BOOK REVIEW - 10 (DANGEROUS SURRENDER BY KAY WARREN)

I got this book long back from someone close to me but I could not read this for years. But recently as I got a strong desire to read this book, I took it and started reading. 

I always love to read the preface of the book to get a glimpse about the entire book. I was surprised to see certain lines written in the preface. 

“The reading won’t be easy or always pleasant – this is not a book to read when you are seeking a light-hearted romp through a make-believe world. But if you are yearning for something you can’t quite define, then you are ready for Dangerous Surrender.”

Initially when I read those lines I thought it might be written to initiate a curiosity within the reader’s mind. But as I read through the book I understood that they meant what they written in the preface.

Remember the reading won’t be always pleasant. Certain lines of this book touched me deeply and made me to realize what I am doing for God is nothing compared to what others are doing. 

Though the book gives you certain deep insights about Spiritual passages, mostly it deals with the personal experience of the author at various instances of her life and how God led her through that using her for His glory. She wrote openly about her inner thoughts and weakness which anyone could easily relate to.

“I felt powerless to do anything about the new reality thrust in front of me. I cried out to God, “Why are you bothering me with this? There’s nothing I can do about it. I am just an ordinary person. What could one person do about such a gigantic problem? And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, I am a white, suburban mom with a mini-van. What do I know about a disease in Africa? After a month of anguished wrestling with God, I reached a point at which I had to make a conscious decision.”

The author takes us in a beautiful journey from her submission to God’s call to work among those who affected by AIDS to those people she had met in various places like hospitals, homes and brothels. Meanwhile she also writes about those people who was her inspiration to remove darkness that prevails in one’s life and encourage the readers to do so. Even the story of those people will touch you deeply.

“Heather and Scott Raines have adopted three special needs children-children truly on the bottom rung of the society-from three different countries. Their adopted children need constant medical care and treatment just to survive, but the proud smile on Heather’s face as she introduced each new little one to me touched something deep inside of me. These are her babies, loved as dearly as if they come from her own body.”

When you finish reading this book, you will know that God can use an ordinary person like us to be a blessing to many and you will understand what to do when you see anyone who is in need. This book will also benefit those who are married as the author openly writes about the struggles they faced in their journey and what makes them to stay together for more than 35 years.

In one of the pages the author writes, “God’s will begins with surrender.”

If you really have a desire to do something for God and willing to sacrifice anything for God, get a copy of this book and read it. If you have a burning desire in your heart to live a life for God but yet you don’t know what to do and where to start, read this book for it will help you to know that you are really needed by God to do His work.

As it was written in the cover page of the book, you will come to know what happens when you say yes to God. Go for this book and read it. You will be blessed Spiritually.

(Note: Lines in Italics were taken directly from the book)

ARE YOU PRAYING WITH BURDEN IN YOUR HEART? - SHORT VIDEO MSG BY BRO. MOHAN C LAZARUS [WITH ENG SUBS]

LOOKING BACK (WITH THANKS) - 6 (GOD WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU)

When I was a little boy I used to do so many mischievous things. Even in my school I got punishments because of that behavior.  During my school days my name will be written default on top in the blackboard of my class whenever the teacher asks the class leader to write the names of the students who were talking unnecessarily. So many days I knelt down outside my class for talking too much.

On a particular day I was standing on line in our school assembly session. Many teachers were standing in front of us. As time progressed, I got bored and so I did something that made my friend to laugh loud. One of our teachers watched that and since the assembly was going on he didn’t reacted.

Once the assembly got over he immediately called us to the front and made us to stand in a corner. Other students left to the classrooms. We were standing alone along with our sir. We knew that we were caught red handed and so we thought that he will ask us to kneel down or he will beat us. We had set our mind accordingly.

Surprisingly I didn’t notice any anger on his face. Instead he called us near him and put his left hand upon my shoulder and right hand upon my friend’s shoulder. His hands were slowly caressing the back of our heads and he was speaking to us in a funny way. So we thought that he will do nothing to us.

As he continued advising us he held the back of our heads firmly with each of his hands. We were certainly unaware of what he is going to do. He was moving his hands in such a way that my head was touching my friend’s head and then going back. Unexpectedly all in a sudden he smashed my forehead with my friend’s forehead in a fierce manner that we were thrown to the opposite ends lying down in the ground without able to realize what has happened. 

As I was lying down I felt that the whole world was filled with darkness. I had a severe pain in my head and could not realize what was happening. After some time I felt like someone is holding my hand and trying to make me stand firmly on the ground. It was actually my sir who knocked us down trying to make us stand again. I was feeling dizzy and thought my life has come to an end.

Our teacher was worried about our condition and so he calmly asked us to go and take rest in the class. Throughout the day I had pain and was feeling very tired. I thought that something will happen inside my head like blood clot and I will die early. 

Nearly after 19 years, I am still alive and I never had any sickness in my head. But whenever I think of that day my body shivers automatically and I thank God for saving me on that day without any serious injuries inside my head. 

If something had happened on that day, by this time I would be gone. But Jesus Christ miraculously saved me on that day and He is protecting me to this day. When I look back on that day, I thank God for His grace that sustained me.

"I CAN HOLD YOU WITH MY ARMS BUT I CAN'T WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS" - OPENHEARTED LETTER TO GOD GIVEN LITTLE DAUGHTER

My dearest princess,

Your birth was one of the happiest things that ever happened in my life by the grace of God. I had never thought that God will give a daughter to me but yet He gave you to me through His abundant grace. 

When you grow up everyone will tell you that you were born because of your parents’ desire and wish. Few will say some biological reasons. Actually it’s not true. You were born because Jesus Christ wants you to be born. When you were in your mother’s womb few doctors checked your well being and gave a period and told us that you will be born between those days. You were born exactly 2 weeks before their predicted date.

Neither your birth nor your birthday was influenced and decided by any human. Both were decided by God according to His purpose. He placed you in your mother’s womb, protected you when you were there and after your birth He is still carrying you in His arms. He will carry you, protect you and sustain you in the coming days also.

As you are growing up, nowadays I could understand that you are seeing everyone around you and recognizing them. You love to see the face of your mother and cry seeing her whenever you are hungry. At times when you are not comfortable with something you cry and you look at me thinking that I will do something and wipe away your tears.

Even few days back you cried looking at me expecting me to do something. I carried you in my arms and put you in my shoulders. Other than that I could do nothing. I could not do anything according to your expectations and you continued crying. 

All I wanted you to know is, I can carry you in my arms and hold you. But I can’t do anything to stop your tears. Most of the times I could not understand why you are crying and what do you want. You might feel bad that I can’t do anything for you. But do not get discouraged. 

There is a heavenly Father for you who is looking at you every moment. He is Jesus Christ. His eyes are upon you. As you still grow up you will understand even your earthly father is looking to Him for everything because He alone is mighty to meet all our needs. 

My dear daughter, He is actually your Father. He gave you to me for a purpose and to be frank I am like a guardian to you. Even I can’t say that because it’s not me who guard you. Again it’s your heavenly Father who guards you and protects you. My job is to teach you to walk in the will of your heavenly Father and do what He asks me to do. 

Hereafter if you need anything, just look to Jesus Christ. He will provide you everything that you need. When you look unto Him, your expectations will never be cut off. He will give the desires of your heart and He will do everything for you because He alone is your Father and not me. Jesus Christ loves you so much and me too. God bless you dear.

FEAR NOT, YOU WILL BE DELIVERED OUT OF YOUR WEAKNESS! - BLESSING MSG BY BRO. MOHAN C LAZARUS (TAKEN FROM JESUS REDEEMS MONTHLY MAGAZINE)

SWEET MARRIAGE - 3 (DO NOT LET ANYONE TO GET INTO YOUR MARRIAGE LIFE WITHOUT GOD'S WILL)

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”– Genesis 3:13

God wanted to make a helper comparable to Adam and so He made Eve. God created a beautiful marriage relationship and that relationship included God, Adam and Eve. Everything was going perfect in the life of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve lived together happily as they speak to God face to face when He walks in the garden in the cool of the day.

Everything went on well until Eve allowed some other into their relationship. She met the serpent in the garden and listened to the voice of the serpent. As she listened to the voice of the serpent, she also automatically obeyed the words of the serpent. As their conversation went on, Eve forgot God and her husband Adam. 

Initially the words of the serpent seem to be so pleasant to Eve and later when she found the truth she understood that the serpent deceived her. But it was too late. When she realised everything that the serpent said was wrong, she was hiding away from God. Not only she committed sin but because she allowed serpent into her life, Adam also committed sin. Their relationship with God suffered. 

Even their own marriage relationship was in trouble because of the way she heard to someone’s words. In Genesis 3:12, we see that Adam puts the entire blame on Eve for the things happened. Quarrel started between them already. Peace between them was destroyed by themselves.

My dear young friends, do not allow anyone into your marriage life. I have heard so many incidents in which both wife or husband allows a third person into their life and later that particular person will destroy their life. When God gives you a husband or wife, remember the relationship is between you, your life partner and God. No one else is allowed into that relationship. 

At times you can get counsel from elders or spiritual leaders but you should not allow them into your life to take decisions every time. If you need something, go together to God’s presence and pray about it. God will lead you in the right way directly or through someone else. 

If you are working somewhere you should not spend too much time with your colleague. In the time which Eve should have spoken with Adam, she was speaking with the serpent. That led to their destruction. You should speak more to your life partner not with your colleague or best friend. 

You both should speak together with God in prayer. Do not allow anyone into your marriage life and do not spend much time with others. Do not listen to ungodly advices of your family members or your colleagues or your friends. 

I heard about a young couple who went to a foreign country after they got married. Their parents were in their native country and all of them were committed their lives to God. Once the young couple got married they decided to live according to God’s will. So when they went and got settled in foreign nation, they decided to speak to their parents in a fixed day and at a fixed time. In that day, they both will come together and call their respective parents one after other. They sit together and speak to them by putting their phone in the loudspeaker mode so that nothing is hidden in between them. 

They practiced this regularly to avoid any misunderstanding and problem that arises through some other people. Even today they live happily. 

Even they didn’t allow their parents to get in between them and they made sure that God alone is given the first priority in their relationship before themselves. So God blessed them abundantly.

Are you keeping anyone hidden in your life without the knowledge of your wife or husband? If you are doing that remember you are committing a big mistake. Give God the priority and keep all other relations away from your marriage life. Then you will live happily. Your marriage relationship will be blessed by God.