The American Idol TV show is my favorite TV show. The show develops the talent of ordinary young people to be exceptional music artists. The show has gifted some gospel singers too like Carrie Underwood who sang the song “Jesus, Take The Wheel”. That is a favorite song I listen on the radio.

Yesterday, they had a special program to help the unfortunate people around the world. The program was called Idol Gives Back (http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/). I was moved by their charity towards the poor. That prompted me to donate some amount to them.

The Bible says “God loveth a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Help the unfortunately through any charity organization. God loves such givers.

I was watching an inspiring story of Juane, a mexican woman who lives in the United States. The program on CBS was so touching to the heart. Juane does not speak English and does not have any education. She wish her three children have better education, so she does something different that some of us hate to do. She gets up early in the morning, go from house to house, and search the trash bin for empty soda cans. She sells those soda cans to a recycling center, and get money. She does this every day. She helps her children with the money she received through her hard work.

The Bible says “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

God loves hard working people. God rewards anyone who works hard.

As I was getting ready to go to work today, my cell phone rang. It was my wife. I feared she might have got into any accident. Yes, that was true. An unexpected snow storm came yesterday night was to blame. In the morning, the snow became black ice after the temperature dropped.

I rushed to the scene. I was more concerned about her protection. God protected her and the car. I met a gentleman standing by her consoling her. He helped her car to move from the traffic and drove back the car to our home. I’ve heard later on the television that there were some 200 accidents in our state today.

A prayer we pray before any travel that we make is asking God to protect us from any accident. We ask God to send his angels to protect us. I thank God for hearing our prayers.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” Psalm 91:11

My wife was sick yesterday. I was not at home at that time. Our Indian parrot Kiwi found out that she was sick. She came down from her cage and gave my wife company the whole time by sitting her side until I came home. Both of us were moved by Kiwi’s love and concern for her because she has not done anything like that before.

Today is Good Friday. We remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross today. What a love he showed us by dying on the cross for the sins of the world.

He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Surely He has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all.

-Isaiah 53:3-6

Few days back I participated in a table tennis tournament at Evanston, Wyoming. I had to drive 2 hours to reach the place from my home. I was tired the day before, and forgot to keep an equipment to unscrew the box where I keep my table tennis paddle. I realized this only half way over to the place while driving. I thought for a moment how can I play today without a paddle. The negative thoughts started flowing to my mind. Before more thoughts came to my mind, I said to myself “Lord, I trust in you. Have your grace over me.”

Before the tournament began, a person at the venue helped me to get a similar equipment and open the case. I was able to grab silver medal in the tournament.

The Bible says:

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ” Proverbs 3:6

When we make decision to live in a new city or town, we would like to live in a crime free zone. We don’t like criminals and the crimes that criminals do. The Government, the police or any law enforcement official can only control the crimes in certain cities but not eliminate completely.

I heard from a Police official that crimes happen every day is because every human being is born with natural tendency to commit mistakes.

The Bible says:

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:10

Let us all need almighty’s help to free ourselves from everyday mistake that we do.

Bharat Gopi was a prominent actor in the Malayalam Cinema. He has acted in 85 movies before he became paralyzed in 1986 after a heart failure. He walked again four years ago. He has acted in five movies already.  Sadly, he passed away yesterday.

He has told in a recent interview that he was able to walk again, after he made walking again a challenge. His will power with hard work through the years made him to walk again.

The Bible says in Mathew 26:41 “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Let your spirit and soul overcome the weakness of your body.

I’m table tennis player. In America, the ability of a table tennis player is based on ratings. The rating starts from 0 and goes to 2700. I was rated 1386 in December, 2006. In 2007 December my rating went up to 1736. That is an amazing improvement. I was able to achieve that rating with the help of God and my hard work.

The bible says: “You were running a good race.” Galatians 5:7

Have you achieved a progress in any task that you have undertaken?

I happened to meet a man in his 30’s who travels to many countries of the world. He says he is a missionary, and represents God. But many people have personal conflicts with this man. This man makes demands from others, talks very high about him, criticises other missionaries and makes dirty jokes. He hurts people with his words. He broke the relationship with his wife also recently who was married to him for 15 years. He has two children in that marriage.

I asked myself why a man called to be representing God has many issues. Then I remembered an important piece of electronic equipment he carries with him. That is a wrist watch having a calculator. I have seen him doing calculations about money on his calculator.

The Bible says:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10

You should not carry a calculator with you to count your money all the time. That will lead to misery, frustration and relationship conflicts when you find that you don’t have profit. Carry God with you who should be your calculator.

The former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee is a United States presidential candidate. The former Governor has many difficult situations on the road - from debates with his opponents on the campaign trail to speeches in town halls. How can he perform such hard tasks without much failure?

The former Governor Mike Huckabee carries a pocket Bible with him in his briefcase. He reads at least a proverb and meditates on a chapter of psalms every day. He prays and asks for God’s help before any public event.

God who is helping the former Governor wants to help you also. When you read his word, and meditate on it, he will show his light to shine in your difficult times.

Proverbs 4:12 says, “When you walk you will not stumble and when you run your steps will not be hindered.”