Pondering!

As I journaled and re-read A.B Simpson's quote, I realized the most important point in this was his statement about redemption. ..."The reason "redemption" is so dear to the Father is because it's foundation stone is the cross of Calvary." I am amazed again (as always) for Yeshua's motive to Calvary was Love and Our God is "love." With Him Love began and because of Him we have redemption. Shalom and Blessings, Sam Kurien

Giving & Loving!

My boss recently send this to me, I recorded it in my journal because there is something deep here that I closely relate to. Its a quote from A.B Simpson.

Christians have it in their power, by a very little sacrifice, to add millions to the treasury of the Lord. Have you found the joy of sacrifice for Jesus?   Have you given up something that you might give it to Him? Are you giving your substance to Jesus? He will take it, and will return to you a thousand fold. I would rather be associated with a work founded on great sacrifice than on enormous endowments. The reason God loved the place where His ancient temple rose in majesty was because there Abraham offered his son and David his treasure. The reason redemption is so dear to the Father and the heavenly world is because its foundation stone is the cross of Calvary. The Christian life that is dearest to the heart of God, and that will rise to the highest glory and usefulness, is the one whose foundation principle is sacrifice and self-renunciation. This is why the Master teaches us to give-because giving means loving, and love is but another name for life.  A.B. Simpson

I think there are four keys hidden here or questions I deeply ponder upon: 

1) Are you giving your substance to Jesus? -If you do - He will take it and will make it a thousand fold

2) I would rather be associated with work founded on great sacrifices than on enormous endowments.

3) Abraham offered his son on Mt. Moriah and David his treasures and that is the place where God's sacred temple rose up.  - 

4) The Master teaches us to Give because giving means loving.

Shalom & Blessings,

Sam Kurien

The Gospel

I love Eric Ludy's teaching from Windsor, CO, the man teaches with a fierce heart and reflects the heartbeat of God. His short films as shared here from bravehearted thoughts series encapsulate the Gospel message just under in 12 minutes. Thank You Eric & his team for expressing it so creatively and more importantly with the urgency of the message that is at hand. 

What I like about Eric is his no beating around the bush attitude and always hitting the target with being "specific". We want to be men like that who proclaim the Gospel message without fear, on target as revealed by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT ....and it may turn offensive to many people, worldviews,  and surprisingly to even CHRISTIANS -

But the truth stands....."HE is the ONLY WAY". "JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY".

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

Be Strong & Courageous - Rak Chazak!!!

When I left India almost 14 years ago, the Lord gave me a promise verse for my life from Joshua 1:6-9

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I just now am realizing the weight of the words "BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS" in its Hebrew "CHAZAK AMATS". Eric Ludy does an amazing job through his video blurbs on Braverheartedthoughts series to explain this. I am blessed and blasted by this....I can picture Yeshua standing on the last battle of the earth when Israel is surrounded by the nations of the earth and HE has ridden on the horse to protect HIS bride shouting "RAK CHAZAK ISRAEL". I picture him saying the same to his bride now, to each one of you now a promise in this ANCIENT WAR CRY!!!

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

"How Can I Give Thee Up"

Just one verse blows my mind and heart away, just one line from God's wooing heart to the children of Israel and addressed to me personally:

                                                   "How Can I Give Thee Up?"


And the latter part of the verse from Hosea Chapter 11 says "My heart is changed within me and all my compassion is aroused"

Nothing more and nothing less - God's goodness and kindness overwhelms me. He is the kindest person I have ever met.


Love and Blessings in Yeshua,

Sam Kurien

God I Look To You

I have not blogged for almost two months, the primary reason being I have started journal-ing and lot of my deep thoughts now go in there as I continue to practice the presence of God early morning, I love it and His Spirit though inside me, I know when His tangible presence shows up around and I know in the deep inner man I am beginning to become like Him and all I can say I love it. A lot of revelations come into my spirit and mind has lot of catching up to do...but what can I say LOVE HIM and LOVE ALL HIS WAYS FOR ME!

In the natural though it seems things are mundane, dreary, routine and would like to see things advancing at accelerated rates in my personal, corporate and Kingdom spheres we have to wait for everybody's pace and I know patience is built that way within myself and its a good thing. In all this my song for a few weeks has been allowing for His reign over all of my life and the song "God I look to you" from Bethel live is immensely blowing my socks away. Here are the lyrics and hope it blesses you all too...

“God I look to You I won't be overwhelmed Give me vision to see things like You do God I look to You You're where my help comes from Give me wisdom, You know just what to do I will love You Lord my strength And I will love you Lord my shield And I will love You Lord my rock Forever all my days I will love you God Hallelujah our God reigns Hallelujah our God reigns Hallelujah our God reigns Forever all my days Hallelujah

I keep looking at His face, I am searching for the deeper things of God and  I will not rest and I will give Him no rest be it in hidden-ness or revelation I look to His face and those who gaze upon his face as the psalmist says will not go ashamed or without.

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

We need Supernatural Wisdom

Since last four weeks I have been impressed in my Spirit by His Holy Spirit about Supernatual Wisdom. I was reading in Job 28 where Father God before creating the worlds into being forms wisdom (a framework of His love and His principles) and then He hides it and with it starts creating the worlds and everthing in it with the Son.

You wonder why He has to hide it?

Wisdom is personified as a woman who helps Him in the first creation acts and a thing that His children need to pursue. It is interesting that there is earthly wisdom, earthly knowledge and skills that we pursue and is profitable but at the same time there is this supernatural wisdom that is hidden by Him and is only found by searching the deep things of God. Proverbs 25:2 says

                   "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings"

When we read the book of Proverbs the writer Solomon had access to this supernatual wisdom, he was gifted with it and found the hidden thinsg but didn't necessarily heed its warnings or walk completely in the path. So graudally over his lifetime he got seeking merely earthly wisdom and so in despair Ecclesiastes 12:8  quotes:

                      "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"

Solomon in his pursuit has realized earthly wisdom, earthly pleasures has gotten his eyes off from the supernatural wisdom he talks about in proverbs. In short the fear of the Lord ceased and all his pursuits of supernatural wisdom (though he had access stopped) but his earthly pursuits for knowledge, pleasures and works left him remarking "Meaningless!"

This is a good lesson for all of us who has the helper His Holy Spirit to continue asking Him for discernment between earthly wisdom and knowledge to that of supernatural wisdom and knowledge. The latter has greater benefits as it taps into the heart, mind and resources of God; and leads to fulfillment in the present and builds the Spirit man.

When the apostles needed the help of some good men to shepherd the exploding new church, they chose men "full of the Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). The two go together; we need them both. We need to walk by the inspiration of the Spirit, and we need wisdom in to - to do that walk.. Wisdom and Revelation, thus become a norm in living supernaturally. As I thought about this I began asking the Lord what does this look like and He showed me the verse "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom" and I retorted, "Lord I do fear you and live in the Holy Fear of your awesome name and awesome ways". The Lord said "Yes but it is much more, it is wrapped in the intimacy of love".  I knew then revelation happened in the Spirit, what was hidden in the Spirit was revealed in some form of deep understanding that I can't put in words here.

The only way I can explain here is "Seek Him, Seek His Intimate Love" and its the way to be in position, and alignment to access the Supernatural wisdom that He hides but gives freely to the one who He deeply loves.

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien

2012 and 22 days late

Wow its 2012 and I am 22 days late in posting something here. By the way "Happy New Year" and I am so glad to start the beginning of a new year with keeping foremost in my mind the overwhelming goodness and grace of God the Father, Yeshua and His Holy Spirit. May this reality be increasing and mulitplying every day of my life and yours as we grow wrapped in His love.
 
I have taken on a new leadership role and its time to string the bow, tune the fork and be reminded that apart from the supernatual wisdom of God there is no way to manage, lead or do anything. The time of "being" last year has embedded in me deeply the ideas of being rooted in the vine that Jesus talks about in John chapter 15. He is the vine apart from Him we can't produce fruit, or be fruitful that has substance for eternity.

I am learning and enjoying, tasting and renewing because of Jesus, because of His Life and because of His Blood.

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien