BLOWN AWAY BY GOD

Sometimes God just blows you away with surprises. It unimaginable and amazing how God plans the timeline of your life and how He fulfills your hearts desires and dreams.

One of my cousins asked me that what my dreams were and if they have been fulfilled. As I began to think about it, I was amazed at the timeline in which God has been fulfilling my dreams and wishlists.

Looking back, these were few of my dreams, desires, wishes and silent prayers:

THE SHIP
I always wanted to serve God onboard the ship, Logos Hope. God miraculously gave me an opportunity to live on the ship for 3 months and meet so many people around the world. I was blown away when my boss gave me leave for 3 months. Plus, I got godly friends as a bonus on the ship.

TRAVEL ABROAD
I love visiting different countries but I knew it was impossible. But God was so good to me that He blew me away by taking me to Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. I asked God for one country but He took me to 9 for which I’m so grateful.

LOVING HUSBAND
Like all girls dream about their future husband, I wanted to have a husband just like my dad. It unbelievable how many similarities Solomon and my dad have. I'm just blown away by the way they love me, take care of me and the similar way they react to my tantrums.

WRITE BOOK
My dream was to write books and encourage people through my stories. It was impossible since I always felt insecure about my writing skills. But last year God was gracious to me and helped me to release my first book for which I’m blown away.

DESIGNER
They say that everyone should love what they do. I’m passionate about designing (clothes, interiors, and web). I’m so happy that I work as a web designer. I’m blown away that what I studied is what I became and what I work. God gave me the exact job that I love.

HOME
Growing up, beautiful home interiors have fascinated me. When we renovated our house, I could implement a few designs that I have admired. Making my house a home of my dream was one of my cherished moment. I was blown away by God’s financial providence.

Not all these were fulfilled according to my timetable. Deep down in my heart, these were my dreams, desires, wishes and silent prayers. Although the waiting time was so hard, God’s timing was perfect. When I ponder on why God let me wait so long, I'm just blown away. He does all things beautiful in His time. His ways are just beyond PERFECT!

Are you waiting for God to do something in your life? Be ready to be blown away by His goodness!

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WHY I BLOG

When I was 9, I cried in a bathroom because my relatives told that I was dark and my sister was fair. So I was insecure about my skin color.

At 12, I hid under the cot since I had a big nose. So I wouldn't like to meet the guests at who came home.

At 14, I cringed when we had to take class photos during school picnic because I was short and thought I was ugly. So I hid my picture.

At 20, I cried when that boy broke my heart because he met a prettier girl. So I felt nobody would ever like me and I would never get married.

At 22, I when everyone had their ministry, I was depressed that I couldn't preach or sing like my dad or sister did.

At 24, I realized that I had spent the first two decades of my life believing the lie that I needed to be perfect. Clean, crisp and poised. So I did all I could to hide my messes. My insecurities. My doubt. My discouragement.

But the truth is that I always felt out of place. I felt too messy and awkward and ugly.

And that's half the reason why my blog has messy and unusual stories. But the truth is that it's a sanctuary for me, where I can pour out my heart before God. A place where I can drop the filters and be the sad little girl that hid in a bathroom. Except there's no hiding under the cot, no comparison, no judgment, no holding back. It's me, my heart poured out in every color, scratch, and squiggle. Because I had found comfort and confidence in one place alone - at Jesus' feet. And today, it's still the only place I'm free to drop the filters, to feel imperfect and ugly without wanting to hide, and free to be messy with a God who adores every ounce of me. And my out-pour on the page is out of my own experiences. It is to encourage you that there is hope in Christ alone.

God has turned my mess into a message. It's true for you, too. So if you're feeling fat, short or ugly or heartbroken or discouraged or messed up: that's okay. There is HOPE!

Your greatest testimony is that you went through fire but you don't smell like smoke!

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PRINCE CHARMING

“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.”

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DARK IS BEAUTIFUL

Very often I feel very depressed about my skin complexion especially when I live in a racist country like India. Most people consider fair skinned-girls as extremely gorgeous while the darker complexion girls like me are just average or even less than that. Popular definition for a beautiful girl is often quoted as "fair" in many matrimonial sites. Many times I thought that if I was fair I would be married by now or if I was fair people would have liked me and stuff. I always wondered why God made my skin so dark while the 2 beautiful ladies in my house (my mom and my sister) are fair.

But then Psalm 139 says, "I am marvelously made". When God made me, He made no mistakes. He thought I was perfect. He made no mistake with the way He designed my appearance, my skin tone, my height, my weight, my face and with all that He gave a lovely touch with a beautiful smile. I'm guessing after creating me He must have smiled at me and said, "You are a master piece, Grace!" :-) (The same for you) This morning I was reading the Song of Solomon and it says God( the Bridegroom) choose the dark women among so many women. Wow! That encouraged me. God has His own way of speaking to me through His word. It makes me admire His beautiful creation. Some of the most beautiful women of earth are dark skinned. And indeed GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES!!!

PS: This blog is dedicated to beautiful dark-skinned girls who have low self esteem of themselves :) Please remember DARK IS BEAUTIFUL

 

 

 

 

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When God Does It, It’s Perfect!

A friend of mine emailed this to me and it was so encouraging. I'm so blessed to know the truth from God's word. I tried handling lot of things myself along with God. But it was all in vain so I decided to lay ALL my plans and ALL my desire on the alter. Like how Abraham climbed Mount Moriah to lay down Issac just like that I have climbed Mount Moriah lot of times but it's gonna be different this time coz I'm laying it ALL on the alter. This time I want God ALONE to plan. By faith I declare that when When God Does It, It’s Perfect! I hope it blesses you as well. Here it goes:

Once as a young child, I came across a shrub with gorgeous flowers. When I discovered a budding flower among the fully opened ones, I thought that it would be a great idea to help it blossom. So I tried to peel open the petals one by one…and bit by bit, the flower became undone as the petals were torn off in my little hands. I had begun with good intentions, but killed the poor flower in the end!

My friend, when it comes to our areas of concern, our human efforts to solve our problems, despite the best of intentions, cannot produce results that are as beautiful as if we were to allow God’s wisdom and timing to do it. It’s when we rest from our self-efforts and struggles to solve our problems, and allow God to work in us and through us, that we see divine results.
I’ve often said this: If God wants all the glory, then allow Him to do all the work. God loves it when you look to and lean on Him alone. In heaven, it’s, “Worthy is the Lamb,” and not, “Worthy is the Lamb…and me.”

Beloved, stop trying to make it all happen through your own strength and wisdom. Cease from trying and start trusting the Lord. Let Him work in and through you to overcome your challenges, accomplish your dreams and fulfill His plans and purposes for your life. When God does it with His incomparable wisdom, power and timing, it can only be perfect!

…it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13

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THE MASK

I live in a glass house. Being a preacher’s daughter, I knew at a young age that our family was on display. We are the model for what a family was to look like. All eyes are on us. Perfection became not just my standard but my obsession. When I was incapable of attaining perfection, I became really good at hiding my imperfections. So good, in fact, that I had almost fooled myself into thinking I was perfect. From the outside looking in, I had it all together. Hair always perfectly in place, topper of my class, never missed church, always well behaved but it was all a part of the mask I put on. My imperfections hid just beneath the surface and I wanted to keep it that way. I just figured that if I didn’t let people too close then they would never have to find out the truth. My secret would stay safe and secure deep within me and people would like me–the perfect, but false, version of me.

My behavior resembled that of a little girl trying to win the approval of her father. “See how I can go to church every Sunday, Daddy?”

“Watch how I can read my Bible, Daddy…!”
“Look at me, Daddy. Aren’t you so proud of how good I can be?”

The problem? I’m not perfect. So the second I put on a mask, I would glance around to make sure no one was looking. And I would put on a mask–often–because trying to be perfect is exhausting. But, of course, I would just act like nothing happened and go on my way. I would push the shame deep down inside of me to keep from having to come to Him with it. I was actually blinded to the fact that I can’t hide from the Lord. Something deep inside troubled me because of not confessing and repenting when my imperfections made their way to the surface but, actually, I was just creating a deeper pit of shame between the One I could go to and find true forgiveness. Before I knew it, I was so deep in my frustration with myself that I didn’t even realize I had completely alienated myself from Him. I realized I needed to be honest before God. I had to deal with myself.

Am I perfect now? Of course not. But now I have come to see how God uses my imperfections to reveal more of who He is to me. Today, I still live in a glass house. This time, though, nothing is hidden. Everything I am, everything He created me to be is out there for everyone to see. There are no secrets, no false masks–only the imperfect me who strives to follow a perfect Him. The me He created me to be.

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