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"No makeup, but simply a straight preaching came from John the Baptist. He called the people 'You snakes and children of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to hell?' in Matthew 23:33. You might think, 'Oh, that's harsh.' A person who sins has to confess and repent to guard themselves in Christ. All of us are tempted every day in this life, but as sons and daughters of God, we are not to play with it but to strike it down.Imagine yourself enjoying a relaxing time in the park when a snake rises its head toward you. You will not be speaking to it, asking not to hurt you, or even more foolishly, thinking you can just play with it. We are supposed to flee or strike its head as quickly as possible. The same goes for sinning. When temptation comes, it is meaningless to replay those thoughts and believe that you can overpower them. Cut it straight, move away, and guard yourself from sinning. If you have sinned and are remorseful, repent and get back to God, who has great hopes for you and calls you the salt of the world and the light on the mountain.May we choose to be children of light and not children of snakes. And where can you equip yourself with the power to strike sin when it rises its head? The only answer is READING THE WORD OF GOD.Normally speaking, if we skip breakfast, we feel tired; if we skip lunch, we feel even more tired; if we skip dinner, then that is it. Our body will be too weak. In the same way, make sure not to miss your manna (God's word). Be a mighty warrior in God's kingdom. Do not hesitate but kill sin today. Dear God, thank you for the power that comes through your word. We confess our sins to you. Forgive us and strengthen us every day with your word. May we live a power-packed life, make us the salt and light that you intend us to be. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

God, in His grace, has given us the Holy Spirit, who guides us in all truth. The book of Luke, in chapter 2, talks about a man who was led by the Spirit even before Jesus was born. This man is Simeon, who lived in Jerusalem. He heard the Holy Spirit speaking to him; the Holy Spirit was with him (Verse 25). He was walking with God. The Holy Spirit led him to whichever place he needed to be at the particular time. It was not a coincidence that he met child Jesus when his parents took him to the church. It was God's plan. He saw the child as foretold by the Holy Spirit (Verse 26). Let us examine ourselves. Are we led by the Spirit in our everyday life? Are we attentive to listening to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit and obeying Him? One marvelous thing that could happen when we do so is that with our own eyes, we will see the prophecies told by God coming alive. He held the baby who was much bigger than the universe just because he chose to listen, obey, and live along with the Holy Spirit. Let us make a deliberate decision to walk with the Holy Spirit. May our every day be filled with obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Dear God, thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit. Help us to listen to Him, be led by Him, and be amazed every day by His wonderful leading. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

John the Baptist was appointed by God to be the prophet who paves the way for Christ. His father prophetically declared many things about his son from verse 67 to 79 in Luke Chapter 1. Zachariah clearly prophesied that the Lord would save his people from their sins, and John was to tell people the same in verse 76. The word and all the prophecies about his calling were growing inside him for a long time. He was growing in body and spirit and was in the desert until he came publicly to minister according to his calling. All of us may have prophecies about us, and we might think we are in a desert. It is necessary for a person to stay in the desert until the Lord uses him or her publicly before the eyes of all. The same happened to Lord Jesus. So, whenever you find yourself not doing much, remember that you are growing in your body and in spirit in the desert, soon to be revealed to walk in your calling. Romans 11:29 says, "For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable" (He never withdraws them once given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or sends His call). Stay strong, my friend; God is just strengthening you in your waiting. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 says, "Do not scoff at prophecies." The Bible we read every day is the confirmation that prophecies are told so that they will be fulfilled. Dear friend, do not be discouraged; you will also see yourself living in your calling. Dear God, thank you for all the prophecies you have told about us. May we never lose hope but cling to that, trusting that you fulfill all the prophecies about us. Thank you for helping us to walk in our calling. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The birth of Jesus in the Bible is closely connected to the birth of another child, John the Baptist. Zachariah and Elizabeth were old and were living good lives before the eyes of God (Luke 1:6). When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah, he told him that God is blessing them with a special child who will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth (Luke 1:15). By saying that, he said to Zachariah, 'God has heard your prayer.' It shows that the old couple were persistent in their prayers for a child, and God chose to answer it in a super special way. Verse 66 says the news about the birth of John, the supernatural naming ceremony of the child, spread across the hill country of Judea. They asked, 'What is this child going to be?' For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him. We don't know if the people in Judea knew about Elizabeth and Zachariah when they were waiting for the answers to their prayers. But the news about them and their son spread when God remembered them. When God intervenes in your waiting and acts, it will be incomprehensible to our little brains. He is the most supreme and will never fail to answer our prayers when we serve Him truthfully. And make sure to go awestruck and not to get mute when you are nearing the miracle. May your mouth always be filled with the praises of God like Zachariah, like Elizabeth, and like Mary. Hey friend, are you waiting for someone to be saved by praying for the same for a long time? Are you waiting for another breakthrough for a very long time? May these Christmas incidents bring more hope to your waiting and your long-awaiting prayer. When He answers you, it will not be a general answer. It will spread to many faster than you think. It will be powerful. The Lord's power will be upon it. Dear God, thank you for faithfully answering the prayers of Zachariah and Elizabeth. May your power rest over us and our generation like how it was then over John. Those who see us should plainly see that the Lord's power is with us. Thank you for all the answers that you are going to answer to us in a super special way. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen.

God has every comfort in heaven, but He looked down at us and came to rescue us. His birth is all about choosing the lowly and small things in the world, taking part in people's suffering, and in the midst, sharing hope and the good news. Matthew 2:6 says, 'Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are in no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; for from you will come a leader who will guide my people Israel.' God chose the city that was considered the least. Also, He chose to be born in a manger; He sent His angels to shepherds. God and His ways are marvelous. God never lost anything by choosing to live in a poor place, a small city, and with poor parents. He goes in search of anything that is considered the least and lifts it. May God help us make choices like Him. May we not be satisfied by enjoying the companionship of a rich community. Let us reach out to the poor and act as God acted. We are in a situation where our city has despair, confusion, and hopelessness. Hey friend, you are the child of God, the God who chose to commit Himself to suffer with the poor. Carry the good news to comfort the worn-out and the needy. Go out as the angel went out in search of people to give them hope and the good news. Dear God, help us to live a life where we accommodate every poor person, the lowly, and the least. May our hearts go after them as Yours did. Make us a living embodiment of Your good news. May we become like Your son Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The star holds many significances in the Holy Bible. In the birth of Christ, we see the wise men coming to see Jesus by following the star. They commenced their journey guided by the star. However, they relied on their own understanding and went to the king's palace to see whether the King of Jews was born there. But they couldn't find him there. Matthew 2 verses 9 and 10 say that on their way back from the palace, they saw the same star they had seen in the east. When they noticed it, how happy and joyful they were. The star never ceased guiding them until it stood over the place where the child was born. It led them to the right place, bringing them joy. It persisted, moving ahead of them, leading them to the child. Daniel 12:3 says, "And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever." Are we willing to be the guiding star that leads people to the God they seek? Just as in Daniel, people shine when they help others do what is right. Make sure to lead the way based on biblical truth. The star wasn't mentioned again after it brought them to Jesus. It held a humbling attitude before the promised King, Jesus. We, as God's star should show way which leads to Jesus and let the king have the glory. The kind of star in God's kingdom leads people to find where Jesus is, without seeking its own glory. Dear God, help us shine like stars in your kingdom. May those who follow us end up finding who You are. May we shine brightly for those in need of light, dispersing every darkness with the shining lights within us, Your children. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Mary was told that she had received favor from God to give birth to the Son of God. Mary accepted and asked the question, "How is it possible?" The angel of God answered, "Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, it is a supernatural thing." He ended by referring to another great woman named Elizabeth, who was childless for a very long time, and said, "For there is nothing that God cannot do" (Luke 1:37). I am surprised that he is giving reference to Elizabeth to answer the question of Mary. This leads to Romans chapter 4, verse 17: "God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that are not as though they were." Jesus, in Matthew 3:9, says, "I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." All these incidents about Abraham, Elizabeth, and Mary point out one truth about God: that to all our questions like "How could something happen when it is utterly not possible from our knowledge?" The truth is that God needs nothing to do a miracle for you. He, in Himself, has everything. Seek after God to fulfill every nothingness, emptiness in your life as He is everything. May in this season, we receive our miracle out of nothingness from God. Dear God, we submit all our questions at your feet. Be our answer to every question, Lord. With your Holy Spirit's power, fill us and conceive every goodness in us, O Lord. We have nothing to boast inside us. Fill us with every good thing from heaven by your power. Thank you, Lord. Let there be no emptiness anywhere in our lives. May we be thoroughly filled by your Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Christmas season's greetings to all pearl divers! Let's dive deep to enjoy another pearl from the Bible in this Christmas month. The birth of Jesus is the most crucial thing that has ever happened in human history. God, as He promised, came into the world in flesh like one among us to save us from sins and to give us eternal life. Apostle John, in the Gospel of John, in Chapter 1:14 writes like this: 'The Word became a human being, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which He received as the Father's only son.' Jesus is the fulfillment of all hope, joy, and the freedom that was promised by God to His people. John starts to write about the life of Jesus by saying he saw the glory. Yes, this is not just a story like another saint's life. This is God coming to live among us. This is about God remembering us. This is all about God's incomprehensible love towards human beings. And the Bible says that God even gave his son for us; what else would he withhold? Verse 16 says, 'Out of the fullness of His grace, he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another.' Hey friend, God can never forget you; every single promise He gave will be fulfilled by God. He never changes. He is faithful to look after you. May the love of our Lord Jesus fill us; may the joy of this Good News stay with us throughout this month. Like how John saw God's glory, may God open our eyes to see this beauty in the birth of Jesus. May we see the glory of God like how John saw. Let Jesus be the strong reality in our lives. Dear God, thank you for giving your son Jesus. Open our eyes to see how you glorified him. May Jesus fill everywhere in our lives as we enter the month where we remember your greatest love towards us. Our dear Immanuel, be with us every second of the day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Throughout our lives, we have encountered all sorts of people: those who love us, those who do not like us, those who adore us, and those who despise us. The same scenarios are depicted in 2 Samuel 16. When David went up to the mountain weeping, as Absalom joined Ahithophel and rebelled against David. On his way, David meets two people. One is Ziba, the man who gave two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred bunches of fresh fruits, and a leather bag full of wine. He cared for and comforted David in his life's toughest situation. The other man who came to meet David is Shimei. Verse 6 says he started throwing stones at David. He was not afraid of David's bodyguards and cursed him. David had no energy or mind to revenge against that fellow as he was in too much pain and humiliation. For David, the actual pain of being hunted by Absalom was painful, not Shimei's words. David was calm when he was given gifts by the first man, and he was also calm when he was insulted by the second man. David left his case to God. Hey friend, if you are seeing both of these people in your life at the same time, praise God for the good ones and leave the rest in God's hands. David was so sure that God knew what was happening in his life at the time of his weeping. One surprising thing about the world is the promises of people who say they will never leave our lives. But God will allow us to see through our tears those who truly stand. More than that, through all our weeping, God never leaves and stands with us. Dear God, may we never be shaken by the reactions of everyone around us. May we always be assured that your love is consistent. May we have the courage to stand with people when they weep. May we always keep ourselves away from cursing anyone. Like you have taught us, may we bless them. Help us to live your teachings, dear Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

It is a noble character to always remember the people who did good things for us in the past. In 1 Chronicles 19 we can see the following: On hearing the news of king Nahash's death ,the king of Ammon, king David tried to do good to Nahash's son Hanun. David showed support by sending his men to meet Hanun. But Hanun, the son of late king Nahash, was surrounded by ill-advising men in his court. Hanun trusted their advice and humiliated the men of David who were sent to him. David was quiet and didn't act in a rush. He chose to be quiet when humiliated. Soon, we see Hanun, the son of Nahash coming to fight against David with help from paid Syrian armies. Nahash's son Hanun did more evil when he tried to cover his wrongdoing of insulting David's men. However, King David was always prepared and ready to face anything. In the battlefield, we can see David's army was led by two brothers, Joab and Abishai. These two decided to divide their troops into two teams in the war. In verse 10, Joab said to Abishai, 'If you see that the Syrians are defeating me, come and help me, and if the Ammonites are defeating you, I will come and help you.' Joab and Abishai are shown here as an example.of how we should be helping each other as brothers and sisters in Christ when we go through any kind of challenges. Joab and Abishai decided to fight the enemy from two different places, but they made sure they were aware of each other's situations so they could run to help each other. We as sisters and brothers in Christ may be far apart, but are we aware of what struggles we are facing and giving support to our brothers and sisters in christ when they need our help? Dear God, help us to never forget people who helped us in the past and let us do good to them like David. May we have wisdom to identify the people who give us wrong counsel. Bless us with brothers and sisters in Christ who stand with each other when we go through any challenges. May we be aware of what our brothers and sisters in Christ are going through. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"Queen Sheba is one of the smart queens we can see in the Bible. She wants to challenge Solomon's wisdom and test his understanding. She found out she was no match for his wisdom. She praised God in 1 Kings 10, verse 9: 'Praise the Lord your God! He has shown how pleased He is with you by making you king of Israel.' She saw the whole kingdom was filled with Solomon's wisdom; she saw by the way he had built his palace, by the way he keeps his servants. She honored the king and gave him gifts. The Queen, who does not know the Lord, praised Him when she saw His mercy and love towards Solomon. But Solomon, the most gifted one under the earth with wisdom, deliberately chose to drift himself away from God (verse 11). He became unfaithful. But the Lord was so faithful to the promise he made to his father David and spared the kingdom of Solomon. May we examine ourselves and think whether we are deliberately moving towards Him or away from Him. We might not understand ourselves, as it is a slow fade. The Lord is merciful and gracious; maybe the mercy we are enjoying is because of someone's prayer. May we take guard of our life. May we stand as a watchman in prayer and guard ourselves, our families, and our friends. May we always find grace in the eyes of the Lord who blessed us with so much. The phrase 'so much' doesn't need to mean too much wealth. Living a peaceful life with good health and friends and having a good fellowship in itself is a tremendous blessing and His grace, as all belongs to Him. May we be ever grateful and praise the Lord our God when we see goodness in our lives and in the lives of others. Dear God, we thank you for every good gift you have showered over us, our friends, and our families. May we always find favor, grace, and mercy not just because of our ancestors. May we be considered faithful by you. May all our actions praise you. May we never drift away from you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

"We are all living a life that has plans of God which were predestined. God gave His plans to Joshua in the book of Joshua, chapter 1. In verse 3, He says, 'As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land you will be marching over.' Then, in the following verse, God even names the would-be borders in the North, South, East, and West. In verse 5, He says, 'Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live.' Thus, God predestined victory and possessions for Joshua and the people of Israel. God didn't ask Joshua to grow his arms; He asked Joshua to keep the commandments given by Moses. Yes, it is indeed a physical battle, but the victory depended on how prepared you are spiritually. As we prepare ourselves spiritually, God commands us to be determined and confident. Put your trust in God, study the law day and night. God has already minutely designed your future days, wars, and victory. Dear Jesus, help us not to worry about any challenges that are before us, as nothing can reach us without passing through Your hands. Thank you for the future You have predesigned for us. Help us to possess all without any single doubt. Strengthen us, Lord, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen."

God has given us all choices to make in life. Choices give us freedom and add more spice to living. For example, we decorate our home in a way we like, but we need to always align it with God's will. Here comes a man who is God's choice. Wouldn't he be the best? Yes, Saul was God's choice to become the first king of Israel. What a glorious thing it is to be chosen by God himself. But this Saul started to disobey God one after another. When God asked him to completely destroy the Amalekites, he didn't do it. This broke God's heart. In 1 Samuel 28, we can see him talking with a woman who was a medium (verse 8). Just a few verses before, in verse 3, it says Saul forced all the fortune tellers and mediums to leave Israel. But now, as he is talking to one (a woman who was a medium), it means that he didn't clear them completely. Saul proves again and again to be a man with unfinished business. God cannot entrust us with any responsibility if we don't finish our work fully.Let us inspect ourselves and look for things we have to completely let go of. Sins we have to overcome completely. Let us look for places where we have unfinished business and finish it completely. God has many sincere people like the shepherd boy David to do it for Him every day. May you keep your crown. Let it not be taken away from you. Do not be deceived by the lies of the enemy and play with your choices and responsibilities. Dear God, may we be your people who would completely do the work that you have assigned for us. May we be responsible people who can be trusted by you to do the King's job. Guard us, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"We can learn tons of practical lessons for our everyday spiritual life from the teachings of Apostle Paul. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, Paul warns the people not to follow Jewish external ceremonies. He even says to keep him as an example and imitate him in Chapter 3, Verse 17. If somebody has to boast about becoming righteous by following the Jewish tradition, Paul says it is him. He calls himself a pure-blooded Hebrew who followed all the rules in his past. But after he came to know Jesus, he stopped following the unnecessary traditions and focused on moving forward in becoming spiritually mature. Let us not develop any self-righteousness as we do the things we ought to do as Christians. Let us not get used to it and call it our righteousness. May we strive every day to win the race by trying to imitate Christ. May we keep ourselves before His throne of grace, analyze ourselves, and develop and grow in godly habits and characteristics. May God give us the boldness to say, 'imitate me,' as Paul said. May those who see us see the Christ that we wear over us and not the self-righteousness that comes through any tradition. Take a moment and think, are we able to say that we are not mere Christians by tradition but by being born again in the spirit? If we are prey to this self-righteousness, it is definitely very hard to come out of it. We can find ourselves always accusing or arguing with others by clinging onto following certain religious standards that we have been following for years. We would have lost the clarity to understand that we are at fault. There is no place for humbling ourselves because of our firm, useless beliefs. May God, by His power, raise us from such a deadly pit. There is yet another dangerous pit where you find some people. They will not follow traditions, but will expect you to accept every wrong thing they do in the name of "Love". They are the prey for excessive teaching of grace or extensive believer of human love. Too much of anything, as we know, is good for nothing. Beware of both pitfalls and ask discernment from God to give you the wisdom to balance. Like in Mathew 7:15, you shall know them by fruits. If you watch closely they expect love for they do and there will be no shade of agape love(God's selfless love) which has its main element as sacrifice. Dear God, thank you for giving us the knowledge of knowing Christ, which is above EVERYTHING in the world. Dear God, let us not consider anything, any tradition as valuable than you. May we have a heart that considers only you as a profit and nothing else. Help us to become more like you every day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"Everyone's last word on Earth will be treasured by their loved ones. I clearly remember my dad's last word; it is 'Yesuve.' Our Lord and Saviour Jesus' last cry when he was hanging on the cross is remembered by the whole world till date. That includes the words from Psalm 22:1, which says, 'My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?'When any of us go through a painful path, our first and last hope is God. It is utter hopelessness that will make you say the above words. But the same psalmist who started the Psalm like this and poured His heart about the despise and scorn he is getting from people around him finishes by saying in verse 24, 'He does not ignore the poor or ignore their suffering; He does not turn away from them, but answers when they call for help.' In verse 31, he says, 'People not yet born will be told: "The Lord saved His people."'Yes, our Lord Jesus went through everything (at the cross) as has been described in this Psalm prophetically. And Yes, He saved us. Our God has gone through everything and earned salvation for us and for the generations that are yet to be born. May the love of Christ cover us and change every hopelessness into hopefulness in our lives.May none of our suffering be unanswered as Jesus went through the same to comfort us in our sufferings. Dear God, thank you for saving us; thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for being our comfort when we go through suffering. May the story of salvation be told everywhere. May none we know perish but have eternal life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

"The only person who knows us fully is God. I wouldn't even say that we have a better understanding of ourselves. God knows our past, present, and future. When God revealed His plan to David for Solomon, son of David, David couldn't control his gratitude towards God. In 1 Chronicles, chapter 17, verse 18, David says, 'You know me well and yet you honor me, your servant.' Upon hearing the blessings God had in store for his descendants, David humbled himself. He found himself unworthy to receive anything from the Lord God. He went to the Lord's presence, sat down, and prayed. David was the king when he did this. No wealth, power, or victory gave him more satisfaction than the Lord's presence. Can we take a moment to think: are we separated from God just because of the small earthly job that we do? Do not lose your appointment with the King of Kings because of the job we do on earth. Are we thankful for everything God has done so far in our lives, even if we are waiting for a miracle, for divine intervention in some parts of our lives? May we develop the attitude of David, continually returning to the Lord and offering our thanksgiving. Only after he thanked God did he pray for the fulfillment of His promise to his descendants. He gathered his courage and prayed for them. Are we humbling ourselves like David to receive what God has in store for us and our descendants? Because we worship the same God who favored David. Dear God, we come to your presence seeking not just blessings but satisfaction in your presence. May we find joy there and, like David, thank you for every favor you have shown to our family and descendants. In Jesus' name, we thank you. Amen."

"Our hearts will be glad and filled with praise whenever God does something special to make us happy, and we pray a lot then. Here is a man who took God for granted when God showed him His heart but regretted it when he was in distress. I'm talking about Jonah and his prayers in chapter 2. At church, there will be songs where we sing that we'll trust him in good times and in bad times, in ups and in lows, in joy or in sorrow. Hey, I'm not talking about the vow between a husband and wife who are united in the Lord before Christ. I'm saying that we have the same kind of relationship with God; that we should stay, cling on, and never leave both when we like or don't like what he asks us to do, asks us to go to some places, or be with some people. Because in the end, we will definitely see that God is so good, filled with love, and harms none. Jonah prays in verse 7: 'When I felt life slipping away, then, O Lord, I prayed to you, and in your holy temple, you heard me.' In verse 9, he says, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.' However much we struggle to accept hardships or do the Lord's will and obey His words during times where we feel like there is no hope, stay hopeful, as our God will hear us even when we are in the depths, inside the fish, praising instead of complaining. But hopelessness or an end where you will be cut off is never, ever for anyone who trusts the Lord. Dear God, may I always know and testify that you are faithful and true in all your ways. Thank you for being the embodiment of Love, grace, and mercy. May I remember the above when I am in the depths. I know you will answer my prayers. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."

Have you ever wondered why things are happening in the world in the way that they are happening? Ecclesiastes 8:9-16 goes like this: King Solomon tries to understand the world and finds these truths. Here in this world, some are given more power, and some suffer under them. Even evil men receive praise after their death. We can see the life of both the sinner and the righteous. At times, sinners flourish and the righteous die young. Yes, not everyone who dies young is bad or has done something wrong. Sometimes the wicked are rewarded and the righteous get punished. In verse 16, he says, however much he tries to understand what God is doing, he cannot understand. One thing we can do: we can trust God for the one single step that we are going to take now. Like we all know, God is not a joke; He is a friend but also the all-powerful creator. Like Job says, no one can question Him. If you are confused about the things that are happening around you, quietly surrender yourself to God, saying He knows everything. He never makes mistakes. I know it is tough to trust God with all our might when life gives you an unexpected blow. But our God, like a father, is always close to us. He turns sadness into joy; let us take every step of ours as a step of faith when we are in the unknown. May the God who guides us in the light guide us in the dark also. Dear God, strengthen us to face every unknown path in our life. May we never forget that you are always with us in the midst of all our questions. And may our faith grow and not get weakened at the difficult times. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus, during his time on Earth, faced numerous enemies determined to disrupt his alignment with God's will. He didn't conform to the conventional teachings of the Pharisees and Saduccees. Despite being well-versed in the Holy words, these scholars failed to recognize Jesus as the Living Word, the embodiment of God's promise—a profound irony. Their extensive knowledge didn't enable them to identify Jesus, leading them to question and attempt to discredit Him, as seen in Matthew 22:34 to 40 when they probed about the greatest commandments in the Law. Jesus replied, emphasizing the essence of loving God wholly and loving one's neighbor as oneself. Had the Pharisees focused on loving God and their neighbors rather than mere study, they might not have opposed Jesus, the embodiment of God Himself. Are we simply memorizing God's word or encountering it daily? Can we recognize Jesus and understand His people? Do we truly love them, or do we unintentionally judge their spiritual standing based on our biblical knowledge? Let's reflect. A kingdom divided against itself cannot flourish. Let us know our God, recognize His people, and respond as Jesus did—with calmness toward those who fail to perceive God's truth. Let us pray for open eyes and hearts to always discern God's presence, remaining composed when questioned about Him or His word. May we genuinely love God and the people He's placed in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"We all would like to have a life that is like heaven on earth. Is it even possible? We want someone to help us and get us out of trouble; we want a strong hero to rescue us when our life has storms or winds. We want to feel secure all the time. All of us definitely do not want to die. Is it even possible? Proverbs chapter 1 says this is possible when you let wisdom into your life. You should let it reprimand you when you are wrong, let it correct you, and never ignore it when it gives you advice. Then you will possess the life that is a heaven on earth. Yes, who is wisdom for us to listen to? 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, 'But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ Jesus is the power of God and the wisdom of God.' Yes, let Jesus (the wisdom) into your heart. May he guide you, embrace you, and give you the security for life and even afterlife that none can give under heaven. Dear loving Jesus, be our strength, be our power. Thank you for being our wisdom. We receive every good gift that you have in store for us as we embrace you. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen."

Do we know our God? God shows how Israel was when it did not know its God. In Jeremiah Chapter 9, we can see how people who call themselves God's children will live when they don't know the Lord their God. The situation is no different from what we are living now. God calls them unfaithful and a mob of traitors. They were not faithful to their friends, brothers, or neighbors. God judged them accordingly. But, in the end, God says that when they do not know their God but boast about wisdom, strength, and wealth, it is of no use. Anyone can live a fruitful life only if they know who their Lord God is. Verse 9:24 says, "Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things, I delight," declares the Lord. All these are written so that we get closer to our God. Think for a minute about who we are to God. Will He say that we know Him? May we be found trustworthy by our friends, brothers, and neighbors and by our Lord God. May we live as if we know our Lord, as nothing is worth more than knowing Him personally. Dear God, may we know you and boast only about you. May we live a life where our friends, neighbors, and brothers can trust us. May we know your constant love and justice. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Many of us might have been through interviews where they screen people with many rounds. In Judges chapter 7, we can see God screening people through many rounds to add them to His army. Our God is a different kind of captain. He wants to reduce as many people in His army so that glory belongs to Him. When God takes a war in His hand, it is He who fights. God told Gideon to reduce men from 22,000 to 300. God gave dreams to the Midianites to instill fear about Gideon and his army. The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon is the cry of the soldiers who were with Gideon when they reached the battlefield. The enemy army was so afraid that they fought among themselves. When the Lord enters the wars, it is the Lord who wages the war. You just have to walk in His victory. Dear friend, whatever battle you are in, give it to God and simply walk in His victory. Dear God, we submit every thought that wages war in our minds to you. We submit every struggle in our lives to you. May you help us walk in your victory as you helped Gideon and his army. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

When there came a fight between Lot's servant and Abraham's servant, Abraham didn't desire the lush green land but chose what was left by Lot. Being an elder, he decided not to choose but to take what was left from Lot. When he left, Lot, God blessed him, telling him he would give every side of the land that he sees.Lot lost his sensitivity in doing this to his brother and went back to live in the land of his choice among sinners. He was once again rescued by his brother Abraham when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were at war and lost. Lot didn't regain his sensitivity to leave Sodom after what he had gone through and went back to live in the land of his choice again. He nearly lost everything but didn't leave Sodom.Then again, when the Lord went to destroy Sodom, Abraham requested the lives of a few righteous if there were some, and God showed pity to Lot. When the people outside Lot's house wanted to violate the visitors, he talked foolishly to them. His situation was very pathetic. He said in verse 19:6, "Friends, I beg you, don't do such wicked things." He was foolishly willing to give them his daughters. Finally, the angels made those men blind to avoid any evil happening at Lot's house.When Lot went to the men whom his daughters were about to marry and asked them to get out of Sodom, verse 14 says, "They thought he was joking." When the Lord again asked him to go to the hill, verse 16 says he hesitated. The whole family witnessed all these delayed obediences of Lot before God, and they became utterly insensitive to go against God's word. His wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.Lot's daughters were watching everything and again wanted to bring back the sins of Sodom into their own family, polluting their generation by giving birth to their father's children. Lot was a complete failure in every way, unable to save his house, possessions, wife, or daughters from evil because he chose to dwell amongst evil. He left Abraham to get a land that is pleasing to his eyes.Dear friend, where are you now? If you are with friends who are leading you into sin, do not hesitate like Lot. Run away from there. Don't hesitate and ask for a small town near Sodom when God is coming to destroy them. Go to the mountain. Do not look back. Turn your ways to save what is left for you. Obey God's word completely with a sensitive heart. Do not say, "I will follow my heart, I will make choices that are pleasing to my eyes." Run away from that and save your life and your family's life. Dear God, give us a sensitive heart to listen and completely obey your words. Help us be like Abraham in our choices. May we never go after what pleases us and not the Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Walls are supposed to protect us from enemies, natural disasters, or sudden attacks. The Book of Nehemiah tells us that Nehemiah was sad when he saw that Jerusalem, God's city, had broken walls. God gave him grace in the eyes of the king, and he went under his protection to build the walls. He faced numerous threats when he and his people tried to build the walls. He set up battle stations, and they fought against men who tried to destroy the walls. Nehemiah, the relentless leader, took charge and encouraged his people, saying, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." When his close friend tried to deceive him, he escaped the trap. Finally, he finished what he had started. Hey, friend, do you see broken walls around you in your life? Keep watch and pray, as Nehemiah said to his people, "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). When we lose our strength during difficult times, we cannot be victorious in finishing our mission. Let us stay joyful and praise God through our difficulties, building our walls and protecting our friends and families, keeping them under the blood of Christ. Dear God, open our eyes to see the broken walls in our lives and help us build them wisely. May you empower us to build them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

The Bible has recorded the lives of many people, young and old, rich and poor, wise and foolish. Here comes King Amaziah, the King of Judah. He was introduced in the Bible as the king who followed God but not with his whole heart in 2 Chronicles 25:2. There were many cruel kings and some good kings who ruled Israel and Judah. Some were completely bad, and some were extremely good. This man is in the middle. Before going to war, he had the wisdom to consult the Lord's prophet and acted upon it, but not every time. God gave him victory when he listened. He even followed the Lord's rule in the war. But he was not willing to face the consequences of acquiring Israel's soldiers for some price without asking the Lord. When he waged war without the Lord's counsel and help and went against Israel, he was captured. He shows how useless it is to follow the Lord without his whole heart. May we analyze ourselves and turn our ways to follow the Lord with our whole heart. We don't want momentary victory; we want to win it fully. Why do we need to fall and get up in our lives often? Be in complete reliance on God. May the Lord occupy every area of your life. Dear God, help us to follow you with all our hearts. May nothing remain in our lives where you ought to be. We submit our lives to follow you fully. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Isaiah chapter 14 is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible. It talks about the destruction of the king of Babylonia, who is considered cruel, an oppressor, one who persecutes the nations, shakes the earth, makes kingdoms tremble, and turns the world into a desert. He never frees his prisoners and lets them go home. We all are in a spiritual warfare and might have gone through this; we might be facing a cruel oppressor who never frees us from bondage. The Bible slowly reveals him as the bright morning star, which is Satan. The war we wage in the spiritual realm is hard, but the Lord has written the end in verse 19 that he will be thrown into the Rocky pit. Verse 24 says, "What I have planned will happen, what I have determined to do will be done." We, as God's children, are freed by Christ and should walk with power, knowing the end of the enemy has been determined by the Lord. No bondage can hold you. The Lord is the Redeemer. Let us pray for everyone who suffers under cruelty, oppression, or bondage. Freedom is in the blood of Christ. Dear God, we come before your powerful presence seeking the anointing, the protection, and the power you have stored for us in Christ. May we trample the enemy under our foot. May he tremble before us, and may we bind him. In the most powerful name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Hannah allowed her rival to take control of her emotions for a long time and was weeping, refusing to eat while enduring all the humiliating words she hurled at her. Verses 9-10 say Hannah got up. She decided not to let everyone around her to drown her in misery. Instead, she went to the Lord and told her prayers, which God answered. After finishing the prayer, when Eli misunderstood and confronted her, she gave a bold answer. She said, "Don't think I am a worthless woman."in verse 16. Her words about herself changed when she immersed herself in God's presence. Maybe you are going through a time of shame and insults, which ends up making you think you are worthless. Now, get up and go to the Lord. His presence will let you know who you are: "You are priceless to Him." Let's cling to God, as He never ignores any of our tears and prayers. He answers beyond what we could think. He gave Hannah six children. Let God answer you beyond your prayers. Dear God, we are coming to your throne seeking your presence. Help us to raise up from where we are and heal our hearts. Thanks for answering beyond our prayers. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen.

Many practical lessons can be learned from the letters in the New Testament. The letters hold strong advice against people who even attend fellowship meals but follow the ways of Cain, Sodom and Gomorrah, and, like Balaam, they show a selfish attitude. They speak terrible words against God, grumble, and blame others. They follow their own desires, boast about themselves, and flatter others to have their way. When you see these godless characters, be aware and separate yourself from them. As Jude says in verse 20, pray in the Holy Spirit, build yourself in the faith, show mercy to others, and save others from eternal fires.He also warns us not even to touch sinful clothes. Finally, Jude praises God by saying that amidst all these challenges when you fight for your faith, in verse 24, he praises God as the one who is able to keep us from falling and keep us faultless and joyful in His presence. May we desire that faultless life. Dear God, help us to be joyful, guard our words, keep us from falling, and may we be found faultless before you. We thank you for doing this for the sake of your matchless name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"We are taught by our elders at church and by the Bible to live quiet lives wherever God places us. What if someone takes what belongs to us? Should we still need to keep quiet and wait? See the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27. Women were not allowed any inheritance later on; it went to the males in the family. But they saw the situation and took their case to the Lord. The Lord was quiet until none took it to Him, but He did justice for them and gave the same as a legal right for the generations to come in Israel. Are we quietly enduring when peace is being taken away from the family? Are we quietly letting the enemy to steal every blessing like God expects us to have? Think about the times when the enemy steals kindness, love, respect, and understanding that you deserve to have. Where is the love between the parents and the children or between the couples under covenant? Why are we crying? Why do we need to struggle? There is no need. Get up, dear sons and daughters of God. Go to God, our Judge. Fight for the rights that the enemy stole from you. The Lord is even willing to create a new command for your sake. Take heart. God is still the same and will judge on our behalf. The only thing is, are you planning to endure, or are you planning to go and get your inheritance? Dear God, help us live in abundance of peace and love in our families. May we receive what is ours. Be our judge and command goodness over us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

David writes prayers for everything that happens in his everyday life. Prayer is something very real and an everyday activity for him. In Psalm 55, he is talking about the problems he has with his friend who turned into his enemy. David feels worn out, terrified, gripped with fear and trembling. He feels so insecure that he wants a safe shelter. He cannot face the problems around him. He is broken by the fact that he is betrayed by his own friend. This can be seen in verse 13. Once, the same friend who is now causing distress to David worshipped God together with David, and they both had close conversations. We might have friends going through difficult times now. It is good that we have close conversations with them, attend church services with them, and create many good memories with them. At the same time, let us never turn against them at any time. Instead, let us be good friends who stand for each other in prayer during times of difficulty. May we be a source of comfort . Dear God, help us be genuine friends for our companions, colleagues, and friends. May we have a heart of compassion when they go through difficult times. Help us be friends to whom they can turn at all times. Bless our friends, Lord, with good health in every way. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer," says John Wesley. Here is a believing prayer of a man which God answered. Jabez was introduced in 1 Chronicles 4:9 as "the most respected member of the family." He had a painful past and a difficult beginning, but when he prayed, he believed God could write a hopeful chapter in his life. His life changed when he prayed to the Lord God. He asked God to bless him and be with him because without God's blessings, there would be no joy, only pain in what is so-called a blessing. He also asked for a significant amount of land, which is an earthly blessing that the heavenly God chose to grant. God gave him an expansion. Finally, he asked to be kept away from pain and evil. We know that pain is unavoidable in life, but Jabez's prayer was answered. God accepts such prayers. May God bless us with all the above in this new month as well. May He be pleased to stay close to us, expand us, and keep us away from pain and evil. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Who is our Lord God? Simply, words are not enough to describe Him. Prophet Isaiah in chapter 40 tells us who He is. Our God measures oceans with His hand. He measures the sky with His hands. None can advise Him. Nations are like a drop of water before Him. Islands are like dust. He leads the stars like one who leads an army. He calls each by name. Do you know how the heart of this powerful God of ours is? Verse 11 says He takes care of us like a shepherd. He will carry us like a shepherd carries the lamb in His arms. He knows our troubles, He cares when we suffer injustice. He strengthens us when we are weak and tired. He knows we are like grass before Him, but He simply cares and could never ignore our little lives. Dear friend, if you feel that He might have forgotten you, take heart. Our God loves us, cares about every little detail of our lives. He is the only one who can be everything in our lives.

"Some people surprised God in the Bible and were eventually blessed by Him. One such person is Phinehas. We can see his swift action toward saving the people from incurring God's anger in Numbers 25. The Lord God was angered when the Israelites went and worshiped the God of Peor and engaged in prostitution with their women. God told Moses to kill such men. While Moses and the elders were mourning and waiting, a man crossed them by going along with a woman to sin against the Lord. Phinehas never hesitated but went after them and did as God instructed. God saw the zeal he showed toward keeping the Lord's people holy and established him and his generation as priests to serve Him. Similarly, Christ Jesus came and saved us from a life of sin and darkness. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life for God and to remove evil from our lives. Are we willing to act like Phinehas? Are we willing to work with trembling to guard the salvation we received from Christ? Stay bold, my friend. Use God's sword his Word to clean your tent. That is the body you live in. We are meant to eradicate every sinful thought and every sinful action through the Word of God. We serve a holy and mighty God. Let us live accordingly."

We might have heard the saying that dogs are faithful. Now, the Bible shows a donkey that is undeniably faithful. It was the donkey of Balaam. In the book of Numbers, chapter 22 onwards, we can see the following: Balaam was sought by Balaak, the king, to curse Israel. But God told him that is not happening as Israel is blessed by Him. Balaam was a man whose eyes were on the rich gifts from the king rather than the Lord. He prepared his donkey and went to curse Israel so that he could get some money. The Angel of God appeared before him to kill him on the way. Balaam's donkey was able to see the angel but not Balaam. The donkey tried to avoid the angel of God to save his master. But Balaam hit the donkey thrice. Then a miracle happened; God opened the mouth of the donkey. The donkey said that the angel of the Lord was standing before them to kill Balaam. Balaam didn't think for a minute that his donkey was talking to him and he talked back to the donkey. His mind was so corrupted that he didn't even think about the miraculous interventions of God happening around him to stop him from sinning against the Lord. Finally, the angel of the Lord said he spared his life only because of his donkey. Dear friend, guard yourself from sinning against the Lord. Keep your eyes on the things of heaven and not on acquiring the things of the earth. Ask God to keep your eyes and ears wide open to listen and see His will for you. Ask God for a heart thatsteadfastly clings to Him. From God's perspective, the donkey was better than Balaam. Are we wise? Are we aware of God's presence, or are we foolish like Balaam, moving forward towards sinning without understanding the deadly end before us? May God open our eyes. Let us watch for His divine intervention in everyday life. Let us be on God's side.

It is so amazing to know about a man like Job. He lived a life with which God challenged Satan. God said, "There is no one on earth as faithful and as good as Job is." From the Book of Job, we can see how he lived to earn such praise from God. He was a worshipper, prayed over his children, kept his thoughts and eyes pure. In Job 29, we can see that he helped the poor, the orphan, the men in deep misery, and the widows. He was like eyes for the blind, feet for the lame, and protected the victims from the hands of cruel men. God saw everything and was like a friend to Job; God watched over Job and honored him. Everyone respected him, including young men, old men, and leaders who kept quiet and listened when he gave them advice. They took his words like the sand absorbs the rain. He was like a compassionate king. But a time came when he was in utter pain, losing every good thing he had gained in his life through God's favor. My friend, if you are going through a path like Job's, take courage; God is your Redeemer, God is your Judge. Say boldly, as Job said, "My Redeemer lives," and trust God through it all. He will restore the joy, respect, loved ones, the beauty, the health and riches you lost doubly. Only remain faithful to Him. Let God boast about you before the enemy. Wait under His mighty hands until He lifts you up again.

He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does. Ecclesiastes 3:11. With our technology we have grown a lot and have come to the era where we can see things with many dimensions. For example the virtual reality technology makes you to walk through virtual places and will make you feel as if you are really there. But how muchever we try we are unable to know our future. At the same time as human beings we have the longing to know about it. But God has preplanned all and has set a timing for everything. In such a case all we need to do is try to know His heart and walk closely with Him by trusting Him. As Solomon says, in Ecclesiastes 3:14 "And one thing God does is to make us stand in awe of Him". Because at the end of the day. We will stand in awe at what he does in our lives. Yes, weeping ends and joy will come in the morning. He will never fail to surprise us.

"May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” We are living in a world filled with tears. We can see wars in everyday news. Think about the prayers that go to God. We may think not to bother God with our small needs, which appear big to our eyes as God is handling big issues in the world. Let me tell you something: God not only cares about the big troubles that the world is going through, but He also cares about every individual. He cares about you, your little worries, your pain, your joy, your aspirations, and your dreams. Let me show you how God acts in the lives of Naomi and Ruth from the book of Ruth. Naomi felt like God had forsaken her when she lost everything that was meaningful in her life. God took her out of the land where she lost everything and planned a great future. He guided Ruth to Boaz and gave her the favor she needed. He provided for her needs. God gave Naomi a grandson and the family she dreamed of having again. Hey, friend, if you are going through losses and thinking that the Lord has forgotten you, renew your faith. We serve the God who faithfully remembers Ruth and Naomi, and He remembers you and me. Be ready to receive what you have lost in the past. He restores and cares about your story.

Our beautiful, ever-grateful seventh wedding anniversary was over by August 12, 2023. We were planning for the next day's event. I was resting while my husband Mr. Jasper was anticipating the dawn of the next day, which is August 13. He had informed me about the same on August 11. By then, we were at the Madurai Kannappar Hotel in Porur. While we were waiting for the hot food to arrive, he revealed to me about the marathon that was being conducted for the cause of women's safety. Being a person who hadn't run for almost a decade, I was wondering at his request for me to join the run. I was an athlete when I was young, but when I entered tenth grade, I was made to focus on nothing but education. Since then, I never ran for any reason. Chennai is known for marathons and fitness enthusiasts. Two years ago, my husband participated in a marathon. I assisted him and gave him moral support, but I didn't run the race even then, so I wasn't aware of the prizes they would give to winners. My basic idea was that people run marathons for a good cause. Let's return to the scenario at Kannappar Hotel now. I was surprised by my husband's words about the winner's reward. I felt motivated and said, "Okay, I will come, and we will win. But let's keep it a secret." My husband, who had never seen me running, was taken aback but laughed and said, "Sure, I will never share our secret with anyone." He thought I was joking, but seeing my serious expression, he asked, "Ani ma, are you serious?" I hadn't expected that reply, as I was genuinely sincere about winning the prize. In my mind, I believed I could win, considering I had walked more than 5 km. I planned to walk faster to increase my chances of winning. So, I told my husband, "No, I am serious." Upon hearing my reply, he unfolded the truth that around 2000 young women had signed up for the marathon. Trained athletes were expected to participate from colleges. This reminded me of my college days, where I saw athletes practicing every day. I knew for sure I wasn't a match for them in terms of athletic abilities. So, my confidence started to waver. I told my husband, "Looks like my plan for winning won't work out." He laughed and said, "That's totally fine. Just come and stay beside me. You can do volunteering if you want." At that moment, my eyes sparkled, and I said, "Okay, I will come along with you and will do my part as a volunteer." The next morning, when the alarm rang, I was tired, but I didn't want to miss the adventure my husband had described. I got ready to attend the church as well as the marathon event which was arranged by the I'M SAFE app team. The drive was beautiful, with wide roads and no traffic in the early morning. As we neared the event, we encountered a busy and energetic team working like bees at the venue. Seeing their actions, I felt compelled to get involved in every little thing where I thought my assistance was needed. The energetic women from the I'M SAFE app were wearing their branded T-shirts and caps and working with laptops. They distributed T-shirts to the registered students. On a stage, a compering lady was using her English fluency to guide young women about everything they needed to know. Her confident presence and voice were guiding the girls. Students from Ethiraj Women's College and Stella Maris College flooded the booth, eagerly getting ready to run the marathon. When my husband started distributing T-shirts,Bibs etc.. I assisted him a little. The event began, and the stage was graced by the CEO of the I'M SAFE Mr. Giftson Selladurai, the Chairman of Ethiraj College Mr. V. M. Muralidharan, another woman dignitary, and finally the Deputy Commissioner Mrs. V.V. Geethanjali. My husband's duty was to safely hand over pure white doves to the chief guests. Two beautiful doves were waiting, looking at the crowd from their cage, longing for freedom. At last, the moment arrived. Those pure, beautiful birds were released into the air. It was one of the most joyful sights to behold. All the guests were happy, as they had participated in a prelude event to what they were about to witness: the young women flying as those birds did. A concise yet impactful speech was given by the woman police officer. She stressed that women should be safe not only from physical violence but also from online violence. Another captivating sight was the release of balloons in pink and white colors. These balloons were near where I was standing. A member of the I'M SAFE team asked me to pass the balloons to her by removing them from the stones they were tied to. I untied them and handed the balloons to Mr. Jim, my husband's colleague, who then passed them to the lady to take to the stage. The balloons were released, accompanied by the students' loud and joyful shouts. Students were asked to assemble behind the starting point. Young men from I'm Safe, Ruah Tech and Axlerate were ready on bikes and began to move when the highly anticipated marathon started. I felt a sense of awe as I saw the young women start from the beginning. They exuded joy, hope, and determination. It was a moment that gave me goosebumps, and I felt proud of each one of them. As they left, our team of volunteers and staff awaited their return to the starting point. I started a conversation with Mrs. Saranya Andrew, the wife of Mr. Andrew who heads the marketing team of I'M SAFE app and we shared many thoughts on various topics. I was least expecting the winner to show up in a very short period. But, While we were near where our car was parked, we saw the first winner reach the finish line. We were amazed by her swift running ability. The first winner was a young woman from Pollachi Physical Education College named GS college. She came to know about the event through Instagram. Remarkable thing about her performance and winning was the fact that she ran without wearing shoes. We went to the finish line to welcome and serve the winners with medals, water bottles, biscuits, and juice. Gen Z ladies posed with their medals, likely planning to share the photos on Instagram later. Though bottles were scattered, when we collected some, young women used the bins and thanked us for the service. After finishing the race, they sat on the ground for a while. The winners were announced, and their checks were awarded as everyone cheered. Laughter, joy, and smiling faces were everywhere, along with a sense of accomplishment. Apart from the students who were winning medals. We met another inspiring person Mrs. Monica Issac who finished the race in just 45 mins and won the medal. She encouraged me to join her in the next marathon event in future. The young women and every women who participated cheered each other and spread the message that they were strong, bold, and beautiful when united. The strong message that the I'M SAFE app aimed to convey to the world was achieved through them, through the spirit of the marathon. It showed that women are resilient, supportive, and willing to break barriers. Thanks to the teams of I'M SAFE, Ruah Tech, and Axlerate, that day became a memorable experience for everyone present. The event was a blessing for more than thousands of women. Post event we had a wonderful chance to meet Mrs.Preethi Daniel, the Co-founder of the organization called "You are Loved" that seeks to empower communities through education, employment and enlightenment. I was inspired by her Leadtalks where she was sharing about the journey of their organization along with her husband Mr. Daniel Jacob. Overall this Marathon empowered everyone who came to participate, volunteer and to work. This is now another remarkable memorable experience that will stay and will last in my memory lane timelessly. Photos credits to: I'M SAFE (Women's safety app) and Freepik.

One of the most serene places at the Lady Doak College is the Wilcox Chapel. Some of us went there to sit still and enjoy the peace that is in the place. Some of us went there to pour our heart to God when life struck hard. Be it good or bad times. The chapel was always there for us. Treasure at the entrance There was this baptism bowl at the entrance of the chapel. It was filled with tiny papers with verses which was cut off from the old Christian calendars. Many of us at took those eagerly as an answer for the prayers that we prayed unto God. Though that was like a baby's faith move, God surely comforted us even with that little faith of ours. The chapel's lawn was maintained by an old man who was very cautious about it and never allowed anyone to step on it. Some times, the girls used to sneak in to the lawn to take photographs which he did not like. The lush green lawn with neatly trimmed grass and paved pathways in front of the chapel added beauty to it. The center of the lawn had a fountain that brought joy to people who loved listening to the gentle melody of water. The Gong of the Chapel Bell Our Chapel has this beautiful sounding chapel bell. The SCM (Student Christian Movement) office bearers were usually the ones who pulled the ropes to make the bell go ding-dong. It was such a pleasing, soothing and an inviting sound. Amid the chirping of the birds, and the bustle of the day as classes went on for different batches of the students (like morning and evening college), the sound of the chiming bells used to make its way to our ears. Our chapel has two entrances. The shoes and sandals are arranged neatly outside the chapel. I later learned that it was because of the volunteers who arrange them every day. I am a regular churchgoer. My dad was a minister, and my mom loved the community at the church. So, I was fortunate enough to have the discipline of going to church every Sunday, and I love that about my family. But when I entered Lady Doak College, I was surprised to see that we had service EVERY DAY. We had services in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Writing about this makes me remember the song by Don Moen where he sings, "Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud. He shall hear my voice." Exactly the same thing was happening at the chapel. It was a sweet haven for many. I was introduced to the chapel by my senior named Shirley, who was the chapel representative at Sir James Doak (GF). I was in awe seeing my senior Shirley going to service every day. But no matter how much I admired her, I enjoyed praying alone in the dorm and never wanted to attend chapel regularly. Some of the hostellers even asked me, "Are you a Christian? Then why aren't you going to chapel every day?" I felt those questions as intimidating and told them I was not used to it. My Chapel Representative Shirley was always chirping like a bird with joy. She had this portable tape recorder and often listened to songs from a CD named "Nesipaya." The below song "Siluvayo Anbin Sigaram" (The Cross is the Peak of Love) is her favourite. Her face was full of light and joy. No one could feel unloved after having a conversation with her. Her pure joy attracted me towards her, and I started going to chapel only in the evenings, along with her (7:00 to 7:30). At times I have missed it, but she never judged me for that. Later, we both came to know that we were distant relatives, and we enjoyed each other's companionship. She introduced me to Sweetlin and Evangelin, two of her close friends. The service goes like this: when the chapel bell rings sharply at 7, a chorus of praise is sung by the girls who take turns to sing in the chapel. There is this particular senior named Esther who sings the invocation song. Then it will be followed by a congregation song and then the doxology. God has blessed her with a beautiful voice. She strictly dedicates her voice to glorifying God. I truly admire such people with dedication. This brings to mind the Bible verse which says, "Through one man's obedience, many will be saved." She is not a very famous person but a lady who is set apart for God. In life, I have seen many people who dedicate their God-given talents and abilities to God. Without knowing it, they have touched many lives. God never fails to honor those who honor Him. I have learned a crucial life lesson from people with such dedication: they might not have become more popular in college life, but they have made a mark with the life they lived at such a young age. Esther cherished her gift and the SCM office bearers of her time were requesting her to sing or lead in the service. In a similar manner, we can also use our gifts for God. God will create something beautiful in our lives. Our lives will be focussed on bringing glory to God's name. He will be the centre of all our motives, with that we will be touching lives in a beautiful way because we will be shaped by God become like His son. Hey my friend if you are waiting for something with dedication, stay hopeful the Lord will never disappoint anyone who waits on Him. The dedicated crew of the chapel Another beautiful thing that I have witnessed about my senior Shirley is that she went to chapel everyday by 6 in the morning. She will pray by the alter and then she will decorate the board inside the chapel with colour chalk. She will write a verse everyday there. It was sweetlin who wrote Bible verse in the black board which was in between the chapel and the Harilakshmi Hall. Through my senior Shirley I came to know that there are volunteers to arrange the chairs in the chapel, to change the flowers and the flower vase in the alter and to keep the song book named "Muzhu iravu jebaveerargal paadalgal", order of service book and the Hymn book in the chairs. Those volunteers humbled themselves, disciplined themselves and committed themselves to do God's work everyday. I had a senior whose name was Rini Joyce who was volunteering to arrange the sandals and shoes at chapel's gate every morning. I later witnessed God lifting her as the college president. She never talked unnecessarily with anyone. She had a calm personality. She had a gentle smile for everyone. Those who volunteered went a little early to chapel everyday to do their service for the Lord. Yes the chapel was not an one man show. It was filled with dedicated services of students, Professors, and non teaching staffs. Our chapel taught us to work selflessly, We learned to grow in love and dedication for God. Most of all we learned discipline. We found joy in doing things together. We were moulded as leaders who love to serve at our chapel. We were moulded to be individuals who encourages the growth of each other. At chapel we have not only developed friendships but sisterhood. Episodes to be continued...

Day 1 -My Queen LDC embraced me and welcomed me into her arms Day 2 -She took me to her humble haven Sir James Doak Hall Day 3- She celebrated me with a grand party at Golden Jubilee Auditorium(junior's welcome) Day 4 -I was under the care of her Wise Knights (my Professors) Day 5 -I saw them raising a generation for her and the divine Eternal King. Day 6 -She opened a new world for me (literature) Day 7 -I saw that everything was perfect and in His control. 8 (The New Beginning ) for me started in Her castle. Day 9 -She saw some children of her who needed support. In 10 days She built a bridge (Bridge course) on Day 11 they crossed it to enter her kingdom. From Day 12 the March- past training began (together studying in class) Day 13 -We got our titles and badges(ID cards) officially in the Doakian army now Day 14- We took the armours from her Arsenal named after Great Miller (JX Miller Library) Day 15- We explored every division of her arsenal(different sections in the library) Day 16- We selected the essential weapons needed for the war front. Day 17 - We sharpened our weapons. (studying) Day 18 -We did rigorous group training under the huge trees(group study) YA! we were just 18 when on war Day 19- The war dates were announced (exam timetable) Day 20- We were fighting the brave war (exam) Day 21- We subdued our enemy Day 22 -We place our colourful flags to celebrate her victory (sports day) Day 23 -We practised our victory dance There were 24 dances (you name it, we have it) Torchers were lightened for the ceremony Proudly We lifted her name LDC with our formation. We shouted hurray to her as we sang our anthem. Day 25 -We invited our neighbourly kingdoms (ICM=Inter college meet) Day 26 -All 27 kingdoms came They participated in more than 28 events to show their talents. There were more than 29 in each team We awarded them generously for celebrating with us. The queen arranged a feast with 30 varieties of food. Day 31- The kingdom encouraged trade inside her kingdom. (sales day) More than 32 various stalls, and crafts centres displayed and sold their goods Day 33- The wise knights were appreciated for their bravery amidst the war(Teachers day) Soldiers honoured them with a thankful heart Day 34- The soldiers did various social work for their country DAY 35- The soldiers cleaned the kingdom (NSS) Day 36- They regulated the traffic (YRC) Day 37 -The compassionate soldiers visited the sick (volunteers) Day 38 -They encouraged the old age people and gave them the essentials(The college choir) Day 39- They returned to the castle Day 40 -The queen arranged seminars, and conferences to equip them to serve more. Day 41 to 50 was the celebration of the King's birthday(Christmas Day) Day 42- The auditions were held for the royal choir. Day 43 -The kingdom was covered with brilliant lights. Day 44- The King's Castle was adorned with boughs, lights and ribbons(THE WILCOX CHAPEL) Day 45- The royal choir invited other choirs to sing His praise Day 46- Even children sang the praises of the king. Day 47- The maidens got ready for the royal day Day 48- The royal hall was decorated with stars. (Miller auditorium) Day 49- Red carpets filled the Royal hall welcoming the King of Kings The queen saw the rehearsal of the manger scene of the king's birth Day 50 -The fabulous celebration was held with colours, with joy everywhere. Day 51- The King blessed the queen with many blessings for her true love towards Him. Day 52- The queen LDC brimmed with pure joy and spread it everywhere Day 51- The queen pledged to enlighten the young women's minds with her age-old wisdom Day 53- The queen promised to strengthen the kingdom by empowering young Doakians Day 54- She built the brilliant mind of the future teacher, and professor,-the reservoir of knowledge Day 55 -She built the fantastic women who startle the world with their knowledge of technology Day 56- She built the excellent economist, writers, and social workers to keep the world a better place Day 57 -She built women who are excellent in the challenging field of sports. Day 58 -She built young women who excelled in the research field Day 59 -She blessed all of them with her wisdom and Godliness. Day 60 -She sent them to the entire world Day 61- Young Doakians showed compassion wherever they went Day 62 -Young Doakians showed God's love everywhere they went Day 63 -Young Doakians went as peacemakers in a world full of strife Day 64 -Young Doakians went with so full of mercy to heal the injured hearts Day 65 -Young Doakians went to uplift the downtrodden in the society Day 66 -Young Doakians with their gentle spirit established the broken places Day 67- Young Doakians with their artistic mind rocked the world of music and poetry Day 68- She saw everything and was delighted for having done God's will Day 69 -The Doakians saw their Queen LDC reaching milestones after milestones Day 70- They thanked her for her motherly love Day 71- The Doakians thanked her for holding their hands through life's storms Day 72 -The queen embraced young Doakians who are brimming with joyful tears Day 73- She realised its been a long journey Day 74- The Doakians were proud of their Queen, their mother who crossed years Yes, it is not just another day it is my Queens 75th Year. Long live my Queen, long live my beloved LDC.