Author Archives: MamaTAWK

Locked Door Not A Barrier For Jesus

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Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you! ” (John 20:26b).

Jesus walks in, when we hide behind locked doors, to calm fears, to clear doubts and to bring us hope. 

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on the first day of the week.  The stone that was in front of the tomb had been removed.  She ran to Peter to inform him that the tomb was empty.  Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb to see for themselves.  The empty tomb made them fearful because they might be accused of stealing the body of Jesus.  That evening the disciples were in a house with the doors locked for fear of the Jews.  Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  They were overjoyed when Jesus showed them his nail pierced hands.  A week later the disciples were in the house again, this time Thomas was with them.  The doors were locked, again Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”   Jesus knew that they were still fearful and that Thomas was doubtful even though his trusted friends told him that Jesus was alive.  He showed Thomas his nail pierced hands and allowed him to put his fingers and hands on His wounds.  Without finding fault Jesus calmed their fears and cleared Thomas’s doubt.  Nothing will stop Jesus from walking into our lives.  The living and active Word penetrates into our soul and spirit to bring reconciliation and hope (Hebrews 4:12).  Neither fear, doubt, discouragement, guilt, sin or sickness is a barrier to Jesus to walking in.

The Living Word again walked into Mama’s fear and gave her faith to hold on.  He walked into her discouragement and gave her hope.  He walked into her guilt (not praying enough, not fasting enough, not doing enough, all the not enough’s) and assured her to believe and trust in His faithfulness, to be still and know that He is God.

Beloved, Jesus has walked into your life today.  He is standing with you and offering you peace.  Receive His peace and enjoy His presence.  He is standing with you knocking on your heart.  His unconditional and marvelous love at the cross cuts through the barriers of sin.  Will you open your heart and receive everlasting fellowship with God?  “Peace be with you!”

Wrong Thinking

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God’s thoughts for Nineveh were of redemption even though there was so much wickedness there.

God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people.  He wanted Jonah to be part of His redemptive plan.  Jonah knew God was gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and would relent from sending calamity (Jonah 4:2b).  But Jonah thought the people should get what they deserve.  His thoughts for them were of judgment and so he went to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh.  His wrong thinking made him disobedient and he ran away from God.  Is there any wrong thinking from the secular world,  or people’s opinions that have caused you to run away from God?  Wrong thinking will lead to disobedience.  When our thoughts are of judgment like Jonah’s we are out of God’s plan.  In spite of Jonah’s wrong thinking God gave him a second chance to make things right.  The grace and compassion God had for the people of Nineveh was also given to Jonah.  He was brought to his destination in the belly of a whale.  God always gives second chances to make things right.  God’s gracious and compassionate, unconditional, everlasting love is there to bring us to our destination.

Mama is counting on God’s grace to bring her in alignment with what He wants to do for those she has been praying for.  She had wrong thinking and God is helping her to renew her mind with God’s thoughts for them.  She must surrender her ways and plans and partner with God to extend grace and not judgment to others.

Unmerited grace overrides what we deserve.  Aligning our thoughts with God’s thoughts (The word) will lead us to be obedient to His purpose.

Invitation To Be Yoked With Christ

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I want to share a dream I had in March 2005.  Please read the blog about Dreams then continue reading.

Dream – There was a yoke with an ox standing to the right and  I was standing on the left. My neck was bent down, but I needed to bend my body lower to knee level in order to put on the yoke.  Though not difficult, it was a slight discomfort to bend more.  The moment I bent down further to align with and put on the yoke, I immediately sprung up and I was standing up straight.

A yoke is a wooden device farmers use to bind two animals, usually oxen, to plow the land or pull a wagon.  Farmers will match up oxen as closely as possible based on their size and strength.  Sometimes farmers yoke the young ox with the old experienced ox to train them.  The old ox will take the major load and the young one will be walking along and learning from him.  My Father wants me to partner with Jesus because he will carry the full load.  Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).”

The invitation to take his yoke is an instruction to unload our burdens, walk with him, learn from him and work with him.  What a wonderful picture Jesus is giving to those who are exhausted, weary and burdened from carrying the load by themselves!  What a comfort, peace, joy and rest it is to know that Jesus is right with us, walking with us, teaching us and strengthening us side by side!  What a privilege to partner with him in plowing, sowing the Word, and delivering the wagon full of promises to those in need!

All these years I wondered about the meaning in the dream where I stood up straight until I came across this verse.  I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high (Lev 26:13).  I was under the yoke of sin, guilt, failures, anxieties or worries.  Jesus has set me free from the yoke of bondage as soon as I yielded to the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Dear loved ones, will you accept the invitation to be yoked with Christ?  He died for your sins, just say yes and transfer the load of sin and walk in freedom.  Those who desire to be used of the Lord, yield so that He can teach you to work with Him.  

Knowledge Of His Power And Will

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“They did what Your Power and Will had decided beforehand should happen.” 

Pilate said to Jesus, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”  (John 19:10)

Pilate was a Roman governor and a criminal court judge.  As a judge he interpreted laws and assessed evidence presented.  Jesus was brought to him by the Jews to be executed since they had no authority to kill him (John 18:31).  Pilate was not interested in religious cases, but reluctantly complied to please the Jews.  The Jews told him according to their law Jesus must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.  Pilate did not have the knowledge of Jewish laws to judge Jesus.  He questioned Jesus with the evidence presented by the Jews and found no basis for any charge.  Pilate was troubled when he found out Jesus was the Son of God.  Pilate thought he could use the customary release of a prisoner at the feast to release Jesus instead of the notorious prisoner Barabbas.  He tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, crucify.  He asked the Jews, “Shall I crucify your king?”  A judge who claimed to have power was asking the Jews what to do!

The Jews protested the sign on the cross, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  They asked Pilate to remove the sign and His answer was, “What I have written, I have written.”  I believe Pilate was moved by the power of God when he gave the order to write, ‘Jesus is King of the Jews.’  The Jews could not influence Pilate to change the truth.

The Jews perceived Pilate had power over Jesus and thought they influenced Pilate to crucify him.  Pilate thought he used his power as a judge to crucify Jesus.   Jesus came to die and redeem us from the enemy.  “They did what God’s power and will had decided beforehand should happen (Acts 4:28).”

His power is at work and the enemy has no power over his children.  Hold on to the WORD, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8: 32).  Wishing you a New Year full of joy, peace, hope and freedom empowered by Truth. 

This word encouraged Mama to look at His power at work than the power of the enemy.  Mama’s God is more powerful than the most powerful problems she faces!  

 

 

 

The Purpose Of Delays, Denials And Deaths

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Delays, Denials and Deaths serve a purpose greater than our immediate comfort and blessing.

Jesus used Lazarus’ sickness and death to reveal deeper truth to Martha and build faith in the disciples (John 11)

Jesus delayed his trip to Bethany, when Lazarus and his sisters needed him most, though he loved them dearly.  He could have said a word and healed Lazarus without being present like he did  for the Centurion’s servant (Matt 8:5-13).  Jesus did not even show up when Lazarus died.  They had to bury him without his presence and comfort.  So far it does not look like the Jesus they loved and served.  How can we give thanks when our cries for help are ignored, our body is sick and weak, we don’t feel his presence to comfort us or don’t have the help to burry that which is dead in our lives?

When Martha heard Jesus was coming, instead of running to the kitchen to serve him, she went out to meet him.  This time the pain caused her to go to Jesus to be served.  The delay or absence of Jesus made her desperate for his presence and comforting word.  Jesus was ready to impart deeper revelation because she was ready to hear.  Since he had her attention he engaged her in a conversation and brought revelation that he is Christ, the Son of God (John 11:27).  Their unanswered prayer was also to prepare the disciples for his death and resurrection.  Jesus told the disciples, “For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so you may believe (John 11:14).”  He wanted to give them hope that death is not the end, there is a resurrection and life for those who believe.

Mary had to go through pain for the sake of others even though she was always at the feet of Jesus.  God used Martha’s desperation for a deeper revelation of himself.  He used a family who loved and served him to go through pain for the sake of his disciples.  God allows his beloved to go through sickness, death and pain for the sake of others, to bring revelation and most of all for the Glory of God (John 11:4).

In your pain go to Jesus, a deeper revelation is waiting for you.  

In your loss, sickness and unanswered prayers, see others being built and God glorified. 

May this be the best Thanksgiving season! 

Mama is praying that every pain, sickness and loss will reveal the purpose so that your Thanksgiving will glorify God.

Veto Power

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Giving Jesus the Veto Power

(John 11)

Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were good friends of Jesus.  When he fell sick, his sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.  Even in our sickness we can bring glory to Jesus when we believe and put our trust in him.  Jesus died not only for our sins but for our sickness as well.  Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.  Though he doesn’t come to our rescue immediately, or answer our prayers instantly, His love never changes.

Finally, Jesus came to Bethany and found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  When he saw Mary, Martha, and the Jews who came to comfort them weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  He knew the outcome (Lazarus will live), yet he wept.  He sees and feels our pain, he hurts when we hurt.

The reality was Lazarus was dead and buried for 4 days.

Jesus initiated hope when he said, “This sickness will not end in death.”   May the Holy Spirit initiate a Word that brings hope and shine light in the dark and fearful places in your life.  Don’t let doctors’ reports, circumstances or realities differ your hope in God’s Word.  Things that are dead and buried may stink and cause pain when Jesus asks you to remove the stone.  It may bleed when he asks you to break the wall you erected to avoid getting hurt again.  Let God’s Word have supremacy over everything that happens in your life.  Erase the period or full stop you placed when you gave up and give Jesus the veto power or the final say.

Jesus went to the tomb, looked up to heaven and prayed to his Father, closing with these words: “Lazarus, come out.”  At his word dead Lazarus stood up.  His Word has the power to bring life.  God spoke through prophet Ezekiel to the dry bones (Eze 37).  When God initiates, we start hearing noises, rattling sounds.  We start seeing tendons and flesh appearing.  May the Holy Spirit breathe into your life.

Dear loved ones, if you are spiritually dead, hear Jesus calling out your name today to display his work.  He is the one who initiated the relationship with you and gave up his life for you.  Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).  He is the Alpha and Omega.

News Flash!!!!!

Mama surrenders her veto power to Jesus

Back to TAWK!

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Two months break!  Mama, using the lame excuse of being busy with guests and vacation for not spending time with God!  God is gracious and wants her to pick up the pieces and move forward instead of looking back.

Hope you are hearing from Him as you spend time with Him.  Mama is “TAWK”ing again.

This Is The Day

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Have you ever woke up with a song or a verse in your mind?  Sometimes I do and recently, it was this Malayalam song ” Ithu Yahova Oondakiya Sudhinam, Innu Nam Santhoshich-arthiduka” which translates, “this is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice with loud cheers.”  We sang this song in our morning prayer and I felt a joy and an expectancy of something beautiful.  In my private prayer I was led to meditate on Esther 9, in particular about “this day“.  The following Tuesday I woke up with the English song, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, I will rejoice.”  I knew then “This Day“ had significance in what I am praying for and I continued meditating on Esther 8 & 9.  (Read the story of Esther in the Bible, or a summarized version at the end of this blog)

This Day, a Single Day, the Exact Day!

In the story of Esther, Haman and the royal officials cast lots to select a day and month to kill and annihilate all the Jews-young and old, women and little children (3:7).  He offered ten thousand talents of silver to the royal treasury for the expenses to carry out the killings.  Haman lied to the King saying the Jews didn’t obey some laws; when it was about one man, Mordecai, not bowing down to him.  The King gave his signet ring and told him to do as he pleased but rejected his money.  Dispatchers were sent by couriers to all King Xerxes’s provinces with the order, to be carried out on a single day, the 13th day of the 12th month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods (3:13).  When Haman’s plot was exposed by Queen Esther, King Xerxes asked Mordecai her relative, to write another edict in the king’s name against the enemies of the Jews (8:8).  It was to be carried out on the exact day the enemy planned to kill the Jews.  The tables turned and the Jews killed all the enemies and plundered their wealth (9:5).  In one day Haman was hanged, Esther received his estate and Mordecai received his signet ring (8:2). The Jews were granted the right to assemble and to protect themselves.  This day turned out to be a day of deliverance for the Jews – a day of protection, relief, provision, rest, celebration, joy and feasting (9:1-17).  What a day!

Significance of This Day in my life

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).  I believe this day I found favor like Esther in the presence of the King and it is a day of salvation for my household and for the people I am praying for.

This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice.  The enemy had hoped to overpower but the tables are turned around and I have the upper hand over those who hate me.  I have the help from everyone because of the fear of the Lord.  Today, I strike down the enemy’s plans, plots, assignments and traps against me, my family, my friends, my people, and my church.  I cut them in the name of Jesus.  This day’s edict will continue until the enemy’s roots are completely destroyed.  This is the day my sorrow turned into joy and my mourning into a day of celebration.  This day the enemy is put in his rightful place.  This day there is transfer of wealth.  This day the Lord overruled the enemy’s plans.  This day I have the signet ring, and have been given authority over enemy territory.  This day I write over the enemy’s edict as seems best to me.  This day is appointed by God (8:12)

Dear loved one, today is your day, the day the Lord made especially for you.  Today is the day of salvation.  You have the authority of His Word and His Name to override what the enemy has written over you.  Take time to be in His presence and write another edict (The Word) as seem best in His Name because no one else knows the depth of your needs, desires, hurts and threats as you know.  For God it takes only a moment, a day to reverse everything the enemy has been planning and plotting against you.  May this day be a day of salvation, victory, healing, provision, rest, joy and celebration in your life.

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Story of Esther 

Esther was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai.  In the third year of his reign, King Xerxes held a 180-day feast for all his nobles and officials to display the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.  After that he gave a banquet lasting 7 days for the people who were in the citadel of Susa.  While intoxicated, he ordered his queen Vashti to appear before him and his guests to display her beauty.  She refused and was banished from his presence forever.

To replace queen Vashti, they brought beautiful young virgins from every province of his kingdom and they went through twelve months of beauty treatments. Esther, a young Jewish girl, was one of them who was brought to the palace by her cousin Mordecai and told her not to reveal her identity.  He waited at the gates to keep an eye on her.  Esther found favor with the King and was chosen to be the queen.

One day, Mordecai overheard two of the king’s officers plot to assassinate the king and informed Esther.  She warned the king about it, and Mordecai was given credit and the officers were hanged.  Soon after this Haman the Agagite was given a prominent position and special honors by the king.  All the people bowed down to him except Mordecai.  This enraged Haman, who, with his wife and advisers plotted against the Jews, making a plan to kill all Jews throughout the Persian Empire.  The thought of just killing Mordecai was too insulting for him.  So he gained the king’s approval to write an edict for the destruction of the Jews, Mordecai’s people.  Mordecai found out about the edict, tore his robe and put ash on his head as a sign of mourning.  He sent a message to Esther and she fasted for 3 days with her maidens before she went to the king on behalf of her people.

Esther found favor to be in the presence of the king.  She requested a banquet with the king and Haman and the king granted her request.  During the banquet, she requested another banquet with the king and Haman the following day.  That night Haman ordered to make gallows to hang Mordecai because of his rage against him.  The second night, during the banquet, Esther told the king of Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews of the Persian Empire and pleaded for her life too because she was a Jew.  The king was enraged and had him hung on the gallows built for Mordecai.  The king then appointed Mordecai as his prime minister, and gave him the authority to override the edict that was written by Haman.  This edict gave the Jews the right to defend themselves and a second edict allowing them to arm themselves to kill as well as plunder.  The same day the King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman.  This fight began on the 13th day of Adar, the date the Jews were originally to be annihilated by Haman’s edict.  The day the enemy planned for destruction became the day of celebration.  Purim is celebrated as a day of joy, feasting, and giving and it became a custom to celebrate annually.

                          

MamaTawk Turns One!

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MamaTawk reached a milestone!  Hooray!

Mama’s heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude because she has reached a milestone.  She would like to thank her daughters for their encouragement and help.   It all started because her children were tired of hearing repeated talks of what God has revealed or taught her.  They wanted a break from hearing the same few lessons and also wanted others to hear what she had to say.  In the hope of diverting Mama’s talk to them, one suggested blogging and the other promptly set up the blog before Mama changed her mind.  She took the first step and has reached thus far.  All praise and glory to God.  She is also thankful for her cell leaders from Singapore, especially the ones that encouraged her to journal.  MamaTawk is an online journal of God’s faithfulness.  Most of the blogs are answers to her prayers and concerns though she does not write the details about it.  Mama sought the Lord, and he answered her; he delivered her from all her fears (Psalms 34:4).  Deliverance from all fears translated to peace, hope, faith and joy in her life.  Mama knows that God desires her to continue In His Presence (first blog).

His presence through the WORD sustained and also enabled Mama to do something she had never done before, share the word.  Her obedience despite feeling unqualified (See blogs: Almost Qualified, Fully Qualified, and Not Qualified) made others also step into what they have been desiring and praying.  For one it was confirmation to be in the children’s ministry and another got the courage to lead worship.  She realized her obedience is not only between her and God but it also nudges others to obey.  Mama is hoping that those who read her blog will be challenged and encouraged to be obedient to His Word and Spirit.  She is praying that this will have a ripple effect and the waves of obedience will expand incrementally.

Seek and stay in His presence.     Take the first step.     Be obedience-oriented, not results-oriented.

Not Qualified!

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Samaritan Woman was not qualified (John 4).

Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well where she came to draw water.  He asked her for a drink and she replied, ” You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink because Jews do not associate with Samaritans?”  Do you tell God that he is too holy to have a conversation with you or you are unworthy to serve him?  She came to get water to quench her thirst and Jesus asked her for water.  What are the things you are going after to quench your thirst?  Jesus is asking you to give him that very thing because it will never satisfy.  He is ready to give you something that satisfies, the living water.

Jesus answered, ” If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you the living water.  He looks at the willingness to receive what he has to offer.  He is offering himself to you as Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer, Healer, Purifier, Prince of Peace, Provider and Guide.  Do you want what Jesus is offering you today?  He is ready to give the gift of God.

Have you been praying and desiring for the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  Indeed, the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14b).  Jesus said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him (NIV).”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive (John 7:37-39).  In KJV it says out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  The same Greek word “Koilia” is used for belly and womb.

The Samaritan woman was not qualified to have the living water.  She was a Gentile and did not have good moral standing in her community.  She had 5 husbands and the man she was with was not her husband.  There is no mention of her having any children.  She was totally disqualified to be a mother.  But when she recognized the one whom she was talking with is a prophet and messiah she asked him for this living water (v: 15).  When she received this living water, the Holy Spirit, out of her belly or womb came a testimony that birthed many spiritual children in Samaria (John 4:39).

If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (2 Timothy 2:21).  Recognize who is asking and receive what Jesus is offering you today.  He is offering you unconditional love, forgiveness and eternity with him.  He is waiting to wash away all your sin and shame and ready to use you for his purpose.  When Jesus qualifies you are fully qualified and no one can disqualify you.

Dear loved ones, let us yield to His will like Mary, serve faithfully like Elizabeth waiting for his timing, and receive what Jesus has to offer like the Samaritan woman to be spiritual mothers. 

(Part 3 – Mothers Day Message)