Glorious baby talk

The Alphabet: R is for Remember

03 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment

by simivarughese in Baby talk

This video is a human video that I choreographed in 2006 for the song, “When I think about the Lord.” Remember your redeemer and what He has done for you.

The Alphabet: Q is for Quiet

31 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment

by simivarughese in Baby talk

There are times in my life when I feel like I can hear and feel God in everything. Other times I feel quite the opposite. I scream, yet He remains silent. And I don’t understand it, so I scream even louder and still nothing. It seems like it is always at those times when you need to hear Him the most that He chooses to remain quiet.

“Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.”

Mark 4:35-39 (The Message)

Just like the disciples sometimes we too think, “maybe He just doesn’t care”. Realize, His quietness doesn’t translate as His absence. He promised never to leave nor forsake you. Even when you can’t feel him or hear him, know He is there! If you don’t stand firm on this truth, you will easily be shaken by doubt and worry.

So why doesn’t God miraculously intervene? Why is He sleeping during the storms of your life? Well maybe it isn’t about the storm at all, maybe it’s about you. The Bible says, God will never give you more than you can handle. Maybe He is quiet because He has faith in you. Now only if we could have that faith in God to not grow anxious, but remain quiet during the uncertainties of life.

Prayer: Lord, quiet the storms within me that cause me to doubt and worry. And give me grace to be still and know You are God and You are here.

The Alphabet: P is for Prayer

30 Aug 2010 3 Comments

by simivarughese in Baby talk

I find it difficult to pray. I don’t wake up every morning thinking of how I can spend some quiet time with my creator.  It doesn’t come natural. Prayer is a discipline. I make time to pray, because otherwise I will forget it in the busyness of my everyday life. But it is not a ritual that I force myself to participate in, before going to bed.

I think there are two reasons prayer is vital:

1. Prayer is a conversation. In every relationship, communication is key. Although He knows every thought that runs through my mind, He longs to hear me speak.  Sometimes it is eloquent; sometimes it’s only a few words. Regardless, he listens. Just like a loving father, he wants to scoop you up in His arms and listen to everything you have to say. He wants to be your Provider. He wants to be your Healer. Just ask Him.

2. Prayer reminds me that I am in need of God. Today we are taught to be independent and autonomous. It is easy to fall into the trap of self sufficiency. Therefore I pray, so that I may not lean on my own understanding but trust and rely on God alone. I need Him to teach me how to love my family. I need Him to show me grace to forgive. I need Him, every moment of every day!

So pray. Not out of obligation but because you’ve come to the realization that without Him, you are nothing and apart from Him, you can do nothing.

The Alphabet: O is for Open

20 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by simivarughese in Baby talk

This post contains a question that I have frequently thought about and today was reminded by Anne Jackson, the author of Mad Church Disease. It is open for you to respond with your thoughts and comments.

“Why does it seem as though when another believer hurts us, the pain we experience is exponentially greater than if we are hurt by someone who wasn’t a believer?”

The Alphabet: N is for Neglect

19 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by simivarughese in Baby talk

I remember once I went to a  new Bible study I had heard of. It was a time in my life, where I felt alone and overwhelmed. I went that night hoping to hear from God and wanting to be around people who loved God. But I sat alone. No one talked to me that entire night. I went home feeling more alone. I will never forget that night, because God spoke something new into my heart: Everyone wants to be loved. Not just the lost, but the saved also. Christians hurt too.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galations 6:10.

Our churches conduct free concerts, school fairs, health fairs, barbeques and community services of all sorts in order to reach out to those in our neighborhoods that do not know Christ. How often do we reach within the church and serve and minister to those that sit in the pew beside us. Don’t get me wrong, it is important to reach out and “do whatever it takes” as Apostle Paul states, to win the lost. However, it is possible that sometimes we get caught up in all the activities and “projects” that we overlook those we break bread with every Sunday. Our family. I encourage you to not always be so quick to look beyond the four walls to serve, when beside you may sit a hurting soul in need of a word, a smile or a prayer. Do not neglect what you are meant to nurture, the Body of Christ.

The Alphabet: M is for Man

30 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment

by simivarughese in Baby talk

I grew up in a sheltered family, so I was protected by many of the harsh realities of life. I always thought of man as good for the most part until I moved away for college. As I began to hear and see things occur around me, I could feel my innocent perception of mankind slip away. I knew what it meant to be betrayed, hurt and hated. And I began to understand what it is to hate and the capability of the human heart to hate another. I was exposed to racism and cliques. I saw selfishness within families. I heard stories of abuse and neglect.  I witnessed injustice. And I could feel my heart getting calloused over the years.

And a part of me realized how evil and truly wicked mankind really was, and the truth was there was nothing good in us. In that moment, I saw our desperate need for a savior. I appreciated grace and mercy in a new way.

Another part of me began to believe that everyone around me was truly selfish and no one could be trusted. I began to put up walls in order to guard my heart.  I didn’t want to experience the betrayal or the hurt. But in my attempts, I shut myself off from experiencing love. And eventually I found myself, alone

Then God revealed something to me:  He loves them.. He loves me.. He loves the world. When He looks at a man, he doesn’t see him as evil, perverted, rotten or useless.  His perfect eyes see only His own image, just the way we looked at creation. And despite our falsehood and the filthiness of our sin, He sees the value in every human being. So how can I devalue what God calls precious? And how can I not share this love that was freely given to a wretched sinner like me?

Lord, break my heart of stone and give me your eye  to see that every individual that comes my way, is Yours. Help me to remember that you have paid a price for their life and give me the grace to love them as You love them.