Anchored forever: 2016

Sunday, December 25, 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Click on the picture to watch us dance :)

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is a simple poem about Christmas Time that I read by Ronald Doe. Hope you enjoy! :)

Christmas time is finally here.

It only comes but once a year,

And it's a time to spread good cheer

To those we love and hold so dear.

Christmas time is a time of glee,

A time when peace and love run free,

A time for those like you and me

To sit beneath the Christmas tree.

Christmas time is a time of joy,

A time to sit back and enjoy

The smile on each girl and boy,

As they play with a Christmas toy.

Christmas time is a time to share

The passing of another year.

Birth of Jesus, a joyful prayer,

To show loved ones how much we care.

Christmas time is a time for song,

A time for us to get along,

To make us feel Lord Jesus strong,

Forgive all those who did us wrong.

Christmas time is a time to pray,

Put love and kindness on display,

Show compassion along the way.

Christmas time should be every day.

Did you notice the sunshine? The beautiful clouds? The mountains in the background? The many flowers that weren’t discolored? The cup of coffee? The baby that smiled at the traffic signal? Oh there are so many beautiful things to be grateful for, and as we practice being grateful we will notice them more and more. Today my blog is about why should we choose to be grateful?

3 REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL:

Reason #1: Being Grateful makes you Happier and Healthier

You must have sung the hymn “Count Your Blessings” many times. But did you know that literally counting your blessings increases your emotional health? Researchers had one group of students write for 20 minutes each day about things they were grateful for, a second about things they were angry about, and a third about random topics like the color of their shoes. Guess which group was happiest at the end of the experiment? The ones who wrote about things they were grateful for of course!

Reason #2: Being Grateful is God’s Will

It is God’s will that we give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It pleases God when we are thankful. He deserves the credit. Gratitude shouldn’t just happen one day a year around a thanksgiving dinner, but every day. Instead of being sour that your car’s side mirror got knocked off, rejoice in the fact that you have a car to get you around? Instead of dragging your feet with an ungrateful attitude into work, be thankful that you have a job and some income coming in? Whatever it is for you, I encourage you to release your faith by thanking God for what you do have!

Reason #3: There Are Sad Consequences of Ingratitude

When people are not grateful they tend to complain, and that isn’t good for anyone. For example, even though God had delivered the Israelites from slavery and given them manna to eat, they were not grateful. Notice what happens: “And when the people complained, it displeased God and He heard it” (Numbers 11:1). So the Lord hears when we complain, and He does not like it.

I’D BE HAPPY IF . . .

Some people have a hard time being grateful for what they have. They say, “I’d be happy if only I had [fill in the blank—a new car, an iPod, good hair, etc.].” Like the girl who says, “If I were 16, then I’d be happy.” Then she turns 16 and says, “If guys start asking me out, then I’ll be happy.” And then guys start asking her out, and when she’s older she says, “If I get a boyfriend, then I’ll be happy.” Then she gets a boyfriend and says, “If I can break up with my boyfriend, then I’ll be happy.” And so it goes. If we say, “I’ll be happy if . . . ,” the happiness may never come. But when we are grateful, we invite happiness to come immediately.

"All happy people are grateful.
Ungrateful people cannot be happy.
We think being unhappy leads people to complain,
but complaining leads to people becoming unhappy."

TAKE A GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

We always talk about counting our blessings—let’s do it! This morning I did it and it was awesome. Write a list of 100 things you are thankful for. Some might think that is too many. If that is the case, try this:

Write 10 closest people (family/friends/relatives) you are grateful for.
Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.
Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.
Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.
Write 10 modern-day inventions you are grateful for.
Write 10 mentors (colleagues/ classmates/preachers/leaders) you are grateful for.
Write 10 foods you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

When we make a list like this, we discover that a list of 100 doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the things God has given us.

10 CREATIVE WAYS TO SAY 'THANK YOU'

How often do we take time to reflect on the things we’re thankful for? Once a month? Once a week, at church, perhaps? We say thank you for gifts, special favors or for assistance in times of need. But it's not only the big things where thank you matters. We also say thank you as we're handed our change in the store, thank you to someone who holds the door for us, and thank you to the person who passes us the salt at dinner. It's a phrase that is pretty much ubiquitous. But it's never unwelcome, and it can mean so much. Thank yous are often expressed by rote. As we approach towards the end of the year it's time to express thankfulness from the bottom of our hearts.

Here are 10 Creative Ways To Say 'Thank You'!

1. Make them a 'thank you' video.

2. Say it with a small handmade gift.

3. Say it with a phone call

4. Or give a little tasty treat.

5. Summon your talent and write a poem.

6. Say it with a 'thank you' note.

7. Say it in another language.

8. Say it with a list.

9. Spend quality time together.

10. Just say it. It doesn't cost anything.

WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG

If you have been following my blog closely, I have mentioned about my ill health. Yes, I have been down for a while now. I was diagnosed with ovarian cyst and along with some other complications for which I underwent a very painful surgery. I almost died out of pain while they did few other tests. I knew this was going to be painful since I had read so many reviews before. I didn't want to go through any of these tests or surgery. Several times I cried to God to take this away from me. But God just gave me a verse through my dad on the day of my surgery. He said, “God’s grace is sufficient for Gracema (dad calls me Gracema)”. While being broken, I held on to this verse.

I read again from 2 Corinthians 12 where Apostle Paul says, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Even now as I'm recovering from the pain, I am mediating that when I am weak, then I am strong. Whatever you may be undergoing today, God’s grace is sufficient for you.

WHEN PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED

If all my prayers where answered, I would not be writing this article. There are times in our lives when prayers go unanswered. Sometimes I get depressed when I don't get what I prayed for. But what am I to do in such situations in life? I have been pondering why prayers go unanswered for a while now. While reading the passage from 2 Samuel 12:16-24, something that King David did blew my mind off. Here, David's son was sick and he had prayed for God to save his child. But eventually his child dies. David's prayers went unanswered. But how did David react?

3 things to do when prayers go unanswered:

1. Worship God

It is when we are at the deepest of problems that we need to worship God more. David's son was dead. He did not blame God or himself or the Doctors instead he arose and went into the house of God and worshiped God. Many of us are undergoing unexplained and untold problems in our lives. The best thing to do is worship God in this situation. There is no place better than to be in the house of the Lord.

2. Accept the Sovereignty of God

The Sovereignty of God simply means that God is in control of all things past, present and future. Nothing happens that is out of His direction or permission. All things are either caused by Him or allowed by Him for His own purposes and through His perfect will and timing. David accepted God's plan and purpose without questioning God. We simply accept His will for our lives and move on.

3. Anoint yourself with the Holy Spirit

This anointing is God's ability in you to enable you to do something with God's help, without it being a struggle. When David anointed himself and worshiped God, he was comforted by the Holy Spirit of God. The minute God’s anointing starts to flow on you, it will heal you. Your heart will be healed. We read that David was able to comfort his wife and they were blessed with another child.

Few thoughts why prayers go unanswered

Right now I do not have the things I prayed for because:

1. God doesn't want me to have.
2. It's not God will yet.
3. God's plan is better than mine.
4. God sees the future.
5. God knows what He is doing and in control.
6. God is testing me.
7. God is preparing me.
8. God wants me to be patient.
9. God wants me to trust in His timing.
10. God wants to reveal His glory in this situation.

Prayer:

Dear God, when things go wrong, help me to worship you, accept your sovereignty (know that you are in control) and stay in your anointing (be filled with the Holy Spirit). Also that you will bless the person reading this post and hear their prayers.In Jesus' name.

Amen!

MY DELIGHT

We all have desires in our heart. Some of us are still waiting on those desires to be fulfilled. When the season of waiting becomes long, it’s easy to lose hope. But how do we strengthen ourselves and delight in Him in this season of waiting? Delighting is an action of taking great pleasure in Him, to please Him or to be His pleasure. Here is something that encouraged me while studying on this verse.

Look up these scriptures below and begin to familiarize yourself with them. Highlight them, write them in your journal, pray them, but mostly get them in your heart! And He will give you the desires of your heart!

WAYS TO DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD

Doing His will
I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8

Meditating on scriptures
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Being honest
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. Proverbs 12:22

Obedience
So Samuel said: Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

Prayer
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. Proverbs 15:8

Loving His Word
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 77

Most of all, we delight in Him because we love Him. And through the process of delighting ourselves in the Lord, we see that He delights in us!

Here is a song that blessed my heart. It's called "None but Jesus" by Hillsong:

All my delight is in you Lord

All of my hope

All of my strength

All my delight is in you Lord

Forevermore

SPREAD LOVE

Thoughts:

Our family encountered a person couple of months ago. I always felt very sad looking at him because he looked very pavam-types (you know what I'm tying to say, the south-Indian slang :P). He seemed a bit weird at times. So we were wondering what made him the way he is. Recently, while speaking to mom he shared his life story. It-seems he was a school drop out and he could not read because of dyslexia. No one gave him a job and he had to go through so much of hardship all his life. I was moved with compassion. Something within me told him I should help this person is any small possible way. All of us are going through some inner struggle. If everyone knew everyone's story, we would never judge anyone. Today, I released there isn't anyone you couldn't learn to love once you've heard their story.

Verse:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

BE ENCOURAGED

Verse:

And David was greatly distressed;...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
1 Samuel 30:6

Devotion:

This morning on the way to work, I was feeling very low. Life seems to go on but I feel like I have been drifting away from my dreams, passion and goals. I felt like a big failure. To be honest, I was super discouraged. I told God, please encourage me Lord. This verse came to mind. I have been reading 1st Samuel. And I must admit that I admire King David's approach to life. No wonder God calls him a man after His own heart. Even when the storms of life hit you hard, stand tall. Encourage yourself in the Lord!

MY STRENGTH

Verse:

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26

Devotion:

Off-late I have been having issues with my health. I had been to the Doctor yesterday and got bad reports again. Yes, I was heart broken and cried all night. I woke up in the morning and this verse came to my mind. Even though my health has failed and my spirit has grown weak, I can boldly say God is the strength of my heart right now. If not for God I would never be able to get over this storm. As the psalmist said, weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. I woke up, dressed up and showed up at work. He is my strength when I am weak!

Song:

This song spoke right through my heart this week. It's called, "Made me glad" by Hillsong. Few lines from the song:

Whom have I in heaven but You

There's none I desire beside You

For You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord

You are my shield, my strength, my portion

Deliverer, my shelter, strong tower

My very present help in time of need...

PRISONERS OF HOPE

Verse:

“Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” Zechariah 9:12

Devotion:

When you’re a prisoner of something, it’s like you’re chained to it. In other words, you can’t get away from it. “Nothing good ever happens to me.” “It’s never going to change. It’s just been too long.” No, you’re chained to the wrong thing. You need to break those chains and become a prisoner of hope. That means that no matter how long it’s taking, no matter how impossible it looks, our attitude should be, “I just can’t help it. I know it’s going to work out. I know I’m going to overcome. It may be taking a long time, but I know this too shall pass because I am a prisoner of hope!”

OUR 2ND ANNIVERSARY

October 2nd was our second anniversary. Two years!!! It feels longer, but in a good way. So much has happened!

Over these two years, I’ve learned a few things things about marriage (and, of course, am still learning). Say thank you. Say sorry. You’re allowed to get annoyed. Kiss each other especially during fights :)

The secret to a long and happy marriage is not the idea that nothing bad is ever going to happen. But it’s that when something bad happens, you know how to get through it together. One of the most important things is that when you’re having an argument, instead of ratcheting up the emotion, you diffuse it. In the middle of a fight, hug him tight; like you never want to let go of him, even if at that moment, it's the hardest because you’re so mad. It reminds you both of the big picture. It doesn’t make it instantly better, but it takes it down a notch. And in the cool-down period afterward, you’re not left questioning. You know everything is going to be okay. Half an hour after the fight, it’s over and you feel good.

That's one of our secrets. Would like to know yours as well :)

PS: Here are few fun pics from our anniversary photo-shoot.