Cookie Monster in Disguise

Stepping Out

Courage is the strength or choice to begin a change. Determination is the persistence to continue that change.
Author Unknown

It  takes  inestimable and  determination  for  a  physically  disadvantaged   person  to  face the  competition  and  pace  of  the  able  bodied  world.  Most  of  which  either  ignores  or  undermines  his or   her  needs and limitations.
People  like me  who have unseen  disabilities  have  even a  tougher  time. We  don 't   receive  the  support  we  deserve just  because  our  impairments  are  not  visible,  we  can  only  bear  them  silently with  as much dignity  as  we  can   muster trying  to  keep  in  step  with  the  fast  moving  world. I  tell  you  it   is  frightening and  it  doesn 't  do  your  self  esteem  a  lot  of  good.
I  am not  bitter -  everyone  has  their  own burden to  bear even  the  strongest  athlete may  have  an Achilles heel. I  just  appeal   them  to make   some   room  for  us. In  my  country  a  lot   is  lacking  in  this  area.
As  for  me,  I  am  confident that  if  God  has  permitted  a thorn in  my  flesh  He  will  give  me  the  grace to  bear it and  will  hold  me  up  till  the  end. My  limitations  make  me  unique  too.  What  a   thought!
I have  a  desire  to  start  a  support  group  for   differently  abled  people. We  can  have   it  as  our  church  ministry.
A  support  group  is  not  a  place  to  have  a  pity  party but  a  place  where  someone  can  tell  you,  they  care,  they  understand,  that 's all. Its  a  place of healing  ,regeneration  and  renewal.
Pray  that  we  may  start  such groups  in  our  church. The  church  is  a  sanctuary for  the  hurting.
Psalm 146
6He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Renovation   work  going on inside  our  church  building.

The  back  hall  or  vestry  is   being  divided  into  chambers  for   office and Pastor 's  residence with  wash  rooms  attached.

The  back  door.

It  is  difficult  to  work  in the  115 * F (46*C) heat. We  have  security  men  to guard  the  campus and  supervise  work too. Guard  Panday  was  not  born  a Christian  but  he  believes in Jesus  and   Guard  Samuel on  the  right,  is  a  Catholic. I  don 't  know  the  third  man.

The  outdoor  stage  is  also  being  improved.We  have  our  open air  Gospel  meetings  here. We  get  new  people  each  Sunday. Old  family  friends   are  attending, some  of  them  I  knew  just  by  name,  they  come up  and introduce  themselves  to  me. Praise  God. Our  next door  Hindu  neighbours  came  last  week,  an  elderly  couple. They said  they  used  to  play  in this  church  yard. God  is  good.
Several nurses  and their  families  are   coming  to  our  morning  services.  One  nurse said  her  husband  came  to  church  for  the  very  first  time   with  her, Praise God.
 Nurse  Anamika' s husband , Anand  is  a  very talented  musician.  They are  new  converts and  he  is  learning hymns  and  worship  songs  from  me.He  helps  me  lead hymns  on Sunday mornings.
Each  Sunday after service  the  brothers make  baati chokka,  mashed  veggies with   oven  baked  bread. And  everyone  who wants  to stay back  can join  in the fellowship.
I  must  confess  eating  the  same  food for Sunday lunch  is a  bit  boring, but  I  don 't refuse  the  hospitality and  have a token for  the  sake of  fellowship.
Please  pray   for  us and  support  our ministry.

Sheeba  feels so  hot, she  likes  to  relax  in from  of   the  swamp  cooler.

I  found  this  sketch on  the  internet  and  this  dog  so  resembles  Sheeba,   I  had  to   share  it  here.

Automatic Spell Checker

A Little Poem Regarding Computer Spell Checkers...



Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.


Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

author unknown

Sheeba and Rocky

Sheeba  loves  to  play  with Rocky,  but  he 's  a  pup  and gets  overwhelmed  after  a  while. I  am so  glad  she  found  a friend  after  we   lost our  Jimmy  in  2007.

Its  getting   hotter now , today  I  started  my  small water  cooler, it  gives  some respite. Soon  I  will  get  my  window  water  cooler  fixed.
Preparations for  Passion week  services  are  on. We  have  a Passover evening  communion service, then a 3  hour Good  Friday  afternoon  service from  12pm to 3 pm in  which  the  7  last  words  of Jesus  are  expounded  upon. Its  rather  a  long  service  to  attend  in  the  heat. But  if  the  speakers  and  music is  good then time passes  quickly. The  Good  Friday   fast  is broken  with hot  cross  buns. The   British passed  on this  tradition to  us.

On Saturday  evening there  will  be  an Easter Procession with  floats depicting the  trial,  crucifixtion  and Resurrection  of Christ.It  will  pass  through  various  areas   of  our  city  and  culminate  on  our church  grounds. A  fellowship dinner  is being organised  across  the  river and  transport  will  be  provided  for  all  who  need  it.

We  have   Easter morning worship  at 9  am followed  by  a community  lunch, again across  the  river.
So  we have  an  exciting  week  ahead. Pray  that  the  Resurrection  Message  may  reach  as  many  people as  possible.

The 12 Dogs of Christmas

Enjoy  his  cute  video. Its  in  book  form  too.

12 Dogs Of Christmas

On the ______ day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Poodle in a doghouse
2 St. Bernards
3 Cocker Spaniels
4 Basset Hounds
5 Golden Retrievers
6 Boxers Boxing
7 Huskies Howling
8 Sheepdogs snoring
9 Chihuahuas chomping

10 Dalmatians dancing
11 Labs a  singing
12 A CAT!

Our Princess  Gaga aka Sheeba  has  her  birthday  on Dec  25th. The  pet  shop  couldn 't  specify  a  date  so  we  chose  Christmas Day.  She  was  a  gift  from  my  sister Anjali  and  BIL Prem  10  years  ago. She  will be  70  years  according   to  dog  years.
Happy Birthday  Princess  Gaga

Hungry For Money

Where  is  that  crackling rustling  sound   coming  from we  wondered.

There  was  something  going  on   under   the  sofa (couch). Our  Sheeba  was  occupied mysteriously.
The  next  morning while  cleaning  the  floor  we  found  a  half   eaten  10  rupee  note  under  the  sofa.
No   prizes  for  guessing  the  guilty  party

You  know  what  her  favourite pop  song  is?
Money  Money  Money
Must  be  funny
In  a  rich  man 's  world.
by   Abba.

When  she  was  a  puppy she  chewed  up  Aunt  Sybil 's  50  rupee  note  in  collaboration  with  her  mate  Jimmy. Aunt  Sybil  was  so  good  humoured  she  gently  rebuked  them  with  a  smile.

Old  habits  die  hard  Sheeba.

Another of  her  favourite  pass  time  is  to  chew  beads  or  sequins  off  clothes. She  has  done  it   with  a  scarf  of  mine  which   had  a  beaded  border.

A  few  weeks  ago  I  left  some  washed  clothes  on  the  sofa which  included  a  shirt  with  beads  on  it. I  don 't   have  to   tell  you  what  I  found  the  next  morning.

Well,  every  dog  has  its  bead or  day.
_______________
Yesterday  and  today  were  good.  Accomplished  some   important  jobs.
I  haven 't  put  up  any Christmas  decorations because  of  the  additional  dusting  it  would  involve. In  India  people  decorate  close  to  Dec  25th.

May  we  all  decorate  our  homes with  love  and righteousness  as   the  day  of  our  Lord 's birth  approaches.

Thankful Pets

A  cute  video of  dogs saying  grace. It  will  make  you  smile.

Sunday Blessings - My White Peugeot

On  the wings  of  a  snow  white  dove
God  sends  His  pure  sweet  love
A  gift  from  above
On   the wings  of  a  dove.

Today  we  discovered  a white  pigeon  in  our  garden/ Our  church  helper told   us  he 's  been  here since  a week  and  roosts  on  top  of  his mosquito net. We  adopted  him  and  I  named  him Peugeot.

Mama  holding  him

 Looking  for  a nesting  place.  Peugeot  is  very  comfortable  among  humans.

 Tried  to create  a natural  habitat  for  him

 He  disappeared  and  we   found  him  pecking  at  Sheeba 's  food  . He  splashed  about  in  her   water  bowl  and  spilled  water.

 Having  dinner

Sheeba  is  very  gentle. But   she  wants  to  know  what 's   the  fuss  about.

Please  pray  for  me tomorrow Nov. 14th  may  bring  a  new beginning  for  my  life. I  need  grace  and  confidence  from  the  Lord.

Someone To Say I Love You

I  love  you   is  welcome  even  in pet  language.
Watch   this   cute  video.  Sheeba   likes  it  too.

Petshop Boys & Girls

"The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you,but he will make a fool of himself too." SAMUEL BUTLER
A blogfriend emailed me these cute puppy photos. I wish everyone of them could leap out of my laptop right into my lap.

Today was a bright sunny day temperature was about 18-15*C. So we enjoyed the warm sun. I served lunch - rajma (red kidney beans) and rice on the veranda I also boiled some (garden harvested) sweet potatoes which I like with salt and pepper.

God is good all the time...in sunshine and in the fog.