ENCOUNTER WITH STEVEN FURTICK

Ever since I was a child, I have been blessed to have encountered so many preachers in my life.  I couldn't agree more to the fact that the main reason I have had this opportunity was since my dad himself is a preacher. Most of his friends are also more or less in the same kind of field.

And me too like everyone have my favorites. I haven't met all of them but I cherish their teachings.

My top 10 Preacher Heroes have been (in random order):

- Billy Graham
- Joyce Meyer
- Joel Osteen
- John Gray
- Steven Furtick
- Zac Poonen
- Robert D'roza
- Johnson Varghese
- R Stanley
- ED Chelladura( Not coz he is my dad but I enjoy His creativity)

So off late I have been crazily listening to Steven Furtick's new series called "Bars and Battles". I have been immensely blessed. I literally wait for the Sunday sermon to be uploaded on the site.

And guess what I had an encounter with THE Steven Furtick last night!

I heard that he was in this hotel guest house where I waited for him. He and his wife were about to leave the place when I walked up to him and...

Me: Pastor, can you please pray for me? (in a small voice)

Pastor Steven: What?(he couldn't hear me)

Me: Pastor, can you please pray for me? (still in a small voice)

Pastor Steven: kajgfuiehflkcnsalvosdjvclsdk. Amen

Me: (trying to understand what he meant - confused)

Pastor Steven: You didn't understand, did u? (smirky smile)

Me: (Nodding my head with a no - still confused)

Pastor Steven: I said "Lord Jesus, give her a boy and a girl!"

With excitement I woke from sleep! Oh what a dream!

Read More »

IT’S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF

Have you experienced great despair in your life? The very thing that I have been praying for as long as I can remember isn't coming to pass. Waiting for prayers to be answered in this season has been the hardest. And to top it all, don’t see the silver lining in this cloud, which means I don’t see any signs or symptoms of my prayers even being close to answered. Have you felt that way?

Past two weeks have been one of the toughest phase of my life. I have been experiencing pain both physically and emotionally. Physically due to my failing health, bad doctor’s report, surgeries, tests, injections, allergies, medication may be. Emotionally coz of stress, anxiety, work pressure, uncertainties, worries, mood swings, irritated, frustrated, break downs, sleepless nights, best friend at work being laid off and what not. Plus a sick husband whose is diagnosed with typhoid. Not to forget the financial pressure of house renovation bills and huge medical bills piling up.

With all this going on I know I can only find comfort in one place - His word. Today’s meditation was from Psalm 142 where King David is in despair too and I felt this passage was a bit apt to my situation. I learnt 3 things that David did in his despair which encouraged me.

3 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE IN DESPAIR:

1. CRY OUT TO HIM

Psalm 142:1- 3 (MSG) 
I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy. I spill out all my complaints before him, and spell out my troubles in detail. As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away, you know how I’m feeling.

It’s okay to cry to God and pour out your heart. I can cry out to Him and tell Him I need Him. I can tell him all my troubles in detail. I can tell him how I feel. Coz He listens.

2. CONFESS YOUR HOPE

Psalm 142:5 
I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge,   my portion in the land of the living”. (NIV)
I cry out, GOD, call out:  ‘You’re my last chance, my only hope for life!’ Oh listen, please listen; I’ve never been this low.” (MSG)

Confess to Him that He is your only hope. He is my strength in times of weakness. He is your refugee. He is your comforter. Without Him you can do nothing.

3. CLAIM YOUR BLESSING

Psalm 142:7
Get me out of this dungeon so I can thank you in public. Your people will form a circle around me and you’ll bring me showers of blessing!” (MSG)
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. (NIV)

Acknowledge the goodness of God no matter what circumstance you face. Praise Him even before the breakthrough. Ultimately He will bring glory to His name through the pain.

While meditating on these lines my heart came to peace. A small still voice within myself prompted, "Whatever you are battling right now - It’s been taken care of” - God

Read More »

IT GETS BETTER

Its very easy to lose hope when in pain. You may be facing a problem today. Whatever it is, IT GETS BETTER!

Romans 8:18 says “The pain that you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.” This verse, to me, is one of the most encouraging verses I know.

It basically says that all of the pain that you have been going through, all of the heartache, hurt, disappointment or sadness, cannot compare to all of the joy that is ahead in your life! God tells us that there will be hard times as well as good times in this life, but those hard times are nothing compared to all of the joy that is in store for you!

When we think about all of the pain and sadness that comes into our lives or that may be happening to us right now, it can make us depressed and doubt God’s goodness. But we should never doubt God’s plan for us and never turn our back on Him, because He has big plans for your life, and they are better than you can think or imagine!

No matter what you are facing today,  your "Joy is coming". After all, life gets better with God!

Read More »

HE LOVED ME

I'm so glad that I have a Guest blogger post today for all of you from my beautiful sister. Here's a poem she wrote. It's titled, "He loved me". Hope you relish your souls as you read it!

He loved me while I was in my mothers womb

He loved me while He was locked away in a tomb

He loved me when he was hanging on a cross

He loved me when my life was on a toss

He loved me while I was still a sinner

He loved me way beyond all measure

He loved me that He shed His blood and died

He loved me when I was not by His side

He loved me even when I fell

He loved me more than I can tell

He loved me when I was tossed and torn

He loved me when He was pierced by a thorn

He loved me first so I could love Him back

He loved me so that I would face no lack

He loved me, my Savior that on eagles wings I soar

He loved me for sure, He loves me still and He'l love me forever more

- Glory Namratha

Read More »

NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD

Verse:

“O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” - Jeremiah 32:17

Daily dose:

“She held the doctors reports in her hands. Her eyes swelled with tears.  She said, not again God! Please help me.  I’m so done emotionally! My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on?”

After all, life isn’t that easy. We all face dark times. Through this difficult journey I have learnt that only God help us. Just knowing that God is powerful enough to make heavens and the earth then how can it be hard for him to solve our teeny-weeny problem. GOD IS BIG! So BIG that one touch of His favor can get solve infinite number of problems. That miracle that you have been praying for is on your way. Are you willing to acknowledge that nothing is too hard for HIM?

Read More »

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

If there is anyone who still follows my blog and actually reads my posts, please don't get bugged! I’m actually posting here for the first time in over a month. Okay, I plan to bit more customary in my obligations to blog. 

Well, last week I got surprise from my better half with air tickets to celebrate my birthday in Goa. We had a lovely time on the private beach resort that he had booked (pictures on my Instagram). As I was pondering and relaxing, I asked God for a word for my birthday. When I returned back home mom handed over to me a birthday card from my church which had a scripture verse from Lamentations 3:22-24 which reads:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

I kept thinking how God has been faithful all these years. Later that day we had a small get together at home where we sang the hymn, “Great is Thy faithfulness”. The lyrics meant so much to me. Especially the line where it says, “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!” This is so true in my life; God has provided me everything I need and more than that. I’m truly blessed beyond words. 

After we had sang that song, Dad presented 3 point sermon on “FAITHFULNESS”. Faithfulness is full of faith. When Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentation in the midst of sorrow he writes about the faithfulness of God.

3 THINGS TO BE FAITHFUL FROM LUKE 16:10-12

1. FAITHFUL IN LITTLE THINGS

Verse 10 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Example: Little things like food should not be wasted because it is God who provides it.

2. FAITHFUL IN WORLDLY THINGS

Verse 11 says, And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?

Example: Worldly thing like money should not be wasted because it is God who provides it.

3. FAITHFUL IN OTHERS THINGS

Verse 12 says, And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

Example: Others things which we borrow should always be returned as soon as possible. Even payment to a maid/laborer should be settled before dawn.

My prayer is that as you read this blog, and you listen to the wonderful version of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Jordan Smith, you will be reminded, as I have been, of the faithfulness of God to you and your family through the years. Of how He has never let you down, and no matter how dark the circumstances you face, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Indeed, Great is His Faithfulness!

Read More »

BARREN TO BLESSED

Barren women they muttered her name

Depressed and hurt she lived in shame

Her rival provoked her till she cried

Pain and disgrace she could not hide

Her neighbors asked her, "What was wrong?

To have a baby, does it take that long?"

Who is this living God you talk about?

Her faith in Him they made her doubt

She woke up each night and bitterly wept
Her husband consoled her as she slept

In deep anguish she couldn't eat or drink

Her misery was all that she could think

In despair she cried out and prayed,

"God, to your work this child I trade"

She poured out her heart in tears

There on the alter she laid her fears

God stooped down from heaven and heard her cry

He said, "My promise to you I will not defy"

"She's Hannah", the blessed women they say

"She's you! cause your Samuel is on the way"

- Grace Xavier

Read More »

WHEN MY EYES LOOKS AT YOURS

The strongest relationships are thick with arguments. When I say “fighting,” I'm not talking about full-blown physical encounters. I'm not talking about throwing plates and breaking skulls. I simply mean “arguing”: two intelligent people finding themselves in the midst of healthy debate.

Like all couples sometimes my husband and I argue about things. We have our fair share of reasons why we stand by our opinion. Normally when the argument gets heated, we don’t look at each other. We are so upset that we can barely look into each other’s eyes. But after a considerable amount of time, if at all we happen see each other in the eyes we start smiling at each other. And trust me, this happens all the time. This is how our argument ends because we can’t stop smiling at each other.

There’s something about looking into each other’s eyes.You can look into someone eyes only if you are comfortable with them or if you really like them. Even Bryan Adams song lyrics say "Look into my eyes, you will see what you mean to me..."(this song just came to my mind...out of context...ignore...lol) Sometimes you look into someone’s eyes because you have compassion on them.

Yesterday while I was travelling to work, I was reading Psalm 123. Verse 2 made me stop and ponder on it. It says, “As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till He shows us His mercy”. I have read Psalm 123 before but had never noticed that there is a verse like this.

Sometimes when I need something so bad from my dad, I keep looking at him till I get it. I will make sure I make that sad face like that of a little child wanting something from daddy. The same way the Psalmist must have felt while writing this verse. “So our eyes look to the LORD our God, till He shows us His mercy”. I want to be like that. I want my eyes to look to the Lord till He shows His mercy on me. I do not want to look at my situation, look at the mountains or look at the facts but look to Him. I can so relate to the lyrics of this song by Miley Cyrus:

When the waves are flooding the shore

And I can't find my way home anymore

That's when I, I

I look at you

When I look at you

I see forgiveness

I see the truth

You love me for who I am

Like the stars hold the moon

Right there where they belong

And I know I'm not alone

Yeah when my world is falling apart

When there's no light

To break up the dark

That's when I, I

I look at you

“God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” - Charles Spurgeon

Read More »