Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren

06/09/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” (John 21:6)

In Luke Ch. 5 we read that when Jesus called his disciples, he told them that he would make them “fishers of men.” In John 21, we read that Peter and other six disciples went for fishing after Jesus breathes on them saying “receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). The Bible does not explicitly mention that they went back to their old lifestyle of fishing. They might have gone for fishing—the skill they knew well—so probably they could have something to eat. But they were unable to catch anything. (John 21:3).

The disciples were the men chosen to be instrumental in God’s ministry. We may think that if they were chosen, they must be successful in everything they do. But we read in the Bible that even after they were chosen to be Jesus’s disciples, they had difficulty understanding the ministry, they had doubts, some of them ran away when Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter denied Jesus three times. But Jesus was still with them. He did not leave them even after His resurrection.

So, what do we learn?

First, despite their failure, weaknesses and shortcomings, God forgives them, restores them, and chooses to work through them. God used Moses, who said he could not speak. God used Gideon to overcome the Midianites. God used David a young shepherd boy to rescue the Israelites from the Philistines.

God uses people just like you and me—ordinary and failing people for His glory. 1 Cor. 1:26-29, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

Second, be ready to listen and obey God’s command in our failures, and inadequacies. Jesus told them, v. 6, “Throw your nets on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” Logically, we may think that if they did not catch fish on one side, why would there be fish on the other side? But Jesus gave a command. When we want Jesus to be in our lives, when we want Him to direct our lives and ministry, we must do what He tells us to do. Then we receive the blessing. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We are inadequate and unable to work on our own even if we are skilled. We need to depend on Christ to guide and empower us for His service.

Third, He will not abandon us as He did not abandon His disciples. He promised in Matthew 28:20, “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In our discouragement and failures, we may hear voices that make us think to quit, we may think we are good for nothing, we may feel useless and hopeless. But remember God is always with us, holding and carrying us into His arms, guiding us, protecting, and providing our needs.

Amen. Have a blessed week.

06/02/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

The Letter to Philippians was written by Paul to the church in Philippi. It’s a letter filled with joy and gratitude in which he is thanking the Philippians for their sacrificial giving. Even though it was a small church, it provided financial support to Paul. They supported him because they were spiritually invested in the gospel and the ministry Paul was doing in Rome.

So, Paul tells them that their gift was not in vain. God will meet their needs, according to his riches in Jesus Christ.

What did Paul mean when he told them, “my God will meet all your needs”? He did not mean that God has given us a blank check where we write our desires and wants, and it is fulfilled right away. Also, he did not mean that they will have life free of struggles and challenges. He was not preaching prosperity gospel where people turn God into vending machine in which we put money, press the button and we get what we want.

Paul is not saying that we will never go hungry or suffer want. He himself had experienced hardships many times. He wrote about his hardships in 2 Cor. 11:27, “I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

Then in Philippians 4:12 he wrote, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” From that perspective, v. 19 is a promise, not only of material provision, but also God teaching and equipping us how to live in different circumstances.

In a life full of challenges, we may find ourselves worrying about our needs. We may be concerned about our financial stability, present and future, our physical and emotional well-being especially when we go through periods of uncertainty. In such moments, we find comfort in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

The promise will be met – “according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” It will be abundant and overflowing from God’s infinite resources. It means that God can provide even in our limitation and deficits.

God’s provision is not about giving us what we want, but about giving us what is needed to fulfill His purpose for our lives.

So, what do we learn?

First, we need to trust in God’s promises, surrender our worries, and strive to align our will with His will (and not our will). Trust in His strength and not our own. Let go of our nature of controlling every situation. Instead, we need to learn to keep faith in God even when the path is not clear. Be determined to keep walking in Him, even when we feel tired and weary.

Second, God knows when we are struggling to make ends meet. But His provision is not limited to material wealth. It extends to every aspect of our life. As a Good Shepherd (according to Ps. 23), He takes care of us his sheep, He watches over us, restores our souls, and meet our needs in ways we may not have expected.

Third, learn to practice gratitude instead of complaining. Paul learned to live in content and in plenty. In every situation he was thankful. When we practice gratitude, we will notice how God is taking care of our every little thing.

Fourth, Spend more time in prayer and study His Words. This helps us to connect with God on a deeper level and understand His will for our lives and experience the peace and comfort that comes from God’s provision.

Amen. Have a blessed week.

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06/01/2026

Great day for a baseball game with Nappanee Church of the Brethren!

05/26/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to disciples and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive and instructed them about the Kingdom of God. He also told them to not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the gift—the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3-5).

We can imagine, the disciples may be afraid because of their past failures and facing uncertainty about what things would be like after Jesus’s ascension and to wait for the Holy Spirit. But Jesus assured them that they “will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (v.8). They had to wait. But their waiting was not wasted. It was time of preparation.

What kind of power would disciples receive?

The Greek word “δύναμις” (dunamis), used here is not about physical strength or muscle building, But it is about divine authority, and boldness and indwelling power of God to preach the gospel. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel. Now, to share gospel is not an easy task. It is a great responsibility given by Christ to disciples and everyone who believes in His name. It needs courage, confidence, insight, and authority as there are so many trials, temptations, persecution, doubts, fear, unbelief, and various philosophies etc.

But Jesus told disciples that they would be able to be His witnesses—when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. And, in fact, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them when they were gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2). As a result, they were able to preach gospel and were called “people who have been turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

What witness disciples were supposed to share?

It was not witness to any denomination and its great history and achievements, or any church that it is the best church in the world, or any creed or administrative order. Also, it was not only about telling but being His witnesses. The disciples were able to be His witnesses as their lives were being transformed through His teachings, the things that they learned from Jesus, saw with their very own eyes—(Crucifixion) and experienced—(Resurrection). It was witness about grace of God the Father and forgiveness of sins we have received through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and mighty work of the Holy Spirit.

We have received this great power and witness. God can work in and through us even if we feel that we are not capable. Therefore, let us pray together and witness for Christ.

Have a blessed week.

05/12/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5).

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving. It encourages us to be in the presence of the Lord with joyful heart, singing and gratitude.

There are so many reasons in our lives to be grateful to God and praise His name. Last week we focused on one of the many reasons from Ps. 100:3. We are grateful to God because He created us, we are His, the sheep of His pasture, and as a Good Shepherd, He takes care of us.

Another reason is in Ps. 100:5, “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Our praise and gratitude toward God are rooted in His goodness, His love that endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. These are unchanging truths because based on Ps. 34:8, when we take refuge in Him, we will taste and see His goodness. He is merciful toward us. He will discipline us but never cast us out when we repent.

His love endures forever basing on John 3:16, because out of His immense and immeasurable love for us, He sent His son for us so that when we believe in Him, we do not perish (do not see the second death) but have eternal life. In Him we have received forgiveness of our sins and new transformed life.

His faithfulness continues through all generations because we are called His children and heirs ('if we share in His sufferings, we also share in His glory' Rom. 8:16-17), He is covenant keeping God to generations who love Him and keep His commandments (Deut. 7:9), He strengthens us and protects us from evil one (2 Thess. 3:3), He is faithful in every season. He is same yesterday, today and forever (Ps. 102:27, Heb. 13:8).

Therefore, let us enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Let us purposefully be in His presence leaving aside worries, struggles and failures. Let us experience His marvelous grace and love. Let us praise and be thankful to God, by focusing on what we have rather than what we lack. Our gratitude toward God will help us to grow in our relationship with Him.

Amen. Have a blessed week.

05/10/2026

Thank you to the community for supporting our fundraiser for The Center yesterday. Thank you to Brethren in Christ and Nappanee Church of the Brethren for working with us to make it happen. All is greatly appreciated!!

05/05/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:1-3).

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving. It encourages us to be in the presence of the Lord with joyful heart, singing and gratitude.

There are so many reasons in our lives to be grateful to God and praise His name. One of the many reasons is mentioned in v. 3, “Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.” We are his. We are his people. He is our Creator and He has made us with a purpose to walk in Him and His ways. He is not only our creator, but He is our sustainer too.

As a good shepherd (Ps. 23), He provides pasture to us (sheep). He protects us and makes sure that we are in a safe place. As a sheep, we cannot protect ourselves, therefore, as a watchful shepherd, He watches over us. He is our redeemer. We need to follow Him because He leads us in safety to protect us from evil.

For these reasons and His faithfulness towards us, we must worship the Lord with gladness. When we know and accept that He is our God and Creator, who created us with a purpose, we will praise and worship Him with a joyful noise and gratitude. We will not remain silent (even though sometimes we worship Him in silence), but vocally express our gratitude with singing, music, dance, and clapping.

Amen. Have a blessed week.

04/21/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:1, 4).

The gardening season begins with spring and summer. Many of us begin planting seeds, water them and take care of plants so that they produce many fruits. Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser.” God the Father is the vine dresser. Jesus is the vine from which the branches grow (v. 5). And we are the branches. And as His disciples, if we want to produce fruit, we must remain connected to Jesus the true vine.

What does the Father do as the vinedresser? Jesus said, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2).” Those who love gardening knows what pruning and cutting off branches mean. God, as the gardener, prunes and shapes us as we grow in Him (v. 2). Because separation from the vine makes the branches stop bearing fruits. It withers and then it is thrown into the fire (v.6).

So, to bear fruits, we need to abide in Jesus the true vine. And as we bear fruits, the God the Father will prune us so that we become more fruitful. As a wise gardener, God knows how, when and what to prune, so that the plant (we) will stay as healthy as possible.

What does that mean? It is written in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” So, whenever we face suffering, adversity, persecution, struggles and challenges, it is intended for our growth. We can surely trust God that He is pruning us for our good.

Pruning is painful and makes us uncomfortable. But it is necessary. Pruning is a part of the sanctification process, in which God removes our impurities and helps us to grow spiritually. As it is written in Hebrews 12:10-11, “…but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”.

The important question that we need to ponder upon is: how do we react or respond during times of pruning? Do we get angry at God and turn away from His Ways? If so, we need to remember that a branch that does not remain in the vine cannot bear fruit and it withers. We cannot bear fruit on our own. “…apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). A dead branch that is cut off from the True Vine cannot bear fruit.

But if we choose to remain in Him with faithfulness, we have assurance that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). Also, as it is written in John 15:7, when we remain in Him and in His Words, whatever we ask that is according to His purpose, it will be done for us. However, He is not like genie in a bottle. But when we abide in Him, we begin to learn what God wants. We learn to discern His purpose when we walk in Him. Our prayers will align with God’s will. Therefore, let us listen and obey Jesus, when He said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you… (v. 4).”

Amen. Have a blessed week.

04/19/2026

This Saturday...see you there!!

04/14/2026

Devotion by Pastor Vivek.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

Inheritance is something we try to leave for our family. We make best efforts to work efficiently so that we can leave something, whether it be house, or property, or farm or money or family treasure etc., to our children or loved ones. We pass ownership or inheritance by creating a Will.

In Matt. 5:5 we read, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Two thoughts to ponder upon—First, what does it mean to be meek? And second, how the meek will inherit the earth?

First, to be meek does not mean to be weak or naïve or passive or suffer from an inferiority complex. The Greek word “praus” used here means a person who is not controlled by one’s power and authority, but he/she exercise authority with respect and humbleness. To be meek means to trust God with faithfulness and not to do things the way we want. To be meek means to acknowledge our limitations and imperfections.

Meekness is about being ready to listen and to learn. The meek person sees himself/herself as servants of God and do not boast or think highly of oneself. Paul wrote in Rom. 12:3, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

To be meek, according to James is: “You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls” (James 1:19-21).

Second, ‘meek will inherit the earth, not in a sense of physical property (although it is a blessing to inherit or own a property). Inheritance of earth can be understood in two ways:

(1) it is written in Psalm 25:9, “He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way.” Therefore, the one who is meek and humble receive a blessing to discern God’s ways. God always leads us in a right path—in our walk with Him, our studies, career, and life on the earth.

(2) It can also be understood as an apocalyptic future: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Rev. 21:1). Therefore, those who are meek—submit their life to God’s leading will inherit the new kingdom coming to earth.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Amen. Have a blessed week.