Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Do we identify.......?

Read the awesome story below.

Matt 20:1 FOR THE kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning along with the dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And going out about the third hour (nine o'clock), he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
And he said to them, You go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will pay you. And they went.
He went out again about the sixth hour (noon), and the ninth hour (three o'clock) he did the same.
And about the eleventh hour (five o'clock) he went out and found still others standing around, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?
They answered him, Because nobody has hired us. He told them, You go out into the vineyard also {and you will get whatever is just and fair.}
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.
And those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (five o'clock) came and received a denarius each.
Now when the first came, they supposed they would get more, but each of them also received a denarius.
And when they received it, they grumbled at the owner of the estate,
Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.
But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you.
Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?

Beautiful story that kind of humbles us. These days, is there anybody out there who doesn't begrudge someone else?

We are taught to be jealous sometimes. Take for example, Advertisement : " A's outfit looks better than B's ..oh it's time you get your outfits from .......! We make you look better than anyone else!" Yeah...check everybody out and they all think alike.

The world screams at us .....his party was great. Mine is going to be better THAN HIS.

In the above story, the boss goes out and hires people who agree for a certain amount and then invites people and ends up paying everyone the same. If there were no extra people invited the ones who agreed would have gone happy. When they began to compare, there lies the problem.

Allow the boss to be boss. Allow God to be God. He will give you only the best. Stop comparing your work and your life with your colleagues/ friends/ family and end up depressed.

We are called to be thankful. With what we do and with who we are.

Is our eye evil because our God is good? What a wonderful thought-provoking question.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Resolutions...

Num 30:2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break {and} profane his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

It's a new year and everyone is ready to make new decisions and choices. Which lasts for about 5 days.... most of the time.


It is ME, out of MY desire to be better... who decides to vow or make an oath or make a resolution. So when I don't keep my word, I am responsible for the consequences.

Sounds kinda scary. But let's make sure we don't impose upon ourselves resolutions that tie us down and we become people who live according to the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. A resolution broken at the cost of a life. Or a resolution made that will cost my life ? What is it worth?

Keep your priorities right. It's God Who trains our hands for battle. Remember that without Him, nothing is possible. With Him, nothing is impossible. So focus on Jesus, and it's all worth it.

Make Him your priority and your relationship with Him your focus and everything else falls into place.

Even at work. Especially at WORK.

A very Happy NEW Year..

I would like to wish you God's best as you enter this new year full of

NEW BEGINNINGS, CHOICES, OPPORTUNITIES, MERCIES and something that you can't quite explain...EXPECTATIONS..


This year, the word "treasure" kind of stormed into my heart...I know that you know how it feels when something bursts into your whole being and lights up everything... that's how I felt when this word jolted me as we entered this year.


It was just a word but along came the revelation....

treasure your being

treasure your doing

treasure your feeling

treasure your having

treasure your giving

treasure your living.


God gives us treasures to hold on to everyday of our lives... words, hugs, thoughts, gifts, work (s),... to show us His love. He treasures you and holds you in the palm of His hand.


This year, make a choice to treasure your WORK. Your daily drudgery.. your everyday ride to work, your everyday hassle, your daily rigmarole..... learn to treasure each moment....coz when you look back you will have a whole chest full of timeless treasures..


Most of all, this year He delights in opening His treasure chest and revealing all that he has for you. Especially for the main part of your life -- your WORK. For that is where you reveal what you know and what you don't. And ultimately who you are.

For God says:

Is 45:3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name.

Allow Him to call you. And reveal to you....His treasures.

A very happy new year to you!