Transformation

A few days ago I tweeted "What happens when you put a prince in a prison, he transforms the prison into a Palace". This transformation can happen only when the Lord Almighty is with you. It does not matter what your circumstances are or what your surroundings are, Yeshua takes you through the process where sometimes it just does not make sense. But this is for sure because you are His son, you are His Prince, He waits for the golden things in your heart to shine forth. So you are ready for greater things when they happen. Even if they don't you are in a good place. I have posted about this through Joseph's life in my post of December 2009, the patriach's life has always been close to me and I upload these videos again from my Vimeo channel as a reminder.



I was thinking King David went through the same process for almost 17 years before he became king, I wonder if we were to ask David what he felt was comfortable the Palace life or the life of a mercenary? I suspect he would reply the life of running from one battle field to another, from valley to valley where he felt closest to God. I am not an advocate of a painful life, but the painful process that reveals what is in our heart is what God is after. The process can take in a palace or in the battlefield and even so in the mundane routines....

What I take away from Joseph and David's life is that we are called for greatness because His greatness and His glory is what we are living for, it ends up being a blessing and saving of many.



Blessigns & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

My Soul Cries!

There is something about having a burning hunger for the deeper things of God, its a combination of being lovesick with Jesus and basking in holiness and holy fear of the Lord. I can understand this at some deep level today through King David's Psalm 63:

1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. 10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. 11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced

My tweet today was based on Misty Edwards song "My soul, My soul dries out without you, my soul cries, my soul cries. Hunger is an escort for the deeper things of God"

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

The Healing Harp of Serech

I love the Kinor - the harp as an instrument of worship, symbolic along with its significant association in the Scriptures. The Harp is of course the instrument of choice used by one of the greatest worshipers of all times King David himself who used it to in the fields (and battlefields) while shepherding his flock worshiping God and composing psalms which he set to music.

I have decided to research stories and sources of interesting anecdotes (side notes) in the Scriptures and share them here from time to time which have immensely blessed my life. So on the topic of harp here's one from the Midrash.about the "Healing Harp of Serech". Though the accuracy of the legend cannot be confirmed about Serech living as long as David's time the story  is pretty cool.

"Jacob's sons worried about how to break the news to their father that they had found Joseph alive and ruler of Egypt. They feared the shock might be too much for him to bear.
When they approached Jacob's house, they noticed Asher's daughter, Serech, coming out to greet them.She was an extraordinary girl, spiritually greater than all the other children of the tribes, and she played the harp beautifully. 'Appear before Jacob with your harp' they instructed her, 'and sing a melody, stating that Joseph is still alive'. Serech slipped quietly into Jacob's tent and stood behind the mourning Jacob. Softly she began to play a tune with the words, 'My uncle Joseph is still alive, he is ruler over Egypt!'
Jacob drank in the words thirstily and enjoyed the pleasant music."May you be blessed, Serech" he said to her. "You have revived my spirit. May you live forever!"
Jacob's blessing was fulfilled. Serech was still alive in King David's time, and was one of the righteous people who were taken to Gan Eden alive.

~ The Midrash ~

This reminds me also of the story of the Israelites lead by Miriam and Moses with their harps breaking out in dance before the Lord after their great deliverance from Egypt.

In Israel today Micah Harrari and Shoshanna Harrari of the House Harrari are makers of ancient day harps, I plan to get one for its symbolic spiritual significance and meaning. In the Hebrew language there are 22 letters and interestingly the Israeli harps have 22 strings and they are not connected as just with the musical notes but to each Hebrew letter. From time immemorial the Hebrew letters of the Hebrew alaphabet (aleph-bet) were know to be more than just a means of communication as Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsberg says each letter represented deep significance, and is connected to the very essence of creation itself. As the letters preceded from the voice or word of G-d creation came to be. The letters when bonded together form new patters helping to illuminate more clearly who He is and who His creation is. The Atara Harp made by the Harraris have the 22 Hebrew letters carved on the soundboard which not only add the beauty but bring in the character of kedusha (holiness) and deeply related with scripture. When King David played his harp and meditated on Him, the way he played it was putting his ear and strumming the strings audible only to his ears opening and leading his heart into meditation with the Lord. The 22 letters of Hebrew aleph-bets are even reflected in the number of chromosomes in DNA, interestingly the word for letter in Hebrew also means "sign" or "wonder" which in rabbinical sense means wonder or divine insight.

"Blessed be the One He who spoke and the world came into being"

"Praise the Lord with the Harp" (Psalm 33:2)

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

A Song Rises to My King

What beautiful songs have come from Australia's Hillsongs. "Glory To the King" has immensely blessed me from time to time...I love it.!!! Love the songs from down under.

You're the comforter to the lonely The lifter of my head I see You veiled in majesty We cry glory,glory We cry glory to the King Verse 1 Lord,my heart cries out Glory to the King My greatest love in life I hand You everything Glory,glory I hear the angels sing. Verse 2 Open my ears Let me hear Your voice To know that sweet sound Oh my soul rejoice Glory,glory I hear the angels sing Chorus: You're the Father to the fatherless The answer to my dreams I see you crowned in righteousness We cry glory to the King Comforter to the lonely The lifter of my head I see You veiled in majesty We cry glory,glory We cry glory to the King Repeat 1st and 2nd verse Repeat chorus 2 times We cry glory glory We cry glory to the King.

As I saw, I see Him high and lifted up on the throne of heaven, Glory surrounding His throne. Majesty Majesty!!

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to you all! 2010 was a whirlwind but God in His mercy and faithfulness provided and protected His servants, His remnant from harm. May we continue to fight the good fight He has called us to, pick up the cross and lay down our lives everyday.

As Samwise Gamgee says "There is good in this world Mr.Frodo and its worth fighting for!"

Blessings & Shalom

Sam Kurien