HUMAN ARCHITECTURE

Caption: FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Hymn: Into your hands we commend our spirit
Reference: Luke 17:26
Importance: Healing by faith
Story: Human Architecture
Testimony: Roman Protestant

GOOD NEWS
Luke 17:26"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. I got this strange message on an even more strange spiritual trip. I have read and heard many stories and illustrations on Noah and his ark, but always missed the point.
Generally most elders talk about the boat Noah was asked to build, take the animals in, shut the door and then it rained for 40 days. They would talk about every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was saved, and those with him in the ark. The story would end like every other fairy tale, “they all lived happily ever after” and then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
I am closing in to forty years of my life as a meaningless Christian when suddenly I remembered the verse
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man”. I began to decode the message and would like to share the same light with everybody. Just like God commanded Noah, he remained faithful to God, he enjoyed heavenly security. What do I get from all this? Imagine that if God commanded 40 years ago, He needed another ark 5 feet 6 inches tall, 36-26-36 in size, 60.2 kgs in weight. Remember the accuracy of His commandment could be seen by human standards forty years later. Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Here the ark is ‘I’, ‘you’ is me and the ‘whole family’ is myself.
Just as God promised there will never be a flood like that ever again, He kept his promise to Noah. But the commandment He gave forty years ago is of a human ark by size and weight I definitely fit into his brilliant work of human architecture. We all get a call for obedience, but are we listening? That is the question I want to pursue and so I find the answers in the New Testament Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
I may have not seen any flood in all the years of my life but I have seen terrorism, recession, plagues, environmental disasters, dysfunctional families, spiritual warfare flooding from the window of my ark. The Lord speaks to me to set the dove free, my dove is my faith and He has commanded a time to free that faith. The first time I set my faith free it may return back to my ark, knowing that it is not the right time to offshore. The second time I set my faith free, it may come back to me with some feedback. The third time I set my faith free and if it comes back to me with a token of love, this shore is meant for me.
We all are arks of different colors, creed, size and weight, we all have different views of floods from our window, but God has established a covenant for all of us, and most of all He will fulfill His promise. For Noah it rained forty days, for me it rained forty years because unlike Noah who was perfect, faithful, and obedient instead of being all this I kept asking God, “why me?” I would have easily been consumed by the world outside had God not chosen me. If we keep thinking who, what, when and why, we may just see the wrong side of the window, but if we are perfect, faithful and obedient, it is mentioned in the following verses:
1 Peter 3:20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
2 Peter 2:5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
John 17
Jesus Prays for Himself
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

THE ROAD TO ALWAR

Caption: HUGS ARE MEANT FOR TWO
Hymn: Lord I’m coming home

Reference: Mark 5:34

Importance: Healing Relationships

Story: Finding the way

Testimony: Roman Protestant

GOOD NEWS
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.

The day I discovered my husband's racing habit, I gave up visiting the Church. My husband would spend our time, money and energy on a Cole book. My husband knew everything about horses, the Cole book was like his Bible, he never left it, every time he lost everything he would stand more convincing for his next victory.
Gurgaon may be as much as a blessing to some, known for its shortage of electricity, water, humanity and ofcourse no racecourse. It was an ideal dumping ground where I could dump my husband or dump his racing habit. It was a place I was mentally preparing my own sacrificial alter to slay him down.

I remember all the Saturdays, when families planned time with bonding, preparing for Sundays or planning for the future. He would plan for the Derby like a surprise honeymoon he has never taken me to. There were times I would give him all the money I had thinking he would lose everything and that would be the end of all our troubles. It never ended my troubles but only increased them. Our way of life were race driven, if he won we could pay the pending bills. He never knew the importance of vaccinating children at relevant times, he only knew about the weight and height of horses and jockeys and making his favorite list. The lies all elders tell us that once you have children of your own fathers mend their ways. Two beautifully gifted children and that horrible bit of advice never mended his gambling nature. I lived in this hell miserably for almost two decades.
One night after a few weeks in Gurgaon, I was on spiritual suspension trip. I rejected God, I was so fully justified with his non existence that I started saying Jesus I hate you, I must have said it about a million times every moment that was passing me by. Due to constant praying and meditation, it was very difficult for me to say it because sometime I would begin to say the “Our Father” subconsciously. So I would have to start saying Jesus I hate you all over again. The next morning my husband receives a call for an interview. He still thinks that I am Mother Theresa, he does not know I had rejected God. Unable to confront me with spiritual requests, he asks my daughter to pray for him. I heard that man talking for the first time about prayer. I objected to any kind of prayer, telling him that even if God knocks on that door he would never recognize him. Just then the door bell rang, a smiling Pastor greets with saying, “Praise the Lord.”

Praise the Lord, I am rejecting you for reasons unknown, but every time you call me I will be there. Soon there was going to be a conference in Alwar and Liny, Pastor Thilak's wife convinced me that it would be a great break from the regular routine. She had hardly any idea that my regular routine was so filled with miseries that I wanted to break free from everything. This seemed to be my best escape route to freedom. I, me and my children were to leave never to return back to Gurgaon, never let any body know where we were heading. All the known places for my husband to find our whereabouts were written off I was planning for some place unknown to anybody. I had packed all wash and wear dresses, I boarded the train to Alwar to check my children’s comfort zone in passenger trains, to my surprise they loved it. Now I can get lost any where without the kids throwing a tantrum and no body would find us.

Once at Alwar, we met Pastor Thilak and his family who drove down. They got us a special room, our day would begin with breakfast, a brief prayer, fast forwarded testimonies, and doctrines about standing firm supported by the scriptures by well educated speakers. Liny was asked to take care of the Children’s camp and for some reason rejected it publicly. She was with me all the time, marking verses in my Bible, she talking to me the meanings of certain things I did not understand. She was so immersed talking God to me she had no idea about my plans. She introduced me to everybody she knew, many saw us together thought that I was her daughter. One of the people she introduced me to was Dr Silas C Nair. After hearing him talk so much about the scriptures, I wanted him to know the realities that I was going through. Secretly take his blessings and runaway forever.

Dr Silas C Nair did not open any Bible as I cried my pains orally to him, he never convinced me about anything Biblically speaking. All he did was share his testimony about his early life which was very similar to my husband’s current way of living. He prayed over me, as if he was talking to God on his cell phone. Once the prayer call was over he turned to me like he was about to hand over a prescription of my daily dose. I still remember the twinkle in his eyes, telling me to forgive my husband like child, and when I return to give my husband a big, big, hug. I secretly in my mind said to myself that I would give my husband that hug if I met him in heaven.

The Believer’s party was over, we all had our bags packed, I was ready for my journey to freedom. Liny comes looking for me and tells me that we are leaving with them in their car. My entire planning was squashed that very moment. I did not want to return. The kids were already making noise in the car, happy to go home. Since I was so sure about my plans to get back into the train I had no back up plans as Pastor Thilak and Liny were now going to leave me and my kids right in front of the door of my house, a place where I never wanted to return.

On arrival back to square one, Pastor Thilak honked my husband out of the door to announce our safe and sound journey. Once inside at home the kids instead of searching for the remote control to put on their favorite channel were talking to their dad about the sweet meats they brought for them, they seem to be in full control of their situation. I was full of remorse and had nothing to give him that day. I remembered Dr Silas C Nair words to give him a hug, thinking that a small little hug won’t change my mind, I gave it. Believe it or not a small little hug changed my life. My husband is the head of the family, my son is the man of the house, my daughter is the head of our home ministry and me all I do is BLOG (BLESSED is the LORD, OUR GOD) all the time.
It's prayer time folks, Heavenly father, we worship you, we give you thanks for your glory, all honor is yours Almighty Father, I have seen your wonderous ways of taking care of me through Pastor Thilak, his wife Liny and Dr Silas C Nair there are many to be saved and the workers are few, we need the manna for saving our souls. Lord let your blessings reign on them and abundantly flow into the garden of etenity to all who seek thy kingdom first, forever and ever Amen.

THE DOUBLE PORTION

Caption: THE DOUBLE PORTION
Hymn: What a friend I have in Jesus
Reference: Isaiah 1: 18
Importance: God’s Gift
Story: Painless Deliverance
Testimony: Roman Protestant

GOOD NEWS
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord
“Though your sins are like scarlet”
They shall be white as snow;
Though they are red as crimson,
They shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18.

When I knew I had conceived I was given an open invitation by TATA AIG, to head its Marketing Division at a ransom I could ever ask for. This was the moment of truth for me, a reward of God’ blessing for all the trials and temptations a woman has to undergo in the Corporate arena. Being a socially challenged atmosphere, I would give my best shot opposing Americanism, globalization, and substituting them for Indianism and localization. Then head back home with a couple of cigarette packets and a bottle of rum to let go the frustration of the day. This drunkenness would help me get a sound sleep, instead of dreaming about my tasks all through the night. By now I was addicted to this routine as well as pregnant. The two choices glaring in front of me to accept or to reject, to accept the offer of appointment meant to reject God’s gift. To accept God’s gift and to reject smoking and drinking. That day I brought a bigger bottle than usual, doubled the cigarette packets, sat alone in my room conversing with the Holy Spirit. In all that drunken jargon, I opened up my books of testimonies from my heart and justified all my situations, I promised to offer God my first born.

The next morning I made up my mind that I was not going to let my career graph affect my biological clock. I was going ahead with the pregnancy secretly, because if any of my friends, family or even my husband visited my doctor, the consequences would have been ultimately to go in for abortion without doubt or else frighten me with the consequences of addiction which I had planned to give up. I tried giving up my addiction every day. I’d look at the Bible that was gifted by my Uncle, talk to it but never open it. I was very shy of reading the Bible because it showed me a lot of adultery happening in the Holy book but knew it contained the word of God. I would pour out the spirit into the glass, drink it like as if it was the last one, it was obviously more potent than all the others. The increase on my waistline was getting more and more conspicuous, my husband’s first thought was to abort, and then the next thought was to see what happens. His thoughts never impacted me because I always thought that he was careless and I was carefree.

As the days went fleeting by so did the numbers of last pegs. I was now closing in to my final round from the monthly check-ups to the weekly checks-up. The heat was on, I took the Bible by the cover and burnt it as I could not kick out any of my habit. While doing so I also blew the final whistle on God telling him that I am burning the book and that if He chooses me He shall gift it to me again. Not just a habitual drinker I was, I used to habitually keep saying the, “Our Father.” Over the hundred times I prayed in my mind and even if I didn’t, subconsciously it would keep running into my head. I was finally checked into the maternity ward. I brought myself a room so that I could drink and smoke when the Doctor was not on her rounds. Instead of asking my husband to get something for the new born, I asked my husband to get some incense sticks to cover up the smoking in the room.

My gynaec was a very able, experienced and a Christian Adventist doctor. The next room was occupied by ladies I got to know from the past few months of regular visits. There was a lot of confusion going on in the Maternity wards some women were crying and wailing, most of the ladies going in for C-section and I was sipping into my Old Monk. It was close to 11:00 pm the Doctor I was hoping was doing her final round so I could drink and sleep. I sipped my last drink and as I sat on the bed, I thought I sat on some water I must have mindless dropped while going to the loo. I stood up to check it out and I was dripping and soaking wet. That was it, all that I had imagined the screaming, wailing the pain and the blood was about to happen to me. People all over would meet me and tell me what their grandmothers must have told them that once you see the baby you will forget all the pain. I remember telling the Doctor that I have seen too much pain in my life and I can bear any more happening to me. By now she knew the tantrum I would throw at just seeing the injection, I would scream like as if I delivered an elephant. I would joke with her saying that I shall pay only for a painless delivery. As I was being wheeled into the labor room, I felt as if I was in my coffin and people around me were taking me to the grave. In these few moments I could remember all the things I was sorry and thankful for and if I had some more time I would do it personally before the gates closed on me.

Once the doors were shut, the operation theater looked like heaven, fumigated, spic and span. The attendants who received me in looked like masked angels; my Doctor looked like the Archangel and my husband looked like the angel who was going to fight my cause somewhere up there. I shut my eyes and hoping I was dreaming and out came the baby boy it was exactly 12:00 midnight. I still remember the light surrounding the two of them as she handed me the baby boy, it was so magnificent that none of the special effects could ever be created by man. The delivery process was absolutely natural, absolutely painless, and absolutely glorified. The baby boy free by all defects and healthy by all medical standards.

On my way back to my room they crossed my stretcher through children’s ward, for some reason that moment did not pass, it stood still. I saw a room full of babies in incubators, many of them on drips of saline and blood. Their hands and feet strapped with needles as big as their veins, tubes from the nose going into nowhere. Some of nurses were drawing blood and others were injecting the helpless bodies. Tiny heads being bandaged by nurses who ears are plugged as the babies crying painfully. Anxious parents lined outside the ward many of theirs heads drooping in tiredness, some talking in hushed voices about a baby who did not make it. A nurse handing out a lifeless bundle of momentary joy into the arms of mourning parents for the final rites.

As I slipped into a deep slumber with my gift, I remembered all the thirty five Christmas nights where many slept with Santa Claus putting something into the stocking or under the bed, but I had none. Tonight I have received the most beautiful gift of my life, all wrapped up, all real, Santa Claus was out of my mind and I was filled with the heavenly presence of God our father. Soon early morning all those who knew came, saw and left. My sister and my niece too came down to see the baby, and she came prepared with a name. I was to call my son Kabir and it sounded pretty cool than the one I had thought of. My mother-in-law suggested the name Shayan, if she had just added that motherly bit into my life; probably I would choose to name him so. Soon I paid in plastic the entire hospital bills in full and also paid in cash for the duster, cleaner, sweeper, and many people I did not see at all. I was glad to go back home.

Back home my hot seat wired to the desktop, internet, clients, and my laptop was my son. In my free time I would do research on various subjects but curiously wanted to know the meanings Kabir and Shayan. I googled my way typing the word Kabir and it meant magnificent or great, and when I keyed in the name Shayan meaning deserving or worthy. So we decided go public with this name Kabir. In all this I can just imagine a neatly packed parcel labeled from the sender who is Almighty to me a mindless drunken monk who had more alcohol in my body than blood, well delivered! Three cheers, to getting high on my gift, my alcohol bottles were replaced by milk bottles from the moment I received my gift. I was alcohol free, no urges, no cravings, no shivering, and no withdrawal symptoms, I just did not feel like drinking any more.

Kabir is now five going on six, his wisdom is much too much for the size of brains. He surely does not like sitting in for all the prayer meetings, but he is the first to love and serve everybody. He has mastered the art of living, loving and teaching his father. He calls himself the man of the house and makes sure he takes care of all the mess he has created. The only word he can read from the Bible is God, and in seeking the word God he has flipped all the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations innumerable times. He right now sitting on my lap as I am rhythmically keying in all the words, he is reading out each and every alphabet. He is also knows the meaning of blogging. Since he does many things by himself and does not need to cling to me always. I spend time with the Bible which I was gifted and autographed by Liny Pappu on the 5th September 2008, exactly five years after I had burnt the first book. Kabir was born on the 24th September 2003. By the way on that day I recieved not just one Bible but two Bibles, the other one was autographed by Pastor Pappu for my husband, a DOUBLE PORTION from the Lord.

IOU (A PROMISSORY PRAYER)
Lord, I promise you right now that I bring into my life the word of God back; from now on the word of God will be my priority. In my thoughts words and deeds, I shall bring forth the word of God and spread the good news to all whom I come across. Lord I come into an agreement that from now on the good news will be a practicing priority, the word of God will be the heart of our lives in thinking, living and giving. We pray that your power will rest on us mightily by the rewards of salvation and work on our strength on earth as it is in heaven. Lord we remember your first blessing to mankind, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Lord bless us too mightily, bless our homes and fill it with salvation. Bless our children with salvation and protection. With your blood shed for our salvation and with your grace we shall prosper in what you have given us. We believe in your promise to seek kingdom of God first and all is planned will be added to us, Lord do not forsake us, but forgive us so that we may receive the abundance of your promise and live to fulfill the promise we make to you today. I ask this in the name of the Lord. Amen

GOD CHOOSES, MAN OPPOSES

Caption: FINDING MOSES
Hymn: What a mighty God we serve
Reference: Exodus 21
Importance: Across to deliverance
Story: Modern Moses
Testimony: Roman Protestant
Yes, I want to see, feel and hear Christ in everything I see, feel and hear. I am now not looking for goals, responses, landmarks or to impress anybody, but I am sincerely seeking the Lord in everything I do. If you look at the beginning of every alphabet that goes in giving me a format of my writings and put them together and you will find CHRIST written in all capitals. God is good and His ways are not mysterious to me any more as a seeker but a revelation of His mighty plans unfolding. By now I am so convinced that when Moses and his people were graced by a cloud, the same God is still making modern day Moses and is still gracing us today.
From Darkness To Light:Ex 10:23
No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
The Financial crack is just deepening, the economic meltdown is even reflecting in the begging bowl. The stock markets are down. Hallelulia, to those who are truly blessed and saved from the financial plagues and are looking for better business opportunities. The promises of the Lord has not changed for any one of us even today. Amidst all the Global crisis the Light is still recieved in homes unaffected by what's going on in the outside world. When many less fortunate may ask us just as they asked Moses, "What is his name?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." This was about two thousand years ago when the Lord called, "Moses, Moses", today the Lord is calling each one of us by our names, and is telling us, "I AM WHO I AM." And as I have promised to bring you out of misery to a land flowing with milk and honey.
When we left Gurgaon, we paid our last visit to Pastor Pappu Thilak and family. He prayed over us and I still crisply remember his last words to us that if he could only spend some more time with us, he would release us like a pair of doves, he prayed for us and then we left. We left with all our belongings in a truck and since we were not sure of safety of the belongings in the truck, we sat in the truck along with the driver.
While we slept through the entire over night journey, Pastor Thilak and his wife Liny were restless all through the night, they could not imagine us traveling the entire journey in a goods truck along with the kids. I and the kids were fast asleep; I thought my husband must have been awake to keep a watch on the driver, and since he was to begin his first day of work that day, I asked if he got a chance to take a nap. To my amazement he told me that he too was fast asleep and he had no clue if the driver was sleeping or not. The moment it was close to dawn we touched our destination, and we halted the truck, at that very moment we received a call from Liny asking us if we were safe. Believe you me that was one of the most pleasant journeys we ever had. If I really get a chance to meet that truck driver again to find out if he too was taking a nap along with us.
We kept in touch with Pastor and his family over the phone and via emails and every Friday we would plan to visit them in Gurgaon, but kept postponing as the journey back will be too tiring. After a few months of working we managed to buy a luxury car, and we wanted to drive back to Gurgaon to meet Pastor and his family, but another overnight journey, just even thinking of it we postpone it again.
In February, we got a call from PastorThilak that he was coming over along with his family and brother sometime in March. He requested if we could have the Prayer Meeting at out house and then they would attend Church and leave immediately. We were very excited and starting counting the days of his arrival, since event planning has still not left my system. I wanted to plan the best ever event I have ever done in my life. So I started designing cards, I researched the Bible for some impressive quotes, fine tuned my designing skills, whilst getting more creative with my abilities in wanting to make it look different and exciting since the Church we are attending needed an awakening.
We got to know that the Pastor of the Church Mr B T John had expired recently; his wife had gone abroad to be with her children and so the elders of the Church were now the care takers. Every meeting we had with the Church, we felt more burdened, some messages given by the elders were terribly misleading, some went way above the head. I remember telling one of elders is that we need to feel lighter after coming to church but he gracefully ignored my request. I could not discuss this heavy feeling with my husband who had just accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, but I tried my best to keep encouraging his efforts in at least visiting the Church and to ignore what he can’t accept and to work on his new found strength.
We informed all the elders about Pastor Thilak's arrival, and they were also overjoyed with his coming and they started asking me more about Pastor and his brother. Finally I called Liny and asked her which of the brothers is Pastor coming with and while she was telling me the story, I was shaking from within.
Pushpan Thilak is one of the eldest brothers of the Thilak family and he was also the first in the family, neighborhood, in the village and in the city to accept Jesus Christ. He is now living abroad with his wife who is Finnish, and his children are all grown up and he is also a gifted speaker invited by many Churches. Pushpan was baptized in the Church we are visiting by Mr B T John the founder member of the Church, and will be in India and one of his visits is to pay his respects.
Something within me was telling that this is God’s plan for me. When I studied the book of Exodus, it makes me think of Pastor Thilak as today's Moses, Pushpan as Aaron and of course we are His people. For me Gurgaon was my final choice, but we moved out from there. It was in Gurgaon that materialistically was the biggest hole in my pocket, but meeting Pastor Pappu spiritually fulfilling. The meeting with Pastor Pappu and family was not just accidental, miraculous. Our moving out was a part of Gods plan and not ours. Our plans to give Pastor Pappu and family a surprise visit, not so surprising never worked out. Finally this brother Pushpan whom out of the blue had been baptized from the same Church that we are visiting is just a yardstick away from my new house, will be soon visiting us. And last but not the least Pastor Pappu is the youngest of the Thilak family and was encouraged by Pushpan his elder brother into the faith have now finalized their plans to come over is not just coincidental.
This time I will be a witnessing the biggest event of my life as my husband has been contemplating his baptism versus Pushpan a man who was baptized almost half a century ago come face to face and Pastor Pappu who continues to endure in the Holy Spirit all under one roof. None of us have made these plans as it is not possible for each of us to come together at any given point of time.
My creativity is now captured in the form of invitational cards and inside it I added a few more pages of Pastor Pappu’s testimony. I have just realized that I am no great event planner, probably the worst planner but when the Almighty calls all things fall into place, for God is the greatest event planner. I dont have to worry any more if I am sequencely right or biblically correct, but I surely do know that I will be significantly right because I believe that the Lord helps me to speak and will teach me what to say. God is still sending modern day Moses and Aarons empowering them with His words to reach out to people like who are threatened by circumstancial plagues to a land flowing with milk and honey.
Praise be to our Lord for His love endures forever!!

A Woman After God’s Own Heart

The world will be celebrating International Woman’s Day 2009 and there are still a million women crying alone or still smiling with hidden hurt and pain. Domestic abuse is a reality which many women cannot fathom their feelings and begin living in guilt or perhaps blame themselves for the destiny they are facing.
My sister was 25 years when she married a professor. She herself was one of the most favorite teachers of her time. She had good looks, brains and the most eligible lady of the town. She was the first Girls Guide leader. She looked stunning on the day of her marriage, confidant yet shy, she surely that day broke many a hearts because she was good at refusing them which she did gracefully and tactfully. Her marriage to a Professor was the end of all that glamour and shine. She was a strong woman; she hid all the abuse she had being going through from the first night itself. She had three beautiful children who were all silent witnesses to the domestic crimes they were being nurtured into. I remember seeing her scars and when my parents questioned her about them, she would make up stories of being accidentally hurt. Being an excellent sportswoman, we all easily believed in her. Her fears came in the open when her children started to learn how to speak. My sister who had unblemished and glowing skin was all scarred and each scar had a different story to tell. She was being battered every night by her husband; most of the violence grew because of the silence she kept. She herself was her only consoler and she was under some strong Christian belief she grew up into, that God knows the best.
I was the youngest in my family of nine brothers and sisters; she was the eldest and the smartest of the lot. She had been more of a mother to me than an elder sister. She always took me along wherever she would go, and I’d follow her like a little lamb. I still remember her taking me for a ride, I was twelve then and her children were 3, 5 and 7 years. I asked her why is she going through so much pain, and her answer was that God was testing her. I felt terrified for that moment, does God want us to suffer and the answer from deep within came out loudly was NO. God does not want us to suffer; He does not want us to be in pain and to get all those weird thought from her head, that what is going on will be right in some time.
“Then what people will say if I leave my husband,” she asked. “Do they feel your pain, your hurt or are they helping you, so why do you want to listen to people anyway”. That day I still remember I on my own would never have the guts to talk like the way I was talking. And I told her that she must leave her husband’s house and she can take care of her children herself, and mom, dad and all the brothers and sisters would help only if she could leave her husband alone. That night she ran away from her husband’s house with two children and the eldest one she left behind, and she joined us at my parents place. Later her eldest son also ran away from his father’s house to live with his mother.
She started living her life all over again. We all contributed towards helping looking after the children and I loved my sister being back at home. She started working as a teacher again and her confidence levels grew as she saw her children growing up in a healthy and safe environment. When she moved out to live in her own house, I too left with her, I loved living with her and I still love to be her little lamb.
Her eldest son expired at a very young age of a heart attack, her beautiful daughter who grew up on borrowed clothes, shoes, books is now working as a hostess for an airline company and the little black sheep who was called, “Kalia” for his dark looks has now grown tall, dark and a very handsome Pilot. Her husband is living with his mother and when there is no one to abuse in the house except his mother. The poor old lady I heard was once pushed off the terrace and he has not been able to change even after so many years of separation, being a famous professor or even his retirement he continues being the same.
Many rounds at the Police Stations would treat her case as a family problem, so they could not do anything much but they did make a lot of fun of these situations. I know of many such woman thinking the cops will be of help and guard them only dig a deeper wound. Many woman victims end up getting more abused than ever and return back with the thought of that a known devil is better than an unknown devil. The nights are not dark any more but more evil. Where does the woman go? Few priests have denounced the facts that they are spiritual counselors end up splashing theirs lusts on the victimized woman. Now the woman has to deal with the so called holy man as well as her husband, father, relative or a close family friend. Woman can sometimes make it even worse than what the man has already made it but treat themselves to another gossip story to boast about. A psychiatrist can list his medical bills and make you a life time patient all for the cause of service to humanity. A marriage councilor is working on the Governmental Statistics for dysfunctional families.
When I went through the same trauma my sister went through, I had already prepared myself never to look for help from these quarters. I relied on my sister or brother for their help but my husband was too smart he almost got them believing in him. I remember singing in all the times when I was being tried by my husband, family and friends, “How Great Thou Art,” and in all the misery from being victimized to being the accused I would sing the song even more profoundly. Even in my darkest moments, I sang more loudly. I would ask the Lord to show me the way, just when I was going to give it all up, my children, my husband and everything, I got signs, messages, and symbols very clearly and boldly “Jesus is the way,” all through the journey to reconcile with my own family.
Today, we are living together, but the heavenly father did not leave us alone, He sent us angels in the form of Pastor Pappu Thilak and Liny his lovely wife to accept Christ as our Savior, and the day we accepted our family life to be led and guided more spiritually. In a very brief period, our families got closer to each other. We hardly got to know them we had to leave for another city and I was happy that the family was together but I had serious hidden fears. The fear of being alone again, my haunting memories, and a falling spirit. And I received another message, “The Lord is my shepherd.” This song kept coming into my head like a stuck record, another prayer meeting an elder was reading the same thing, “The Good Shepherd,” and I did still not understand the message. The other day I opened my mail box and I had an received an email titled, “The Shepherd,” these messages were getting stronger and stronger till I opened the Bible, read Psalm 23, it made me ponder on my own life and a confirmed message like as if He was not just consoling me but convincing me.
A psalm of David.
I asked the Lord for help, to be my guide and there is no better guide than He
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
I asked the Lord to establish a place for me in my family,
And a place to be restful
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters,
When I was fighting a losing battle, He showed me ways that I could walk, the U-turn I took back home in His name made my paths clear.
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I would reach home, my enemies will never spare me, help me to face the people that once made me suffer to cope with them and to give me strength. Lord in my weakness be with me.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
I have no strength to face any more turmoil, or hardships, or suffering, I have had more pain than what I could have, and I can’t take it any more. Lord free me from all the mental stress and agony and set my spirit free
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
When I asked the Lord, “How long I have suffered, will this happiness be short lived?” and as you will read in verse 6.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Surely, we have a truly great God and how great Thou art?

I MADE MISTAKES...

Precautions do not necessarily mean that you are completely safe, but you are in a potentially dangerous situation. We all seem to take precautionary measures for everything whether it is eating, sleeping, drinking, or simply living, we are being precautious all the time. Most of the time we spend of worrying about these situations we face everyday of our lives. We fill our lives full of anxiety, tension and unpleasantness. The world is spending a fortune discovering gadgets and gizmos for a secured future, security products are sold in millions. Insurance companies create various covers for security; it is a multimillion dollar business world wide and still no guarantees.
A rich man wakes up worried thinking of adding that extra percent to his income. On the other hand a poor man wakes up worried for food to feed his already hungry family. No matter how rich or poor, everybody has to carry his own cross. What is it that will keep us safe and secured? As a matter of fact, these old proverbs make a lot of sense, but can be only sensed when a situation arises, “Carry your own cross.”
For me I am a virtually worried person, I can forget to put the gas stove off, lose my keys, keep the geyser on, misplace my wallet, leave the laptop at the airport, go shopping and forget the bags in the rickshaw. I do this all the time but have never lost anything. I wear a gem studded cross with me all the time, and pray the, “Our Father” all the time, this one prayer keeps me safe and secured that no matter if I have taken the precaution or not, I am safe. The gems on the cross remind me to glorify my creator and not to fall short of His glory. Wearing the cross reminds me that He forgives my sins and protects me from all anxiety and that He gave his life so that I am set free.
A few days ago I had taken my children out for shopping, the mode of local transport is an open cycle rickshaw. The kids love sitting in them more than cars, it’s like a fun ride for them. My daughter loves dangling her otherwise fidgety legs till the ride is over. She is a very hyperactive kid, she adds to my worries, and I cant stop her from doing what she enjoys the most jumping, skipping, dancing, hopping and cant sit still for a moment. No amount of spanking has been able to stop her from doing what she wants. She loves singing her own songs, making up her own stories, and dancing to her tune.
She jumps into her favorite position in the rickshaw and starts her own banter. I keep praying all the time so that nothing goes awry and the fun continues. As we reach our destination the cycle rickshaw pulls over to the side to stop and there was a loud thud. We were banged from the behind by a car driven by a lady talking on her cellphone. That moment I could see only darkness on that bright sunny afternoon, I blanked out completely. I had a hundred thoughts flashing in my mind for that moment, my daughter, her fidgety legs and me spanking her legs to sit still, I could not see her legs.
I screamed and panicked till I could see my daughter walking to me telling me that this time it was not her fault but the aunty in the car was talking on the phone and that it was the aunty’s fault. She was scared of getting another spanking from me so she still kept her distance from me. I carried her up in my arms and kissed her legs, I held her like a winning trophy and could not let her down. I looked at the cycle rickshaw from the behind it was badly mangled and the wheels were completely twisted. The lady apologized and was negotiating the damages with the rickshaw puller while I looked at the sky, held my cross and truly amazed how great our GOD is.
That day onwards my daughter never gets a spanking for doing what she loves most, but she does get a slap or two for not finishing her food.

WHEELS OF WISDOM

WHEEL OF WISDOM FOUNDATION
“Everyone is special, special people need special attention.” Growing up is a very challenging process and a mere reflection of who we are and what we want to be? The WOW foundation lends effective support to identify and nurture creative resources especially for children and young adults who need the space to express their inborn talent.

INBORN TALENT SEARCH: To strategize sourcing, attraction, selection, training, development, retention, promotion and organization. It also incorporates drive-in performances at individual and group level. This is the first and foremost WOW Inborn Excellence Awards, provides support to the gifted individuals to participate, exhibit and demonstrate visible and effective participation. INBORN TALENT SEARCH also seeks to encourage audiences in performing arts as a learning opportunity which can be developed in a natural school environment. INBORN TALENT SEARCH coordinates various approaches to expand its horizon to showcase performing arts and leadership instincts.
TALENT BANK: This is a pool of Talent Resources effective to develop and maintain a variety of performing art forms which may be disintegrating or having lack of visibility and knowledge. TALENT BANK which is based on shared knowledge concepts may be beneficial to many other organizations. TALENT BANK will also enhance learning programs of various art forms both inside and outside school environment. TALENT BANK can also be resourceful for community projects for building a better and secured future.
TALENT NURSERY: This is a venue to learn and continue learning beyond all boundaries. It is sad but true many million children, young adults and parents do not identify or understand their natural gifted qualities. Hence much of the talent is hidden or trapped within the individual. If given an opportunity of encouragement and recognition along with the masters of knowledge helps reducing mental stress, depression, complexes and behavioral problems. The TALENT NURSERY plans to track, develop and process natural talent with children and young adults in the following manner:
· Attracting and incubating natural talent for performing arts and arts background
· Defining and managing the performing arts scope
· Training and development opportunities
· Performance Management Process
· Performing Arts Management Retention Projects
· Performance, promotion and transitioning Performance Arts
PROGRAMS
Music
Theatre
Dance
Environmental Awareness

WHERE IS GOD? A TESTIMONY

This Christmas if your list is falling short of gifts, try giving your family a bear hug filled with peace and love and wrap it up with load of love. My family was saved by a simple yet fun loving Pastor Pappu Thilak and family. Pastor Thilak born in a Hindu family has celebrated more than 25 years of Christmas ministering non believers. He aims to plant as many churches, Liny, his wife councels the ladies into the ministry. God gifted children Arpit, the eldest serves the Lord in translating the word of God to all the locals. His eager hands carry the harmonium to all the prayer meetings and his melodious fingers raps ups songs of praise. Abhishek, finger tapping the banjo and tabla gives in to the beat rendering grace of all the hymns, Sabina lends her charismatic voice and charms songs to their rhythm, Darshan the mighty drumming skilled boy can make a drum of almost everything. A spirited family to know, but when it comes to serving the Lord, they are at their best.
This is the personal testimony shared by Pastor Thilak:
November 1983 was a remarkable time for me. My brother Pushpan and his family came from England to see my mother who was sick. I had already come home from North India to look after my mother. Pushpan spent 45 days with us, the longest time I ever spent with my brother since he left home.One day we all visited one of Pushpan's friends, who was a pastor in Kerala. I was happy to go with him since I was always looking for Christians to attack because these Christians took my brother away. We stayed overnight there and had a good talk with the pastor. He explained to me what sin was, the fact that Jesus could take my sins and I didn't have to make the sacrifice of going to the temple anymore.Since the next morning was Sunday, there was a church service in a cattle shed. There I asked the Lord Jesus to forgive my sins. This was my first step in getting to know Jesus.Pushpan took every effort to get a Malayalam (my mother tongue) Bible for me in Calcutta. Ten he and his gamily went to Finland where his wife was raised. When came back to Bihar. I bound the Bible up with a couple of rubber bands and put it in a corner for good. I said to myself, "I don't have time to read this Bible. This is for the people who have time to sit, relax and read. I am busy with my temple choirs," the day I packed away the Bible, I felt like I was like I was beginning to lose my joy and peace.Two years went by and I felt like I was totally abandoned. Nobody cared for me, I thought. There was a real emptiness in me. I thought that if could move to any place that I might come back to my normal life. So I left Bihar and came to New Delhi. The next day I found a temple where I could go and worship God. I got the same position in that temple as a choir director, but my soul was thirsty like deer pants for streams of water.One day someone inside me asked, "where is your Bible and why don't you pray about your situation?" I wrote to my sister-in-law to send me Bile from Bihar.After I received the Bible, one night after all the others had gone to bed, I slowly got up and opened it. I read it for a little time and prayed. Soon after the prayer, I felt like I had a little peace. I thought that may be this is the real God who could hear my prayers.From that point on, I slowly started to make friendships with Christian people and one day I went to a church. After the church service, l some people invited me to their home for lunch. In the middle of our conversation, they said, "Thilak, you are a sinner," I said, "I know that," They told me that I should receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord today. I agreed. One of the four there prayed for me. After that I felt like the heavy burden that I was carrying had become a little lighter. When the second person prayed, the burden became lighter still. By the time the fourth person spoke to God, I could move my head very freely. I ran to my room and cried. This was the real God who took away my burdens. This was my turning point in becoming a Christian.For 6 months in the morning I went to the Church. In the evening I went to the temple. I didn't want to leave my tradition in the temple, but in order to go to the church, I had to catch the bus which goes by the temple. In the beginning I was ashamed to carry my Bible, so I would cover it with a newspaper. Just before I got into the church, I would put the newspaper in my pocket and open my Bible. When I went back home, I would cover it up again.In New Delhi, I was baptized and it was after this that the Lord started to pour out his blessings on me one after another.I went to the USA in 1986 to study business and it was there that I got a chance to grow in the Lord. When I attended a huge missions conference, Urbana '87, I dedicated my life to serve the Lord. Since then, the Lord has been directing my life to serve Him and I changed my major and went to San Jose Christian College, then to Columbia Biblical Seminary. After graduating from CBS in1996, my family ad I returned to India to tell my own people about this great guru, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom "alone" we can have salvation from our sins and eternal life.May the Lord bless you through my testimony. You may have grown up as a Hindu, Muslim or something else. If you want to see God, you must turn to Jesus Christ. I learned that only after 21 years of searching. Your may ask why I want to see God. The Bible keeps reminding us, "Prepare to meet your God" (Amos 4:12).THILAK PAPPU.If we can be of any help to you in sharing the gospel with your non-Christian friends, we would be glad to help you out.Please email us at thilakpappu@vsnl.com.
Prayer:Heavenly Father, maker of heavens and earth, we glorify thy name. You have made fishermen to cast thy holy net to save us from sin. Thank you Lord for when I was weak and had no hope at all you assigned Pastor Thilak and family to bless my broken family with cords that cannot be broken. You renewed us in faith, hope, love and salvation. Lord, grace Pappu Thilak and his loving family to continue, transform and upgrade the spiritual realism of all the church members. Lord, if you can turnaround for me and my family, thy grace is sufficiant for us. There are many more who need timely spiritual intervention, Lord open their hearts with your mercy, and seal it with words of Thy wisdom, strenghten you people with your miraculous wonders. Pray that we can nourish our ministry with the tenets of your work. We ask this in the name of the Lord, our God, Amen

BREAKING THE ICE

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.
In the journey of seeking materialistic success, our spirituality is left behind. More than counting on our blessings we count on our achievements. Success without spirituality is like a king without a crown and our achievements becomes our liabilities. We all like to try our luck with destiny; we want to give it a fast chance. Just like the fastest growing city Gurgaon, so called the Millennium City, a city with scarce water, electricity, rooms full of emptiness and dust for free.
Having just moved in with just one thing on my mind, faith as hope was excess baggage it had to be left behind. We were now looking out for opportunities, options and whatever knocks our door. My husband has been an atheist much before the Genesis, and my testimonies were merely coincidental or lucky. Through all believe or not to believe, he got a call for an interview and wanted my daughter to pray for him. I could hear everything and told him that his ego was heavier than his weight, since he weighed a little more than a hundred kilos, he couldn’t pray for himself. To which he replied that, “God is so great, He shall bring me opportunities right at my doorstep”. The doorbell rang, he opened the door and there was somebody saying, “Praise the Lord”. That was Gurgaon’s friendly neighborhood Pastor Thilak Pappu and his wife Linny, their children Arpit, Abhishek, Sabina and Darshan with a handful of invitation cards.
Pastor Thilak shared his experience on the Lord, coming from a Hindu background, he speaks so eloquently about the Bible and I make tall claims that I am born and brought up in a Christian family our Bible never moved from the Alter and if I remember it was never opened. Pastor handed me his visiting card and I saw evangelist amongst all the other things written on it and immediately asked him to evangelize my husband, and we just passed it off like a joke. I was under assumption that he could make the heavens thunder, the winds and the earth could shake as he could possibly drive the demons out of my husband and he would talk in tongues, I was sincerely looking out for some action, melodrama and everything they make movies of. From then on every visit that Pastor Thilak and Linny made there was something new happening in our lives. This time I made sure that I was not praying for myself but praying for my husband and I wanted a confirmation from the Lord that he has sent me a messenger, and I wanted to be sure of it.
On the second visit Pastor Thilak showed me some verse from the Bible which said, “You shall be set free” and said that he got this message for me, but there was no banging of the doors, or any thing weird happening so I just let this day pass off, we invited the family for dinner. It took us three days to get rid of all the dust and now we were ready for dinner with Pastor and his family, we had a good amount of experience sharing conversation and then it was time for grace before the meals and then dinner. Just as dinner was getting over, there was thunder and the winds running wild, there was such a fierce sand storm that it brought not just the dust we spent days cleaning but also sand within seconds we were carpeted with desert sand. That night I thought that God was working.
The third visit Pastor and his wife got me a Bible and not just me but my husband as well. This reminded me of a few years ago, I was so hurt about the circumstances I was living in, suffering in so much pain for no fault of mine, that I burnt the Bible I had, I destroyed the word of God with my own hands, and asked the Lord that my curses will be turned to blessings only if I am gifted the Bible again. 5th September, as Linny was writing on our Bibles I was wondering how to make the payment for one of them and they were handing out two. They seemed to be like net workers for the World Books and they had many more inside. I was really feeling ashamed to tell them that we cannot afford it, so I courageously asked them how much it would cost me. My pockets were sobbing louder that my heart throbs. Pastor Thilak and Linny impromptu said that it was a gift. This time I glanced at the doors and windows to make that they are closed so if there is any thunder or sandstorm it may just pass over us. As they handed over the Bibles to us there was something beautiful happening when we were receiving it. My husband whom I thought had an altered ego syndrome, looked like a lamb. This time I was scared as I thought that he was always possessed and something unnatural was about to happen. Pastor Thilak then asked us to come down on our knees and now was the time I was praying so loudly in my mind, that if I were given speakers wired to my mind they would surely burst. Pastor Thilak asked us to repeat after him the prayer of accepting Jesus Christ in our lives. I was repeating it but my entire focus was on my husband and I could hear him distinctly say each and every word Pastor Thilak was saying. My husband born and brought up in a backward Muslim community, so clearly and loudly saying each and every word was mind-blowing.
My husband was called for an interview to Mumbai, Pastor came over to say a prayer for us. I was a little worried as I could take care of my kids but just could not get up. My mornings were a real task for me, by noon I was tired like a donkey, just doing nothing. I shared this with Linny and as usual she replied that all answers are in the Bible, that day she taught me to read the Proverbs according to the dates of the month, that day it was the 30th September. It was close to midnight as I read Proverbs 30 and went on to read 31, to my amazement I got my answer. It was the Bible talking to me as I am such a mindless reader, this made me think that if all the answers are in the Bible we have been so foolish to rely on the wisdom of man and so I went to sleep. The very next morning I woke up at 7 am and the morning looked beautiful and readied myself to take on the day. My husband was as surprised to find me answering his wake up call; I waited for his return safely to tell him that I don’t need any more wake up calls. I silently thanked God for sending me such wonderful friends in Pastor and Linny.
Linny then invited us to a 3 day camp in Alwar, my husband excused himself and I was happy to take that break. Speakers came from all over and the hall was in full attendance. I could never find any verse in the Bible and Linny helped me with all the notes. The camp theme, “Rooted and built up in Him” Colossians 2:7, though much of the subject went bouncers. The organizers kept on requesting the gathering to write their questions and they will try to answer them at the end of the camp. Linny kept asking me to write and put my question and put it in the box. I kept thinking to myself all the while that I have so many questions to be answered but I don’t want to put it in the box, I want the answers directly. As Linny was making notes for me and markings in the Bible, something that really shook my faith was, “The parable of the Talents” but since she was marking the Bible I could just read some portion of the parable. We all went back to rest for sometime, but I was restless this afternoon, I read the parable all over again and that day many of my questions were answered. Linny asked me if my questions were ready to be put in the box and I told her that they were already answered not one but all my questions were answered.
Linny introduced me to Dr Silas one the speakers who was in his early seventies but he talks and walks so youthfully and full of spirit. She told me that I could discuss my problems with him but I who can give so much jargon on communication skills I wept, wailed and could not speak a word. I just eased my self when I heard him sharing his experience on Christ. He used to be all that my husband was in his youth, born in a Hindu family, a gambler, an atheist, a complete man of arrogance, now I did not have much to say but I could feel some firmness in my soul, the hurt of being abused by life just vanished. He advised me to go back and love my husband like a child and be a mother to him as a wife I might think otherwise but a mother I cannot leave my child. I looked at all the battles I fought and now victory was at my door step. As he shared his testimony I could picture my husband with dove flying around him. I could see Saul becoming Paul. It has been such a wonderful time meeting this man who now walks, talks, and writes many Christian books. I had the time to reflect on corrective spiritual guidance and then have my faith rooted and built up in Him. My husband was alone at home and so it was a good time for him as he could be thinking more clearly of how he wanted to live and establish his life. I used to be a reader by size, smaller books were my reading preference and now the Bible something to about 900 pages seems impossible. On my return back home my husband asked me to imagine him in his old days and I asked the Lord, that he should be like Dr Silas passing the baton of the Lord’s saving grace to as many who were as lost as me. This is where our friendly neighborhood Pastor Thilak and Linny cheerfully address, “all problems can be solved Biblically”.
My husband who used to be reading the Cole books to keep a track to the races for the day, now studies the Bible every day and races to the Bible study where he gets to know more about the Lord. My husband joined the study because he wanted to know more, but he asked the most questions. Pastor Thilak organizes a Bible study every Thursday at 7pm. They also organize a Light House Meeting which meets house to house every Saturday night. This Light House meeting is like a house on fire a good way to celebrate Saturday nights live and high on spiritual champagne. We have the entire Pastor Thilak Pappu and family in participation for any Biblical occasion. Linny as the conductor, Abhishek on the harmonium, Arpit on the Banjo, Sabina gifted for her voice and Darshan the Drummer Boy, this seven year old can gives the beats of a professional. Sunday is at the Brethren Living Church, at Tagore School at 9.30 am and for the children they organize a Kids Club in the evening at 4pm . Pastor Thilak and Linny also come home to methodically explain the Bible from the very beginning. Linny is a perfect companion for women as she spiritually addresses and even nurses problems faced by women of all ages. My husband was blessed with a job opportunity in a much better location, where water is in abundance, electricity is always there and you can dust your house once a week. So even if you think you know Christ. THINK AGAIN.

JEHOVAH JIREH, MY PROVIDER

Illustration: I may be a testimony for many events that have happened in my life, but the one thing that I find difficult to do is to stop worrying. I just give up and then pray that the Lord takes over, believe you me, IT WORKS.
I was once in a financial fix, and had to plan the monthly grocery very carefully. So I tried shop hopping at the malls to see the season’s best offers. It was the dawning of Diwali, Big Bazaar had everything on offer that I did not require, so I wanted to go to another mall. Spencers was looking very expensive from the outside, so I did not want to take the shopping cart as I might have nothing to buy. But curiously as I entered to just check out, and I was pleasantly surprised a Spencers very well decorated, friendly ambience. The tube music was playing, “Joy To The World” in the midst Diwali and as an Event Manager I found that extremely funny, and started singing my favorite Christmas Carol.
As I walked along I could see more than my eyes were looking for my cart was getting full and there was no room for more. That day I could not stop buying, I got everything and much more that I wanted and for the first time I walked out paying Rs 999 out of the Rs 1000 I had saved for the grocery. I could not believe my purchases; I could not handle the bags I was carrying as there were too many. That’s when I realized I had prayed to witness the glory of the Lord. It cant be a coincidence for the store manager to play a Christmas Carol amongst the Diwali mayhem, they cant make a mistake like that, but my Lord can make a miracle, just like that.
From that very day I decided to make the Lord my manager and I his assistant, things in my life just evolved without being involved. I wake up every morning, put my hands up say this simple prayer.
Proverbs 6
Warnings Against Folly 1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. [a]
12 A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up dissension.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away;
34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.
Prayer:Dear God, This is your day, not mine. You are my master and I am your slave. You are my manager and I am your worker. You are my financer and I am indebted to you Lord. You are my advisor and I seek your intervention. Lord you manage my day, thy way, lest I might fall. Lord you are my foundation, you are my way, you are the truth, and you are my life. Lord you know my needs, my challenges, and my desires. Lord my life is in your hands, do not forsake me Oh Lord, lest I tumble and fall. Lord be my rock, my strength, and my grace. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name all good things come.

THE UPPER ROOM

Illustration: If my life could have changed just by someone telling me about reading the Proverbs. It brought me back my health, wealth, and self-esteem. It saved my life, my broken marriage, brought me closer to my family. You can imagine the change that can happen in your life by meditating daily on all the verses. The Proverbs have the power to clean and heal our words, our deeds, our actions and our body. We may have no special room for the Lord but we can definately create it by being in a quite place without much disturbances. Just relax, breath slowly, try being aware of the breath going in and slowly coming out. This is one of the best ways to feel spiritual silence. Begin by believing that you are the wellspring of life, feel the gentleness of the breese blowing, hear the birds chirping, feel your heart beating. Some may feel dizzy but that's okay, some may experience a feeling of rocking or a feeling of being lifted up or falling. Just be in that feeling and enjoy it. God inhabits the praises of his men. So begin the series with your favorite hymn of praise, or just by humming it. Avoid sleeping, try doing the same thing everyday at the same time. The Power of the Proverbs, as you breathe in slowly feel an inward energy bringing you closer to wisdom, understanding, discipline, prudence, righteousness, justice, fainess, knowledge, discretion, learning, discernment, guidance, knowledge, instruction, teaching, safety, victory, shield, protection, faithfulness, prosperity, favor, good name, nourishment, honor, wealth, love, gains, profits, returns, precious, long life, pleasant, peace, blessed, firmness, power, trust, confidence, inheritance, esteem, exhultation, gracefulness, splendor, brightness, wellspring, insight, sweetness, life, kindness, strength, feasting, correction,satisfaction, security, harvests, morality, governance, nobility, treasures, rejoicing, delightment, acceptance, addition, joy, diligence, grace, integrity, rooted, accuracy, humility, uprigthtousness, blameless, rescue, unpunished, refreshed, goodwill, abundance, rewards, endurance, promotion, ruler, cheerful, brightness, laughter, innocence, success, cheerful heart, good temper, patience, zealous, careful, attentive, flawless.
The Proverbs guard us from negative forces of life, as you breath out slowly feel that negative energy coming out of the body, all the forces that become our weakness, keeps us in chains of undiscipline, foolishness, enticement, restlessness, waywardness, ill-gotten gain, mockery, rejection, ignorance, rebuke, disaster, calamity, distress, trouble, complancy, destruction, fear, perversity, crookedness, deviousness, adultery, seduction, unfaithfulness, resentment, ruin, wickedness, snares, envy, violence, shame, forsaken, darkness, bitterness, death, cruelness, weakness, groaning, stubborness, captivation, trapped, sluggardness, scarcity, poverty, corruption, deciet, haughtyness, lies, guilty, schemer, false witness, dissension, immorality, jealousy, pride, arrogance, rejection, division, grief, disgrace, maliciousness, slander, uprooted, worthless, perish, godless, escape, gossip, punishment, stupid, decay, decietful, warped, pretence, fantasy, annoyance, plunder, liar, boasting, slave, rash, hatred, darkness, quarrels, dwindler, emptiness, sadness, hot headed, reckless, oppressed, wretched, trmoil, bribery, loss, rebellious, merciless, breacher, crushed spirit, ill-tempered, selfish, partial, hasty, ruins, dessertion, contemptuous, calamity, arrogance, frustration, deception, bloodthirsty to be driven out of our body, mind and soul in the name of Jesus. If there is something that I have missed you can feel free to add on. Encourage yourself by reading the Proverbs daily as the glory of our Lord, furthermore reading this before reading all the Proverbs so that it becomes your crowning glory of your life.

Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house.
11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!
13 I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors.
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly."
15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.
23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

Prayer:Heavenly Father, we worship you, we praise you for your glory and honor, Almighty Father. Lord do not forsake us as we are the lambs lost, but you have found us. You have saved us Lord from all evil by dying for us on the cross, yet we sinners cant mend our ways. Father, you have given us your Holy Son, delivers us oh Lord, deliver us from all that is evil and grant us peace. Father of miracles, you have healed many just by your touch, touch us now and heal us from our disease. You are a prayer answering God, hear what we cannot speak, and grant us our favors. Merciful Father, protect us from all anxiety, enlighten our spirit as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord saviour, Jesus Christ.

JESUS! THERE’S A CHRISTIAN IN MY CUPBOARD

Illustration:It is true that most Christians leave their Christianity at the alter and live like unbelievers. Even the Bible stands testimony for categorizing people as wise men and foolish men. We don’t have to really look outside for these people reside within us. It is by our convenience we lead our Christian life, as if we are Christians, “By demand” and “On Demand” basis. We all glorify the basis tenets in church, but when we are tested for practice, we are the biggest failures. It is simple to read a Christian life, but complex to lead one.
We see ourselves brushing, combing and dressing in front of the mirror everyday. We are pleased with our outward look but when we look inwardly we are in a complete mess. We are like antique clocks that keep ticking but our hands don’t move. Proverbially speaking, our Christian instruction manual, our spiritual reference guide is like stories meant to be “Read Aloud”. As we meditate on Proverbs Chapter 4, we must seek the Lord, so that we live by His instruction, His wisdom, and that we may listen, understand and accept His path to everlasting life

Proverbs 4
Wisdom Is Supreme
1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,
4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Prayer: Lord I thank thee, for coming into my life. Lord there is so little I know about Your wondrous deeds, Your sacrifices and Your Holy word. Lord give me eyes so that I may see, give me ears so that I may hear, give me a mind so that I may learn, give me a heart so that I may understand, give me the courage so that I may overcome all my barriers and live in the free will of the Lord. Lord, sanctify me, cleanse me, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Mould me and make me as per your will Lord. Darkened are my paths by evil spirit, I stumble and fall, as I do not the path of righteousness, yet you have lifted me. Lord your words are life and health to those who find them. Lord help us to guard the wellspring of life. Lord help us to keep clean our words and deeds and never to swerve in evil path but to step firmly on the paths laid by you Lord. Lord let not the wisdom forsake me, but let it crown my head as a present to you. Lord have mercy and grant us peace in Your way. Amen

SPIRITUAL GRAMMAR

Illustration:I recently met Dr Silas C. Nair, on a Bible study course, it was such an honor to see God's workers working for us. Dr. Silas Nair is an evangelist and elder in fellowship with Christian Brethren Chapel, Palarivattom, Ernakulam, Kerala. He is a Bible Teacher well accepted by the Brethren Assemblies the world over. Coming out of caste Hinduism, he knows the Lord since 1968 and has been serving Him in His vineyard since 1972. He is the author of several books viz. Can I know God, Who is Jesus Christ, Who is Holy Spirit, What is Baptism, and Why Bible the Book of books, The Servant Leader, etc. published by Gospel Literature Service, Bombay. In his writing ministry, he is at presently engaged in producing an eleven volume series on systematic theology titled “ABC-of-Theology”. His books, He is Wonderful, Man and His Destiny, ABC of Christology, ABC of Ecclesiology, and ABC of Pneumatology, ABC of Eschatology, Essentials of Theology & Life and Election of God is presently available. In his recent discourse, what really caught my spirit was his addressing English Grammar to Spiritual Grammar. The simple conversion of I, You and Him to Him, You and I. In English Grammar we have learnt, I as the first person, You as the second person and Him as the third person. In Spiritual Grammar we learn to take Him as the first person, You as the second person and I as the third person. This twist in grammar can almost give you a turnaround perspective on our belief, works on our faith, and marinates our soul. In this wonderful course I also got to meet Mr John who introduced Dr Silas into the faith. A faith with a common goal to salvation, yet not an "I" in their speeches, but "HIM" in all their deeds, from an unbeliever to a beliver, from a beliver to eternity. To see them still together growing in faith and still serving the Lord was marvellous drive down the memory lane. This is a message of fellowship, a fellowship with the Holy Spirit be with us for now and evermore.

When we are meditating on the following proverbs, we must remember and practice our spiritual grammar, to win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Prayer : Lord I ask for favor so that I may remember not my will but thy will. Lord let me serve with love and faithfullness, and all that pleases you. Lord I seek your blessing so that I can discipline myself as you wanted me to. Lord help me to lift up sound judgement and discernment, so that I am on my way to safety. Let me sleep soundly without being afraid, let disaster not take the best out of me, let me reserve my confidence in the glory of the Lord. Let me be just and fair to my family, neighbours, friends and collegues. Lord may I be blessed with righteous, grace and humbleness in all that I do and all that I ask for. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit be with us. Amen