Wearing the armor!

Imagine walking with a friend, and suddenly he/she trips and falls down. What will you do? Walk on? You stop and help them up... This is the image, God taught me. As a family, as husband and wife, you both are walking, and what if he falls, will you complain, grumble and keep walking or help him up?

Believe it or not, we are in a spiritual battle daily. The attacks are real. May not be life threatening, but you have daily attacks. You worry, you fear, you regret, you lament, you are disappointed, you are confused, you are impatient, you are angry.. and what not.

So during my Quiet time, and after I've been to throne room.. I go to the dressing room.. to get dressed with the armor of God.

Lord, I wear the Helmet of Salvation, I remember by your blood I've been made clean. I take captive every thought and make it obedient to you. All thoughts of fear, worries are blocked from my head. By your blood I am cleansed and so fill my thoughts with praise and thanksgiving.
I pray that I hold on to the Shield of Faith. When life throws googly at me, I don't waver, I don't doubt, but stand firm on the faith I have in you.
I pray that I use the Sword, which is the word of God. Remind me of your verse, help me to put into practice daily.
Wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness, I pray that I will remember it is only because of Christ's righteousness I stand, and not because of me. Help me to clothed in humility and be a servant leader.
As I wear the Belt of Truth, let me remember that you are truth, and that I will represent you in my life.
Wearing my shoes, let me be ready anytime, to boldly tell the Gospel of Peace, in season or out. Give me the right time, right place, right words, and seize the opportunity at all times.

Do you know what your spouse is going through? The struggle is real. The fear, confusion, the pressure, the loss, the stress on a day to day basis, the worry, regret,the pain. What can you do for that? You don't need to feel helpless!

The beautiful thing the Bible talks about family, way up in Genesis 2 is that they are ONE FLESH.. So that means, you can pray for your spouse, as for your own body!

Now, once I am done wearing it, I pray the exact same thing all over my husband. My guy is quite tall, and wow, what a soldier he would make, with all the shining armor! All 6 of them.

So we stand back to back in the thick of the battle. And I know if one of us falls down, we can lift each other up. The beauty of the armor is all 6 of it is God himself. Salvation, Word, Truth, Gospel, Righteousness, even faith heb 12:2! There is nothing required of us, except to use them and stand! Daily. And what a relief it is!, once you wear and make your husband wear. No matter if he's overseas, or in terrible situation, or worried or troubled, you can't preach to him, or change him in anyway, but you can just pray over him/her with the armor, and sleep as a baby in the arms of Jesus!

and here's by 2010 blog on the same subject.. tips to memorise easily !

Rescued from disaster

We were on the way home from East Tambaram on Sunday night around 9 PM. Amy was in the back seat and Andrea was goofing around in the front seat. They just had a fight with the two papers that Amy had colored. Amy was afraid that Andrea will throw the paper out of the window. So with her screaming, I closed Andrea's passenger window, and then turned on the AC midway.

Just as I was nearing the MCC College Signal, Amy said, 'Mom! Look the door is open!'. My heart skipped a beat, as I saw the door opening and dangling. I crouched and grabbed Andrea's arm. The vehicles were going past, and I could see people's astounded face in bike, and auto- saying, look car door is open and a kid inside. My stomach churned. I had to shift gear and slow down, move to the last lane, and stop the car, before being hit. And before Andrea goes out of the door.

I can only say, God saved us from death. Somehow I slowed down, and moved to the left lane and stopped. By then a guy in a bike, kicked and slammed the door shut. I am just thankful for guarding us that night. Saving us from impending disaster. I can't imagine the 'what if' she hung on the door.. what if she fell.. what if a vehicle hit the open door..God protected us and saved us.
For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalms 91:11

A thankful heart

Its easy to be thankful when things are going smoothly. But when things are pretty rough, there is no end to the pain or struggle, we seem to get drowned in the sea of distress

One of my many favorite Petra songs, that speaks to my soul anytime, is 'Thankful Heart'. What strikes me most, is the line that says, 'I have a thankful heart that You have given me And it can only come from You'.

So when I have trouble looking for what to be thankful for, I ask God, to give me a thankful heart- that only he can give, and then he opens my eyes, to see all the treasures I have! Life after death, a family, eyes, nose, heart, functioning fingers, toes, arms, limbs, family and so much more. Jotting down in a paper helps me everytime.

Out of a thankful, grateful heart, what bursts out? fear, anxiety?? NO!! Praise! Love, Joy! and all the fruits of the Spirit! No wonder, Psalmist tells about, entering the gates with thanksgiving and courts with praise! Psalms 100:4. You can't enter the throne room without that. I have made a habit now, to start my Quiet time, with just that! and it so kick starts any day!

With Jesus as our head, we have so much to be thankful about. His everlasting love, loving kindness, His compassion, His sufficient grace, and every spiritual blessings in Christ Eph 1:3!! Oh boy, isn't that something!?

In or out

Last night, during family prayer, we were singing a song written by Prince uncle and Dad reminicient of his old days, said he was Maths teacher from sriviliputhur. There was a collector, who encouraged lot of teachers, to join him to visit the villages. His name was Ranjith Periyanayagam.

He being a collector, was well received by the villagers, and they surrounded him and listened to him intently.
Dad said, he learnt 4 important learnings from him.

1.While riding the cycle, the collector told him about the game rule in badminton.. Of how when the ball falls on the line, it is considered as out.

Thus in our life, if you wonder if its right or wrong, and if its on the line, remember that it is an Out. Never doubt about that.

His office was in 1st floor. Everyday at around 11 AM, he would look out his window, and look for any one waiting in the collector office. Those who are pushed back or denied entry. He would slowly go there, and ask his whereabouts and then take him, and kindly share the gospel with them. Later when he comes to his desk, he makes sure, the petition from that person, is moved further.

Once, he was asked to collect around 1 lakhs for some saving scheme during mg. Ram period. He gave over that work to PW person. He had invited movie stars for a dance cultural program, and invited the collector to preside over it. Unaware he had been there, and there were dances in a very weird manner. Before he could realise, 2,3 songs and dances were complete. SLowly the collector turned back from stage and left the venue in a rickshaw. As he neared his home, he heard cries inside. Rushing in, he found that his 22 year healthy son, was dead suddenly.

2. The collector told dad, Neethar, 'kadavul, ungal mela romba piriyama irikirar. He is very fond of me too. And when we are so special, if we do a dumb mistake, God cannot bear it. He will immediately teach you and bring you back. So be watchful.' The collector was heart broken, when he shared this.

Andrea's gimmicks

Bad that I haven't penned anything that Andrea did.
Andrea speaks a lot since going to preschool. She can say 1-100, say her ABCs, tell words pointing to her picture Alpha book, vegetables, colors, shapes, animals... quite a lot.. even write A, B and C.

Her babbles are so adorable.. here are few words that she uses.

Amykaaa ... loves the way she calls her sister at times.
Doctor phone pakka nanna solli.
Shiny mam, solli?
Adichiduvaen Amy.
Amy adichi.
Mummy, appa, vaanga.
Mummy susu.
Amy, Amy bad girl, Andrea Andrea Good girl.
Mummy good girl, Daddy good boy. Andrea good girl, Amy bad.
Thatha enga?
Daddy office. Mummy office. Amy School. Andrea School.
Naan school poi vandhachu.
Mummy surprise?
Daddy kita maati
Mummy kita solli
Daddy romba chaetai panni.

Me: Who pushed the chair down? Andy: Amy.

Her tantrums for
Surprise: She drags my office bad, and opens it to look for any surprise.
Chocolate: Mummy chocolate(2) please,... Kaila vachi...
To be held: Mummy thooki.
Phone: Mummy phone (3)
Amy: Mummy Amy kili.


She can say the following verses:
Karthavae sollum adiyaen kaetkiraen
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.
My grace is sufficient for you.
Give and it shall be given to you.
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. HE makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me in the path of righteousness. He restores my soul.
Kartharai nan ekalathilum sthotharipaen. Avar thuthi epodum en vayilirukum. Kartharulul en aathuma, maenmai paraatum, sirumaipatavargal, athai kaetu magilvargal.

Songs she loves
Manithan yar endhu ulagil yarukum theriyadhu.
singa kutigal patini kidakum.
Jeevikirar, yesu jeevikirar,

God's will or my wish?

Heard couple of testimonies, prayer request in fellowship and couldn't wonder how much it actually means...

Please pray for this prayer request, that so and so should happen- the person would say, and then would add, well as how the fellowship folks would say, not my wish but God's will be done on this.

Pretty hard realisation.. to give up and empty... but isnt that what Christ did in Gethsemane? But oh, what peace that follows when you give in/step back and let God guide and choose.

Lesson from brother 2

Back in 2000, when inland letter was THE efficient communication, I wrote a stinker

to my brother, who is 10 years elder to me. He was working in an NGO and was in Gujarat then, working on the relief of people after the aftermath of the earthquake.

My mom was undergoing chemo and I don't know what anger I had, but I wrote to him. Saying, you as a son, have a duty to take care of your parents. No matter your expenses and how much you earn, you ought to give some amount to mom.

I got a reply, and I would never forget what he wrote in it. He had said, thanks for writing and pointing it out. Advise can come from any direction, and that it is valid, even if it comes from a lil sister. His humility and gentleness, blew over me that day. It still does.

It taught me, that counsel/suggestion, no matter, from whom it comes from, is to be honored and respected and followed.. There is no hierarchy to it and that we should be humble enough to accept it.

Akkas in my life

It was 22nd Oct, tired and exhausted I got home. As I opened the gate, all my plants looked at me with sad eyes. I hadnt watered them over the weekend. So decided to water them, before I saw my girls. I must have poured only one bucket, when Selvi akka came down the stairs.. It was already 6.20 PM. You havent left yet? I asked. She leaves by 6 PM sharp. He said no.. and asked me if I can drop her home, and that her husband was not picking up phone. She never had asked ever before.. So I said, sure.. and then she said, come and touch my chest... her heart was pumping quickly.. I took it off in a second.. are you ok? are you dizzy? do you need water, did you eat anything, I shot lot of questions. I made her sit and went up to get the bike keys. For some reason I took the car keys too.. The girls saw me talking and came down, I said, lets all go to selvi aunty house, the girls all jumped in and I took the car out. Then I asked akka, who is home? she said no one. Then I asked if she should go to hospital instead.. she was hesitating.. I got the girls out and made them go to ammu's home saying appu has got icecreams. I then took akka to bethesda.. As I wasnt sure what else to do. I thought, it could be either high bp or high or low sugar issue for giddiness... There was heavy traffic and we reached bethesda. It was overflowing. there was no room in casualty. finally we got a bed, and akka's heart rate was around 180. Her husband reached. The doctor told us to take her to Global as the heart rate was still increasing. They arranged the ambulance. We rushed.

The ambulance ride was bumpy and horrible. Its the easy route to get to heaven. Trust me. In Global, the medical response was quick. Her heart rate was around 210. They gave an emergency injection and it reduced to 100 immediately. They asked to be kept under medical observation for 1 day.Her husband stayed. I left around 9.30 PM.

Next day, she was discharged, the bills were 32k and they suggested angio, echo, which akka said, they'll take elsewhere. She was normal otherwise. Without akka, I was disorganised big time. She had been with us, since Amy was 5 months old. Through thick and thin.

My cooking had been very less. She had been all in all... and without her for the past 3 weeks, I was drained. The girls were cranky, and though I loved spending time with them, I was exhausted with continous work. I took wfh. God was gracious to grant me a lean period in office, where I was able to juggle. Sending of girls to school, cleaning, washing, cooking had made me a prov 31 wife.. lol. I had lost 1 kg.. easily.. in 3 weeks. yippe.. I wonder how so many girls, who come to office have no help at all and yet manage. God helped me appreciate lot of things during this time. I missed my morning wimh/ground time and fellowship at office.

Was praying she gets back, or we get another help somehow. And God helped us get Violet akka. She came last Thursday night 15 Nov. She is from thirutani. Was worried how Andrea gets along, but by God's amazing grace, she has become friendly. This akka stays with us. She's a believer too. God has been so gracious! Praise the Lord!

Where vultures gather

I've been intrigued with this passage. A lot. Jesus while talking about his second coming, gives an unrelated ( to me?) Phrase.

Recently, somehow felt God teaching something different from it. And the intensity of it is so scary.
When you feel something is dead inside you. Could be love. Or faith or anything...It means it's dead and rotting.

Jesus is the life. The living water. If you don't have life, you are dead meat. When you don't have living water, it is dead water. Living water teams with life. Fishes, corals, algae, all sort of life.
Dead water is stagnant water. Breeding ground of mosquitoes. Stinky water.

We can either be hot or cold. But not lukewarm. Either In or out. But not in between.

Just like how ditch water, attracts dirty things, a dirty mind would naturally attract all that's evil. And dirty stuff. Dirty people. Like magnet.

How scary that is. How vital to renew your mind daily in Christ.

Dad's dreams

He was in heaven and  saw Emil jebasingh uncle come down from a tall building. He said he was just visited a fmpb old timer , who helped fmpb ministry in the olden days.

He put his hand around dad shoulder and they kept walking and one man in vetti chatai (as they were in South) looked at dad and said, iyya vaanga.

And Emil uncle said, neether, do recogniSE him? Dad couldn't remember who the other man was. And uncle reprimanded saying, this is the father of so and so missionary in so and so north Indian place. You ought to remember them too!.
Dad realised that he not only should pray for missionaries but also for their parents.

Whom are we praying for?廊

2nd dream. Dad was in the top of a very tall mountain. And from there he could see the sun glowing on another mountain far far away.  It was so beautiful.

And as he was looking, the other mountain came nearer and nearer, so near that he could take a single step and he was on the other big mountain. The old mountain which he was standing a lil while ago, seemed to give away and go down and disappear.