Daily pearls from the shore 🫧 Mind games “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. “ (Matthew 12:43-45) As the saying goes, “an empty mind is a devil’s den”. This is what is happening with the people struggling with anxious thoughts, panic attacks, and confusion nowadays. The text about the empty house also shows a similar picture of a troubled mind. When we try to fix our troubled minds with quick fixes without finding the trigger and replacing it, initially, it seems all clear, only to relapse worse than the first time. The truth is, if we leave our minds empty after removing the negative thoughts, there are chances of recurrence of the same or similar thoughts. And repeated failures in coming right result in further worsening of our mental condition. What is the pot-hole here that needs to be filled? It is a void in our minds that needs to be filled with something stronger than those negative thoughts. Paul writes, “We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5) “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.” (Matthew 12: 29) Basically, something stronger than the negativity is required to occupy our mind, so that we may operate in sanity and peace. "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3) Negativity brings fear, which further leads to anxious thoughts of uncertainty and insecurity, and this keeps on repeating, adding to the magnitude of fear, and manifests in the physical body as racing hearts, breathlessness, and panic attacks. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Some people try meditating on positive thoughts, which is not wrong, but positive thoughts not rooted in faith in someone more able and promising are like leaving a seed unattended on a rock. Birds can eat it, wind can blow it away, and the sun can scorch it, and it won’t find any root in the mind. So, people rote-learn affirmations that aren't rooted in faith, and it leaves them weary. What is actually required is something stronger, alive, and effective that can edify and enable the person for the long run. That is why we confront the negative thought, as Paul says, and demolish it, and then take the thought captive and make our minds obedient to Christ. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2) The things of Heaven are the seeds that can find root and occupy the empty mind. And what are these things? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learnt and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6) BECAUSE FAITH IS THE ABILITY THAT GIVES POWER TO THE MIND TO TAKE CONTROL OVER THOUGHTS. Proverbs 4:23, which states: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it", emphasises protecting your heart (which represents the mind) from all negativity because what it carries, it will deliver. “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) And whatever we speak, our mind receives. Hence, we need to watch what goes in because that will come out.

Daily pearls from the shore 🫧 Heritage People are like a goods train, carrying so much inside them but never stopping to offload any of it. Then, one day, everything stops. The mind gives up, stops co-operating with demands. Trauma is still part of everyday life. There are accusations, betrayals, and shame forced onto many of us by families, workplaces, and communities in the form of verbal or physical abuse, gaslighting, etc. It can also project from within us as self-condemnation, self-doubt, and guilt, causing us to live in deep darkness. Regardless of where the toxicity comes from or which mode it uses to attack, it affects the whole being of an individual. And then it translates into labels which we end up attaching to our identities. But is that all it is? “In righteousness you will be established” (Isaiah 54:14) The highest truth about you and me is the righteousness of God for us. That is our identity given through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We, humans, are born into a fallen world. Our beings fall prey to sin and failure. Not only that we blame everything happening wrong to us onto GOD. This is the biggest lie mankind believes. The same God says differently. “Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.” (Isaiah 54:14-15) This is a very important fact that the world is missing out on: The knowledge of God, God’s character and love for us. Any harm that occurs has never been directed by GOD. “It will not be my doing” God has safeguarded us against any form of tyranny. It can be a physical or mental attack, but it will not be able to get to you. Even if we find ourselves in depression, anxiety, or a financial crunch, the very assurance helps us reframe our minds that the attacker will be taken far away from us. “TERROR WILL BE FAR REMOVED.” Simply put, you will not be sabotaged by the attack. You will get out of it. People suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and similar mental health struggles suffer a different level of fear due to auditory and visual hallucinations. But there is hope and peace in knowing that “YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.” People living in terror-affected zones suffer huge dread for their lives, but God says, “IT WILL NOT COME NEAR” It further states that if you still experience attacks verbally, physically, or in any other form of accusation or harm, your attacker will not get away with his wrongdoing, but God will make sure “WHOEVER ATTACKS YOU WILL SURRENDER TO YOU.” “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17) Whether it is anxiety or depression, failure or sickness, “NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER.” It will not be able to destroy you. The very knowledge of the fact that the Almighty God declares the ineffectiveness of weapons against you is encouraging. Further, it affirms that any kind of attack on your identity, such as abusive words, labels, calling names, false accusations, malice, gossip, or anything said that might have caused pain, hurt or damage to your reputation, you will condemn “EVERY TONGUE WHICH RISES AGAINST YOU IN JUDGMENT YOU SHALL CONDEMN.” Sin, guilt, shame, or self-condemnation doesn’t have to weigh us down. Knowing your identity in the righteousness of God will help you see yourself through that lens. You would be able to rebuke every attack. You would prove every label a lie. Wear the correct lens, Put on righteousness, You have a heritage with God.

Daily pearls from the shore 🫧 Prisons Nelson Mandela, the South African president and a revolutionary, spent 27 years in prison. He spent a major part of his imprisonment in solitary confinement. He described it as follows: “I found solitary confinement the most forbidding aspect of prison life. There is no end and no beginning; there is only one’s mind, which can begin to play tricks. Was that a dream or did it really happen? One begins to question everything.”–Nelson Mandela And how many of us are living a sentence like that? As much as people are confined to prisons of brick and walls, some are far less visible. Mankind is suffering from restricted autonomy with a dogmatic worldview, digital walls with constant novelties, pressures, status bars, and many expectations. This is another kind of solitary confinement that people are living in, both physically and mentally. There begin the mind games that Sir Nelson Mandela expressed. There were once two other prisoners with whom I observed something very different. Badly beaten and wounded as they were, they didn’t say much about their prison experience as such, but SOMETHING POWERFUL stood out. “About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:25-26) Who does that? Who sings in prison?! You might either wait anxiously to be out or for someone to show up with a plan to take you out on bail, or wish to simply drop the charges against you. They were not grumbling with pain and agony. They weren’t pleading with anyone for them to be spared or released. They were simply doing what they did when they were outside. They prayed and started singing hymns to God. Truly speaking, if I am in a little distress, I can’t even listen to music, forget about it having the intention to worship. But here, two men, wounded and beaten up, sitting in a dungeon, were singing hymns to GOD. They were not in denial about their situation. It’s just another level of grace that they were presented with to accept and deal with the reality, as Paul mentioned, “His (God’s) grace is sufficient for me.” This passage speaks to all of us about the situations that keep us imprisoned and leave us overwhelmed. This is not only about the attitude but about focus. It’s not about keeping it all together but allowing the mind to switch over to something that can bring us into a more regulated mode. That is the place where we can then start to experience things turning to optimism. As the text here describes, this involved having other prisoners listen to their hymns. Imagine the change of atmosphere. A place that could have been otherwise chaos filled with anxiety, anguish, anger, uncertainty, negativity, and possible quarrelsome, had surprisingly turned quiet and calm. All prisoners had something better as a directive for that moment. Next, what happens is miraculous. THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRISON WERE SHAKEN; THE DOORS FLEW OPEN, AND CHAINS WERE LOOSENED. This story depicts a physical prison scene. But that’s exactly what happens when we allow our minds to FOCUS ON SOMETHING GREATER THAN THE VOLUME OF OUR SITUATIONS. Something powerful takes place. The strongholds are demolished(foundations of the prison were shaken). Our minds get opened up to new perspectives (prison doors flew open), and we start to experience freedom from the shackles that were binding us(chains came loose). It's a high-octane transformation from a place of confinement to a place of gratitude. Not only that, but it also directs us to witness how emotional regulation can help others around us, like the other prisoners who started listening to the hymns. Now, think about the same regulation of the mind influencing the atmosphere in challenging circumstances for family members, especially for children. Witnessing one person deal with a tough situation through faith-directed perspectives relays hope and resilience to the next generation. Light doesn’t fight darkness; it enlightens the atmosphere. So does hope in God. GOD IS STRONGER THAN ANY STRONGHOLDS. LET HIM DIRECT YOUR MIND TO FREEDOM, not your situations.

Daily pearls from the shore Most Used Tool At airports, when people travel to another destination, their baggage is screened first. We deliver to the other side only once everything is cleared according to the guidelines and control. I wonder how it would be if the same principle applied to our speech. Do we screen everything before we say it? Should we? Do we even pause or think before saying? “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.” (James 3:3-5) “A great forest set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3: 6-7) Those are a lot of valid points. The tongue is the most exercised muscle, no wonder it is too strong to be controlled easily. But one thing is true: everything we say has the power to impact our lives, other lives, our surroundings, and the atmosphere. “THOSE WHO GUARD THEIR LIPS PRESERVE THEIR LIVES, BUT THOSE WHO SPEAK RASHLY WILL COME TO RUIN.” (Proverbs 13:3) So, our mouth, our tongue, has the power to bring life or death. We need to use it, recognizing that power. “THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH, AND THOSE WHO LOVE IT WILL EAT ITS FRUIT.” (Proverbs 18: 21) We speak recklessly without thinking, which brings consequences with devastation, labelling, hurt, and gives a foothold to evil in our lives. Prophet Isaiah recognized this and said, “WOE TO ME!” I CRIED. “I AM RUINED! FOR I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I LIVE AMONG A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD ALMIGHTY.” (Isaiah 6: 5) Very true: we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with people using swear words, negative words, sarcastic remarks, abusive language, demeaning words, and so on. And all that gets into our minds and is stored in our memories. We end up using the same language when a situation or person triggers us. Hence, we all fall short, we are all guilty, and we all have unclean lips. “BUT NO HUMAN BEING CAN TAME THE TONGUE. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. WITH THE TONGUE WE PRAISE OUR LORD AND FATHER, AND WITH IT WE CURSE HUMAN BEINGS, WHO HAVE BEEN MADE IN GOD’S LIKENESS. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (James 3:.8-11) So, how do we control this tongue? As James said, humans can't tame this unruly tongue. It seems a daunting task. God has taken care of that. We just need to be willing and obedient. “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with A LIVE COAL in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it, he touched my mouth and said, “SEE, THIS HAS TOUCHED YOUR LIPS; YOUR GUILT IS TAKEN AWAY AND YOUR SIN ATONED FOR.” (Isaiah 6:6-7) The impurity has been taken away, the lips have been sanctified, and the sin of the speech has been atoned for. When disciples were in the upper room praying, the very first manifestation of God’s promised power through the Holy Spirit was tongues of fire. The text clearly says you will speak as the Spirit of God guides. “They saw WHAT SEEMED TO BE TONGUES OF FIRE THAT SEPARATED AND CAME TO REST ON EACH OF THEM. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues AS THE SPIRIT ENABLED THEM. (Acts 2: 3-5) God has tamed the same tongue by the Holy Spirit, which was impossible for humans to control. We lean on God and trust him to train us to speak of life and hope. It is amazing how God is the answer to all things. God is interested in our best, and he wants us to use our tongue, our mouth, and speech to honor Him. Let’s allow the Spirit of God to guide our tongues to deliver words of life for building, encouraging and blessing. Use tongue to praise God. Use tongue to thank God. Use tongue to save a soul. Use tongue to bring hope. Use tongue to heal and comfort. Use tongue to encourage a broken heart. Use tongue to speak up for the weak. Use tongue as a powerful tool that creates, as God used while creating the earth. Use tongue as a weapon against crushing powers and circumstances. Daily pearls from the shore Most Used Tool At airports, when people travel to another destination, their baggage is screened first. We deliver to the other side only once everything is cleared according to the guidelines and control. I wonder how it would be if the same principle applied to our speech. Do we screen everything before we say it? Should we? Do we even pause or think before saying? “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.” (James 3:3-5) “A great forest set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3: 6-7) Those are a lot of valid points. The tongue is the most exercised muscle, no wonder it is too strong to be controlled easily. But one thing is true: everything we say has the power to impact our lives, other lives, our surroundings, and the atmosphere. “THOSE WHO GUARD THEIR LIPS PRESERVE THEIR LIVES, BUT THOSE WHO SPEAK RASHLY WILL COME TO RUIN.” (Proverbs 13:3) So, our mouth, our tongue, has the power to bring life or death. We need to use it, recognizing that power. “THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH, AND THOSE WHO LOVE IT WILL EAT ITS FRUIT.” (Proverbs 18: 21) We speak recklessly without thinking, which brings consequences with devastation, labelling, hurt, and gives a foothold to evil in our lives. Prophet Isaiah recognized this and said, “WOE TO ME!” I CRIED. “I AM RUINED! FOR I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I LIVE AMONG A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD ALMIGHTY.” (Isaiah 6: 5) Very true: we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with people using swear words, negative words, sarcastic remarks, abusive language, demeaning words, and so on. And all that gets into our minds and is stored in our memories. We end up using the same language when a situation or person triggers us. Hence, we all fall short, we are all guilty, and we all have unclean lips. “BUT NO HUMAN BEING CAN TAME THE TONGUE. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. WITH THE TONGUE WE PRAISE OUR LORD AND FATHER, AND WITH IT WE CURSE HUMAN BEINGS, WHO HAVE BEEN MADE IN GOD’S LIKENESS. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (James 3:.8-11) So, how do we control this tongue? As James said, humans can't tame this unruly tongue. It seems a daunting task. God has taken care of that. We just need to be willing and obedient. “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with A LIVE COAL in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it, he touched my mouth and said, “SEE, THIS HAS TOUCHED YOUR LIPS; YOUR GUILT IS TAKEN AWAY AND YOUR SIN ATONED FOR.” (Isaiah 6:6-7) The impurity has been taken away, the lips have been sanctified, and the sin of the speech has been atoned for. When disciples were in the upper room praying, the very first manifestation of God’s promised power through the Holy Spirit was tongues of fire. The text clearly says you will speak as the Spirit of God guides. “They saw WHAT SEEMED TO BE TONGUES OF FIRE THAT SEPARATED AND CAME TO REST ON EACH OF THEM. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues AS THE SPIRIT ENABLED THEM. (Acts 2: 3-5) God has tamed the same tongue by the Holy Spirit, which was impossible for humans to control. We lean on God and trust him to train us to speak of life and hope. It is amazing how God is the answer to all things. God is interested in our best, and he wants us to use our tongue, our mouth, and speech to honor Him. Let’s allow the Spirit of God to guide our tongues to deliver words of life for building, encouraging and blessing. Use tongue to praise God. Use tongue to thank God. Use tongue to save a soul. Use tongue to bring hope. Use tongue to heal and comfort. Use tongue to encourage a broken heart. Use tongue to speak up for the weak. Use tongue as a powerful tool that creates, as God used while creating the earth. Use tongue as a weapon against crushing powers and circumstances. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBa08gDjiOe8m6dap1s

Daily pearl from the shore 🫧 Awesome God "Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God. Our God, what an awesome God." These are some of the lyrics of a worship song I have been listening to recently. And how true it is! As we walk with God, we see how awesome He really is. And it's not just us saying that; the Bible has so many events documented to show how awesome God is. 1. He parted the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:21-22) "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left" (Exodus 14: 21-22) 2. God provided food, miraculously, for the Israelites in the desert. (Exodus 16: 14-15) “When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, 'It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.'" 3. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding- His first miracle. (John 2:7-9) "Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”, so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ..." 4. Lord Jesus healed a blind man. (Mark 10:51-52) “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. 5. Lord Jesus rose from the dead. (Matthew 28:5-6) The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. Come and see the place where He lay." These are just a few drops from an ocean, showing how awesome God is. God provided His people with a dry land in the middle of the ocean, with food and drink to their hearts' content, and with life and eternal life. These stories aren't just limited to the Bible, to the times of old. "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you." (Romans 8:11) Also, Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." So, let's CHOOSE TO BELIEVE in these words today and in the fact that GOD IS STILL POWERFUL today, powerful and WILLING to do amazing miracles and works of wonder. Let's choose to make this choice and believe every single day. And let's continue to experience what an awesome God He is.

Hello Brothers and Sisters. I have this page on Facebook to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us personally. On Facebook it's for evangelism and sharing the word. Here, I presume, will be shared with Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus?