, “By His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

You could find out more about beginning your own personal relationship with Him at our website, and I would encourage you to go there. This would be a great day for you to do it – ANewStory.com.

He’s waiting to do for you the miracle described in a little Gospel song that says, “Something beautiful, something good. All my confusion, He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life.”

Source, US Blog

The Source Of Justice – God Requires Justice

Dec 20, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Isaiah 9:1-7 NIV

1 [a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

US Blog, Wonderful

It’s a Wonderful Life – Jimmy Stewart

Dec 20, 2021 by Percy Parakh

It’s A Wonderful Life – Jimmy Stewart

For all the fans of “It’s A Wonderful Life” and Jimmy Stewart. Just months after winning his 1941 Academy Award for best actor in “The Philadelphia Story,” Jimmy Stewart, one of the best-known actors of the day, left Hollywood and joined the US Army.

He was the first big-name movie star to enlist in World War II. An accomplished private pilot, the 33-year-old Hollywood icon became a US Army Air Force aviator, earning his 2nd Lieutenant commission in early 1942.

With his celebrity status and huge popularity with the American public, he was assigned to starring in recruiting films, attending rallies, and training younger pilots.

Stewart, however, wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to fly combat missions in Europe, not spend time in a stateside training command. By 1944, frustrated and feeling the war was passing him by, he asked his commanding officer to transfer him to a unit deploying to Europe.

His request was reluctantly granted. Stewart, now a Captain, was sent to England, where he spent the next 18 months flying B-24 Liberator bombers over Germany.

Throughout his time overseas, the US Army Air Corps’ top brass had tried to keep the popular movie star from flying over enemy territory. But Stewart would hear nothing of it.

Determined to lead by example, he bucked the system, assigning himself to every combat mission he could. By the end of the war he was one of the most respected and decorated pilots in his unit.

But his wartime service came at a high personal price. In the final months of WWII he was grounded for being “flak happy,” today called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When he returned to the US in August 1945, Stewart was a changed man. He had lost so much weight that he looked sickly. He rarely slept, and when he did he had nightmares of planes exploding and men falling through the air screaming (in one mission alone his unit had lost 13 planes and 130 men, most of whom he knew personally).

He was depressed, couldn’t focus, and refused to talk to anyone about his war experiences. His acting career was all but over.

As one of Stewart’s biographers put it, “Every decision he made [during the war] was going to preserve life or cost lives. He took back to Hollywood all the stress that he had built up.”

In 1946 he got his break. He took the role of George Bailey, the suicidal father in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The rest is history.

Actors and crew of the set realized that in many of the disturbing scenes of George Bailey unraveling in front of his family, Stewart wasn’t acting. His PTSD was being captured on filmed for potentially millions to see.

But despite Stewart’s inner turmoil, making the movie was therapeutic for the combat veteran. He would go on to become one of the most accomplished and loved actors in American history.

When asked in 1941 why he wanted to leave his acting career to fly combat missions over Nazi Germany, he said, “This country’s conscience is bigger than all the studios in Hollywood put together, and the time will come when we’ll have to fight.”

This holiday season, as many of us watch the classic Christmas film, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” it’s also a fitting time to remember the sacrifices of Jimmy Stewart and all the men who gave up so much to serve their country during wartime.

We will always remember you! Postscript: While fighting in Europe, Stewart’s Oscar statue was proudly displayed in his father’s Pennsylvania hardware store.

Throughout his life, the beloved actor always said his father, a World War I veteran, was the person who had made the biggest impact on him. Jimmy Stewart was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 and died in 1997 at the age of 89.

— Ned Forney, Writer, Saluting America’s Veteran


Remember, US Blog

Remember Us O Lord

Dec 20, 2021 by Percy Parakh

In the large African church, the pastor fell to his knees, praying to God. “Remember us!” As the pastor pleaded, the crowd responded, crying, “Remember us, Lord!”

Watching this moment on YouTube, I was surprised that I shed tears too. The prayer was recorded months earlier. Yet it recalled childhood times when I heard our family’s pastor make the same plea to God.

“Remember us, Lord!” Hearing that prayer as a child, I’d wrongly assumed that God sometimes forgets about us.

But God is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20), He always sees us (Psalm 33:13–15), and He loves us beyond measure (Ephesians 3:17–19).

Even more, as we see in the Hebrew word zakar, meaning “remember,” when God “remembers” us, He acts for us. Zakar also means to act on a person’s behalf.

Thus, when God “remembered” Noah and “all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark,” He then “sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded” (Genesis 8:1).

When God “remembered” barren Rachel, He “listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son” (30:22–23).

What a great plea of trust to ask God in prayer to remember us! He’ll decide how He answers. We can pray knowing, however, that our humble request asks God to move.

Justice, US Blog

The Mercy Of Justice – God Requires Justice

Dec 17, 2021 by Percy Parakh

2 Samuel 9:1-12 NIV

David and Mephibosheth

9 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 

10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.

Love, US Blog

Putting Love Into Practice

Dec 17, 2021 by Percy Parakh
💫

Putting Love Into Practice
In his book Christians in the Marketplace, Bill Hybels says that people outside the faith often say, “Show me” before they say, “Tell me.”

I knew a young man in Germany named Wolfgang who modeled Hybels’ principle at a building site where he worked. As an enthusiastic believer, Wolfgang always read his Bible during lunch.

Though his fellow workers jeered, he didn’t stop his daily reading. He simply prayed for a way to demonstrate Christ’s love to them. When the workers went home at night, they always left their muddy boots behind.

Wolfgang began staying late after work to clean their boots. The men were puzzled at first but then realized that Wolfgang was the only one among them who would perform this humble service.

Not only did they come to respect him, but sometimes they even asked him to read the Bible to them. Only eternity will reveal the full effect of Wolfgang’s shining life.

But this we know: When his co-workers saw his good works, they started listening to his God. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may … glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

If you long to lead the people around you to Jesus, radiate His love by doing practical deeds for God’s glory alone.— Joanie Yoder A Christian’s life is a window through which others can see Jesus

More Grace, US Blog

He Giveth More Grace

Dec 17, 2021 , , by Percy Parakh
  1. He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
    He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
    To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
    To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
  2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
    When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
    When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
    Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
  3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
    Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
    Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
    The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
  4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
    His power no boundary known unto men;
    For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
    He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Please click on link below to Hear me sing this Song:
He Giveth More Grace

Protection, US Blog

The Protection Of Justice – God Requires Justice

Dec 8, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Deuteronomy 5:1-3 NIV

The Ten Commandments

1 Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV

Fear the Lord

12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Deuteronomy 27:1-10 NIV

The Altar on Mount Ebal

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 

3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 

4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. 5 Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them. 

6 Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God. 8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”

Grace, US Blog

My Grace Is Sufficient For You!

Dec 8, 2021 by Percy Parakh

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 The Message

7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.

Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty!

At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.

It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.

I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

His Strength Is Perfect – Song

Fables, US Blog

The Fable Of Porcupines

Dec 8, 2021 by Percy Parakh

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm.

This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone & frozen.

So they had to make a choice…Either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.

They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the warmth and heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best Group is not the one that brings together perfect people, but where each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and at the same time, admire the other person’s good qualities as well.

Better to be surrounded by ‘warm wounds’ than be frozen in solitude !

Praise, US Blog

Who’s In Charge Here – Visions Of Praise

Nov 19, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Revelation 11:15-19 NIV

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”

16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

Denomination, US Blog

Denominational and Racial Differences in Church

Nov 19, 2021 by Percy Parakh

In Bombay (Mumbai), there is a beautiful road running parallel to the sea, called Marine Drive or the “Queens Necklace”, a name left over from the days of the “Raj” (two hundred years of British rule before India’s independence)

This is lined on one side by probably the most expensive real estate in Bombay, that runs into millions of dollars for a three bedroom flat.

Also lined along there are some of Bombay’s Sports Clubs ( called Gymkhanas from the days of the Raj – where a lot of cricket is played ).You have the Muslim Gymkhana, Hindu Gymkhana, Parsi Gymkhana, etc. lined up one after the other.

Hey Friends, let’s talk about some of the division amongst our churches. I am talking about racial and denominational differences within our churches.

Forget about the differences outside our churches in the secular world, but now we are talking about this within some of our churches. It is so sad to see that 11 o’clock on a Sunday is still the most segregated hour for the church.

Hispanics go to predominantly Hispanic Churches, Blacks go to predominantly black churches, Whites go to predominantly white churches etc..

On top of that we have Denominational differences, like Baptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Presbyterian churches etc. The reason why this is so bad for us Christians, is that the Bible says in

John 13:34-35 King James Version

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Further in the Book of Revelation Revelation 7:9NIV says:
The Great Multitude in White Robes

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

I think that a lot of Christians will be in Culture Shock in Heaven, especially in view of what the Bible says. It won’t be like Marine Drive, in Heaven, with a Baptist section, Charismatic section, Hispanic Section, etc.

Also our credibility among the unsaved surrounding us is greatly tarnished by our behavior. Souls will perish, and go to an everlasting hell, if we refuse to repent and change.

Denominationally I believe like Augustine said.

1. In ESSENTIALS Unity – Diety of JESUS, Infallibility of Scriptures, The TRIUNE GODHEAD Father, Son, Holy Ghost, the Death, Burial, Bodily Resurrection and Ascension of JESUS CHRIST, the Shed BLOOD of Jesus, for the Forgiveness of our sins, the VIRGIN Birth, etc.

2. In NON-ESSENTIALS Liberty – Worship Styles, Minor Doctrinal Differences like Baptism in Jesus Name, or Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Baptism by Sprinkling or Dunking, etc.

3. In EVERYTHING ELSE Charity (Love)

I am not suggesting we abandon our Denominational distinctives, but that we can have fellowship with folks from different denominations. Of course we should never be inclusive of Cults.

Since Jesus could come back at any time, we need to repent, change, and wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb!

Knee, US Blog

The Power Of The Bended Knee!

Nov 19, 2021 by Percy Parakh

“The Power of the Bended Knee”

Birds go to sleep on their perches, but they never fall off. This is because of the tendons in the bird’s legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee the claws contract and grip like a steel trap.

The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly. Isn’t this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian?

Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment, tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended knee.

From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us- honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, honor and character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values, which make life worth living.

When we hold on firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold on tightly to us.

US Blog, Visions Of Praise

The Rest Of The Story – Visions Of Praise

Nov 11, 2021 by Percy Parakh

Revelation 7:9-17 NIV

The Great Multitude in White Robes

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b]
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”