Daily pearls from the shore🫧

Desperate prayers

1 Samuel 1:10, 14-15
"In her deep anguish, Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.”
“ …Eli the priest said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.’”
Her desperation for a child led her to pray so intensely that she appeared drunk to Eli, the priest.
Sometimes the world doesn't understand your deep, desperate desire for that something special that's planted into your heart by God.
But this kind of deep desire or desperation isn't wrong; it's just an intense emotion.
And the intensity of emotions is exactly how God wants His people.
He loves us with everything.
"John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
And, He wants us to desire Him deeply.
Psalms 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."
Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
So, when you are feeling like no one understands you, you're right- they don't - but God does. He gets intense emotions.
Psalms 34:18, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Strong emotions are not the issue. Where we direct them is.
And they will only bear fruit if we direct them to the One who can turn anything into something fruitful.
Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
So where are you directing those strong emotions to? Those desperate prayers to? Whose got your heart? Make sure it is HIM.

Daily pearls from the shore🫧

Monday blues!

It’s a new week again. It comes bearing pressure to rush and perform. The mornings feel daunting, and evenings overwhelming with chaos.

But just before we start dreading the day, Psalms 23: 2-3 rings a reminder:

"HE makes me LIE DOWN in green pastures. HE leads me beside quiet waters..."
Life gets loud, heavy, busy, chaotic, full, tiring, exhausting, and hectic, so much so that sometimes we feel too tired to rest. I am sure we all have experienced that.
If it has, what did you do?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. " (Matthew 11:28).
God promises to be THE SAFE HAVEN. A place where you can find rest in the middle of life's storms and chaos.

And even Jesus, the Son of God, took time to sleep in the boat. As much as He chose physical rest, He prioritized the need for spiritual rest as both go hand in hand. He regularly took time for Himself to go to the Father and spend time in prayer and fellowship with Him.

Often, when we think of prayer and spending time with God, we think of having to do things- speak, read the Bible, sing- and all that is necessary and good, but sometimes spending time with The Father looks like just lying down and telling Him about your day and letting your eyes close, and if you fall asleep, you sleep.

Rest is also from God.
"... for He grants sleep to those He loves. " (Psalms 127:2)

In present times, another pandemic that is taking over is insomnia. People are struggling to have a peaceful sleep. The overload of information, social media, and constant pressure of comparison makes the brain buzz all the time. This lack of peaceful sleep ends up masking the clarity for decision making and adds confusion, chaos, and hence affects the performance. This becomes a vicious cycle leading to sleep disorders, anxiety etc.

"... but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, and be with Him, rather than get caught up in the chaos of arranging things. And Jesus appreciated that choice.

"In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep..." (Psalms 4: 8- Amp.)

Hence, the rest is not optional but mandatory. A good sleep is a tonic for the mind and body.

This needs discipline and a conscious choice. Incorporating sleep hygiene would set the pace for the mind and body in the long run.

"When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."(Proverbs 3:24)

Today, take a moment, and spend time with Lord Jesus, entrust Him with your burdens, concerns, and weariness, and rest in HIS arms. HE gives sweet sleep.

We help people who struggle with insomnia to establish physical and spiritual discipline and manage sleep hygiene.

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Daily pearls from the shore🫧

Rich sacrifice

Luke 21:2-4-
“As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
‘Truly I tell you,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on."

God sees it all.

He honours obedience just like He noticed the widow’s humble offering. The widow did it as per the commandment to honour the Lord with first fruits.
This was another level of obedience, another level of worship that she established.

There must be times in your lives that might have demanded a similar level of conviction in following God. He doesn’t ignore the sacrifices you had to make in obedience. He sees it all.

Another context mentions a rich young man who approached Jesus to inherit eternal life, but he was not willing to give away his riches to the poor and follow Him. (Mathew 19: 16-30)

For the widow, honouring God was a priority even out of her last source of bread.

And a rich man couldn’t give up even when he lived his life on a full stomach.
God is not in the numbers game; He is more into the business of hearts and souls.

He is “Lord of five loaves and two fish.” He sees the little lunch box, the two coins, and every seed sown out of tears.

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”( 2 Corinthians 9:10)

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The widow gave her full measure.
She surely raised the bar for us, and it will not go unnoticed.

Daily pearls from the shore🫧

In the Middle

In the book of Luke 23:32-33, 39-43, during the last hours of crucifixion,
two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him (Jesus). And when they came to the place that is called ‘The Skull’, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Luke 23: 39 –“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him (Jesus).

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

And He (Jesus) said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Many of us find ourselves at such a turning point in our lives. We lose hope. We find ourselves in the darkness of choices and struggle with anxiety and depression. We take shelter in addictions and other destructive options.

The weight of sin and the pain of shame and guilt make us bitter, and we tend to miss Jesus, who is exactly present in the middle of our pain and shame.
He stands there for us, bearing the weight of our sins and taking up the cross for us.
There comes the irony.

If we choose to acknowledge the position that He has taken up for us, He promises forgiveness and eternity.
Just like He did for the second thief.

The second thief received the revelation that the innocent Jesus took the fall for his sins. He acknowledged himself as a sinner and pleaded with Jesus. He then and there received eternity.
Or
Sometimes our bitterness takes the shape of pride in us. We tend to be too prideful to acknowledge ourselves as sinners and miss out on the mercy that is available. Few of us are too veiled by our self-righteousness to have any need for mercy.

Well, Jesus has done HIS part. You can be on the right side or the left. He is in the middle. He has made the way out of sin and into heaven. Are you willing to crossover? The choice is yours.

If you are struggling with shame or guilt and feeling like being drowned in depression or self-sabotaging behaviors, we are here to help you find your way out. Reach out to us: Voice Of The One Calling
@ +918437213863

Daily pearls from the shore🫧

A murderer is set free.

A court scene unfolds with two men standing in chains before the judge and the crowd.
Flashback:
-A hardcore criminal named Barabbas has been imprisoned for murder and insurrection. He is being brought out to be released.

-Another man, named Jesus, is innocent as he had been found guilty of no crime. He was being demanded to be crucified.

-Background: this was a special occasion of Passover, where certain prisoners used to be released as per custom.
-The Judge found Jesus innocent and not worthy of punishment.
-Public demand- CRUCIFY JESUS, SET BARABBAS FREE.

It seems so insane and unjustified.
Barabbas was set free, and Jesus took his place for the punishment.

The Truth:
Barabbas- The Sinner.
Jesus- The Innocent
Exchange Offer- Freedom and redemption for a sinner who only deserved punishment.
The Catch: Only if someone takes the fall for him.
JESUS DID.

HE TOOK THE FALL.
For Barabbas, for me, and FOR YOU.
He exchanged the place for us.
Let’s claim our rightful position given through Him.

If there is something that is keeping you stuck in the past and making you feel unworthy, unforgivable, or undeserving, and it’s leading you into depression and anxiety, let’s bring you hope that there is no mistake or action that is too severe to be forgiven. Let’s help you forgive yourself and receive freedom from self- condemnation.
Reach out to us: Voice Of The One Calling: WhatsApp @+918437213863

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Daily pearls from the shore🫧

Let’s Sign UP!

The present age is witnessing an obsession with the gym, bodybuilding, and physical looks. It’s like a cult for adolescents and young adults. As awesome as it is to be conscious and take responsibility for one’s fitness and the discipline and effort required around it, it still leaves most of them feeling unequipped for life.

Despite great looks, healthy bodies, disciplined lives, looking outwardly perfect, there is a constant chase for the deeper unmet needs.

Wanderer’s Quest:
Some end up indulging in shallow relationships, addictions, and activities that superficially give short-term satisfaction. Yet, they feel deeply unsatisfied and lost.

Lost treasure:
Living under peer pressure, they struggle to live lives that would give them satisfaction.

Treasure Chest:
We are made in the image of God. (Genesis 1: 26)
We ought to live as Jesus lived on this earth. (1 John 2: 6), a godly life lived in exact perfection and likeness of His Father God.

The outcome:
The generations are suffering the consequences of ungodly choices.
“My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true.” (Hosea 4: 6)
The cause is the lack of knowledge about godliness.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

FAQs:
• It feels like a very demanding task, and most of the people feel they are not up for it, not because they don’t want it, but because they feel unqualified or unequipped to live a godly lifestyle. Is that so?
• People find it to be something for saints or religious people only. Is it for commoners, too?
• Is everyone called to righteous living?
• Isn’t godliness deemed old-fashioned and outdated in present times?
• Does it not make you boring and uncool?

While the world comes with its daunting pressures and demands with present age lifestyles, godliness is the higher road one takes.

Beginner’s Guide

Manual:
The rule book is easy- saying YES to the right and NO to the wrong. And the wonderful part is that you don’t need any equipment for this, only a decision. And God has already equipped you with everything you would need to live a new godly life. (2 Peter 1: 3).
It starts with the knowledge of God and His divine power at work in us.

The same power gives you guidance and strength to make choices and “teaches to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2: 12)

Sign up: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

Equipment: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Tool Kit: “It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2: 12)

Training session: Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Reward: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Some of you might be struggling with thoughts of some choices you made that were not fitting with godly life. For such reasons, grace and forgiveness with second chances are available through scripture reading and understanding. We help through the journey. Contact: Voice Of The One Calling: WhatsApp @+918437213863

Happy Father's Day!
Ambassadors of Heaven! All wonderful Fathers!
What a JOY it is to celebrate fathers in our world!