Directions to Look For in a New Year

Are you looking for directions to be blessed this New Year ? Here are some which I found useful:

Look Back

Relax and take time to look back into the past year (s). There might be happy moments, hurting times and sorrowful moments. In all of those, were you able to see God at work? If so, take time to thank God for all experiences and for all that He did for you in those situations.  

“Surely the righteous will praise your name ​and the upright will live before you.”(Psalm 140:13).

If this “looking back” exercise fails you, going to the next direction will be of help.

Look Inward

Check your life honestly. It is good to check your relationship with God and with others. Also check whether you were stewards of all that God has given you.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; ​test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, ​and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

“Test me, O LORD, and try me, ​examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, ​and I walk continually in your truth.” (Psalm 26:2-3)

You will be happy for all that you did well. But be sure enough to identify the failures and the grey areas where changes are needed.

Look to Jesus

Don’t ever skip this direction. We need to look to Jesus.

….let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“My help comes from the LORD, ​the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)

When we look to Jesus as our model, we fill find a sure sense of sufficiency to move forward in the New Year. And we need to keep looking to God because it is He who can help us at all times.  He is our hope for the New Year.

Look at the World

In our country lots happen, that breaks the heart of our Creator and Saviour God. We need to look into the world with the eyes of Jesus. Many a souls are ready for harvest too. What do we do? Let us get into action. Let us be instruments of justice, peace and salvation.

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:36-38)

Look Forward

God is Immanuel. He is with us. So we can look into each day with great anticipation.
"...He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6) With that confidence, we can move into every new day of the year to face problems, undertake tasks and opportunities and  meet emergencies. When we look into each of the above directions, I am sure we can sense God’s presence all through the New Year. Blessed 2013 folks!

She Did What She Could

August 1998. We had gone as missionaries from Chennai to Kolkata with our four month old son, Giftson. There was this timid and poor Santali tribal girl from a small village from the neigbouring state of Assam. She looked tall and pale. Her tribal dress looked worn-out too. Many students like Maduri had come in the same week of our arrival there to the then run down old facility of Calcutta Bible Seminary (CBS). During the first week as I kept building my bonds with the new students, I found Maduri wearing the same dress all through. I wanted to help her. As a family newly shifted to the city of Calcutta, I had only taken few of my best sarees. The rest of our household things were yet to come. I gave Maduri some of my sarees. She accepted my gift with her typical smile. It took some more days for me to understand that she came from a tribal culture where they choose to wear the same dress until it wears out. This incident gave us an opportunity to teach students like Maduri about basic cleanliness and hygiene.

Maduri was an average student at CBS. She was not so good at academics. But I remember during her final year of studies in 2002, when CBS ministry by then had extended its activities in the Sundarban islands, it was she who opted to go as a missionary first there. She and another student named Shenbagavalli started to work in the Namkhana block, a totally unreached area with the gospel, by staying in a rented house. Today churches and worshipping groups have come up not only in that block but in several other blocks in Sundarbans, all because of the pioneering ministry of students of Calcutta Bible Seminary like Maduri.

Maduri after graduation went as a missionary to Gujarat. She was still timid but her missionary zeal was great. She joined VBS ministries which has its headquarters in Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu. She travelled the lengths and breadths of India to places in Gujarat, Jharkhand and West Bengal. She used to come to Bangalore quite often (we by then had moved to this city from Calcutta) bringing candidates from various states for VBS training. She visited our house in Bangalore and saw Giftson, our son grown as a young lad by then. During one visit, I saw her thrust a 500 rupee note in his hand and she said, “Giffy this is for you.” It was a moving scene for me because I could see the way God had transformed Maduri not only spiritually but  also economically. During that visit  sitting near to her, I heard from her stories regarding translating children's materials in various languages and about conducting VBSs ' in remote villages in India. I told her, “Maduri, you are a lady apostle to our nation.” She smiled back.

She used to talk to me quite often over phone to the extent that sometimes I had to say, “Maduri, I am in the middle of this work. Can you call  mea little later?” Now I know that I have to wait for my turn to talk to her in heaven. Her main concern in all those telephone calls centred around one cause. She was deeply concerned for her own tiny village in Assam. She shared about the frequent tribal wars in her place which have left so many as orphans. I also learnt through her that children in her place have no access to good education. She often told me of her willingness to donate a huge piece of land for building a school and was pressing me hard to visit her place in this regard. I regret that I could not plan a trip while she was alive.

1970-2012

Maduri was basically not a healthy girl. Since she traveled widely and frequently her health which was already poor, started to deteriorate. Phone conversations  became less frequent in the last few months. When I enquired through other sources I was told that her health grew worse with repeated attacks of typhoid. I was also told that in spite of her poor health conditions, she did her ministry faithfully in Gujarat and Jharkhand until November. Choosing to remain as a single, she toiled hard like apostle Paul .

20 December, 2012. I was conversing with Rita, a contemporary and friend of Maduri, during our mission trip in the Sundarban islands. I was thinking a lot about Maduri on that day and was desperately wanting to talk to her over phone, only to know later that it was on this very same day she went to be with the Lord forever. Tearfully I went down my memory lane bringing back thoughts of all that Maduri meant to me. In the midst of tears, a wave of happiness overwhelmed me when I began to think about her contribution to our nation as a lady apostle. One thing that is bothering me however is her vision for her village in Assam for “a school.”

One day I want to visit Maduri’s place with a team and then would prayerfully look forward to see a school built in memory of her. And I want my friends and well-wishers to be in that team to see Maduri’s dream come true!

"She did what she could." (Mark 14:8)

Don’t Miss the Bliss!

Have you ever had the experience of missing a train or a flight? I have had both. It’s a mess when we miss. There had been people who have missed blissful situations due to various reasons. I go back to the happenings around the first Christmas event in a time frame of nearly 2000 years back to the land of Palestine. The Jews living during that time of history were waiting for a Messiah who would liberate them from the bondage of the Romans who were ruling their land at that time. We see different attitudes in people who lived during the birth of Jesus because of which they missed the bliss of a historic event in their lives.

Hard-hearted Innkeepers

A liberator appeared for the people in the name of “Jesus.” But who will ever know if he comes knocking at the door step hiding himself inside the womb of a woman? The inn keepers for sure at one look at Mary and Joseph concluded that they were from a poor back ground. They also had a reason: they had no room in the inn. But they could have pitied for a woman who was on the verge of her delivery. They narrowly missed the bliss of having the Savior being born in their inn! The only place that welcomed the Saviour was the manger with the sheep and the cattle in it. Blessed ones!

To people with a cold attitude, Jesus would say on the judgement day: “ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me…” (Matthew 25:43). Our hard heartedness leads us to a state of unblessedness. We receive Jesus, when we receive least persons in our midst and care for their needs because whatever we do for one of the least, we do for Jesus.’ (V.40).

Insecure Herod and Jerusalemites

King Herod was a mighty man of the time. He knew that the baby that was born was a King. Yet he and all Jerusalem were disturbed because of the birth of the baby. Insecurity plagued them. Part of the fearing of the people of Jerusalem was the fulfillment of the prophecy mentioned in Genesis 49:10: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Fear and insecurity made a big chunk of the Jerusalem community miss the bliss of the Christ child.

There can be no fear in a blessed situation. Perfect love drives away fear (1 John 4:18). One common message of the first Christmas event to Mary, Zechariah and the shepherds was: "fear not". They did not fear and became the recipients of the greatest blessing in their lives.

Dumb Religious Leaders

The chief priests and the teachers of the law knew the Scriptures and the exact place where the Redeemer would be born. They quoted Micah 5:2 and pointed out the place as Bethlehem. But they did not bother to walk up few miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. They were not curious enough to see even whether such an event was true. They for sure missed the bliss of the wonder of wonders of their time. In contradiction, the magi from the east were curious enough and traveled miles to see the King of kings.

The religious leaders knew the Scripture which was not of any use for them. Even satan knows the Scriptures. What is more important is that effort to see for ourselves and experience Christ in the closest proximity. The shepherds in contradiction to the chief priests and teachers of the law were not experts in the Scripture but they had the instinct in them to obey the angelic command and walk up to the manger and see for themselves the Saviour of the world. There were also the old Simon and Anna who lived in the temple of Jerusalem, who received the bliss of seeing the Saviour before their deaths.

Christianity is not a dumb religion. We can feel Christ in us. If you have not done that, start right away.  Caste away any sort of hard heartedness, fear, insecurity, and useless knowledge. Invite Jesus and taste and see that the Lord is good. If you have done that already, enjoy Christ living in you every day of your life. Don’t miss this bliss for anything else! A Happy and Blessed Christmas, folks!

Food, Glorious Food!

“I’m right now craving for chicken, coffee, chocolate…” - and what not? Is there something you say you need to eat/drink for the day to be a good day ? Else are you enslaved to being a slim figure or a body builder? The trend in eating food has two extremes. One is an age old problem of being a glutton. The other is a craving for a “size zero” or a “six pack” body. It is culture that has been continuously pumping us with such silly fashion ideas. However we cannot under estimate the power of food in our lives. It is integral to our lives.What does the Bible say about food?

We should know that food was created for both sustenance and pleasure (Deuteronomy 14:26, Acts 14:17). It was God who gave us both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food to eat and enjoy. Therefore we are not people who believe physical world and body as evil. Rather Christian faith elevates body as good. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And God created us with different tastes, a tongue with lots of taste buds (an average of 10,000)! Food therefore is a blessing.

But the Bible also speaks clearly against gluttony and drunkenness (Proverbs 23:20-21, 28:7, Deuteronomy 21:20-21).  Puritans' Westminster catechism interprets the sixth command, “Thou shalt not murder” to the extreme that we should not murder ourselves by not taking care of our bodies. It tells of an appropriate use of food, rest, exercise. Being unwell most of the times is because we are not caring for our bodies. Some genetically are strong. Some are not. Romans 8:28 tells that God causes all things for his good. This includes people with genetic problems too. Any case we need to be stewards of our own bodies. Matthew 22:37 exhorts us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.

Also God transforms us to his image, not as human models. We don’t have to be outwardly beautiful. What is the difference between moral atheists who care for their body and us? Christ is our identity. We are his bride. He has clothed us with his garment of righteousness. We are beautiful. He says to us, “This is my beloved daughter/son in whom I am well pleased.”

Practical Guidelines:

· You can always enlist the help of a physician or nutritionist.

· Develop a thank list. When you are not tempted to overeat, purge or starve, write out a list of items you are thankful for.

· Do not complain over food. (when you get it late and so on) They gave vinegar to Jesus when he was thirsty.

· Learn godly view of food and eating (1 Timothy 4:3-5). It is easy for us to make lists of food that are bad, not remembering that God created them and that they are good. Receive it with gratitude and prayer. Know that most of the world is starving without food.

· Begin to memorize scripture to use when tempted: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, Colossians 3:17

· Develop a contingency plan when you are tempted in the area of food: cry out to God in humble trust. Start reciting the memory verses and start moving away from the source of temptation. Hear some gospel music or go for a walk.

· Even if you have started eating sinfully, remember that your desire to be perfect and your resulting condemnation and further self-indulgence will compound your problem rather than give you peace. We cannot be perfect by ourselves. 

· Read and meditate on Christ’s suffering even for sin related to food. (like Isaiah 53)

· Mediate on Christ’s perfections: He ate perfectly his whole life. He never binged or starve himself for ungodly reasons. He was never vain about how he looked because his identity was solely in who he was as his Father’s son.

A study on food in the Bible has this interesting fact: God frequently tested people in the area of food. Some major tests on food in Scriptures are:

· Adam and Eve were first tested with food (Genesis 3:1-7).

· The Israelites’ wandering for the extra forty years was part of a test. And part of the test was food. The Israelites also went back in their minds wanting the food of Egypt many times. Interestingly, it was God who gave them food tests in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3).

· Children of Israel failed the test. Jesus was the only one who passed this test. The area which we stumble in was one of the areas he was tested in (Matthew 4).

· This speaks to the difficulty of the test. Jesus is our hope and righteousness even in this regard.

Why are so many fitness and health books being published every year? They work for a little while and then what happens? What we need is not a law from outside, but a transformation from within. Law does not make us better. That is why God sent Jesus. Jesus offered his body for us, our gluttony and for our other bodily cravings. He died on the cross for every such sin of us. He rose again assuring freedom from our guilt of sin and to help us lead a victorious life. Let us apply this gospel and live in freedom and gratitude.

(Courtesy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W5HI0TbZ90)

Dead, Yet Speaks!

Rev C.P. Gnanamani (1868-1922) is my forefather through my paternal grandmother, Mrs Ida Immanuel. An interesting incident which happened in his life has a powerful impact on me. One day Rev Gnanamani was returning home in a bullock cart. At about 300 feet from the path there was a Hindu temple in which a special festivity was going on. Rev Gnanamani remaining in the cart prayed to God and drew a symbol of the “cross” facing the temple. Some people noticed this. Almost at the same time, a big fire broke out in the temple and there was utter panic and confusion in the crowd. Someone said that the fire was due to a mantra muttered by a Christian priest who went on that way.

A furious mob thronged the house of Rev Gnanamani, who by then had reached home. They shouted and demanded that he should come out of the house immediately. In spite of requests from members of family not to step out, Rev Gnanamani came out and answered the crowd politely but firmly that he only prayed for them when he crossed the temple, but did not chant a mantra against them. The crowd was not convinced and they threatened to kill him. At this Rev Gnanamani stepped still forward with his head bowed to the crowd. One voice from the crowd said, “Do not lay your hand on this great man. If just because of the mantra, if such a disaster could happen, how much more would happen to us, if we kill him! We will be totally wiped out!” Rev Gnanamani took that time to share the Good News. People apologised to him and this incident paved way for many to accept Christ.

Rev C. P. Gnanamani served in several churches in Tamil Nadu from 1900-22:  St. Johns, Conoor, St Michaels, Mudalur, St Patricks, Tuticorin, Good Shepherd, Mylapore, St Pauls, Vepery, All Saints, Puthur, Trichy. Rev Gnanamani was a great Tamil scholar. He composed some famous Tamil lyrics, to name a few: kalame devanai thedu, anbe piradanam, Yesuvin namame thirunamam. Of this, the song, “Yesuvin namame thirunamam” says all through about the power in the name of Jesus. True to that song was the way in which God demonstrated His power through his humble servant, through which there was an opportunity for many people to accept Jesus as their Lord.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)“…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10)

(Source: "Vachiramani Christian kudumba iraippani - mummani kavimanigal")

Shoots in Search of the Root – My Ancestral Story

There is an interesting story behind the single Christian tomb in a village called, “Usarathu kudiyirupu” (Brahmanavilai) near Udankudi in Tuticorin District Tamil Nadu. Sadly this village has no Christian residing there today. The only Christian witness there is the tomb of my forefather, Vachiramani Christian Ubathesiar (1835-1910).

Vachiramani Ubathesiar lived in this very village as a landlord owning more than 1000 acres of land, thousands of sheep and cattle. He was a Hindu priest in the temple which still remains in the village. Being proficient in Tamil literature, he was also involved in educating the unlearned, conducting classes in open platforms in his village 130 years ago. However he became a Christian, hearing the story of Joseph from an English missionary. Because of his Christian testimony he was then forced to leave his village and possessions. He settled down in Jaffna (in SriLanka) as a Tamil teacher and gospel worker. In his old age, after he returned to India from his services as a catechist (Ubathesiar) at Jaffna, Ceylon, he made advance arrangements for his burial at his native place, Osarathu kudiyiruppu. Thus, his grave is the only Christian witness in that village now.

Vachiramani Uphadesiar had five boys and four girls. His eldest son Rev. C. P. Gnanamani was also a Tamil scholar and teacher. His epic Tamil grammar book written in 1885 was gazetted as a text book in the schools. Rev. Gnanamani’s eldest son Rev. Canon C. D. Gnanamani was a great scholar in Tamil Literature. Rev. P. S. Peter who was also an excellent Tamil poet became a member of this family, by marrying the daughter of Vachiramani Ubathesiar. All these three poets and lyric writers have contributed over 750 lyrics and other poetic works. They have written in carnatic musical style with specific raagas (tunes) and thaalas. Some of their famous Tamil lyrics are: kaalame devanai thedu, Yesuvin namame thirunamam, Anbe piradanam, aathume thevanai (Mary’s song).

An endowment has been created in the name of Vachiramani Christian at the Madras University, under the Tamil Christian Literature Seat in the year 2010. Thus the name of Vachriamani Christian has been given a place of honour in the field of Tamil christian literature by Madras university. The number of descendants of the nine children of Vachiramani Christian connected so far is about 450. The countries they live include Malaysia, Singapore, Britain, Germany, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, USA and Australia.

The sacrifice Vachiramani Uphadesiar made in leaving his wealthy style of living cannot be compared to the eternal salvation he has gained in God’s mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord! “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life (soul)? Or what shall a man give in return for his life (soul)?” (Matt 16:26).

I am proud to be Vajramani Upathesiar's great granddaughter’s granddaughter. To me he is a model like our father Abraham of the Biblical heritage.  Both left their places and followed God’s plan which resulted in future generations turning to that same God in multitudes. There may be similar interesting stories in everyone’s family history. It would turn to be a blessing to future generations when one seeks and finds it. 

Souces: Jebalin John, “Veraithedum Vizhudhugal” in Dinamani Kadir dated 30.5.2010, translated by Mr John Jeyanandam in “ Vachiramani Christian’s Nine Gem Comminuque” and E-mail information from Mr John Jeyanandam in Vachiramani Yahoo Group.

“Her Story” in Church “History”

When we think of the early church, our minds focus on the Church Fathers. Sadly, we sometimes fail to consider the Church Mothers. Let us not forget the godly women who heroically waged spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Their losses and their victories, their pain and their joy, their walk with Christ and their journey with one another are all an inheritance from which we learn lessons for today.

Vibia Perpetua (181-203) heads that company. The early Church preserved her manuscript, The Martyrdom of Perpetua, because it is one of the oldest and most descriptive accounts of death for Christ. It is also the earliest known document written by a Christian woman, Perpetua, coauthored by Saturus, the one who led her to Christ. It is believed that a redactor later supplied the introduction and conclusion to the book.

Perpetua lived in Carthage in North Africa during the persecution of Christians under Septimius Severus. At the time of her arrest in 202 AD, she was a twenty-one-year-old mother of an infant son. Born into a wealthy, prominent, but unbelieving family, she was a recent convert with a father who continually attempted to weaken her faith and a husband who was, for reasons unknown to us, out of the picture. Nothing in Perpetua’s situation or background prepared her for the titanic spiritual struggle God called her to face.

Perpetua, Felicitas, both women, Perputua's brother, and two other new converts were discipled by Saturus. We learn from Perpetua’s writings about the arrest of all these faithful followers of Christ. Perpetua candidly faced her fears and expresses her suffering: “I was terrified because never before had I experienced such darkness. What a terrible day! Because of crowded conditions and rough treatment by the soldiers the heat was unbearable. My condition was aggravated by my anxiety for my baby.”

On the day of Perpetua’s final hearing before being martyred for her faith in 203 AD, the guards rushed Perpetua to the prisoners’ platform. Her father appeared with her infant son, and begged Perpetua to have pity on her son. He caused such an uproar, that the governor Hilarion ordered him to be thrown out, and he was beaten with a rod. Perpetua writes of this horrible incident. “My father’s injury hurt me as much as if I myself had been beaten. And I grieved because of his pathetic old age.”

Felicitas, the other young woman was in her eighth month of pregnancy. As the day of martyrdom approached, two days, united in grief they prayed to the Lord. Immediately after their prayers, her labor pains began and Felicitas gave birth to a girl whom one of her sisters reared as her own.

Eye witnesses record the entire group's witness for Christ to the very end. “The day of their victory dawned, and with joyful countenances they marched from the prison to the arena as though on their way to heaven. If there was any trembling, it was from joy, not fear. Perpetua followed with a quick step as a true spouse of Christ, the darling of God, her brightly flashing eyes quelling the gaze of the crowd.” To the crowd the women were nothing but entertainment. But to Christ they were His brides.

As the group was led through the gates, they were ordered to put on different clothes. The men were to wear those of the priests of Saturn, the women, those of the priestesses of Ceres. But the noble Perpetua stubbornly resisted even to the end. She said, ‘We’ve come this far voluntarily in order to protect our rights, and we’ve pledged our lives not to recapitulate on any such matter as this. We made this agreement with you.’ Injustice bowed to justice and the guard conceded that they could enter the arena in their ordinary dress.

At the demand of the mob they were first scourged; then a boar, a bear, and a leopard, were set at the men, and a wild cow at the women. Wounded by the wild animals, they gave each other the kiss of peace and were then put to the sword.

This is a moving account of true devotion to Jesus in the face of severe suffering, loss and agony. Most of us would give anything to preserve our families, and yet they lost everything - including their family and infant kids - to gain the glory of Jesus. They remind us of Jesus' words in the Gospel of Matthew: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:37-39).

Women mentioned here are found no less to men in shedding their blood which we know became the foundation of the Church. Is there a tendency in us to take Church for granted, today? What is going to be our contribution to the building of His Church and Kingdom?

Sources:

http://www.rpmministries.org/2012/03/womens-history-month-part-1-vibia-perpetua-from-victim-to-victor/

http://aaronmartin.blogspot.in/2007/07/vibia-perpetua.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06029a.html