Million Miles

What story are you telling? from Rhetorik Creative on Vimeo.

That’s my Master!!! - Part 1

Hi I am Sheeda. I live near the still waters behind the hills. I love playing with my Shepherd, who always carries me in His caring shoulders. I also love to play with my friends. We are a team of 100. We always be together as our Shepherd suggested so. Now, I like to share a wonderful incident that happened in my life.It was a rainy day (I will never forget this day in my life). Everything went on well that day. I walked behind my Shepherd. He gave me grass to eat, water to drink, place to rest. He guided me with His rod and staff. I am absolutely fearless and joyful when my Shepherd is with me. In the evening, when the sun goes down, Shepherd led us back to our home. On the way to home, I saw beautiful flowers with penchant aroma. I called one of my friends and amazed about the beauty and fragrance of the flowers. Suddenly my amazement was distorted by a voice “Sheeda! My Beloved! Come here. Be close to me”. Oh that’s my Master Shepherd. He is waiting for me to carry on. I think He is very angry with me because I delayed. His eyes were full of rage. I don’t want to mess with Him in this mood so I leaped towards Him and joined Him but in my heart I was annoyed with the way my Shepherd disallowed me to enjoy the flowers. So I decided to slowdown a bit and now I become the last person in my team walking very slowly. Now, I can clearly see the flower bed in the slope. Wow! What a wonderful portrait of nature! The aroma was sweet as honey. I now even started rebuking the Shepherd for stopping me from enjoying this beautiful thing on earth. The beauty of the hill was so great it doesn’t let me move. So I stopped and enjoyed the wonderful flowers. Now, I thought to go near the flowers and play. So I moved forward. Oh what a pleasure it was! Every step I made gave me great Pleasure! Pleasure! Meanwhile my Master and my team crossed over the brook. I can’t see my Master or my team now. I thought it was time to leave the flower bed as it is getting darker and darker. So I started to move quickly. Since it was raining, the hill had become very slippery. After a couple of steps, my foot slipped. Oh No! I was slipping down the hill. I felt I was dead at that moment. After a few anxious moments, I was stopped by something. I was bit relieved now but that didn't last long. I was caught by the thorn bushes under the flowers. There were huge bushes hiding beneath the flowers. My legs were held by the rusty thorns and they started sucking my blood. I tried to deliver myself from the thorn. It pained a hell. It was completely dark and it started raining heavily. I started rebuking myself for not being close with the Shepherd. As I groaned in pain, I saw a man who worked in my Master’s farm passing by the way. I felt heaven is back. With all my strength shouted to him. He stopped by my voice and asked, “Who is this?” I said “it’s me Sheeda”. “Sheeda? What are doing here? You should be with the Shepherd,” he replied. “It’s paining, please take me out” I cried. He said “It’s heavily raining. If I come there, I too would be caught in the thorn. So I will go and send the workers in the farm; till that please hold on, Sheeda.” The reply almost killed me. “I am bleeding here” I shouted back. He was not there to listen to me. He was running to save himself from the furious thunder. I really don’t know what to do now. The pain is getting worse every moment. Suddenly a screeching voice shook me up. ”Hey, you betrayer!” “Who was that,” I replied in fear. I thought it was my Master. Yes! It should be Him because I have betrayed Him. The voice again shouted “Hey, you! an unlawful and indiscipline Sheeda. You deserve to die in the thorns” Suddenly voice stopped and a dark element appeared on the top of the hill. I realized the voice was from the dark element. There is something written on the dark element. With the help of the moonlight, I was able to read it. “Mr. Shadow of Death”. I was benumbed reading it. I trembled and closed my eyes in fear. The “Shadow of Death” spoke again “You are not loyal to Your Master Shepherd. You can’t be in his team again. You have no second chance. Your Master is angry with you” and on and on. Every statement made about me by the “Shadow of Death” pierced my heart. It was painful than these piercing thorns. I felt ashamed and guilty that I was not truthful to my Master. I lost my hope and prepared to die at that moment, because I thought my Master was unhappy and ready to punish me.

Continued in Part 2...

Let Him Talk...

That’s my Master!!! - Part 2

Continued from Part 1...
At this moment, I can see a ray of light near the slope. Someone holding a rod and lantern light was searching for something. The person kept on shouting something. As the person with lantern came closer and closer the light was getting brighter and brighter and the voice was getting louder and louder. Wait a moment. I have already heard this voice somewhere but I cannot recognize the person. Now, I can clearly hear the voice of the person with the lantern “Sheeda! My Beloved! Where are you?” Oh heaven! Oh earth! That’s my Master!!! It’s Him. Yes it’s Him. Wait a minute, did he call me “Beloved”?. Am I not a ‘betrayer or unlawful or undisciplined’? I looked up to see ‘Mr. Shadow of Death’. He was running as fast as he can to protect himself from the light of my Master Shepherd. The voice of my Master drew my attention towards him. “Sheeda! My Beloved! Where are you?” He was repeating the sentence again and again. I can now clearly see His face. Oh how desperate He is looking for me. I saw His eyes. There is no anger! No rage! It was fully filled will love and compassion. Now, as a deer longs for water, with all of my heart and strength I shouted “Master”. Hearing me, He stood still and lifted the lantern up. I can see the joy in His face after seeing me. In that moment he did a thing that I never expected from Him. He kept the rod and lantern aside and ran towards me. What an amazing love he has for me. By the time he reached me, he was bleeding. The thorns that pierced me pierced him too. But he was happy that he found me. He lifted me and removed all the thorns. I said “I am sorry. I didn’t listen to you”. He smiled and laid me on His shoulders and took me to His house and nursed my wounds. I was expecting Him to express His unhappiness about my betrayal. All the way long to Home, He never said anything like that. Instead He poured the oil and the wine into my wounds and tied them with bandages. He asked me to take rest. I asked him “Do you love me even now the same way you loved me a day before?” He smiled and said “I am the Good Shepherd. I came to give you life. I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” “Can I be in your team again?” I asked again. He laughed and said “You are always with me because I chose you to be”. I can see the joy and satisfaction in His face. The joy in His face reflected in my heart. That joy I felt was the greatest thing I have ever had in my life. The beautiful and aromatic flowers are no were close to this joy. Now, my Master Shepherd went out and called His neighbors for a party. They asked him “What is the party for?” He said “I found my Beloved Sheeda again”. On hearing this, my eyes were filled with tears of joy and ecstasy. I shouted in joy “There is no one like Thee. There is nothing like Thy love”. He came in and put me in His shoulders and started to celebrate the party. I started to sing with joy “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” It was joy all over the village thereafter.

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Run in such a way...

American Wallace Spearmon (Last from left) crossed the line in third place in 19.95 but was disqualified for running out of his lane and team-mate Shawn Crawford, who ran 19.96 was promoted to the bronze medal.
He was celebrating along with Bolt — even picking up his friend — carrying the American flag around the track for several minutes after the race and was shocked when an official told him of the DQ. Spearmon’s shocking disqualification, courtesy of the Associated Press.

As we have just now come out of Olympic fever, Spearmon is one of the 200 mts finalist whom I remember. Having practiced so hard for four years, spending his time, energy, and money for this one great moment, and finally disqualified ??!!! How would you react to that???
He was literally dancing and leaping with joy only to hear from an official that he was Disqualified. He ran hard, he finished the race but in vain. He didn't run in a way he will get the price. Paul says “Run in such a way as to get the prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24. We all run a race. There will be a final day on which we will receive the prize not from men but from God Himself. So Run in such a way as to get the prize. Spearmon was disqualified because he crossed his lane. A slight overstepping cost him the race. So, let us be careful not to cross the limits and boundaries that God has set for us.
Run in such a way as to get the prize...1 Corinthians 9:24

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Back to Jerusalem

It was a journey of seven miles. But it seemed like 70 miles for the two. That was because they were disappointed and their hope was lost.
Haven’t you felt the same when you walked back to home after a failure? The road seems long. The path seems tough. You don’t run. You don’t even walk but you crawl. Yes the road of disappointment is long. When your only hope is crushed your walk seems tough.
That is what exactly happened to Cleopas and his friend as they walked along the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem.
Look at their face. They were sad and downcast.
Hear their words as they say “But we were hoping that it was He Who would redeem and set Israel free”
“They were hoping”. So now their hope is gone. So they started walking back to their old place from Jerusalem.
These two disciples were hoping that Jesus would save Israel, but when Jesus died, their Hope was gone. So from the protected, holy city of God, they walked down the path of disappointment to their old lives.
We all walk such road, isn’t it? One disappointment and we show our back to God. When our Hope is lost we start walking back the road of disappointment and we tend to go back to our old lives.
But this evening as I read this passage I saw what I didn’t see all these days.
As these disciples were walking back with shattered hope, they were not alone. Because the 15th verse tells us “Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them.
Did you see that word? No? Ok one more chance...
Now read the sentence slowly
Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them. (That word is highlightedJ)

Yes the Word is “Already”
Oh how wonderful is our Lord. He was already walking down the road of disappointment with them even before they saw him.
May be today the road that you are walking is tough, but remember He is “Already” walking with you. Not only He walked with them, but he changed their direction of journey. He changed their disappointing journey into a journey of Hope. Look at this verse “And rising up that very hour, they went back to Jerusalem”.
A few hours back they were walking away from Jerusalem, but after Jesus walked with them and talked with them they were walking towards Jerusalem.
A few hours back they were disappointed, but now they were filled with Hope.

Whatever may be the road you are traveling and whatever may be the distance you are away from the city of Hope, the One who walked still walks and the One who talked still talks. See Him and Hear Him. Your life won’t be the same again. Theirs weren’t.

Luke 24:15 And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them. (Amplified Bible)
Luke 24:33 And rising up that very hour, they went back to Jerusalem…

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Vision

Well, I have read some where that for an article to be interesting; the first paragraph should be attractive.
But I really don’t know how to start this one. Well, I write whatever comes to mind. Should I write about Love or should it be on faith. May be I will write about grace of God. Since Good Friday is nearing we will learn about cross. Uhhh. I don’t know how it is going end. Hmmm I know we are going nowhere.
Thank you for reading without quitting. I was just joking. But I think I made my point. How would it be if I write an article with no clear purpose or clear Vision?
It would be a waste of time for both of us and you would be bored and you will quit reading. So how would be if we live a life with no clear purpose or Vision.
It would be a waste of time and you would be bored and you will want to quit life.
Where there is no vision, the people perish… this is a familiar verse from the bible for most of us. In other words without knowing the purpose of life we would perish.
How do you know the purpose of life?
Once I got a gift, which I didn’t know how to use. I didn’t know what it was meant for. I received so many comments on how to use it or what it was meant for. Most of the comments were wrong. So I read the instructions provided by the manufacturer on how to use it and what was it meant for. Only then could I enjoy the gift.
Life is a gift from God. Most of the times we don’t know how to use it. We don’t the purpose of our life. We get so many comments on what the purpose of our life is. Your purpose in life is to become an engineer. Your purpose in life is to earn more many. Your purpose is to ….. . Your purpose is to...
The comments go on. But only the creator knows why he created you. Only he knows why he created a particular passion in you. Only he knows why you were born in India. Only he knows why he gave you that particular job…ONLY HE KNOWS.
To know his purpose for you, you have to read the instructions. And when you start living according to His instructions or His WORD you start knowing the purpose of life and naturally fulfilling it.
Hence, to know your Vision, You must know His Word. And to know His Word, you must Know Him.
Where there is no vision, the people perish - Proverbs 29:18

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Closed Doors...

Bang! Bang! Bang!
Have you heard the sound of door that closes? I believe every one of us have heard it. Many of us have been behind closed doors. Some of you are still behind one. Doors of guilt, doors of rejection, doors of hatred, doors of sickness, doors of broken relationships, doors of broken hopes and shattered dreams and the list never end.
You are shameful of the past and fearful of the future.
No joy. No peace. No hope. Closed Doors!!!
They are hard to deal and hard to heal. May be you tried to open them with your friends, with entertainment, with your soul mate, with your job, with your knowledge and you failed. (None of these keys suits)
I would like to turn your attention to a bunch of men who were behind a closed door. They lost their Hope. They were filled with fear. They were guilty.
Yes their King was crucified. Yes their loyalties were tested. Yes they ran from the One who was their Hope. They betrayed Him. They had a heavy heart. They couldn’t forgive themselves. They couldn’t face themselves. How could they face their Master?
Have you ever been there!
Roaring and bold like a lion Once, Scared of the roaring lion Now.
Running for God Once! Running from God Now!
Bang! Bang! Bang! And suddenly you are behind the Closed Door!

Lets come back to the those bunch of men behind the Closed door.
As they were there in behind the door, Jesus came in. The door was still closed. But Jesus still could come in. Not to condemn them, not to scare them (though they were scared), not to prove them they are guilty (though all was right to do), but to say “Peace be with you” or be at peace with God again because I taken away your sins!!
Today God enters your closed Door and pronounces these words to your trouble hearts “Peace be with you” because he is the Prince of peace.
No door can stop Jesus! Not even the door of Grave!!
Next time you see a closed door, let it remind you of the Carpenter who walks through it!!!

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Hang on to the (right) Tree...

Handle with Care. I am sure all of us have heard it or read it somewhere. We usually use this phrase when we handle some precious, brittle articles. For those articles, which when broken it is hard to bring it back to its original state.

We need to handle different things in life. How we handle our failures and disappointments are very important.

I am going to propose to you a new Law which I copied from the BIBLE.

It’s called Judas-Peter Law.

The Law states “When you have failed your Master, and are guilty, you can go to a tree and hang yourself or you can go to the ONE who hung for you on the tree."

Judas betrayed the Lord once. Peter denied the Lord Thrice.
Judas betrayed by kissing. Peter Denied by cursing
Judas was bold enough to say that Jesus was his Master. Peter was fearful enough to deny that Jesus was not his Master.
Both failed their Master. Both nailed their Master.
Both wept bitterly.
One wept bitterly and repented. Another wept bitterly and took his life.
Both were guilty. Both had the same Master. Both followed their master closely and yet one went to the tree of hope and lived, while other went to a tree and died without hope.

Same Mistake. Equal chances. But one chooses life and other death. One waited and other wasted. And Jesus came back to the one that waited.

Remember it’s never too late. You always have hope. Don’t give up. Wait and renew your strength.

I would like to restate that “When you have failed your Master, and are guilty, you can either go to a tree and hang yourself or you can go to the ONE who hung for you on the tree and live.”

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