While last year we were chilling at home during the lockdown
and making dalgona coffees, baking cakes, browsing for recipes and becoming
master chefs, this year has been totally different. There isn’t a family or a
relative or a friend of someone who isn’t affected by the corona virus. While we hear multiple sad stories around the world, I would like to share a story which might bring hope
and encouragement to someone reading this post.
It was on Saturday the 17th of April, that I clearly remember,
dad got fever and was extremely tired. For the next couple of days, I could see
that his health began to deteriorate and he became very weak. Three days later, at around 12 in the night he said he had difficulty in breathing. We immediately rushed him to the hospital and he was given some drips and medication. The doctors asked us to monitor his temperature, oxygen and test for covid. The next day his PCR result was negative. He had
already done the covid test twice before and they were all negative as well. He
had continuous temperature. Two days later he had diarrhea, his oxygen slightly dropped and he could barely
move. I checked with a doctor nearby and he advised us to get him admitted to an hospital immediately. This was exactly one week after the first instance of the symptom.
We called many hospitals and informed many of our near
and dear ones to find some hospital but could not get a bed. Also, since his test was negative, we couldn’t get
the government to allocate a bed for him. We then reached out to dad's friend who owns a hospital and we took him there. Immediately they did a CT scan which
showed traces of covid. Although there were no available bed in the hospital,
they accommodated him and made special arrangements to get him admitted by God’s grace.
They started the covid treatment immediately. They then ran
few tests and confirmed it’s covid. Those
few days of him being in the hospital was one of the toughest days. None of us could meet him. Once a day he texted/ called and said he was
doing okay. We also tried a lot to get the remedesivir injections for him since
the hospital had run out of stock. We nearly made 100 calls altogether. We
finally got them as well purely by Gods mercy. It was a miracle that 5 days
later we got a call that dad can be discharged. God has been extremely kind to
us. We were overjoyed to welcome him back home. Although he had to be quarantined for 14
days, we were quite relieved that he is out of danger.
Finally, we got him tested
after 14 days and he was negative. He finally walked out of the closed doors of his room 2 days ago.
At 69, he fought covid and he is back to being healthy again. Yesterday, (13th
May) he preached his first sermon post his covid experience. We’ve had loads of people praying for dad. I would like to really thank you all for your care, concern and prayers.
There is hope at 69. Don’t give up. This too shall pass. My prayers are with those who are fighting this battle at the moment. I also know few couldn’t make it and it really hurts. My heart goes out to their families. We don’t really understand why but we
will soon see them on the other side of the shore. We can survive all this. God
gives us the strength. Soon, new mornings will come. The flowers will bloom,
and the streets will become active. The sun will shine more brightly. The best
is yet to come. Hang in there.
Leaving behind a scripture from Psalm 91 that God gave me during
this unprecedented time:
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him.”
Sadly, my birthday month is coming to an end! Oh, how I love July! 😊 beside the month of July, October and December are my favorites too! Days are flying the fastest ever, isn't it? In fact, the first half of this year has been like a blink of an eye! Amidst the pandemic and all the weird things happening on earth, I am somewhat at peace, knowing that the supreme God is in control of EVERYTHING!
Like every year, I pen down my birthday verse or something that I have been meditating during my birthday month/ week and asking God to give me that Rhema from heaven. This year I’m super excited to share with you the same. I was reading Psalm 34, on my birthday and verse 4 stood out to me so clearly. It says,
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me.”
When dad prayed for me also he mentioned the same lines of the verse. Immediately I knew it was my birthday verse, with that as a confirmation. I have been meditating of how God has been so good to me. Indeed, that’s been my testimony the whole of my life. I have had so many answers to prayers. Some super silly ones like, “Lord please give me a smiling baby” to “Lord please give me a fossil watch”. And I have got both. I think, I kind of tell God very specifically what I want. I have even told God I want a husband like my dad. It’s super funny how Solomon and my dad have some exactly similar answers to some of the conversations I have with them. God is a PRAYER ANSWERING GOD. He loves to hear His children.
Just like I listen to my baby; God listens to us, His babies. My biggest answer to prayer is Jaden, my son. We named him JADEN, meaning “God has heard” in Hebrew. Every time we call Jaden, it’s a reminder that God indeed hears and answers our prayers. Having said that, I want to encourage you all to wait on the Lord. In His time, He will answer your prayers according to His will. Meanwhile, make your silly requests specific like I do 😉
This picture is a proof that God answers prayers!
I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him. I Samuel 1:27
I have been burning out. And from that depleted place, I was becoming a version of myself I didn’t quite like. A wing of a bird to fly away to the mountain is what I needed to take a break and recover. I had reached my breaking point!
Google defines “Breaking point” as, “The point at which something breaks down or gives way. The breaking point of something is the point at which stress has increased so much that things begin to fall apart or break down. Before something has reached its breaking point, it has undergone many trials and tensions.” I have been physically exhausted, mentally drained, socially overstimulated, emotionally emptied, spiritually weary and creatively uninspired. That’s exactly the state I had reached.
Everyone reaches their breaking point in their life when life throws weight at you and you throw back the weight at life. Have you every felt like you reached your boiling point? Maybe it could be something like a personal relationship or may be a failing health, financial, emotional or just physical exhaustion? What do I do in such a state?
The scripture connects to one such character, Martha who was so worked up and stressed that she complains to Jesus about her situation. Lord Jesus says, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 MSG)
Yes, I had to take off and just sit before God. I had to:
1. Repent before God.
I had to talk to God. I was like, “God, I’m coming back to you. I need you more than ever. I can’t do this on my own. I give my life into your hands. I’m sorry for not including You in my busy schedule”. I had to be honest before Him.
2. Repair my heart.
My heart was all over the place. My heart kept going to the wrong places. My heart needed to love God more than my family, food and friends. My heart was busy. My heart was broken. My heart had to be fixed. I had to give my heart to God. My heart needed a repair.
3. Refocus on my calling.
I know that I have been put on this planet for a purpose. I am here to do a job. I am here to live for Him. I am here to glorify His name. I am here to obey His calling. I need to burn with passion for Him. I need to hear God speak to me. 4. Realign my life.
I know this is one of the biggest causes of burnout. I need keep myself from drifting away from the goal set before me. I need to align with the gifts and talents God’s given me and use it for Him. I need the kind of energy that motivates me. I need to enjoy life.
5. Reset my priorities.
I need to stop and think what is important. I need to focus on what will make me happy rather than those that drag me down. I need to put my energy on things that nourish my body, soul and spirit. I need to avoid things that might dehydrate my joy.
6. Reorganize my day.
Lock-down doesn’t mean that they day is different from the non-lock-down days. The day must begin and end with God. Rather God must be God is in my every day. He must take precedence in every thought, every decision and every action. 7. Restart my writing.
They say do what you love. And half the stress is gone. I love doing the things that make me happy. I love designing. I love creativity. I love writing. I need to be passionate about what I do. I need to make time for things I love to do.
Some one said, “Sometimes you have to reach your breaking point in order to breakthrough!”
I’m experiencing my season of breakthrough, are you?
If your life story was ever written as a book, what would the theme be? I read these themes in an article — “Family faces financial crisis,” “Doctors declare incurable disease,” “Anxiety and fear become crippling,” whatever it is you’re going through — it’s not over. Be encouraged today that, whatever you may be facing today is temporary! God is waiting to be good to you!
If my life story was to be given a theme, it would be, "Goodness of God"! I can boldly testify saying that my life has been full of Goodness of God in every season. I may be in the fire or furnace, mountain or a valley, I could see His Goodness in every way. Even if the answer is not what I want, God is still good! When we are faced with a problem, there are three questions we can ask ourselves:
Do you see?
Can you see the goodness of God in your life, despite the bad? Take a moment to find evidence of His goodness.
Do you hear?
If you can’t see the goodness of God, can you hear what He’s saying to you about your situation?
Do you remember?
If you can’t see God’s goodness, and you can’t hear what He’s saying, you can always remember what He has done for you in the past. Take a moment and reflect on all that God has done for you in the past months or years. Celebrate His goodness! You will realize that God's goodness runs after you in every season!
The song, Goodness of God" hit me so hard. It rings so true in my heart. While listening, I was holding my baby in my arms. I was thrown in an sea of memories, it has been always been amazing how God remained soooo faithful to me all my life. But this fact have never been so clearer, after a swelled heart, tears started running down my cheeks, I held my little one tight, kissed him and remembered that: he is the biggest GOODNESS OF GOD IN MY LIFE. I declare this song upon his dear life. That just as the goodness of God has been upon his mama, that the same goodness be upon him.
If at all one song that speaks my life, it is this one. The lyrics are so beautifully written:
Verse 1
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
Chorus
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
Verse 2
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
Bridge
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
My anthem this year. What a priceless reminder that God has been there every moment and I have always and will always live in His goodness!Hope this song blesses you as it has blessed me!
You will meet Davids, you will meet lot of Sauls but Jonathans are the rarest breed. Jonathan knew that David is the hero of the story, yet chose to stick to his side. David was going to sit on the throne which belonged to Jonathan naturally. Jonathan knew that David was going to take His throne, that God favoured David more, that people favoured David yet chose to Love David without entertaining jealousy in his heart. We live in a world where jealousy gets sparked over everything and anything. "God favors you more than me. God is blessing you more than me. People love you more than me. You are getting promoted...These things make me happy because I really love you" is a Jonathan's heart. A Jonathan will release celebration where everyone will release jealousy. If someone being favored more, loved more or being blessed hurts you then you need to work on your heart.
* Not my own. Read it on the net and loved the thought.
Btw I started to read my book all over again and to be honest, I can't believe the person who wrote it was me. I have so much to learn from the younger me! Sometimes, we all go off track a bit and so it’s nice to realign. I'm thankful for this book and whenever I feel low or uninspired, it picks me back up. It just shows that learning is a constant journey. As long as you don’t give up on yourself and keep going. I had the best time writing this book for you.
As some of you already know that I have been compiling my second book and the cover is ready! Yaaayyyyyy! Here is the first look! :)
While compiling my second book, I suddenly want to write another book. If I do, what kind of book would you like to read? Should I?
