I learnt to trust ... God

It has been couple of years when since I really realized the thick power and love of God in my life.
I started following the will and word of God (Bible).
Soon was invited for the pastors/ leaders’ conference last year, where I realized the glory of God.

I had gone there with a purpose to learn and return as a better person. I prayed and asked God to teach me something that I needed the most.

Just to tell you that I had been an eloquent speaker in school and college. Same applied with sermons... I prepared the sermon, munched it and practiced many times. My formula was to take up a topic, research, write, prepare and deliver.

This does not mean that I was an anointed speaker.

The conference was three days long and had many pastors and leaders from corner to corner. It was a grand event, with more than 1500 invitees.
I went to the ladies corner and in a lonely room prayed- on knees and hands lifted up.
“Papa, it is the last session, I want to learn something for which I have come here. In Jesus name I ask, Amen.”

Very excited and hopeful I sat with my husband in front of the stage. People were yet getting ready. I sat there with my eyes close and feeling the pleasant presence of my loving creator... and said, "I want to learn"

The meeting began. Our bishop came on the stage and announced that it is in God's will that he allows a pastor's wife to speak and lead the congregation (huge one!)
I felt as if he is talking to me, I looked at my husband; he nodded and said - that is for you.
For the first time, I was not prepared and had no verse to preach about. As I continued to pray- deep in me I felt that God will put words in my mouth... with my eyes wide open I saw a lot of light on the stage and a profound voice in me saying, ‘ move on, trust in God and see His mighty glory.’

It is difficult to believe, but God used my awfully that day. I could see a huge crowd of people touched by God and they were all crying. I am not sure how well I spoke... But I am sure that it was anointed... God did a great job in me.

I learnt to trust His ability more than my preparation and talent. I had no verse from Bible, No presentation, no illustration etc... Still the power of God touched people.

I did learn to trust Him more than everything, more than all preparation!

Big fish: Appointed

Mom, why did Jonah had to stay in the big fish's belly for three days and three nights, couldn’t God stop this from happening?" Asked Rojes, my son who turned three this year.

Young Rojes forced me to muse on this.

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights." Jonah 1:17

We may want to focus on the word ‘appointed’: God wanted this big fish to swallow Jonah.
And why God wanted Jonah to suffer. He wanted Jonah to be in the belly of a big fish for 'three day and three nights' (This is an ancient Hebrew idiomatic expression meaning "three days").

There are two things that I have gathered from this:

First, God appointed this trouble for Jonah; not to destroy him. However, to use him for a great purpose, I am sure Jonah would have enjoyed the glory he got after completing his job at Nineveh.
Also, God saved him. There was a big tempest and the big fish is obviously not on shore. The ship must have been right in middle of the see. And there could have been no way to save Jonah other this. This ways God put him in the fish’s belly. Though, it was suffocating experience for him for three days, yet God saved him from the tempest. Probably the fish took three days to reach the shore where he vomited Jonah.

My Husband served as a Pastor for one of the well known ministries. He did his work with truth and spirit. And floated a lot of new ideas. However, he was never allowed to work the way he wanted. At times he was very upset and shattered, still he would continue being good on his part as he believed in God.
Today, he leads ‘Victory in Christ Fellowship’ and allows youth to serve God with lot of excitement, vigor and new ideas. (Something, which he missed.) He thinks the people who prosecuted him were a big fish appointed by God.

This helped him to become even more solemn.
His faith God has increased tremendously because of the ordeal he faced. I and my husband are happy and thankful that God appointed the big fish to keep us suffocated in belly for 5 years. We are happy that now we can breathe...

Who is the big fish appointed for you?

God bless you

My valentine is the Holy Spirit ...and I am a lover of this Jesus and His mighty word....Bible

"Love covers all offence"

This is what I am going to do this valentines day - month - year- life ...

I am going to do all that I wanted, but never did.
Do you wonder, why are you do not wake up early and prepare breakfast for your mom? Or are never able to spend enough time with your parents?
Well it is because; we do not love them as much as we love ourselves.
Walking with Jesus is a lot about loving people who are not good to us.
This valentine month ... let us bless Jesus with our actions:

Love Big - like Him.
It is not easy to love.
However, the guy who cursed you also deserved your love; this is what this Jesus taught us!

Pray for me, I want to be a better lover!

Uncle Paul’s visa

Uncle Paul worked very hard as a pastor; he pastured my church.
He woke up early and prayed for his church congregation, organized everyday devotional meetings, visited people etc.

Not a soul spoke wrong about him. All admired him and the way he shepherd them.

Best thing about Uncle Paul, was that he was everything that he spoke. He practiced every word that he preached.

February, last year he got a call from Br. Antonio Braven from one of the leading ministries in the United States.
Br. Braven had read about Uncle Paul and wanted him to visit people at his church and bless them. T his was a big occasion as he would not get such opportunity everyday.
All thanked God and started packing stuff they wanted Uncle Paul to take along.

Br. Braven wanted Uncle to stay with his church for about three months. He wanted Uncle to inculcate some spiritual habits in the church and help them grow spiritually.

Aunt Martha planned to prepare muffins for her Pastor; young Tim bought bright florescent paper and made a greeting card for Uncle Paul that had a prayer for journey mercies.
I suppose we all were excited about this... he was busy preparing the papers that the visa officer wanted. They were a whole bunch and the old guy had to work real hard getting all of them together.

Finally, the day came.
He woke up early, prayed, and got ready for the interview with the visa officer at embassy.

He was early like many others and there was a huge queue two hours before the visa officer arrived. Still in scorching sun, the queue was moving very slow. However, he was thankful and felt that little more and it will be done.
Visa Officer, called uncle’s name. Uncle Paul brushed up his clothes and got in front of the window and later in the office.

Visa officer threw his file violently and refused visa.
Shattered and humiliated he said, “God bless you sir.”

As he walked out of the room, the officer called his name, took his file and signed the paper. He said, “I guess, my country needs to learn something from you. I am sorry sir.”
And guess what, he preached at church the next morning:
‘Bless those who humiliate you. - Jesus did so, let us do the same.’

It works!