Presence > Provisions

Tinku Thompson Updates

Hello Friends and Family,

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

October 2023 was a busy month with many things happening. We hosted our first-ever church region convention, which was a great blessing. Many things are happening around the world also.

We live in strange times. This year, I have encountered people who live in abundant provisions and also saw people who do not have enough to eat. In Africa, I met people who ate only once a day and saw many people on the streets who did not have anything to eat. I have also seen people in other places who have abundant food and do not think about what to eat. Their problem is which one to eat.

Many times, we are too concerned about our needs and wants. Our prayers are primarily full of provision requests. I was reading a book and studying, and I got to look at the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. It is commonly referred to as the Lord’s prayer and can be found in Mathew 6 and Luke 11. Many people pray it ritualistically and sincerely every day. Many do not pray it as they think it will make them traditional Christians.

When we look at the Lord’s prayer, it starts with things concerning God and His presence in our lives. Then it gets to our provisions or needs. This may be simple, but honest evaluation reveals that we often do not even ask for God’s presence or His glory. We spend the entire time praying for us or ours. That shows we desire and care for our provisions more than the presence and glory of God.

This has challenged me and made me intentional with personal and public prayers. I felt that our prayers reflect our heart’s real desires. It is not forcing but being intentional that we value and desire God’s presence more than his provisions.

The Lord’s Prayer pattern.

1. God’s glory and presence -

   1. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

   2. God’s kingdom comes.

   3. God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

2. Our provisions -

   1. Give us today our daily bread. - Daily dependence and thankfulness for provisions.

   2. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors - we need forgiveness.

   3. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one - protection from temptations and evil one.

We must start by focusing on God’s glory and presence in our lives. We should not ignore that and focus on provisions. Our prayers should not be provision-centered. We need to pray for our needs but we should not ignore the greater thing.

Let us desire and pray for God's presence rather than all the provisions we can ever get in this world.

✍️Quotes of this edition

Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer. — Charles Finney

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Lab results are mostly stable. In December, I will be going back for annual tests.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Thriving Talk

    • Spiritual Disciplines - YouTube Link

    • My Church and My Hopes - YouTube Link

    • AI, Faith & ChatGPT - YouTube Link

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • English

      • Authentic - Authentic Community

      • Training for Godliness - Prayer

      • Training for Godliness - Celebration

      • Training for Godliness - Confession

      • Training for Godliness - Worship

    • Malayalam

      • Costly Mistakes - ചെലവേറിയ തെറ്റുകൾ

      • Final Words - അവസാന വാക്കുകൾ

      • Empowering Anointing - ശാക്തീകരണ അഭിഷേകം

      • Anointing Before Assignment - നിയമനത്തിന് മുമ്പുള്ള അഭിഷേകം

    • Hindi Songs

      • Deep Jale - दीप जले - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

      • Aye Khudaya - ऐ ख़ुदाया - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

      • Aasmani Khushi Se - आसमानी ख़ुशी से - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Relationship with God Matters

      • Approach God with Confidence

    • Malayalam

      • Empowered - അധികാരപ്പെടുത്തി

    • Others

      • Capturing the Magic: First Snow of 2023 Minnesota

      • WWinter'sReturn: Snow is Back!

      • A Colorful Journey: Fall 2023 in Minnesota

📚Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

• Theology AI Blog

• PPilgrim'sThoughts

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Reflection and writing.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• 7 Signs You Are a Counterfeit Christian

• 5 Fascinating Lessons From a ‘‘ecret’’Guest in Church Worship Services

• How to Feed Gen ZZ'sHunger for Jesus

• 3 Eras Shape Modern Missions

• Christians and the Fall of Expertise

Look upwards.