Looking Back

One of the things I love to do in the last week of the year is to look back and reflect on the past year. It’s easy to be anxious about what is to come, but it is so much better to recall some wonderful moments from the year gone by.

For me, most of 2014 was a blur and yet there were some treasured moments that I wanted to jot down. I will be going month wise as each month had something new to cherish or certain challenges that were overcome. But all in all, there is much that I am thankful to God for the way He’s brought me and kept me in His grace. His all sufficient and all encompassing grace for every second of every day! So, here goes….

January: Dad’s successful brain surgery. So thankful to God for granting dad, healing and quick recovery from the surgery.

February: Abigail and Aaron’s wedding. It was sweet to witness God’s favor as these two dear folks were united in marriage.

March: Caroline and Nidhi’s special birthday gift. This was a huge surprise for me. I was so overwhelmed to see the amount of work, time, and secrecy maintained by my sis and Nidhi to bring to life a memento of birthday wishes of my dear friends from all across the globe. Loved every moment of it!!

June: Dad’s Cyber knife radiation treatment for his brain tumor. We had to take dad to Bangalore for this treatment and it was a success. Much thanks to God!

October: Shifted to a new locality and the way things fell into place was amazing. Praising God for the same.

November: Visited Akshay and Trisha in Mumbai! It was so good to catch up with old friends and meet new ones too! Attending Mumbai Bible church was a sweet experience. 

December: Holding Abigail for the first time! Spending time with the Williams family was such a joy! Not to mention meeting Captain America and Sheeba!

Even as I stand on the threshold of another year, I am confident in Christ that it will be an exciting and an adventurous journey ahead!

"Let the favor of our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" Psalm 90: 17

Food for Thought

Beautiful Song

Check out this video for Getty's new song, "My Worth is Not in What I own".

On Friendship

“Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.” -Charles Spurgeon

Mindful Mondays

The Little Things in Life

Last night after ages, our family sat together for dinner at the table. It felt really good to eat together as a family and laugh over some silly things. Strangely enough, for the past couple of days I have come to appreciate the little things in life. It’s these little things that make our life so meaningful and interesting. Here’s a list of things that makes my life beautiful.

                               

•  Sipping morning tea with my sister in the balcony
•  Listening to the birds chirping all day long
•  Reading the bible in my room
•  Walking to church on a Sunday morning
•  Chatting with my folks
•   Listening to music while commuting to work
•   Watching my favorite series on the laptop
•    Reading my unfinished novels

Now that my list is out, what are some of the little things that make your life meaningful?

Coffee and Conversations

I have always noticed that conversations flow with ease around coffee. I wonder if there is any connection to it. Is it the caffeine that kicks in or just the environment surrounding it? 

I am not much of a talker. I like to observe and take in what I see. Talking takes effort and sometimes I feel we become vulnerable when we talk. But lately, I have come to appreciate conversations. Not superficial conversations, but real conversations that take place between friends,

between a parent and a child, between folks who are in love.

There is an exchange of thoughts and ideas. We get an insight into the life of the person we are engaged in a conversation with. In fact we spill a lot about ourselves with our words. 

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why sometimes I avoid long conversations. I am never comfortable with people getting an insight into me. But I guess, people figure out who you really are in the end. There’s no hiding in this world. So, I guess a cuppa coffee would be great!

The Beauty of Silence

All my life where I grew up I was accompanied by solitude and serenity. I quite naturally didn't

appreciate at all. As a kid, I always complained about my residence being very quiet. I complained about the fact that my home was far tucked away from the main city. Yes, I did complain how quiet it was and that the quietness at times drove me a wee bit crazy.

Fast forward to 2001, where after a whirlwind of situations, our family landed up in a residential locality in the heart of din and noise. Want a clue about where we lived? Close to a major IT park near Hadapsar. Well, well who knew it was the beginning of a long enduring nightmare.

Our flat faced a highway that had major trucks and buses plying nonstop. Before we could settle down, a big hospital began to crawl from the ground. Within a couple of years, a flyover appeared bang opposite our home. And before we could sigh, two major malls appeared in our vicinity.

We were constantly surrounded by the honking and the rattle of the vehicles. Sleep was a luxury for us. Oh how I craved a little bit of quietness. It was a tough lesson that I learned on how to really appreciate what I had in my life. How easy it was to take things like living in a quiet surrounding for granted.

Well, after 13 years of living a nightmare, our family finally shifted to a quieter residence. And even as I write this post, I am enjoying the serenity around me. I can hear my thoughts! But above all, I have learned an important lesson of gratefulness unto the One who wisely grants things in my life.

Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Of Hopes and Umbrellas

Summer was coming to a close and how expectantly I was looking to the skies in the hope of rains to come down. But no rains, not even a drop! It was hot and dry and the sun was happy to welcome me every single afternoon. (My work would end at 3pm.)

We were already in the middle of June and still no sign of rains. So I was in two minds about carrying an umbrella. Why bother lugging this thing around when the weather folks predicted the delay of rains?

But there was something in me that I carried my umbrella every single day. My logic: it’s the rainy season and it will rain. Maybe not today, but it will rain. Days turned to weeks and the weeks into a month. No rains at all. But I carried my umbrella as planned. I was hopeful that it would rain. C’mon, a delay doesn't mean that it wouldn't rain at all.

                                   

One day when least expected, it rained. And how it rained! I was so excited to pull out my umbrella and finally be able to use it. Folks on the road were caught off guard. But I wasn't, coz I knew it would rain and when it did, I was ready!

Sometimes I think of the” things” I am waiting for. Waiting expectantly and hoping that today would be the day. Especially if you have been praying about it and waiting expectantly on the Lord to answer your prayers. I think of Habakkuk who went to the watch tower and waited for God‘s answer. 

So here I am waiting upon God to answer in much hope and anticipation.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62:1

Food for Thought

The Moviegoer: Which one are you?

Food for Thought

Quote Unquote

Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. - Charles Spurgeon

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

How great our salvation!

Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Tell of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,
    His marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him;
    strength and joy are in His place.

1 Chronicles 16:23-27

Food for Thought

Quote Unquote

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him. C.T. Studd

What is Christian Contentment?

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. Jeremiah Burroughs

Food for Thought

My Reason for Praise!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1: 3-5

Beautiful

This sums it up! Enjoy the video. 

Morning Prayer: Psalm 138

I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

    before the gods I sing Your praise;

I bow down toward Your holy temple

    and give thanks to Your name 

for Your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

    for you have exalted above all things

    your name and your word.

On the day I called, You answered me;

    my strength of soul You increased.

All the kings of the earth shall give You thanks, O Lord,

    for they have heard the words of Your mouth,

and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

    for great is the glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,

    but the haughty He knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    You preserve my life;

You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

    and Your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;

    Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

    Do not forsake the work of Your hands.

Quote Unquote

Afflictions add to the saints' glory. The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles; the heavier the saints' cross is, the heavier will be their crown. Thomas Watson

The Chronicles of Travelling Sisters—Panchgani

This year is going to be all about travelling, seeing places, and visiting folks. My sister and I were due for a break and our first thought was Goa. But then later, we remembered ‘Panchgani’! Yes, that place has sweet memories for both of us. (Church camps and sweet fellowship!) And my birthday was near, so we were like, “Why not?” And off we packed our bags and left for Panchgani early Saturday morning with great excitement!

Panchgani is a hill station not far from Pune and takes about 2 hours to reach by car. We took the bus and we landed in Panchgani a bit later than usual, thanks to a small adventure on the way. (That’s for another post.)

We had made reservations in a place called ‘Eco camp’ owned by a couple. This place is beautiful, nestled near the edge of a cliff. It is covered with greenery and bright flowers. You can see the hills at a distance and the valley (if I may call it) and a lake. You have the option to stay in a tent or in cottage room for 500 rupees per night! We opted for the room.

The market is close by and we walked to take a look at this quiet place that I have come to love. Panchgani is famous for chikki, jams, syrups, and peanuts. Well, when we reached the market, we bought as much stuff as possible home. J

For us, it was a perfect weekend gateway. The beauty mingled with silence was magical. It was so good to be away from the fast-paced life and take in God’s creation. We sat on the bench that evening and watched the sun set behind the hills. We woke up early next morning to witness the sunrise but missed it because we were busy feeding the house dog! :P

After breakfast, we packed our bags to return to Pune with our minds refreshed, our hearts grateful to God for His creation, and with a renewed perspective about the necessities of life!

Thought I’d end this post with these verses from the Bible:

“I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever.

 Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever.

 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 145:1-3

Birthday Surprise!

I hit a major milestone on Monday when I celebrated my birthday with family and friends! I was looking forward to a quiet time with close friends. I had no clue what was coming. Seriously, I was clueless…..

It was supposed to be a time of coffee with my sister and a close friend of mine and later on lunch. My sister kept saying that she had a simple gift to give and that she had intentionally left it in her office. I simply believed her. :(

After picking up the gift bag from her office, she instructed me to open it in the coffee shop. She said it would suit the place. Her close friend and colleague gave the affirmative. Okay!  I was getting a bit apprehensive.  “Were they going to send me on a treasure hunt? Have they hidden clues in that coffee shop? Do I need to talk to strangers to get my real gift?”

Finally, we did reach the coffee place and as we seated ourselves comfortably, my sister asked to me to open the gift. Whew!  (Mind getting hazy!) Then sis pulled out her camera. Okay! Picture time. I am comfortable with that. Then she wanted to record my reaction as I opened her gift. Now, this is getting weird. What is this? Why should this be recorded?

When I opened the gift, I was shocked! A scrapbook? You got to be kidding me! Wow! That totally didn’t cross my mind! Sheesh! So much for my skills of deduction. Sis scored a point here! Hmmm….

As I opened the book and glanced at all the folks who had contributed to write a note for my big day, I was overwhelmed. I was moved to tears! It was a very touching moment for me. So many friends who took the time to write and wish me on my birthday! It was a marvelous experience!

So thankful to God for blessing me with a wonderful sister! She who painstakingly worked behind the scenes to bless me with such a wonderful reminder of God’s work in the years gone by and for the friends He brought my way. Thank you girl! I am honored to be your sis and best friend.

What makes it more special is that she was going through a very difficult trial in her life and yet, she sought to bless me and worked—to bring it to fruition. That is such an evidence of Christ’s transforming work in her life. J

And for my sister's dear friend who worked alongside my sis and helped to bring this project to life! Thank you and hats off to your creativity! I am still amazed. Thank you girl for your love and friendship. This will be a great reminder for me what a blessing it is to have friends like you!

And for all the dear ones who wrote and encouraged me: A big shout out to you’ll! You guys rock! J

This experience had made me love Christ more and pursue His likeness, to serve and be a blessing to those around. 

I am seriously blessed!

Finally, Friday is here!

Quote Unquote

You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look “seven times,” that is, meditate often upon them, and you will see their increasing glory, like that increasing cloud (1 Kings 18: 44)-John Flavel

Pic of the day!

For more, click here. 

Sleep

Today morning, I thought of the blessings of sleep and rest. After a long day at work, it is so good to lie down and rest. Sleep is surely a gift from God.  To sleep and forget about everything around you is a blessing. Nothing rejuvenates like sleep. Things that trouble your mind seem trivial when you sleep over it and wake up the next day!

One verse that comes to mind is Psalm 4: 8

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you O Lord make me dwell in safety!”

Monday Musings

“We are simple people. You can’t remember ten things at once. Invariably, if you could remember just one true thing in the moment of trial, you’d be different. Bible ‘verses’ aren’t magic. But God’s words are revelations of God from God for our redemption.

“When you actually remember God, you do not sin. The only way we ever sin is by suppressing God, by forgetting, by tuning out his voice, switching channels, and listening to other voices. When you actually remember, you actually change. In fact, remembering is the first change.”

– David Powlison, Making All Things New

Good Morning Weekend :)

Capturing Symmetry

I love taking pics from my mobile phone. They are random and yet I somehow try to capture symmetry in what I see!

There are no ordinary people

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.  

All day long we are in some degree helping each other to one or other of these destinations.  It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.  

There are no ordinary people.  You have never talked to a mere mortal.  Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.  But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.

 C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (New York, 2001), pages 45-46.  Italics original

Thought for the Day!

Perhaps the most difficult task for us to perform is to rely on God's grace and God's grace alone for our salvation. It is difficult for our pride to rest on grace. Grace is for other people - for beggars. We don't want to live by a heavenly welfare system. We want to earn our own way and atone for our own sins. We like to think that we will go to heaven because we deserve to be there. - R.C. Sproul

When trouble comes knocking...

The New Year began with some grim news. It was a realization that things at home will never be the same again. The news that my dad has a brain tumor was a humble reminder that our days are numbered. Thankfully, the doc says that the tumor is benign. Dad will be undergoing a brain surgery by the end of this week.

I am meditating on Psalm 121 to remind myself that my help comes the Lord who is the creator of heaven and earth. God is good and wise beyond all measure. His grace is sufficient in a time such as this!

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.