A letter to school …

One of my college friends is in a very bad situation.

She had to divorce her husband due to abuse and is now a single mother. She lost her job and has not been able to find one for many months now. On top of that, her husband stopped paying for child support, and hence a case is going on to retrieve funds from him.

She has been somehow managing to live with help from friends and relatives, but the major hurdle is paying her son’s school fees. She wants her son to get the best education to secure his future and so does not want to downgrade his school.

I was sad that there wasn’t much I could do to help her since the only major help one can give her is a job, which is not within my capacity. So, when she asked me if I could help her write a letter to her son’s school asking for time extension to pay fees and to let her son write his exams, I was happy to help. The real happiness came when she got back to me saying that the letter conveyed the message she intended and that her request was granted.

It was such a simple thing, but it made a huge difference to her. I was very happy that this very small effort on my part helped and I pray that she will get a job soon as well as child support.

My father always tells me, “Do whatever you do for others as if you were doing it for God. Do not expect anything in return. When you or your children need any help, God will arrange someone for you. It may not be the person you helped, but God will take care of you.”.

Thank you, Lord God, for giving me the opportunity to help. Help us to always have the heart to love and care for others.

A Time to Think
Your prayer for someone may or may not change them, but it always changes you. –Craig Groeschel, pastor
A Time to Act
Concentrate on helping others and grasp every opportunity to offer encouragement.
A Time to Pray
Father, may my prayers for others be as constant and natural as breathing.
Daily Scripture & Reflection, Gudeposts

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God’s plans or our plans?

The article below reminded me about my discussion with my daughter the other day. She was saying how a music band, BTS was very inspiring when they said that with hard work you can achieve your dreams.

Although I had always subconsciously felt that you can achieve anything through hard work, recently, while reflecting back on my life, I have been feeling that all this running after dreams is futile since life does not work that way.

I’ve seen my daughter work hard for her high school final exams, but was unable to achieve very high grades due to her illness during the last two months before the exams. She has joined a good course at a good college, but it was not what we had planned for. Although now she is happy and feels that this is more suitable for her. This was as per God’s plan for her and we are very grateful to Him.

While looking back at this event and on various aspects of my life from my education, my marriage, my career and even my home, none of these were what I had planned for or even imagined would happen. But they did!

I have moved from my home in Chennai, India where I grew up and never imagined I would leave, to Kuwait and now finally I am settled in Kochi, India where we had bought an apartment a long time ago with no intention to stay. But I am here now!

I do not know what else God has in plan for our lives, but I know it will be the best for me and my family. Or He may use me for someone else’s benefit also. It’s upto him!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for handling every aspect of my life in your own way. I am leaving it to you take care of even the little things. Thank you so much!

Leave Room For God
But when it pleased God… GALATIANS 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God — to give God “elbow room.” We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life — “When it was the good pleasure of God…” (RV).
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

Beware of isolation; beware of the idea that you have to develop a holy life alone. It is impossible to develop a holy life alone; you will develop into an oddity and a peculiarism, into something utterly unlike what God wants you to be. The only way to develop spiritually is to go into the society of God’s own children, and you will soon find how God alters your set. God does not contradict our social instincts; He alters them
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

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Entrusting our unknown future to God

Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7

A Time to Think
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. –Corrie ten Boom, author
A Time to Act
Rejoice, the future is full of promise.
A Time to Pray
Father I hold tight to Your truth and trust You to work in my life.
Daily Scripture & Reflection, Guideposts

The above message is exactly the assurance I needed today.

With God’s help, my daughter was able to score well in her final school exams although she had not been well for more than two months before her exams.

Now, she has been able to obtain admission for a very good course which she is interested in and will give her a career that she should enjoy.

However, opinions are coming in from many quarters, making us wonder if the college is the right one for her or if the course might be too tough.

Each time we come to a conclusion, after a lot of research and thought, that this is good, something comes up which makes us wonder.

Today’s message to never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God reminds me that we do not need to worry about the future. God has brought us so far. He will take us through. He will not let us venture into anything that is not right for us.

Thank you so much oh Lord Jesus. We trust that you will ensure the best for our daughter, spiritually, emotionally, physically and career-wise. Thank you!

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Amidst pressures and stress…

Sometimes in the midst of pressures and stress, our minds can start spinning out of control. We find ourselves creating problems that don’t even exist, doubt and worry can overwhelm us and take control. Pray that God will help you to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ, that you would choose to set your thoughts on him, that his peace and rest will guard your heart and mind in Christ.
Find Hope in the Storm, Crosswalk.com

For our daughter’s college education, we have taken the decision after a lot of prayer, to move to another city for her to take a course that she is interested in.

Although we have been praying a lot about the decision, I still keep worrying if the course is the right one for her, if the college is good and if staying in the new city would be good.

I keep worrying about the psychological impact on her due to the change especially since she has been struggling a lot emotionally during the last two years.

I even wake up at night in panic.

I wonder where my staunch faith has gone when I never worried about anything.

I wonder when I became so mentally weak.

The above message has come at the right time for me.

Lord Jesus, please keep my thoughts centred in you. Please let your peace and rest guard my heart and mind. Help me not to waver in my belief that all things will work together for good for us since you love us and are taking care of our lives. I submit my daughter, her life and her future entirely into your hands. Guide her and strengthen her spiritually, mentally and physically. Protect and guard her at all times oh Lord. Help me rest assured that she is safe in your hands. Thank you so much oh Lord God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit for carrying us through. Thank you so much!

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Taking loved one for granted …

A wise man’s heart guides his mouth.
Proverbs 16:23

I definitely take my husband and child for granted.

I do not consider their feelings and emotions as much as I do for others.

I do not keep adjusting for them as much as I do for others.

I am guilty of “split vision” as they call it.

Outwardly, I am a kind, patient person with a smile on my face. No one can guess the pain and exhaustion that I endure due to my fibromyalgia.

However, when my sister pointed out this character in me, my daughter told me that I am indeed such a person to others, but not so much at home in front of her and my husband.

I was ashamed of myself on hearing this and today’s article reiterates the need for change.

If I am able to be patient with others, I should be able to be patient with my family also.

In saying so, let me say that I am not very nasty or rude at home, but I do need be more patient.

Below is the message that inspired me.

Split Vision
Isn’t it curious how in the midst of a nasty family argument we can shake our bad mood the instant the telephone rings or a neighbor knocks on the door? Have you ever been brought up short by a small voice questioning such a sudden turn to peaches and cream after twenty minutes of fire and brimstone? Sometimes we treat those we love the worst, and kids are quick to recognize this hypocrisy.
Mark Hatfield, a longtime senator from Oregon and the father of four, said his wife once stung him by saying, “I just wish you were as patient with your children as you are with your constituents.” He isn’t alone. We’re all guilty at times of what might be called “split vision”— treating acquaintances with forbearance while losing patience or even heaping contempt on those under our own roof. We assume the worst. We pounce on every shortcoming. We never miss an opportunity to harangue. In the process, we wound the people we care about most.
It’s time we cut one another a little slack at home. If we say our spouses, children, and parents are the most significant people in our lives, we can prove it by showing them the same kindnesses we would bestow on our most honored guests.
Just between us…
Are we as patient with each other at home as we are with guests and strangers?
Why do you think we can be so hard on each other?
How can we encourage each other to avoid this kind of “split vision”?
Father, open our eyes to see one another the way You do. Forgive us for the laziness and selfishness that so easily sour our family relationships. Help us guard our words and actions so that we may be pleasing in Your sight. Amen.
From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson

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Saying “sorry” before saying “good night”

“Be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:11

When I read the article below about conflicts in marriage, I felt relieved to know that we are not alone.

Fights and temper tantrums do happen.

Disagreements will arise.

However we can get through them and keep our marriage together when God’s love binds us together.

One rule that my family follows is to not “let the sun go down” on any fights, arguments or disagreements. We apologise to each other before saying “good night”.

I feel that this has helped us a lot in our married life. We follow the same with our daughter also. She cannot sleep well unless she apologises to us for any adolescent back answering.

Although remnants of resentments may get carried over to the next day, they clear up faster.

Thank you Lord Jesus for giving us a heart to forgive, forget and understand and for guiding us.

Because of our family ministry and Jim’s background as a psychologist, I sometimes wonder if people think that our marriage is somehow “different”—that we live in a dreamlike state of wedded bliss where conflict doesn’t exist. Believe me, that’s just not the case. We do our share of fussing and face the same struggles you do, whether it’s motivated by fatigue, worry about the kids, not communicating our expectations properly, or something else.
I recall an incident after we were engaged that seems funny now, but wasn’t so amusing at the time. Jim owned a 1949 Mercury convertible called “Old Red.” It was a disaster. The top wouldn’t go up or down; the electric windows didn’t work; the lights sometimes went out unexpectedly; and the engine had a habit of dying regularly. Every Sunday afternoon we took it out for a push. Worse, the front seat had springs sticking out at odd angles that snagged my clothes and made for a most uncomfortable ride. I hated that car, but Jim didn’t want to go into debt to buy a new one.
The coup de grace came the day Jim picked me up for an important job interview. I was wearing my best outfit, a black suit. As we sped down the road at fifty miles per hour, the convertible top suddenly blew off. Bits of string and canvas beat at our heads as dust flew everywhere. The remnants of the old top hooked onto the back of the car and flapped in the air like Superman’s cape.
Jim was so irritated at the car that he wouldn’t stop. He just kept barreling down the highway with the ribs of the top glistening above us. I screamed at him from under the dashboard, where I was crouched to escape the pieces of Old Red that were still flying about. Between his car falling apart and my screaming, Jim got even angrier.
Somehow we survived the day when both of us—and Old Red—blew our tops. Jim bought a newer car a few months later and, more importantly, we didn’t call off our engagement!
That’s how life is when you climb into the marvelous vehicle called marriage. You’re in for a long and wonderful ride. Expect the unexpected to happen. It will probably rattle your nerves and set you at odds with each other, and the top may even blow off every now and then. But if you share a committed love, you can survive those unexpected and unwanted conflicts. We have—for forty years now.
Shirley M Dobson
From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson

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Nothing is impossible for Him …

This world can feel dark many days. And in troubling times, that darkness can hover closely. Yet God is still there. And he reminds us that he’s greater than anything we face in this life. His power is the one who can set us free from the pit we sometimes sink down into. Pray for God’s miraculous power to break through the darkness and cover you, lift you up, out of the place you may find yourself in today. Believe that nothing is impossible with him, ask him for his healing and grace to touch the deepest parts of your life.
Find Hope in the Storm, Crosswalk.com

I am very very worried about my daughter’s college admission. To get into a good university for the course of her choice, she needs to score very high grades. She was not able to perform that well.

Her last exam has been postponed due to lock-down in our country due to the Covid situation.

During all the worry about the pandemic and its effects, exams and admissions seem a silly reason to worry.

Still, it is a great concern for us because her future depends on it.

Although I keep saying that I am leaving it to God to guide us, worry and panic keep popping up in between.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Dear Lord, please strengthen my faith and my trust in you to leave my worries into your loving, capable hands. Nothing is impossible for you. You can work wonders and miracles. Please please take care of my daughter’s admission, Lord.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

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Rose’s Board Finals – Mathematics Exam

For the days you can’t see a way out of your troubles, when desperation raises its head, and you don’t see an end in sight, know this: God is near. He reminds you that he’s fighting for you. He tells us to stand strong in his armor and in the power of his word. Read out loud every word of the armor of God, pray that he would help you to lift your head straight up to him, believing that he will see you through.
Find Hope in the Storm, Crosswalk.com

Well, my daughter’s mathematics exam is over. She worked hard during the few days before the exam, but she was not able to cover one chapter and so is not sure if the answers to questions from that chapter are correct. Due to her illness the last two months, she was not able to do her revisions in advance and hence needed more time to complete her portions.

Considering the situation, she did well and I thank God for the same. This is her favourite subject and she herself has admitted that if she was able to cover the last remaining chapter, she would have been able to score 100% marks. I know that God will do the best for her as he has helped so far.

I feel dejected a bit because if she had listened to me earlier and reduced the time that she had wasted when it was possible for her to study, she could have got all the answers correct. We had a lot of arguments and mental strain due to me reminding her to make the best use of her time.

Anyhow, in spite of all this, God has still helped her do so well. He gave her the strength and health to study on the days before her exams. We had worried if her hard work would take a toll on her health which had not yet come back to normal and I cannot thank Him enough. I feel guilty for the slight tinge of regret/sadness that is in me on my daughter’s behalf, but I know that God understands me.

Whatever the situation, whatever failings we have, I am confident that God will ensure a good outcome for my daughter. Her career will be as per His plans for her. In fact, the lessons learnt will be a learning curve for her, making her realize her mistakes so she can correct herself going forward.

Thank you Lord God for moulding and guiding my daughter through life’s path. Thank you so much Lord. I believe that eventually you will ensure the best for her.

More than a Conqueror!!

The voices in this world, the enemy’s lies, and even our own negative words can do a pretty good job of making us feel defeated and anxious. Choose to tune out from all that mess, and instead choose to listen to what God says about you. He reminds you that you are more than a conqueror. He tells you not to fear. Pray he will help you to have wisdom in whose voice you listen today, and that your thoughts would be focused on him.
Find Hope in the Storm, Crosswalk.com

Reading the above, I am very happy that it is exactly the assurance I need after I lost control of myself yesterday.

I lost my temper with my daughter. I am ashamed of myself. The root cause for my anger was my worry about her.

She was not willing to take a bitter tasting medicine which is good for her immunity. Considering her loss of immunity due to her illness the last two months, I am worried about her immunity to resist the recent corona virus.

This led to other worries.

Each time I thought about decisions that could have been undone during the last two years, I worried that I did not guide her properly.

Each time I thought about her complains, I again felt that there was something missing in the way I brought her up.

I keep forgetting that these are just issues that parents and children face during a child’s adolescent years.

I used to feel confident that we were doing our best for our daughter, of course, with God’s guidance, but yesterday I lost my confidence.

I do know that nothing was and is in our hands. God is in charge and is taking care of her.

However, the negative thoughts made me feel defeated and anxious.

Today’s message has assured me that I should not feel like that.

We can conquer together since God is leading us.

We have put our trust in Him.

Thank you Lord Jesus!!!

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Drowning in the pressures and fears of life…

When troubles overwhelm and worry sets in, it can feel like we can hardly breathe. It might seem as if we’re drowning in the pressures and fears that life has thrown our way. God can cut through all that; He is powerful to work a miracle on our behalf. The same God who split the sea and healed the sick is the God who hears your prayers today. Tell him what concerns you, and thank him that he is helping you this day.
Find Hope in the Storm, Crosswalk.com

Thank you Lord that you are with me through the confusion and fears that our family is going through.

I know that the issues that bother us are actually nothing compared to the sufferings of so many people in this world.

Even then, as a little child comes to you for help to find a missing precious toy which is his greatest worry at that time, I come to you God for even these small issues.

I trust that just as you helped me find my pencil sharpener when I was three years old (the first miracle I remember), you will perform even more wonderful miracles in our lives.

Thank you Lord Jesus for the faith and love you have given me and my family.