SOJOURNER

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1) This conversation soon led to disobedience and sin.  The mankind lost its place to come close to Him.  The creation, to all it’s worth worked against its Creator. The curse followed. But God did not forget the Salvation plan He had for the creation.  He promised for a Redeemer.  He said, I will put enmity between you and the woman.  And Between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15) As the days went by the promise was long forgotten and the guilt vanished into thin air.  Sin grew, soon the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal, his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6) The flood swept clean the earth. But God preserved Noah and his fa...

Mary had a visitation of an angel and a sequence of events followed.   There was not much time left to process what was happening around her. It all happened too quickly. Luke records twice in the same chapter that, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”. (Luke 2:19) There was a silent period of 400 years between the Testaments. Nothing much happened. Or did it happen, and it was not written down? It could be possible. During that period, two unseen remnants were waiting for the Messiah in the temple – Anna and Simeon. God had spoken to them. They silently waited. We see Zachariah faithfully serving God. These are just a few. There might be others too.  When Elijah said, he was alone, God gives him the pattern of He is going to work now and also adds, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18) In the year 1860, Evangelist John Aroolappan reads abou...

  The babies were clashing within the womb. When the mother enquired of the Lord, the Lord said, “The older will serve the younger”. He came out grasping His brother Esau’s heel, thus he was named Jacob.   From his childhood, Jacob knew that he would have the upper hand over Esau. Yet what was happening around him was not pleasing to him. He had to fend his way up - He had to buy the birthright, please his parents, save his skin from his brother and impersonate his brother to be blessed by his father…   He followed all the instructions that would bring God’s blessings. He was careful not to displease his parents. He sought to find a bride as per the guidance of his parents. He slogged and waited for his partner. Despite all the chaos in his life, God was with him throughout. He was awestruck by God’s continuous protection. He prayed and wished for a blessed life. To lead a blessed life was a hard job. Looking around him, we find all those with him also picked up the cue. ...

  My first post on theo.librarian is out.  https://theolibrarian.blogspot.com/2023/06/memoir.html

I was chatting with one of my connects in my circle. I cannot say that we are friends yet. But we share many common grounds, and lot of things to talk. While chatting on whatsapp, she sent an emoji, which winked at me.  I was using my desktop to chat. My girls were standing next to me, watching me chat.  When the emoji popped on the screen, the girls exclaimed, 'wow... we never knew' with a face that said, you are old for an emoji but, ok we are watching.  For me, the emojis ☺are just the emotions I cant express while I type, to the person on the other end.  Recently, my emotions went on a roller coaster ride for sometime. Frequently, I wondered why my voice was not heard at all.  On many instances, I audibly asked those who ignored my voice.  When they showed indifference, I became restless. People around me, those who stood with me, asked me to calm down.  I felt small with raging emotions inside me. I could not contain myself.  Am I so immature...

 My kids were very small at that time.  I decided to go for my driving license. My elder daughter started schooling few days before I delivered the second one.  Until the second one, we walked to school. Now I was not able to bring the little one and walk under the noon sun. So I decided to go for my license.  I waited for few months so that I could leave my little one at home with someone.  I started my classes.  When I returned home it was a war zone! Yet I decided to continue.  Little one was very naughty... yet I continued. I had to pick up my daughter from school, yet I continued...  The day came to write my exams. I appeared for the exam and miserably failed.  Yet I continued. I appeared again and got my license.  When I reached home after the ordeal all heaved a sigh of relief... But I blunt out, "What next?"  "What?" I said, what next.... I could go for a geared license, or a heavy duty license and much more in that line! Wh...

It's Friday night.   You are getting ready to face the busy weekend. You checked the calendar twice to make sure you are well prepared to receive the visitors this weekend.   All set and you go to bed at peace.   The alarm goes off in the morning, and you are up.   You plan for a quick shower and then hit the road to receive your guests at the airport.   But... But you find no water in the bath.   Pause... Your mind races back ... Oh no... It’s just a leaky cistern which you ignored the previous night, and all the water stored for the next two days are drained!   The drippy cistern was no big deal... But it had drained out all water.  That is exactly what the Lord says in Jeremiah 2:13, My people have committed two sins. They have forsaken me, the spring of living water and have dug their own cistern, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.   When God, Almighty is talking about living water, which never runs dry - our human int...

Mr. Robert was a wealthy business man from the region of Norwich. He received the call of God to serve in India. He wrestled with his call and decided to strike a deal with God. He wanted to save wealth before he left to India.  He invested his money and waited for God's favour. First World War took him away from his family and when he returned, he found that his friends had swindled his wealth. Robert was bitter against God. He decided not to go to India and settled in Canada. After his death his wife raised his 6 children, 2 girls and 4 boys, in God-fearing way.  The boys went their own direction, earning and living their own way. One day on their way to the club, music from a church pulled the boys there.  They stayed there for a while and continued their journey to the club. Youngest of the boys, said, "I can't go.  I have to go back to that church and see what that is all about" .  Brothers did not want anything to do with religion. But Alfred re...

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace... (Esther 5:1) Proverbs 3:27 says “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act”. Esther grew up as an orphan in an alien land. She was raised by a God-fearing Jew Mordecai.  She very well knew that it is an abomination to God to be married to a heathen, no matter what is his status in the community. She was forced into her situation. Esther may not have enjoyed her position. But accepted that she has to act on the crisis. Esther chapter 4 narrates the communication that happened between Esther and Mordecai. Mordecai did not have any difficulty to accept her position as the leader of his people to plead for their lives. He urges her to respond rightly. Now Esther asks Mordecai to gather his people to fast and pray. She, with her helpers fast for three days. Mordecai and Esther were fully aware that their dependence is only...

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth , and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. (Gen. 1:29) Genesis records the history of creation - how the world came into being.  When God created the vegetation, He created them for our health and sustenance – of course with seeds. Genesis 1:11 and 12 say how the earth sprout forth vegetations, plants and fruit bearing trees with seeds. And God saw that they were good. A seed is the life of any plant in dormant condition, which is capable of developing into another such plant. But today market is flooded with seedless fruits and fleshy vegetables. Man changed the genetics of the fruits so that they become sweeter and tastier. This verse makes us wonder, is there a difference that a tiny seed can make to a fruit? Research tells that seeds have more nutritional value than the fruit itself and they are the cure for many illnesses. But, i...

Joe, sitting under the kitchen counter... along with the water cans! Joe turns 7 today.  I praise God for His faithfulness.  When I carried this precious little miracle in my womb, God said, "I will remove all those you love... But I will be with you". So we named her Hephzibah.  I was a 'people-person' all through my life. I need people around m e to keep me happy. Caste, creed, race, language did not bother me. I am comfortable with any one and any culture. But... I need people. When God said this, I did not understand the magnitude of His statement. Yet I submitted myself for the task. He removed one by one from my life... He weaned me from relationships I cherished....  Through this HE remained faithful! Few years back Joe asked me worried, "Mummy, why there are no photos of my childhood? You have plenty for akka (meaning big sister in Tamil)".  I know why. While Imman enjoyed posing for the photos, Joe was keen on finding what i...

UA Glimpse Into Heaven. I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights or its décor. But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp -- The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice. Bob, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?' I would love to hear Your take. 'How'd all these sinners get up here?' God must've made a mistake. ''And why is everyone so quiet, 'So somber -- give me a clue.'' Hush, child,' He said, 'They're all in shock!' No one thought they'd see you.' JUDGE NOT! Remember... Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standi...

Anger! How many of you would say, anger is good for you? Many studies say that anger is not good for your health. How many of you would raise your kid saying, anger is good for you?  I was raised up to be a tamed monkey - Never angry and never cross. I was an angel with my friends and neighbours. But the case was always the opposite at home. I argued with my parents. I fought with my sister. Then I got married and had two kids - that means I have three outlets to vent out that builds within.  I tried to change myself so that others can have peace. Every little thing bothered me. After the wedding I joined the same organization, where my husband was working - a residential school. I met a man, who had two extremes in his nature.  There was no matching for his temper or for his love and care. People enjoyed his care, but trembled at his anger. I admired him a lot, as I continued my inner struggle with my anger.  He was my boss and the Founder of the S...

It's Christmas! The weather had turned chilly. Christmas carols could be heard in our neighborhood. I can peep through my window, while cooking, which I loved more than the cooking itself. I could see people wrapping themselves until they melt within their warm clothes, go for walk in the early hours of the morning. I kept busying myself at the kitchen counter or else kids will be late because of my wandering mind. My emotions went high and low with many thoughts. I was proud to be a mother of two daughters. I enjoyed being called Mrs. Godfrey. I pitied myself that I had to cook, and clean after myself. I was proud that My God was teaching me several things recently. Then I started thinking He was asking me to chew more than I could swallow. I am talking about the relationship - me and my God. Simple! - He was teaching me Discipleship!! To take up His Cross and follow Him - willingly!!! My mind wandered to the first Christmas. There was a silent period of almost 400 long years...

I was walking along with my mom, to the Church. To tell you the fact, I am not used to shoes. But I wore a pretty dress and a red shoes. I was so proud of it, that I looked at it now and then. My dad's colleague met us on the road. Uncle rode a moped. Uncle wanted to take me and his son with him on the moped, leaving Aunty to accompany my mom. As a 7 year old girl, I refused to trust anyone's ability on the vehicle but my father. I said firm 'no' to climb up. But coaxing and pleading, I sat behind him. Within few yards, my shoe strap tangled on the wheel, sucked in my leg too... I was too frightened and screamed with pain. God protected me from the unseen dangers. The scare and memories still fresh within me, yet His unfailing love overshadowing everything. Till today I still suffer cracks and wounds on that place, since it is short of skin. Yet He has been good to me. I joined AVC College of Engineering in the year 2000. I was asked to wear black rubber sho...

My dictionary says, freaks means - any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object. I have a list of freaks God used, and I am inspired by them. We may call it utter foolishness, yet they found peace in obeying God. I have listed few of them here... we can find many many more across the Bible... 1. Abraham - Listened to God and left his home town, luxury and wandered in the dry desert. Waited till he reached 100, to get his promised child. Never fought for his rights, instead waited on the Lord to guide him. Though he knew sodom looked green he chose to stay on God's side. He obeyed God, and was willing t o sacrifice his only son Isaac... though he know God does not ask for human b lood... but still he obeyed God. 2. Noah - Constructed a huge boat, talked about rain, thunder, lightening, floods, when the earth never experienced rain... housed all the animals, stored food - on simple trust in God... He was saved from the floods... 3. Jacob - Blessed Jose...

I was cleaning up my computer's hard disk to free some space. And I came across this.... I didnt know Godfrey had given a written form to his testimony. God is so good... Very often I think, without Christ in both of us, it would be impossible to live to gether... If all the couples get to know this fact, things would be much much easier in their marriage... We have entirely different background, way of thinking, nature... How we get along? That itself is a wonder!! Yes, God can do wonders with a willing soul. Family Background: I was born to Christian parents at Nazareth on 10/03/1975. My parents are Mr.Rajkumar Andrew and Mrs.Balammal Rajkumar. I have two younger siste rs who are married and settled in Chennai an d Tirunelveli. I married Beatrice on the 11th of May 2005. God has blessed us with two young and beautiful girls. Immanuela, my eldest daughter is in the Kinder Garden of Bright Public School and Joanne, my y ounger daughter is one year old. Born Again Experie...