Sunday Blessings -He Is At My Right Hand

My   boast is  in  the Lord.  He  helped  me overcome  the  unpleasant  conflict  I  wrote  about  in  my  last  post.
I  could   not  sleep  that  night  and  spent  time   reading  Scripture  verses  and  praying, in which  I  found  solace.  Past  midnight  I  emailed  a  friend  and  received  a  comforting  reply from her. In  times   like  these  one  is  in  need  of  just  one  person  who  says  they  understand what  you  are  going  through.
Jesus  is  our  Wonderful Counsellor. He  is  our  Prince  of  Peace.  This  I  experienced in  those  troublesome hours.

The  next  morning my devotional  from Experiencing God  Day by Day   by Henry  and Richard  Blackaby was  written  just   for  me. I want  to  share  it  with  you

He Is at Your Right Hand

Daily Devotional for Friday, July 15th, 2011

I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

What does it mean to set the Lord always before you? It means that you choose to relate everything you encounter to your trust in God. What you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do. In biblical times, the right hand was the most distinguished position, reserved for one’s chief adviser and supporter. When you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life as Counselor and Defender. Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, you should seek direction from your Counselor regarding the right response. When you face a crisis, you should receive strength from the One at your right hand. When you experience need, you should consult your Counselor before you react. When you face a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Advocate at your right hand. Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ. What an incredible act of God’s grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you! How could you ever become dismayed over your situation with Christ at your right hand? What confidence this should give you!

On  July 15th  Aunt  Maya went  to  her  son 's  place

for  dinner  to  celebrate  her  daughter in law 's  birthday. She  spent  the  night   there and  returned  the next day.Her  son  and DIL   came  to  drop her  off and the  first words  my  cousin said to  me  were,  'Congratulations my  mother  is  a  different  person

since she  has  started  living   with you."

The  said  they all noticed   how  happy  and relaxed  Auntie  seems, her   grand daughters said  ; Dadi has

become  disciplined and  more  conscious of  her  health   needs.

This  family  was  estranged  from  us   for  several years for no fault  of ours.We  tried  to  communicate with  them, but  never  got a  proper  response.But  Auntie always stood  by us.Her  presence  here is  refreshing  our relationship too. And  Auntie  is  specially  pleased about  it.

Again  I  am  so  humbled by  this. My boast is  in  the  Lord. To God be  the  glory.

Please pray for little Chandi

This  6  year old  child  is  the  daughter of a  couple

who  attends  our  church.  They  were  baptize d in  March. Chandi won the  first prize in  her  Vacation Bible  classes  in May.

These  days  a  spirit  of  fear  has  taken  hold  of this  lively little  girl  who  is  so   full  of  life   and  energy and  I"ve  never  seen  she  back  out  from  anything.

These days  she  is scared  of  stepping  out  of  her  house  and at  night  she  says  she  sees  someone standing at  the  door  of their  house.

This is  the work of  the enemy of  our  souls.

A spiritual battle.

Please  pray  for Chandi and her parents  Rajendra

and  Anu-raada.

God  bless you.

Sunday Blessings - The Harvest Is Plentiful

The  enervating  heat  and humidity  did  not  lessen  the  zeal and  enthusiasm of some 300 young  people ( ranging from  a  few  months  to  50) from  coming  together  for   2 days of  day retreat. The  Assembly of  Believers held  this  event  in  our  church. This  is  a  vibrant   and  growing  church with  branches  in  different  parts of  our  city. We  were  glad  to   provide  them  with  our  facilities  and  cooperation.

The  theme  asked  a question.

Are  you  on Faithbook?

A  friend  request  from Jesus.

The  church  hall  was  jam packed .

There was  worship, teaching,

drama,  music, talent display,

face painting, quiz and

a  treasure  hunt.

A very  simple  lunch of  dal(lentils)  and  rice

was  served  to  all.

On  both days lunch was  delayed

by 2  hours as the  cooks were  slow,

but  no one  complained,

not  even  the  tiny  tots.

Their  mums   gave  them  cookies  to 

munch while  waiting.

A  worship  dance

Face  painting time

You had  to  display  a  Biblical  truth

No  one  is painting my face.

For  the judges  to  see.

Another  group of  musical worship

These  damsels  came   to our  house  to

make  friends  with Sheeba

Sheeba  was  over joyed  with

all  the   attention  she  got

Here is  another  cutie

Many  people made  new  commitments

to the  Lord

and  believers  re-affirmed  their   faith.

The  Sunday School   kids  on  stage

The  parents  of this  11  month old  boy  sat

in  our  living  room everyday

to  feed  him.

They  are  a  beautiful couple.

Watch  these  videos  to  catch of  spirit.

he (Jesus) said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew  9; 37,38 BIBLE (ESV)

We  invite  you  to support  our  ministry  in whatever  way  you  can.

Sunday Blessings -Songs Of Redemption

Yesterday I attended a Christian Rock Music concert called Redemption II. It was organized by a group of University students who call themselves Youth Arise.

The first artist was Benny Prasad from Bangalore.  (Check  his linked  website) He has a world record for visiting 245 countries in a very short time. You can read his powerful testimony on his website.

This 35 year old man suffers from a rare disease. 60 % of his lungs were damaged and he has arthritis - he said his fingers were broken. Doctors told him he would die at the age of 16. Discouraged and disheartened with life he was contemplating suicide when he met God and he was healed and blessed with the gift of music.

His scientist father hated and abused Benny because he was not doing well in his studies and was a failure in life. He could not accept his weak son.

At this point of his testimony Benny said something which touched my heart. He said his father was good in his own way (because all parents want their children to do well in life) but he was not right because he rejected his useless sick son. That struck a chord in my heart.

Parents can be good but not right. Indian parents specially should pay heed to this. Children are put under undue academic and other pressure to succeed in life and fulfil their dreams and ambitions.

Now Benny is the pride of not only his family but also India as he travels all over the world sharing his testimony and playing his custom made guitar for the glory of God. He has performed with the top musicians of the world.

He has played at the Viking Festival in Norway. The FIFA World Cup and the Greece Olympics. What a life! I relate with Benny specially because of his physical challenges.

Another group called Adonai led us in worship both in English and Hindi.

There were close to a thousand people in the audience. Mostly college students.

Everybody was enjoying the soul stirring music.

Above is Manjit Joseph the last performer. Hi s version of Petra 's Our God is an Awesome God really brought us close to heaven and I felt like a 16 year old in the middle of the college crowd. LOL.

Its amazing to how how these talented musicians have dedicated their music for the glory of God.

.

ADONAI

Manjit Joseph

Sunday Blessings - Sound words from J.I. Packer

Dear friends , I am rejoicing in the Lord this morning. Thank you for your prayers. The weather is just fine too.
The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He is leading me beside green pastures.

Sunday Blessings - Father and Son

This rickshaw man took his little son along for a ride while transporting me to the market.

I asked the little guy to smile but he wouldn 't - camera conscious he was.

I do hope he goes to school and his future will be brighter than his poor illiterate father

Seeing he was wearing a watch made me glad.A man like him can buy a cheap watch for about 4 or 5 day 's income.

I read the following story in a little booklet I bought recently. It teaches a beautiful lesson

In ancient Salem lived two bothers, one with many children and the other single and alone.

During harvest time they gathered wheat and put it into two piles.

One night the single brother thought,"My brother has a large family and needs more wheat than I do., I will put some of my sheaves on his pile.

One hour later the married brother woke up and thought,"My single brother lives alone and doesn 't have anyone to help him till the land.Something must be done..." and taking some of the sheaves from his store he carried them to his brother 's pile and left them there.

Next morning they were both surprised to see that both the piles were still the same.

It has warmed up since the past 2 days and now the weather is very pleasant temp is in the 70s during the day.

PRAYER REQUEST

My church is launching on a new enterprise to help us generate funds for the upkeep and maintenance of our 200 year old property. We are a small independent flock. The ground work has been done. There are some enemies of the church who can try to foil our attempt and create mischief and trouble for us.

The devil wants us to be frightened and not take any step towards development. But we are moving forward...walking by faith and not by sight. I am reading the story of Jacob and it is encouraging to see how God was with him all the time. How Jacob prospered and was blessed.

I ask for that same favor upon our Church and campus. Pray along with us for guidance, wisdom and protection.

Sunday Blessings - Christmas Moon and Star

This song came to mind as I walked in my garden in the light of the moon and star.

The awesome Barbara Streisand




I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die

For poor on'ry people like you and like I;

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall

With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all

But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall

And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing

A star in the sky or a bird on the wing

Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing

He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" John 1:14

The star in the day time

Sheeba wanted me to post some more of her pictures. In the first one you can see Naughty lounging in the distance.

Today after church we decided that we would have a Christmas Gospel Lunch after morning service on Christmas Day (25th).

We will invite our non-Christians friends and share the meaning of Christmas with them and serve a vegetarian lunch. Please remember this event in your prayers.

Sunday Blessings - Carols By Candlelight

With the advent of Christmas

churches in my city hold special

carol services.

Special choirs from different churches

are invited to present Chritmas music .

The program concludes with the congration

processing out of the church with

lighted candles.

Everyone form a large circle in

the church yard

and there is more music, greetings and

hot tea is served with cake and snacks.

On Sunday I attended

the Seminary 's candlelight service.

I brought back some photos.

Joy to the world

A choir singing in Hindi.
The Principal of the Seminary
told us that 36 cultures and
sub-cultures are represented there.


This choir is consists of singers from
the North Eastern state of Nagaland.
The Naga women wear special tribal
head bands made with bird feathers.
a hundred years ago the Nagas were vicious head hunters.
Now they are heart hunters for Christ.



From the southern most state,
a song in the Tamil language.
These young pastors in the making
are singing in Punjabi.

The Sunday school children

are not to be left behind.

Women students expressing

Advent joy in dance.

This little 2 year old is

fascinated with the dance.

She wants a closer look.

Her grandmother (left) is fondly

known as Julie Auntie.

Julie Auntie was a teacher in my

convent school. She is a

cancer survivor.

She belong to a rich

aristocratic family and

was the town' s beauty queen

in her young age

and the only girl to drive

a large American car

( I forgot the mane).

After finishing post graduation and

B.Ed when I started teaching at the Convent,

Julie Auntie became my colleague.

She invited me to join her coffee circle

during lunch time.

There were about 6 or 7 of us

sharing our packed lunches and coffee together.

Aunt Julie appointed me

to make coffee for everyone

as I was the youngest of the group.

I enjoyed my duty.

Our coffee group had lots of fun times together

meeting in different homes and restaurants.

Those were the days (sigh).

This group is singing of

the Christ child in the

Jharkhand rural tradition

with dancing accompanied with

a drum.

The teachers of the College

singing for us.

A Christmas Qawwali.

This music

has its origins in

the Sufi style of singing.

Everybody gathers outside to sing

by candlelight.

The Seminary Chapel illuminated.