Lessons of Faith from the Ordinary

Getting a rickshaw to travel a short distance is quite a task in my city. For some unknown reason they are always reluctant to go. Or they try to take advantage of your situation and charge a bit more than the normal fare.

It so happens that my gym is located at a weird distance from my home. You can’t walk it nor can you easily get a rickshaw to take you that short distance. For those who are wondering, I don’t ride any two wheeler or a car. That’s my project for next year, hopefully. :) So I am always dependent on public transport.

Every evening after my workout, it is a tedious task of trying to get a passing by rick to take you home. Or you are bargaining with them about the fare. Honestly, it gets downright frustrating. Of course you have these OLA rickshaws but at times, they aren’t available in your area.

So, one evening after a decent workout in the gym, my sister and I came out knowing fully the potential of not getting a rick home. I mentally geared up to face that evening with waiting, and trying to get a decent fare home. And we were so tired!

As we reached the main road, we noticed a rickshaw passing by who slowed down after noticing us. We were a bit hesitant to ask him as he was going in the opposite direction. We were like, “Anyways he is not going to go and he might ask a high fare.” Finally, we decided to ask totally prepared to hear a flat refusal!

Imagine our surprise when he agreed without any resistance and that too with the proper fare. Wow! We were shocked. My sister and I exchanged glances, thankful that we asked. Think of what we would have lost, if we had not asked! :(

So many times I think, as children of God, we fail to understand the privileges that we have to the throne of grace. To know that we can ask God through prayers, requests, and supplications of the things that burden us. He is our Father and He wants to hear from His children. We have Christ as our advocate who has gone before us and provided access to this throne of grace.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and  you will find, knock, and it will be opened for you." Matthew 7:7

Let’s make much of this privilege that God so graciously has granted to us through faith in His Son that we can turn every need or anxiety for the purpose of prayer.

“Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Sufficiency of God's grace in trials

One Sunday morning, while waiting for the worship service to begin, I noticed a visitor walk into the church with the help of a crutch. For a minute, I couldn’t place that visitor in my memory, but then I recalled he was the same person who had met with a severe accident a couple of months ago. His brother was a regular at our church and he had sought our prayers when this accident occurred.

Watching him walk across the room with the crutch, released a flood of memories in my mind. I immediately recalled the phase when I walked about with the help of an elbow crutch. Of course, mine was a minor accident compared to his, just torn ligaments in my ankle and badly bruised bones. It took me a couple of months to get back on my feet. Literally!

Those days constantly reminded me of my frailty and how much grace I needed to go through it alone. The day I got confirmed in my new job was the day I met with the accident. Looking at the severity of my injury, I knew instantly, I had lost my job. I was job hunting those days so I knew what I had lost. And six months earlier, I had undergone two dental surgeries within a span of two months. That had put a considerable toll on my health.

Now, with the ankle injury, I was battling a lot of emotions. I was confused wondering what went wrong. Here I was practically immobile and without a job. Placing my foot on the ground sent a shooting pain up my leg. So, I had to hobble my way around the house. Being fiercely independent, I struggled to accept help from my family. Walking, an activity that I didn’t think much about now required my complete attention as I had to be very careful in the way I placed my foot. This was so humbling and really tested my faith.

But praise God for His word. Truly, it is a light unto your path. James clearly says that we will meet trials of various kinds and this is to test and build up my faith. (James 1:2-4) He calls us to have an attitude of joy! Christ has promised that His grace is always sufficient in any trial we go through. (2 Corinthians 12:9a)

Paul experienced that promise when he suffered under a great trial of having the thorn in his flesh. He prayed thrice to God to have it removed, but Christ only said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor.12:9) I always marvel at Paul’s response to this promise of Christ, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor.12:9c). This is true grace manifested in our weak bodies!

I have known Christians who have survived a car wreck and undergone several operations. I have seen their godly response to such deep suffering. I have seen Christ’s grace manifested not just in their attitude towards suffering but in the humble acceptance of what God in His immense wisdom has allowed to pass. I saw this same attitude in the person I mentioned in the beginning of this post.

Coming back to my injury, I did recover completely and landed a beautiful job a couple of months later. I could have wished this injury to have never occurred or to lose my new job but that loss pushed me to rely on Christ’s strength as I dug deep into His word and prayed to Him for grace to go through this trial. “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10

I am humbled and at the same time marvel at God’s ways. This in my sight is truly a miracle!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.

Christmas to me means....

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

Reflections

The year 2013 is practically over and we are already on the threshold of another new year. The past year was interesting in many ways. Some days and months were filled with the usual mundane things of life. And then there were the unusual days that were filled with uncertainty and gloom.

But all in all, a decent year where I know deep down in my heart I can still give thanks to God for His untold blessings. There are a couple of things I would like to list down and look back with gratefulness for the year gone by. Here we go!

Made new friends and enjoyed getting to know them

Made travel plans and even executed them as well

Made peace with the fact that all days will not be the same

Came to terms with the idea that being fit and healthy is a sure gift from God

Came to a humble understanding that all relationships require patience and hard work

Experienced the sweetness of making wise decisions

Doing all things with prayer and total dependence on God


And, finally, each day is a gift from God who is the Giver and Sustainer of my life.

Waiting

I have always wondered why waiting is such a tiring experience. Is it because waiting slows down things? Or is it my perception that waiting causes a delay for whatever I am waiting for? Sometimes, this impatience that grows within me is a result of the world I live in. You can get everything—practically everything in a jiffy. Click the mouse and you have paid the bills! We live in a world of instant gratification. We don’t have the time to wait…patiently.

In the light of hurried living and busyness, I am glad in a way that God calls me to wait. To wait upon Him for the things I have asked in prayer. It is in this period of waiting I am called to exercise faith in who God is and His ability to bring about what I have asked for. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

God knows what He is about. It is my own foolishness or the result of leaning on my own understanding that I tend to become impatient. He is wise and does all things according to the counsel of His will. I am called to trust Him and His timing.

Waiting requires courage and strength of soul. Hence the psalmist in the Bible encourages us “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalms 27:14)

So, if you are in the period of waiting upon God, take heart. God is good and loves you and desires that you know Him better in this time of stillness. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Be Prepared!

Trials don’t come knocking at your door. They just knock you down. There’s always the element of surprise. Before you know, you are already surrounded by this new pressing circumstance. But a great source of comfort in these times is that it’s never a surprise for God (Job 42:2). He alone is the designer of the trial He sends.

He is the wise loving Father who knows exactly how much we can bear under difficulty (1 Cor 13:10). He may never explain His ways but we can rest assured with His promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His presence will be with us at all times. (Isaiah 43:2)

Our hope and trust comes from His word. (Romans 15:4)

It is only through these trying times our hearts are drawn to the things of eternity. We begin to see the futility of running after perishable things. Our desires are transformed by the gentle Spirit who resides within us.

No wonder, James said, “Count it pure joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

Trials reveal our real treasure. Jesus very rightly said, ‘When your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Like someone said, we are either going through trials or just come out of a trial or preparing for one!

So, be prepared!

Why Should I Worry?

We live in a world where it is somehow considered cool to be worried or stressed about things. How are you doing? We ask and the common reply we hear is ‘I am doing ok. I am worried about the weather or I am worried about my job."

What does it mean to worry? The dictionary meaning says that this is to ‘allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. I like this explanation. "Allow my mind to dwell on troubles." Hmm. As a Christian, I am called NOT to worry. The bible is very clear on this issue. Jesus commands us not to worry. So, every time, I worry, I sin.

He says in Matthew 6: 25-27:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

We are people who worry over earthly matters. Food, drink, clothing! We are folks made in the image of God and yet, we live as if our life is all about what we eat and what we should wear.

What is sad is that we live in a generation where we are not concerned about what happens once we die. What about eternity? Can we assume that we can live as we want and forget that we will have to give an account to the Eternal Judge?

Am I concerned how will I appear before the judgment seat of Christ?Am I concerned about the things that I take for granted and constantly complain? Am I really concerned about the kind of life I live that often betrays my faith?

Every time, I am tempted to worry over things that are truly trivial and passing, I pray that I think of things that matter for eternity, things that please my Father in heaven.

Like Paul who says in the book of Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

As it says in Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Help me O Lord not to be like the world!

Source of real joy

Psalm 16 is one of my fav. psalms that I come back to time and again when I need gentle reminders of where my true joy and pleasures lie—in the presence of God!

Psalm 16
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from You.”

 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.

 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because H

e is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.

 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

 You make known to me the path of life;
    in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Waiting Upon God

Waiting upon God is good for my soul. And to remember that when I do wait upon Him, He will renew my strength and I shall mount up with wings like eagles! My soul is refreshed in my God! His word gives me hope.

"Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?

 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might He increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:27-31

In His Time

In a matter of two months, I will be completing 3 years at my job. Sometimes, I look back and wonder, ‘How did I come so far?”

This job is important to me coz it reminds me of God’s faithfulness in answering prayers and how greatly He does so. I got this job after 16 months of waiting. But those 16 months weren't easy as I had 2 dental surgeries that weakened me physically. When I did recover, I had a fall in the gym class causing my ankle to be severely sprained. I needed an elbow crutch to walk. It was a humbling experience.

I must confess that it was one of the lowest points in my life—jobless and in much physical pain. But it was here that I learned to completely trust God’s plan for my life. I had to recall God’s faithfulness and meditate on His goodness in this lean period.

Month after month passed by and no decent job was in sight. But finally, in God’s appointed time, He blessed me with a wonderful job. It was not what I expected but it was way better than I dreamed of.

In a nut shell, I love my job! Wow! I would not have planned this for myself. His plans for me are way better than mine. I am so glad that I waited upon God even though at times it felt like forever!

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.