Christmas Gift

Christmas in our family is celebrated in a big way. What I mean is, the importance of it because it means remembering the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And not necessarily the party aspect of this holiday, although we do rejoice in this flesh of ours by eating good food, decorating, giving gifts to each other in our family. It's all done with the perspective that our Lord made it all possible for our salvation and provision for us here while on this earthly journey.

Christmas eve, I eyed my package under the tree and I kept asking my hubby what he had bought me... Well..He said, "You'll just have to wait until morn to find out..." and he chuckled away. My children are all tempted to see what's in their package...my hubby and I give them the same answer ....O.K....I tell you I've the best kids, patiently after the family altar we all went to bed.

Christmas morn is here, my hubby put on beautiful music and the children woke up to the beats of the tunes, eagerly anticipating their gifts. My dear hubby led the devotion, from Isaiah where he had prophesied during 740-680 B.C , the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Isaiah 9:6,7 and 53:6.
Israel had to wait, the world had to wait for the birth of our Lord....the best gift to mankind....I thought how small a time we had to wait to open our earthly gifts and how small the gifts were and yet we felt the wait is too long and we are excited at the thought of the gifts we are going to recieve...How much more excited and rejoicing we should be on knowing that the Great God of the universe sent us His Beloved Son for us. I am truly rejoicing and grateful for Christmas!!!

Greatest Love

It's Christmas time and I am so grateful for having to come to know our Lord as my Savior, most of all for His Love towards us sinful mankind. What really amazes me is this Great God of the universe, sustainer of everything, chose of His own will and pleasure to be given of himself as a babe into this insignificant earth. My heart is filled with praise and worship to our God, my Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though we don't see Him with our physical eyes, He has sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with us in this long earthly journey and we can really know that He is there.

I am very grateful for the freedom to celebrate our LORD JESUS'S birth.
Let us take time to remember and pray for those of our brothers and sisters being persecuted in places like Orissa, India where the extremists are planning to attack the christians on Dec. 25th.

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God.
Wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Limitless Riches

My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Paul's God is our God and will supply all our need. Paul felt sure of this in reference to the Philippians, and we feel sure of it as to ourselves. God will do it, for it is like Him: He loves us, He delights to bless us, and it will glorify Him to do so. His pity, His power, His love, His faithfulness, all work together that we be not famished.

What a measure doth the Lord go by: "According to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." The riches of His grace are large, but what shall we say of the riches of His glory? His "riches of glory by Christ Jesus"-who shall form an estimate of this? According to this immeasurable measure will God fill up the immense abyss of our necessities. He makes the Lord Jesus the receptacle and the channel of His fullness, and then He imparts to us His wealth of love in its highest form. Hallelujah!

The writer knows what it is to be tried in the work of the Lord. Fidelity has been recompensed with anger, and liberal givers have stopped their subscriptions; but he whom they sought to oppress has not been one penny the nay, rather he has been the richer; for this promise has been true, "My God shall supply all your need." God's supplies are surer than any bank.

From the Faith Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon

IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION - REMEMBER

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

—1 Peter 4:12-14, 16

Our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering persecution in many parts of the world. Currently it is those in parts of India, states of Orissa, Karnataka. Please pray the Lord will comfort them and those who persecute will come to know our Good Lord Jesus Christ.

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The Lord is our Shield

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course"

Proverbs 2:6-9

The Lord is my Teacher

"The Lord God has given me

the tongue of the learned

that I should know how to speak

A word in season to who is weary.

He awakens me morning by morning

He awakens my ear to hear

as the learned."

Isaiah 50 : 4

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The wife of Noble Character

The Wife of Noble Character


A wife of noble character who can find?


She is worth far more than rubies.


Her husband has full confidence in herand lacks nothing of value.


She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.


She selects wool and flaxand works with eager hands.


She is like the merchant ships,bringing her food from afar.


She gets up while it is still dark;


she provides food for her familyand portions for her servant girls.


She considers a field and buys it;


out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.


She sets about her work vigorously;her arms are strong for her tasks.


She sees that her trading is profitable,


and her lamp does not go out at night.


In her hand she holds the distaffand grasps the spindle with her fingers.


She opens her arms to the poorand extends her hands to the needy.


When it snows, she has no fear for her household;


for all of them are clothed in scarlet.


She makes coverings for her bed;


she is clothed in fine linen and purple.


Her husband is respected at the city gate,


where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.


She makes linen garments and sells them,


and supplies the merchants with sashes.


She is clothed with strength and dignity;


she can laugh at the days to come.


She speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.


She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.


Her children arise and call her blessed;


her husband also, and he praises her:


"Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.


"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;


but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.


Give her the reward she has earned,


and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31: 9b-31

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you in the way you should go.

Psalm 32:8

Seek the Lord and His strength,

Seek His face evermore.

1 Chronicles 16:11

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Spider teaches

"The spider taketh hold with her hands,

and is in the Kings' palaces."

Proverbs 30: 28

The ugly spider hangs by her hands upon the wall .

In "The Pilgrim's Progress", John Bunyan explains...This is recorded to show us , that though we may be like the ugly spider, full of the venom of sin we can by the hand of faith, lay hold of and dwell in the best room that belongs to the King's House above.

What and awesome thought! I never looked at a spider that way before!

Now I see the spider has taught me a valuable lesson and is a constant reminder of how to act Faith while I live .

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A lesson on love

Love, what a vast subject. I've always wondered......
What makes a mother and father who didn't give birth, love their adopted child?

What makes humans love animals as their pets?

How can a man love someone who hurts him?

Over the years, I've known what it feels to love someone who loves you, but couldn't conceive the concept of loving the unlovable. The mean ones, the ones who it seems really don't care for another, the ones who hate the good and the kind.....
I thought it was to feel love for that person. I tried but couldn't feel love for the unlovable. But I was wrong, love was not just a feeling.
It was more than that. Quite a while ago, the Lord found it good to put me through a situation, where I was very uncomfortable.
I was in the midst of what you might call unlovable people. I didn't know how to love these people. In human terms, they hurt me, they lied about me, etc..

I felt like Joseph in prison. In spite of him doing all the right things, he was thrown in prison. What lead him to not be bitter or take revenge?

Now, I've realized that it was because he took all that happened to him as God's will for him. . After all our Lord only does good to those who love Him.
Our Lord Jesus is the best example. He loved us, the worst sinner. I was the unlovable person , He gave up His life for. He showed His Love in action. He met my need.

In the same way, in my situation, I asked the Lord to give me grace to walk in the Spirit and not in my flesh.
As the Lord led me, I started meeting the needs of these unlovable ones, I was placed with at this point in my life .
I said, " Lord, my flesh is weak, I can't do it on my own, please help me to walk in the Spirit."
The more I did and served these, the more and more I wanted to be used for them. Where was that coming from?
Surely it was not my flesh. I can say it was truly the Holy Spirit leading my spirit. I found that I was having pleasure in my spirit in serving these ones the Lord had placed in my path.
The more they tried to hurt me. I found myself meeting their needs and beyond. These could not repay me for all the good I had done to them.

I was doing it as unto the Lord. I guess , I can say, I've learnt a lesson in Love. Love is an action word,
I know, I've many more lessons to be learnt, the process is going to be difficult, nonetheless I'm willing, the end result brings me closer to my Lord whom I love.

I know it is for the good of mankind whom oh Lord, You Love so much!!

Love is only of God. Praise you ! Oh Lord. I love you Lord!

In the picture are our both daughters, pet parakeets, Sky in blue, and Angel in white whom they love dearly!!

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Delight yourself in the Lord

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.....

Rest in the Lord,

And wait patiently for Him;

Psalm 37: 4,7

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Landscape Painting

This is one of my oil paintings, I have been working on.

The beautiful mountains, the vast open skies, they all seem to express the wondrous beauty of their Creator. I love light, it brings out color in every direction. As the sun sets and light fades, darkness falls and all things that were colorful, are dark to our sight. Color brings me joy, when I see the beautiful landscapes the beautiful colors shine through, it is as if they are singing. Here I don't hear them but I see the colors sing.
Light reminds me of our Lord Jesus Christ, He is the Light who leads us in this dark world of sin. Every morning as daylight comes on I am reminded of this great truth.

"The Heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork."

Psalm19:1

When we consider God's plan and purpose for our family, I often have to remind myself: Is this my wish list or is it God's?

If we are struggling to keep up with the ...you name it ...anybody, we are struggling in vain.

As long as we are in this flesh, we keep having all these weaknesses. I almost feel like, I am in war with my flesh. It becomes a constant struggle between my spirit and my flesh... I am so thankful to Paul who wrote in Romans that we should walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. But how do we do it ? I am still learning . I am finding that through prayer without ceasing, devotions

and meditating in His word the Lord helps all of us to walk in the spirit. I guess it is a constant awareness that we are really spirits and these bodies are just a mere evidence of ourselves on this earth. And thereby letting our spirit win this war, is really the victory and, its O.K if our flesh looses eventhough it does not feel very good , because its just a temporary feeling..

Speak, Lord I am your servant

and I am listening .

1 samuel 3 :10

The Christ- centered Family

"A loving family is a treasure from God. If God has blessed you with a close knit, supportive clan, offer a word of thanks to your Creator.He has given you one of His most precious earthly possessions. Your obligation , in response to God's gift, is to treat your family in ways that are consistent with His commandments."

"Even when the demands of everyday life are great, you must never forget that, as a mother, you are entrusted with a profound responsibility : nurturing the spiritual growth of your family."

"When you place God squarely in the center of your family's life -when you worship Him, praise Him, trust Him, and love Him-then He will most certainly bless you and yours in ways you could have scarcely imagined." Excerpt from " Purpose for Everyday Living for Mothers"

"Unless the Lord build the house,

they labor in vain who build it;...."

Psalm 127:1

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

I love reading C.S.Lewis's books. He is such a genius, and I am so glad he penned all his ideas and thoughts. Mere Christianity is a beautiful work and having read it once before quite a long time ago, I thought I might take it up again.

In the first chapter, "The Law of Human Nature" he concludes by making two points.
"First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it.
Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature;(what Right and Wrong are) they break it. These two facts are the foundations of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in."

Yesterday was my youngest daughter's birthday! She turned into the big 10!! Allthough she is under the weather a bit we still had a wonderful time. She wanted a brownie cake!!! and I made it for her. It is so wonderful to see my little one is growing up so well. Thankyou Lord! I can see her personality blooming, she being herself just the way the Lord wants her to be.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS, DARLING PRINCESS"

"Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,

Give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord, the glory due to His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 29:1,2

WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! MY PRECIOUS DARLING PRINCESS!!!

Jauary is a birthday celebration month in our family. All my precious gifts were born in Jauary. And what's even more interesting is they are all within the same week!! It had been a funfilled time when my children were young and has continued to be funner even as they get older.
My daughter has turned into a teenaager!!!Yeah!!I am so excited to experience the fun and challenges of teenage life!!

I will praise you, O lord,

with my whole heart;

I will tell of all your marvelous works.

Psalm 9:1

WISH YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! MY MOST PRECIOUS DARLING SON!!!!!

My son turns 12 today. He's been waiting for this day since his sister turned 12! It's big day for him, he will be enjoying a lot of privileges and in our home responsibility goes hand in hand with it. I am so thankful to our good Lord for blessing my husband and me with our most precious son. It is such a joy watching him grow everyday and fulfill the purposes our good Lord has for him. He loves tandoori chicken and I am going to surprise him by making it today. He has no clue and it's even more fun that way!!

Here's the recipe if you would like to try it sometime-

Ingridients-

Chicken legs, Ginger Paste, Garlic Paste, Yogurt, Lemon juice a tsp, salt to taste, Tandoori masala(can be purchased at any Indian store)

Preparation-

Make slits in the chicken legs with a knife. Marinate with all the ingredients for a couple of hours. The amount of the spices can be adjusted according to how spicy you want it. I usually make it mild, if you would like it a little more spicy you can add more of the masala. Now grill or bake chicken covered with a foil and during the end when it's almost done uncover for a few minutes. That way the chicken is nice and juicy. Also add a little butter and lemon juice and baste before taking the chicken out. Bon Appetit!!

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is your name in all the earth.

Who have set your glory above all the heavens.

Psalms 8:1

Gloomy sky

Today we had no sun. It was a pretty gloomy sky and I was starving for color all around me. I see that without the sun there is no hope for much color either...everything is sort of a grey color, even the evergreens appear sort of a greyish green. One thought that came to me was "This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." Wow! that view really made me smile. I am so glad our Lord made this day. I just love Him so so much. I just can't wait to see His face!

"As the deer pants for streams of water,

So my soul pants for you, O God."

Psalms 42:1

I am so glad to be alive and be a part of the year 2008. I wonder what all wonderful things the Lord has in store for us this year. One thing we can be sure of is, no matter what the circumstances we will be in, and all of us will be in different situations of life, our good Lord is with us. I have asked the Lord to give me the abilities to teach my children more about our Lord, through his Word. During the holidays my hands were full and was unable to get to my blog and I would like to take this time to wish you all a BLESSED NEW YEAR.


I would like to share a verse that really motivated me-

"And these words which I command you

today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your

children, and shall talk of them

when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way,

when you lie down,

and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 6:6,7