A Tribute to my Son; a Soldier and a Gift from God

Wow!  You did it soldier, and you did it in style.  You went through “hell” to get here, but you led, you excelled and you overcame.  So congratulations my son, my precious, well done!

You were trained by the best, and you trained with the best.  You were pushed beyond your limits, broken and made anew.  You did it all without a single complaint but with much faith in God, with determination and with pride. 

We will never know the physical and mental challenges you faced when your body and mind wanted to give up; the disappointments you faced when you realized that your best was not good enough; or the heartaches you faced when your dreams came crumbling down.  We will never know the struggles you went through in your spirit to be faithful to God, while going on an emotional, physical, mental and spiritual roller-coaster ride… 

I often saw you struggling to hold on to God and HIS kingdom values… and you reminded me of Jacob wrestling with God.  You know what?  I think God is looking at you today and telling you the same thing HE told Jacob, “You have wrestled with God and with men, and have overcome”! 

From your very first day in the Army, God’s hand has been on your life.  You had Eagle as your company, and a man of God as your role model.  Doors opened for you in places you least expected, and the doors that were wide open closed as you approached them…  If you take a moment to look back at the days that passed, I am sure you will see only one set of footprints in the sand, and you will recognize that they belong to the one who has been carrying you all along. 

As you move on, there will be greater victories for you.  During those moments, walk humbly with God and before men.  Walk away from glory and the recognition; for they are closely related to ego – man’s greatest enemy.  Instead, keep walking towards God and celebrate in HIS presence. 

You will also face greater challenges and disappointments.  They will be a part of your journey, and they will make you stronger in HIM.  Therefore, do not waste them!  Expect every crisis to turn into a blessing; every storm to bring you back to HIM if you had lost your way. 

I pray, in the days to come you will not get caught up with the norms of the world, or with your own dreams and plans, but will continue to live as a soldier for Christ, and a man of God who will not be afraid or ashamed to live by the laws of HIS Kingdom.   

I pray that you will be fearless like King David when you are facing your giants, and will find rest in the shadow of the One who is your strength, your shield and your fortress.

I pray that you will be as strong as the Blessed Mother in holding on to the promises of God that work beyond the tomb, and will be a blessing to those around you.

More than anything, I pray that one day God will look at you and say, “Here is a warrior, a man like David, a man after my own heart”.  If I can be certain of one thing, this is it!  One day, you will be that man; a man after God’s own heart.  

So onward soldier, take the world for Christ! 

HE hires even at 5pm...

Interesting fact about the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20)…

The landowner goes early in the morning to hire workers, and around 9am to hire more workers, again at 3pm and at 5pm… and he pays the same wage to all the workers despite the time they were hired.

Early in the morning he would have hired the strong, the skilled, the best workers and probably around 9am.  But at 3pm and at 5pm?  Who would be hanging around for work at 5pm except the weak, the unskilled, those no one else wanted, in short, the losers.  The landowner, not only hires them, but pays them the same wage he promised those he hired early in the morning. 

This is God’s salvation, HIS mercy, HIS love… to the greatest and the smallest, to the strongest and to the weakest, to the saints and the sinners.  We are the men and women HE comes for if we dare to hang around till 5pm.   

(Inspired by Max Lucado’s "And The Angels were Silent")

My 24/7 Prayer

Father, I am a sinful, weak woman.  All I need is the right circumstances to fall into sin and give into my weakness.  The truth is I desire sin more than I desire you.  

But you have awakened my Spirit and it cries out for you, to be with you, to be lost in you.  So have mercy on me, and today, let your thoughts be my thoughts; your words be my words; and my body – may it be your temple where your Spirit will be pleased to dwell. 

I ask this not because I am good or holy, but because I am selfish.  For I know I can’t make it on my own; and separated from you I will be destroyed, and in turn I will destroy the ones I love most.  I don’t deserve your love or your mercy, but I know you will love me anyway – for EVERYONE who calls upon the Lord will be saved.  So I call upon your name not to be saved from an enemy out there, but to be saved from myself.  

Silence of God (Reflection by Bro. Lalith Perera)

The Silence of God… when God is not there in a moment, when we are called to an experience of faith. When we come to moments in our life when God is silent, God is working in a deeper level. That is why Jesus hung on the cross and said, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” God was silent… God did not respond… because the resurrection was so near. 

We are called by the Lord to a journey of faith. We tell the Lord today, “let that experience of your love remain in our hearts by faith, let your presence become real in our hearts by faith, when things go wrong all around us, still to see your face. So we tell the Lord “give us that gift of faith to know your love, to see your presence in the most difficult moments of our lives, to know that you are leading us to the resurrection”.

When Adolphus wrote this song, he was going through a crisis, and he was about to lose his house. The bank was going to auction his house the next morning, and he had no answer. He sang this song over and over again that night, and said, “O God, let me not lose your face in the middle of this crisis, let me not lose your love in the middle of this crisis, even if I lose everything, let me not lose your journey”. “Let me journey with you through this experience”. 

The next morning, God showed favor by opening him a door; someone came from nowhere and saved his house for him. That is the favor of God. God said “not only my love and presence, but I will open a door where there is no door, and I will make a way for you”. When we hold on to Him the fire of God moves in or lives. 

Lyrics and English Translation:

Oba ma keren, sangawi yan-epa  
(Do not hide from me O Lord)

Mage jeevithaya, samide, thani-we  
(I will be alone if you leave me)

Obey adare, sangawa gannepa  
(Do not hide your love from me O Lord)

Dubalawu ma, samide, nathiwe  
(I am weak O Lord, and without you, I will be destroyed)

Karuna gune, yahapatha ma kere, Sama mohotehma samide, demine

(Your mercy and goodness is always with me, every moment of my life)

Sathyaye, jeewana margaye, Mage atha gena, maga penwana devide

(You hold my hand and lead me into truth in the journey of life)

Adare obai, sanaseema obai  
(You are my love, you are my comfort)

Galaweema obai, Jesuni obama thamai  
(Jesus, You are my only salvation)

Karunawa obai, shak-thiyath obai  
(You are mercy, you are my strength)

Mata athi ekama magath obamai, samide  

(Jesus, you are the only way for me)

My Jesus, My Judas

Jesus offered Judas a place among the 12 and a bigger place in HIS heart. No reason was good enough for Jesus to exclude Judas, not even the betrayal HE knew that was coming. When Jesus washed the feet of Judas  after the last supper, Jesus knew that would be the last thing HE would do for Judas.  HE would have been more burdened about what was going to happen to Judas after the betrayal, than about what was going to happen to HIM.   

Jesus washing the feet of HIS disciples is recorded in John Chapter 13.  This section ends with a beautiful verse.  “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”. (John 13:17).

HIS invitation is clear.  WASH THE FEET.  If God decides to include a Judas in my life, HE expects me to wash the feet of my Judas.   My knees may not bend before my Judas, my hand may not reach for his feet, and my heart may rebel against it.  But I pray on that day, my eyes will be fixed on the Father and not on the Judas before me or the people around me, that I will have the strength to kiss the feet that will run off to betray me, and that I will have the heart of Jesus to be concerned about the one who is about to destroy me, more than what is going to happen to me.  I pray on that day I will find security in HIS words and not in my actions.   

While writing this, I remembered the song “None but Jesus” is it a coincidence or did the Holy Spirit who prays through us, gave it to me as a prayer for the day I will wash the feet of my Judas;

In the chaos, in confusion
I know you’re Sovereign still

In the moment of my weakness
You give me the grace to do your will

When you call I won’t delay 
This is my song through all my days

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU5KOCOodFE

The Place Called 'There'

The Place Called There was shared by Bro. Johann Amaratunga on the VCRL  http://groups.google.com/group/risenlordcommunity/?pli=1 in June 2008.  Over the past three years I read it many times, and it has blessed me, challenged me and has sent me back to The Place Called 'There'.  With Bro. Johann's permission, I am sharing it here.   

I am inspired to share this about Elijah!  

After great victories come great temptations. This is primarily because we lose our sense of humility and dependence upon God. Elijah had successfully defied the king, his armies, his prophets, and all the people in the nation. But the next day, a note from a woman caused him to run in terror (1 Kin. 19:2-3).  Praise The Lord!

The Lord appeared to Elijah and asked, "What are you doing HERE, Elijah?" (1 Kin. 19:9). Elijah wasn't "THERE" anymore. His place called "THERE" was back in Samaria. People were now worshiping the true God, but Elijah had run away in fear, leaving the people without a leader.

This resulted in the Lord replacing Elijah with Elisha. Elijah's ministry fell short of what it could have been. The Lord actually spoke to Elijah in an audible voice. He told him to do three things, one of which was to anoint Elisha to replace him (1 Kin. 19:15-16). Elijah anointed Elisha (1 Kin. 19:19), but didn't do the other two things. That means Elijah failed in two-thirds of the things the Lord told him to do. He was blown away from his earlier victories.. That's amazing.

Well this was not the end of Elijah's mission!!.. Elijah went on to prophesy (1 Kin. 21:17-24), and he called the fire of God down two more times (2 Kin. 1:9-12). And most impressive of all, Elijah never died; he was caught up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kin. 2:11).

This man, who failed miserably, still walked so closely with God that he never died. This speaks volumes to us.

He uses us in spite of what we do, and not because of what we do.

 If we will hold on to our faith, we can still experience wonderful things from the Lord even after failing BIG TIME…

I'm convinced that the great love that God has for us always causes Him to supply all our needs. It's obvious that we don't always receive those provisions, not because God isn't faithful to give, but because we aren't all "THERE". There is a place called "THERE" for all of us, where we act in obedience to what the Lord has called us to do. That's where God's supernatural supply is. The supply is always "THERE", waiting for our arrival.

The answer to all the present Crisis's go to the place "THERE"

May this be an inspiration to the many Elijah's we sometime become!!

Praise The Lord!

Johann

Dare to Believe

I was thinking of Moses this morning… when Moses went to meet the Pharaoh, all that the Pharaoh saw in Moses was a loser – a fallen Prince of Egypt, who was planning a “Mission Impossible” against him.  No wonder the Pharaoh didn't take him seriously! 

The loser took Pharaoh by surprise when he marched the Israelites out of Egypt with the wealth of the Egyptians… into the desert, through the red sea into the Promised Land.  What the Pharaoh failed to see was that Moses was a man sent by God, and God walked before Moses.

Moses did not walk into the palace of Pharoah without a clue… he knew what the Pharaoh was capable of, but he also knew what God was capable of.  He knew the challenges that he would have to face on the way to the Promised Land, but HE believed in the providence of God.  He heard the complaints of his fellow Israelites in the desert, and even the personal attacks against him, but he chose to listen to God. 

When God calls us, HE does not make us blind to our circumstances, but opens our eyes to see beyond them, to see what HE is capable of.  He does not make us deaf to the world around us, but he opens our ears to hear HIS voice.  HE does not make us immune to the hurtful things we may have to face, but HE gives us the strength to rise above them.  

If we continue to believe in our circumstances, they will continue to overwhelm us.  But if we dare to believe in God and what HE is capable of, we shall see the Promised Land.

Soldier in the Army of God, by B.J. Morbitzer

I am a soldier in the in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit

Trained by experience,
Tried by adversity and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army,

And I am enlisted for eternity.
I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.

I am not a baby. 

I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
Pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.
I am in place, Saluting my King,
Obeying His orders, Praising His name,
And building His kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards or, candy.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.  I will win.

My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs.

I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me.
And Hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier.

Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield

He will promote me to Captain
And then allow me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in the Army,
And I’m claiming victory.

I will not give up.
I will not turn around.
I am a soldier,
Marching Heaven bound.

Riding on the wings of the Eagle...

So much has happened since my last post… “The longest three weeks of my life”.

My boys used to call me a “worrier” because I used to be over protective of them.  For this very reason, when my eldest son told me of his desire to sign on with the army, I found it very difficult to accept his decision.  I feared for his life, I feared for his soul, I feared for his journey with God… and it was with all these fears that I fell at the feet of Jesus.

At the feet of Jesus, I remembered a promise that HE had given me in Isaiah 59:21 “"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD.  "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.

At that point, I held on to the promise of God… HIS promises stand firm even when I don’t like my circumstances or when I can’t understand my circumstances.  When I started to believe HIS promise, a peace and joy that I could not explain filled my heart.  From that point onwards, we started to witness signs and wonders that confirmed the promise of God.

1. The Captain who was in-charge of my son’s unit started to inspire my son both as a soldier and as a man of God.
2. The recruits sharing my son’s bunk started to borrow and read his Bible.
3. My son personally began to experience the hand of God upon his life.  Once he told me “I have a reputation among my army buddies for having unending energy and strength.  And it reminds me of Psalm 121 which says “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth”.
4. On the 14^th of December, we were attending a very anointed wedding of our nephew, and just when the couple was entering into the covenant of marriage, I received a call from my son, who was about to sign his contract with the Army.  I could not think of a better moment for him to sign on, and I cried... not because I was sad about my son’s decision, but because I saw God using the most appropriate moment... a moment when the anointing of God was in that place and HIS presence was so tangible.  I cried because God can be so intimate, so involved and so much part or our lives, even to the tiniest detail. 

Just few days ago, my son completed his Basic Military Training and passed out as a Trained Soldier.  When he did, he was named the Company Best Recruit.  His photograph appeared on the Ministry of Defense website, with the words “Eagle” appearing just above his name.  Is it a coincidence or another sign from God that HIS hand is upon the young soldier?

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)