ON THE MOUNTAIN, IT SHALL BE PROVIDED

For those of you who know me have been hearing about our house renovation like forever. Yup, finaaaaaallllly our house is completed and we have moved in. Btw ALL ARE WELCOME to drop in whenever you can. Our doors are open! Like literally open all the time (Coz we usually don’t lock our house). J

And guess what we named our house “MT MORIAH”! Sounds familiar isn’t it. Yes, it’s a Biblical name which I’m super fond off.  Mainly coz it’s taken from one of my most favorite stories of the Bible which is the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Picture captured at the entrance of our house

We all know that when Abraham obeyed God and was ready to sacrifice His son, God stopped him. It was on Mt Moriah that Abraham named the place, “God provides”.  Literally God provided us this house hence the name. And it was the on the same mountain where King Solomon built a temple in the Bible. Btw Solomon and I also wish to make our house a place of worship.

Going back to Abraham’s story, it’s the same place where we get the saying, “ON THE MOUNTAIN, IT SHALL BE PROVIDED”. The word “Mountain” in talking terms usually refers to some stumbling block in life or a difficult situation. So when Abraham obeyed God, He provided for him.  I believe God can provide whatever you are wanting today if we obey Him and if it is aligned to His will. Whatever mountain that you are facing today, God will be your provider, on the mountain!

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DIY - BOTTLE DECOR

Bottle makes excellent home decors. The best part is you can get any color you need to match with your interiors. Bottle painting is a fun idea to recycle trash. Because I had too much of turquoise paint, I decided to paint the glass bottles. Otherwise seeing dry bottles of paint always makes me sad. So here is what I have done!

Things you will need:

- Empty glass bottles
- Paint colors (Turquoise and white)
- Cello tapes (Golden)
- Paint brush
- Newspapers

Step 1: Take few bottles and paint them fully and let them dry.

Step 2: Secure these bottles with cello tap to make a striped design.

Step 3: Make sure you have them all it the same striped design to match your bottles.

Your bottle decor is now ready. Place it on a shelf or a TV unit.

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DIY - FAITH HOPE LOVE WALL DECOR

For a very long time I longed for "FAITH HOPE LOVE" art frames for my walls but couldn't get them anywhere in India. So I decided to make one. I love DIY's and decoration my house with it. So this time I decided to make a wall decor with the lowest budget possible.

Things you will require:

- cardboard sheets (from carton boxes)
- 2 color cello tape (I chose blue and gold)
- 2 color paints (I chose blue and gold)
- Pain brush
- Faith hope love stickers
- Wrapping sheets (white)
- Scissors
- Glue stick

Step 1: Cut the carton box into 3 identical squares cardboard's

Step 2: Wrap these cardboard sheets white white wrapper or a chart and secure them with cello tapes.

Step 3: Paint the 2 sheets with blue and gold and let it dry.

Step 4: For faith make a cross, hope make an anchor and for love make a heart shape with a cello-tape or paint.

Step 5: Use cello-tape to make a border around the frames and stick the words in the middle of the frame.

Your FAITH HOPE LOVE frames are now ready. Place it either in on a TV stand or a shelf to display.

Click here for more DIY's

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DIY - SHOEBOX UPCYCLE

I hate clutter. I don't like to keep anything in my house that doesn't serve a purpose or isn't extremely sentimental. That being said it's kind of a shock to me that I kept these shoeboxes lying around. The crafter in me refrained from tossing them and I'm so glad I did!

Also since we got few new fans I had kept the empty cartons handy. So while my under garments and socks where a bit unorganized I decided to up-cycle these shoes boxes into organised storage boxes.

Things you would need:

1. Shoes boxes/ Carton boxes
2. Scissors
3. Duct tape/ Cello tape
4. Gift wrappers

Take the shoes box and measure it along the gift wrapper and cut accordingly and secure it will a duct tape. Make some small sections if needed.

Now I have pretty boxes for my wardrobe that cost me almost nothing! LOVE. IT!

Also I can use these boxes to put in stationery items or just cover it up and place randomly:

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THOUGH

It’s been more than more than 10 days I went to work. This was one of the longest I have been sick. First it was dengue and then wheezing. More than anything, I’m beyond blessed for my family and in-laws who took care of me.

Through the storms of sickness God has been with me. At one point of my sickness I literally cried out to God saying, “Into Your hands I commit my spirit, Lord”. Such was the intensity of uneasiness I went through. But God was gracious to me and walked me through this storm. I would like to share with you few scriptures that encouraged me.

3 Declarations that can be done when you walk through storms of difficulty:

1. I will trust Him
Job 13:15 THOUGH He slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.Job went through one of the worst illness, but he declares THOUGH God slays me, yet will I trust in him.

2. I will fear no evil
Psalm 23:4 Yea, THOUGH I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. David too went through difficult times and he said even THOUGH I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

3. I will rise
Micah 7:8 THOUGH I have fallen, I will rise. THOUGH I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Here also we read that the Micah says, THOUGH I have fallen, I will rise. THOUGH I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

If you notice all of these scripture portions have the word, THOUGH. Which means even THOUGH something happens, the author says he will trust God.  The meaning of the word THOUGH is despite the fact that; So despite the fact that something bad happens we need to put our faith in God and trust Him. And also fear no evil cause God will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. And even if we fall, we should rise and give glory to God.

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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!

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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

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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!

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