Sunday Blessings - Mother

I  wish  I  had  a time machine

which could  bring  these

moments back  to  life  again.

I Have Kept The Faith

Today  my father  completed  8  years  in   heaven.
"The course that I was set I have finished, and I have kept the faith. The future for me holds the crown of righteousness which God, the true judge, will give to those who have loved what they have seen of him. "
2 Timothy 4;7,8 (J B Phillips New  Testament)

Here  are  some  old  b/w and  coloured  memories

1950

My  father  loved  the  outdoors.

He  was  a  hunter and 

enjoyed  sports.

Mom & Dad  with  daughters

Amrita  and Anjali

All  5  of  us.

(I am   the  middle  daughter)

Grandpa  enjoying our grapefruit with Mahima

The  family enjoying  the  warm

winter  sun.

(L-R)

 Mahima, Uncle Kenneth, Aunt  Virginia

Amrita, Ashish,Mama, Papa,

Aunt Sybil and  Anjali

My Dad  stood by what  he  believed.

Here  is  a  poem by Patience Strong,

sharing  the  same  sentiments.

If you believe-

Stand boldly by the  things that you profess.

Let  your No be definite,

and let  your yes be yes.

Do not swing between two points.

Be firm in word and deed-

Faith is futile if it does not

work in time of  need...

So give your witness without shame-

and let your life your faith proclaim.

I Hate Christmas

Oh  no  its  not  me  but  Oscar  the  Grouch from  Sesame  Street who  is saying this.

Its funny , but poor  Oscar   is  partly  right.If  I  was  celebrating Christ' s  birth  in a  treadmill meaningless way I  would   hate  it   too.
Christmas  kept  as  a  frenzied  holiday  can  be  pretty  stressful. Just  a  rigmarole  of  tradition and  activity. A  lonely  time  for  singles,the  bereaved  and  those  separated  from  their  family  for  various  reasons.

Childhood  is   the  best  time  to  enjoy  Christmas. You  are  not  responsible  for anything -  just  enjoy  the fun which  older  people have  arranged  for  you.

I  remember  our  family  activity  around  Christmas  time.The  baking  of     traditional  Christmas  fruit cakes.  My  grandma  with  with  the  help  of maids  and  aunts prepared  special  goodies and  I  was  always  eager  to  sample  them  hot  off the  stove. The  tantalising  aroma  of   sweet  and  savoury  eatables   made  them  hard  to  resist. I  teased  my  grandma by  playfully  pinching  handfuls of  delights  from  loaded  brass   platters. She  was ready  for  my  naughtiness and  pretended  to  scold  me.

The  provender  and  cakes  were  stored  in  large  trunks waiting  for   guests  to  arrive. Family  and friends  would  visit  us (  and still  do )  during   Christmas  week  and after  and  were  served  Christmas  specialities   with  tea  and  cake. Sometimes  people  call before  they  visit  otherwise  one can  drop  in  anytime.

On  December 25th  we  attended  morning  church ,  and had   lunch  at home  .  There  were  lots  of   visitors  to  share  food  with. After  that we   set  off  to  visit  relatives   and  friends returning  late in  the  evening.

Gift exchange  was not  prevalent  among  adults  in  those  days (  as  it  is  now)  but   children  got  toys  and   money. I  always  wished  for   books. We  gave   away food  packages  ,  money  and  clothes  to   the  less  fortunate  and  our  helpers,   and  still  do   each  year.

Sending  cards  and  telegram  greetings  was  in  vogue,  but  in these  modern  times  it  has  been  replaced  by  emails, telephone  calls and  text  messages.

We got  our  Christmas clothes  ready. It  was  not  necessary  to  buy  new   clothes  each  year.

Decorating  the  house   was  fun with  everybody  giving  instructions  to  each  other. I,  being  the  family  clown teased  and  tackled  my  sisters  who  chided  me  with   indignation.

When  our  old  artificial  Christmas  tree  shed  all  its  leaves , Sonia  used  a  tall potted  fern  to  string  up  the  ornaments.  And  I  enjoyed  poking  fun  of  her "Desert  Christmas  tree".  Poor  Sonia still  remembers  that  levity.

There  were  lots  of   Christmas   music and  pageants to  attend  and  participate  in. (Tomorrow  we  are  having  a  Christmas  program  in  our   church  organised  by  the Believer 's  Church.)  And  weddings  too.  People  like  to  get  married  in  the  cool  season as  the  weather  is  pleasant. Oh  yes  there  were  picnics,  outings  and fairs  too.

Just  take  out  Christ  from  Christmas  and  what  do  you have  left just  a  holiday- something   for  the  body but  nothing  for  the  heart.

I  want  to  have  a vision  of the  glorified  Christ  this  Christmas.

St  Teresa  of Avila was  born   in 1515.She  was  a  great  Christian  mystic and  many  people  today   are  blessed  and  encouraged  by  her  writings. Once  she  tried  to  describe  her  vision  of  the  glorified   Christ.

"It  is  not  a  radiance which  dazzles, but  a soft  whiteness and  an  infused  radiance which, without  wearing  the  eyes causes  them  the  greatest  delight nor are they  wearied  of  the  brightness which  they  see  in  seeing  this  Divine  beauty...It   is a light which never  gives  place  to  light, and being always light is  disturbed  by   nothing."

I  wish  you  the  brightness  of   a  vision  of  the  glorified  Christ  this  Christmas.

Today is my Mother 's 80th Birthday

Mama  is  80  years  old  today.
"What  shall  I  render  unto   the Lord for   all  Hi s benefits  towards  me". Psalm 116:12 (BIBLE)

How  can  you  express  to God  your sense of gratitude-for His  mercies and  His blessings  everyday renewed?
Just by passing on to others what  He  has  bestowed-sharing with the  travellers you  meet  upon  the  road...
Scatter wide  the  good  received your thankfulness  to  show. Cast  your bread  upon the  waters, gladly let it go.
(Patience Strong)
 

Mama with  a little  girl

With Megan

My desk top is not working, so  instead of  scanning  these photos I photographed  them.

Mama and Papa upon

graduating from  University.

Happy together

Proudly displaying  her  gladioli

In Nigeria (19 years  ago.

(Top photo)

with my  sister Anjali  and  her kids)

(second photo)

Worshipping at  a  Lagos church)

My  parents   with

daughter  Namrita

With me

Dancing with  Aunt  Maya

at  my  sister 's  wedding.

All these memories we  hold so

dear and  thank  the   Lord  for  them.

Shopping in the old city

With  this  mini  photo  gallery  let  me  take  you  back to February when  Ash,  Megan,  Sonia  , Abner and  I   invaded  the  old  city  market on  a  cheap  shopping   spree - specially for  the  Canadians. They  loved  it  an d bought  loads  of gifts -  good  quality  but at lower  prices than the  posh  shops would  have  demanded.
Ash  and  Megan   bought  lots  of  wood  carvings  etc.  while  I  snooped  around  with my  camera.

++++++++++

A  few  days   ago  I received  a complimentary

copy of  the  book,

' The  Book that  made  your   world  '

by  my  author friend  Vishal  Mangalwadi.

Vishal belongs  to  my  city but  now  lives

in the  US.

He  is  a Christian  apologist,  author,  international  speaker and  has  been  called 

India 's  leading Christian  intellectual.

I  have started   reading  his   book  and   I tell you

its  a page  turner although  its  heavy  reading.

Whether  you  are an  avid  student  of  the  bible  or a  skeptic  of  its  relevance this  book   will  transform  your perception  of  its  influence on  virtually  every  facet  of  the  Western   civilization.

Through  Vishal' s  fascinating  and  wide ranging

investigation  you  will  discover

-What  triggered the West 's  passion for

scientific, medical and  technological

advancement.

- How  the  biblical notion  of 

human  dignity transforms the  West 's  social

structure and  how it intersects

with  other   world  views.

- How  the  Bible created a fertile  ground

for  women to  find social  and

economic empowerment.

- How  the  Bible  has  uniquely  equipped  the West

to cultivate  compassion,  human  rights,

prosperity and  strong  families.

- The  role  of  the  Bible in the

transformation of education.

- How  the modern literary  notion

of a  hero  has  been  shaped

by the  Bible 's  archetypal protagonist.

I  invite  you  to  journey  with  Vishal

as  he  examines  the  origins  of 

civilization 's  greatness and  the

misguided  beliefs  that  threaten to

unravel  its  progress.

His  treatise  is  very much like

Francis  Schaeffer 's

 'How Shall we Then Live '

Both  books  are  mind shaking  and

soul  stirring.

You can  get more information

on  Vishal 's website

REVELATION  MOMENT.

I shall  be  sharing quotes from

the  book .

What  really  struck  me  was  that

Vishal  has  dedicated this  book to

Arun Shourie,  Indian intellectual,

Member  of Parliament,

former  minister of the  Govt. of India and  reputed 

journalist who  has criticized  and  ridiculed

the  Bible and Christian missionaries.

======================

This morning we  had  a light  shower

which brought  the  temp down a bit.

My  wounds are a bit  better.

Thank you for your  prayers  everyone.

Now and Then

We are more

the just aquantances...

it is as if we are cut

from the same fabric.

Even though we appear to be

sewn in a different pattern

we have a common thread

that won' t be broken-

by people, or years or distance.
Tigi and Alan , Christian Fellowship brothers from 15-20 plus years ago

came to vist us .

They were here to celebrate

the Centenary of SHIATS

the Christian University whee they studied.

Tigi worked there too.

Tigi, Mama and Alan.

These guys used to come to our place to relax and have fun, food an d fellowship.

They recalled how Allahabad was the turning point of their lives. They found Christ here and fellowship and teaching in our home..They said what we are today is because what we gained here. They are doing doing very well at their jobs. Tigi is into agricultural training an d planning. H e has a lovely German wife .Before they left for Germany they used to drop into our home frequently, and sometimes so hungry after their strenuous field work that they ate whatever was in the kitchen. We loved that.

Today also the first thing Tigi said was, ' Make us some coffee ' That ' s how he used to ' greet ' us. We loved that.

(Tigi, Mama and me)
But today the boys bought us lunch from a very nice place and dessert too. And placed a love gift in Mama' s hand before leaving. We were so touched.

(Alan showing Mama his photos)

He has a managerial post in a top company and travels the world over. He is involved in a widows ministry in Mumbai. They feed hundreds of widows in that city.

Tigi looking at some old photos from hi s student days. He scanned and save d the one s below.

We were all kid s in this one L-R Sonia,(sis) Namrita,(sis)Dolly, Anjali (sis),Tigi (16 yrs),me Thomas and I forgot the last guy' s name.

This a group photo from a summer camp in the hills.

Student 's camp- Bible study group.

Lunch time at the camp. Now these ladies are married an d have kids of their own.

Student' s camp at a Mission hospital. We all loaded up the OM truck.

This is the Siwait Student' s Camp. In a Mission an hour 's journey from the city. Many people found Christ there. Its our place of pilgrimage. (these photos are from th e 80 and 90s)

Yesterday I wrote about s conflict situation we are facing and how these people ridicule d me because of my disabilities and Mama of he r old age.

Friend sit hurts a lot. But God has given us grace to bear this hostility.

Thank you for your prayers and kind words.

I found Joni' s devotional so appropriate for today.

A "Kidney" Christian

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpreventable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it.-- 1 Corinthians 12:22-24

Some time ago I forced myself to watch The Operation on the Learning Channel. They show real operations, with real blood and real sutures. I made myself watch because they were showing a kidney transplant, and I wanted to see what a good friend of mine, Mike Yuen, had to go through when he gave a kidney to his brother, Geoff. Mike made this big sacrifice because people can't survive without a kidney.You can live without your eyes, your ears, or use of your hands or legs. I know thousands of people who do. But here's the irony: While most of us are convinced we could never survive without these up-front, kind of showy body parts ("Oh, Lord,I could never survive without my eyesight!"), we never consider the pancreas, kidney,or liver. Because we don't see these hidden body parts, we quickly forget how critical they are to life.

There's a parallel here to the body of Christ. As 1 Corinthians 12 says, a church can't make it -- the church can't survive as the functioning body of Christ -- without that weaker person, that needy family, that man or woman who isn't up front. The church can't be what it's supposed to be without that individual. Hurting people give the rest of the body of Christ an opportunity to serve. And sacrificial service means there's no time for division, factions, or rivalry.You need your kidney. And your church needs a kidney kind of guy who may be homeless,helpless, handicapped or hurting.

Do you have needs you should express to the church?

Or should you meet the need of another member? Maybe you need to do both!

Sometimes, Father God, I get so caught up in the part I think I should play in the church that I don't stop long enough to ask if I understand correctly. I'm listening to You now.

John Wanamaker and India

Mary Wanamaker Girl 's School was established more than 100 years ago by a generous gift from a leading American businessman John Wanamaker.
Women education was almost unknown in India at that time. There were very few schools for girls . They were taught the skills of housekeeping and married off at an early age. Mission schools tutored Christian girls and those from progressive homes.
Now after more than a 100 years this school can boast of cultivating , rearing and training thousands of women of all religions, castes and economic backgrounds. Many of them are highly placed in society and have caused changes in their own spheres of life.
My mother graduated from this school and went on to pursue her Bachelor 's degree in the Isabella Thoborne College in Lucknow ( our state capital) IT College as it is known is a renowned Methodist institution of old. Princesses from royal estates studied with my mother. My mother finished her Master 's from the Allahabad University and returned to her Alma mater to teach for 37 years.

The above photograph is from the 1978-79 yearbook.In the front row my mother is seated 5th from the left. Aunt Sybil is seated 2nd , Aunt Marjorie 8th ,Aunt Virginia is seated 10th. And Aunt Maya is standing 6th in the first row. All these ladies mentioned belong to my family.Aunt Marjorie was the Headmistress of the Primary section , she was a dedicated and selfless social worker too.

This is a staff photo . The lower grade employees, clerks, cleaners, watchmen and ayahs are also included in the picture. I remember most of them from my childhood. The school was a big part of our lives although we studied in the Convent School.

Here are some pictures of the old part of the school.

My mother tells us that the Wanamaker stores used to send pencils to the students as Christmas gifts but not anymore.

It looks like an enchanted castle.

John (Nelson) Wanamaker (July 11, 1838 – December 12, 1922) was a United States merchant, religious leader, civic and political figure, considered by some to be the father of modern advertising. Wanamaker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wanamaker's "Grand Depot" at 13th & Market Sts.
He opened his first store in 1861, called "Oak Hall", at Sixth and Market Streets in Philadelphia, on the site of George Washington's Presidential home. Oak Hall grew substantially based on Wanamaker's then-revolutionary principle: "One price and goods returnable". In 1869, he opened his second store at 818 Chestnut Street and capitalizing on his own name (the untimely death of his brother-in-law), and growing reputation, renamed the company John Wanamaker & Co. In 1875 he purchased an abandoned railroad depot and converted it into a large store, called John Wanamaker & Co. "The Grand Depot". Wanamaker's is considered the first department store in Philadelphia.
In 1860 John Wanamaker married Mary Erringer Brown (1839–1920). They had six children (two of them died in childhood):

John Wanamaker an outstanding American businessman of the 19th century put together one of the most successful careers of his time. Whe asked what he considered the best investment he ever made, he replied"I have made large purchases of property in my lifetime involving millions of dollars. But when I was only 11 years old, I made my biggest purchase of all. From my teacher in a little mission Sunday school, I bought a small red leather Bible. It cost me $ 2.75. I paid in small installment

from my own money that I earned." John Wanamaker knew the value of the Bible and he lived by it.

The seed he sowed in India has become a large tree. You never know what great fruit your smallest act of kindness may yield.

Sunday Blessings- We are Family

I scanned some photos from the 80s to show you our family and friends. My sister Anju and I were in University and sis Namrita was in school. We lived in a small flat - 9 of us, space and privacy challenged, but we never missed it as we were all so happy together.

We were newly born again belonging to a traditional Christian family and being a part of God 's greater family gave us new life and energy.

Above L-R (front) Papa, Mama, Amrita, Grandmother, Anju, Uncle Kenneth (Papa 's elder brother) his wife Aunt Virginia

Back row- Namrita, our friends Alex and Korah, Aunt Sybil and Sonia

Here we are with our friends George and his sister Antima. George had Afro style hair. You can see my sitar at the back and my sister Anju 's batik painting of the horses.

Again one big happy family.

There some more people in this faded picture. We are celebrating Papa' s birthday- in the centre is the cake.

On the extreme left is Uncle Ariel (Papa 's younger brother) and Aunt Marjorie (Papa' s elder sister) both are with the Lord.

All of the elders are with the Lord now and my sisters are with their families , we miss them so much. Life feels incomplete without them.

Now its Generation Next.From tomorrow my niece Mahima is starting University. Here she is with her brother Ashish. God go with you Mahima.

The following devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada spoke to my heart , specially the questions are something to think about.

_______________________

Grow in Grace"

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory."--2 Corinthians 3:18

I received a letter from an old school friend the other day. After twenty-five years of friendship, it was good to read that she is still growing in the Lord. But I was especially touched with her closing salutation, "Grow in grace." It made me think: Just how have I grown in God's grace over the last year? Is this something that can be measured?

Bishop J.C. Ryle puts it this way: "When I speak of growth in grace, I mean an increase in the degree, size, strength, vigor, and power of the graces that the Spirit plants in our hearts. When I speak of a person growing in grace, I mean simply this-that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, and his spiritual-mindedness more marked. He feels more of the power of godliness in his heart. He manifests more of it in his life; He goes on from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from grace to grace.

"Is your sense of sin deeper than it was last year?

Is your hope brighter?

Do you sense more of the power of godliness in your heart?

We can be transformed into His likeness; something fundamentally different can happen in our lives from year to year. Change is possible, and a new and improved you is within reach. This is how it happens: Behold the Lord's glory and you will grow in grace.

Lord Jesus, I behold You today in all of Your majesty and splendor, Your excellence and purity. Transform me into the person You want me to be as I grow in Your grace.

I have made an entry on the Scarf Sisters blog too- go if you Here wan t to see how I made a HOTWICH