Evening Prayer

“Sweet thing happens when we fellowship around the word of God”

(Recalling 1st December 2017. On this day, I sent this email message to some of my friends before I started to blog "With the Word")

I am not supposed to write and send anything tonight as I have already issued “With the Word” (through email). But, something sweet happened tonight, that I just cannot keep silent. What to do…! I am like that! Prone to tell Good news – gospel or personal news.

I have been conducting a family Bible Study in a home of one of our church members. Tonight was the end of that fellowship because we have completed the book of Ephesians, as well as I would be leaving Goa the coming Wednesday. We celebrate with bicycle ride, family games, and grand dinner. 

After everything is done, I decided to go back to my room. Then, I received this (look at the image). It is the best card I have ever received. I have been to many places and to many institutions. Thousands of people have bid me farewell already over the years. This one comes as the best! Look how beautiful my name looks, especially when it comes from just eleven years old kid, whose first language is not English. I bet you cannot come up better than that...! Can you?

I re-affirm again tonight that fellowship around the word of God produces surprising joy beyond measure. May we all continue to grow up in the fellowship of the word of God wherever we are!

Good Night!

Image Scripture: John 6:51

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

10 CREATIVE BIBLE READING PLANS

Meditating, Studying, Memorizing, and Reading are different things. Reading is the most basic, simple, easy, and ‘regular’ way to approach the word of God. The more we feed on God's word, the more it guides us in any moments of our life.

Some people have the habit/discipline of reading through the Bible at least once a year. But, even simple ‘regular’ (not necessarily daily) reading of the Bible looks boring to many of us. I myself have been forming the habit, but it's always a struggle and so, I've got to motivate myself through creativity!

If you want to read through the Bible, you've got to make a plan. Reading through the Bible is tougher than most people imagine. It's a thick book that requires 70-100 hours of reading.

If you want to form the habit of reading through every year, you've got to have a creative plan. We could easily get demotivated by the fact that we've read through once. Reading a new thick book looks more exciting than re-reading an old thick book.

Over The Years, I've Been Trying To Be Creative:

*#1. Read a different Bible version each year. There are over 200 English translations of the Bible. That's more than you can live and buy and read! (But if you are poor; if you don't know your Bible enough; and if Bible translations are not available, then you might want to restrict it to just 2-3 translations — ESV, NKJV, KJV, NASB, NIV, or TEV/GNB)

*#2. Read the books of the Bible chronologically. From the first book written to the last book written. Ask your Pastor or refer a Study-Bible for that information!

*#3. Read the events of the Bible chronologically. Refer a good Study-Bible or a Bible Handbook for that information.

*#4. Read through each book of the Bible in one or two sitting(s). That sounds a heavy-duty duty, but it's rewarding. This is really something to accomplish it, very motivating actually, isn't it?

*#5. Read the books of the Bible according to its genre. Ask your Pastor or refer a Study-Bible for the information. (History, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels, Laws, Epistles, etc.)

*#6. Read 3 Chapters of OT and 1 Chapter of NT every day. That will require you 15-20 minutes daily. If you read lesser, welcome to the next year! So try to read more actually! Do the math! (929+260 chapters in 365 days).

*#7. Read with a Practical Plan. I. Don't overestimate your habit/discipline, always read more. Everyone gets out of routine sometimes— sickness, laziness, busy works, etc. II. Prefer regular reading to daily reading. (For a heavy-duty reading, 5days of reading and 2 days to catch up in a week).

*#8. Read the Bible by the number of pages. Do the math. 5 pages? 10 pages? 50 pages? My Bible has 1095 pages. Each page has over 800-900 words.

*#9. Read the Bible Proportionately. This may not be applicable to most of us. If you read 30,000 words of a novel; if you read this and that pages of such and such book; if you spend such and such amount of time in reading newspapers; if you spend such and such amount of time in watching movies, entertainments, gyms, sports, and games, then what?

*#10. Read the Bible with Pen(s). Determine to circle or underline certain words, phrases, or themes before you read each book. Read a good introduction of each book to do that. Please don't frustrate yourself circling every "and." (Rather underline every "know" in the book of 1 John, for example). Sure, you might need a new Bible for this!

I'd love to know if you have discovered some other interesting ways to read through the Bible. And also, I'd love to know how you are reading your Bible.

May you continue to grow exceedingly in the grace and knowledge of God's word!

Lighten your sadness!

When circumstances tear your heart out,

When opportunities have passed you by,

Remember the song, “Pass me not,”

Sung by the blind Fanny Crosby,

Grace has not passed you by salvationally!

And to His chosen ones, His goodness

Endures forever and faithfully!

May that lighten your sadness!

God's Providence

4 Questions for all professing Christians

Three questions I usually ask a professing Christian:

1. Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? If yes

2. If calamity happens and if you die now, would you be in heaven or hell?

3. What would you reply if the Lord asks you, "Why should I let you enter My Kingdom?"

And it usually takes an hour to hear these through. Now, I've found a 4^th question to ask. And this I would ask only to those who are well-versed with the first 3 questions. So, the 4th question—

4. What makes you so desirous to enter the Kingdom?

(Btw, this 4th question is asked by Ms. Prudence to Mr. Christian, when he came all the way from the City of Destruction heading to the Celestial City in the book "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan)

If you want to hear his answer, buy Pilgrim's Progress and read it! 😀 Charles Spurgeon read it over a hundred times. I'm reading it for the 4th time, and shall not be the last!👍

Image Scripture Psalm 39:9

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Wretched vs Grace

"If I had become a Christian by my own will,

I would have renounced it many times!

(John 10:28-29; 1 John 2:19)

"If I had a chance to escape God,

I would have slammed the door a long time ago!"

(Psalm 139:7-12)

"If I had an opportunity to murder God,

I would have done it once and for all!"

(Romans 5:10; John.19:15)

This is the biblical anatomy of a wretched man saved by Grace!

DIAGNOSING TEMPTATION

All kinds of temptations fall under 3 categories mentioned in 1John 2:16. "Desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, pride of life!"

3 Temptations of Jesus corroborates that! (Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus won victoriously!

The temptations of Eve in the Garden of Eden is another elucidation! (Genesis 3:6) Eve failed miserably!

Many times the desires of the flesh are the desires of the heart! Because as Jeremiah said that the heart is deceitful above all things. It was right for Jesus to satisfy his hunger! His reply was "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

Our desires (ambitions, plans, pursuits), which look noble, blessed, great and morally sound could be just a temptation sometimes!

We live by every word of God, not just clinging to one verse of the Bible! Suffering, sorrows, failings, etc. are equally God's plan as victory, joy, and progressions are.

What the book of Psalms tells us about God (Alphabetically)

Last time I’ve posted Alphabetical Attributes of God from the book of Psalm, which are quite repetitive in their occurrences. Today, I’ve gathered another list of Alphabetical Attributes of God. It also reveals who God is from each attribute. This is totally different from the earlier post. If you would like to print out and hang it on your wall, you can pick and choose from the two posts! And if you do so, would you please indicate that it is taken from senxer.blogspot.com?

Avenger

Ps 18:47 “It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me;”

Blessed

Ps 119:12 “Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.”

Comforter

Ps 94:19 “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”

Defense

Ps 62:6 “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.”

Eternal

Ps 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Fearful

Ps 89:7 “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.”

Glorious

Ps 145:5 “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.”

Humble

Ps 113:6 “Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?”

Inheritance

Ps 16:5 “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.”

Jealous

Ps 79:5 “How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?”

King

Ps 95:3 “For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.”

Love

Ps 143:8 “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”

Mighty

Ps 89:8 “O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.”

Nourisher

Ps 104:14 “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth,”

Owner

Ps 79:13 “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.”

Perfect

Ps 18:30 “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

Quenching

Ps 78:16 “He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.”

Refuge

Ps 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Saviour

Ps 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Tower

Ps 144:2 “My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.”

Upright

Ps 25:8 “Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.”

Vinedresser

Ps 80:15 “And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.”

Wonderful

Ps 107:15 “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

Xenodochial

Ps 68:5 “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.”

Yielder

Ps 85:12 “Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.”

Zion

Ps 9:11 “Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people.”

Alphabetical Attributes of God from the book of Psalms!

One of the earliest formal teachings I received as a child was to learn English Alphabet, ABCD… in the form of A for Apple B for Ball C for Cat. Till today A is for Apple B is for Ball C is for Cat and the rest. What I’ve learned as a child has never got out of my brain nor of society. Would it not be a great education for us to reconsider ABCD in the form of how God reveals Himself to us from the Bible?!! The more we know God, the more we would trust Him, and the more we would enjoy Him! Imagine young children growing up learning God’s attribute in the form of ABCD, how would they walk with God in their adult life?!! And even for adults, like us, how much do we need to think about the attributes of God? As A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” If we want to increase in our faith, we must know God to trust Him, and in order to know Him, we must think through His attributes.

            So, today I've decided to list some of the repetitive attributes of God alphabetically from the book of Psalms. If you find difficult to think through some of the attributes, I would put up another list next week, which would be totally different from this post, (which by the way would be alphabetical too). Therefore, you could pick and choose from what I have done for myself! Here goes the first list (and in my estimation the best ones):

A.    Awesome (13 times, and always about God)

Ps 47:2 “For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.”

B.     Beautiful (14 times, and always in the context of worshipping God)

Ps 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.”

C.    Compassionate (7 times, and always about God)

Ps 145:8 “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.”

D.    Delightful (24 times)

Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

E.     Excellent (9 times)

Ps 150:2 “Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!”

F.      Forgiving (9 times)

Ps 99:8 “You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds.”

G.    Good (78 times)

Ps 31:19 “Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!”

H.   Holy (42 times)

Ps 99:9 “Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the LORD our God is holy.”

I.       Infinite

Ps 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”

J.       Just (around 30 times)

Ps 7:11 “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.”

K.    Kind (over 30 times including its derivatives)

Ps 31:21 “Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!”

L.     Longsuffering

Ps 86:15 “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”

M.  Merciful (130 times)

Ps 116:5 “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.”

N.   Near (17 times)

Ps 34:18 “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

O.    Omnipresent

Ps 139:7 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

P.     Praiseworthy (157 times)

Ps 18:3 “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

Q.    Quiet

Ps 107:29 “He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.”

R.     Righteous (over 200 times including words its derivatives and similar idea)

Ps 11:7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

S.      Satisfying (17 times)

Ps 107:9 “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

T.     Trustworthy (69 times)

Ps 118:9 “It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.”

U.    Unsearchable (6 times including its derivatives)

Ps 145:3 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.”

V.    Valiant (4 times)

Ps 118:16 “The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”

W.  Wrathful (28 times)

Ps 90:11 “Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.”

X.     Xenial

Ps 146:9 “The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.”

Y.     Yahweh (94 times)

Ps 7:1 “Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me” (HCSB)

Z.     Zealous (3 times)

Ps 78:58 “And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous” (YLT)

Note: All Scripture quotations are taken from NKJV unless mentioned. The numbers indicated in parentheses are also counted from NKJV.