Elocution competition

Well, this happened during my ninth standard.

I have not stepped on stage until that time in my school. During my LKG or UKG , I have just been part of a group song in one of the events. On seventh standard, I was chosen to be one among the shepherds in a skit. There were no words to speak nor any actions but still I bunked the school on the day of performance. Fear has been so close to me as I acknowledged it, although I didn't want to.

During my ninth standard there came an announcement for elocution competition. One of my friend shouted my name so loudly and my name was noted for the competition. "Is she my friend?" , I have thought who made my situation pathetic. We were just four of us for the competition. The other three members have always been on the stage floors. I accepted the competition thinking it must be God's will. But still fear had its greatest grip on me and so I asked my class teacher to remove my name. My class teacher not knowing my past, encouraged me a lot and asked me to try. "oh even within a class of 50, I cannot try such a thing", I said to myself. The competition was supposed to be on one Friday. The topic would be given half an hour before it starts and it was within the school. It happens during the assembly hours, where I have to face the whole crowd. Nearly five Fridays passed, since the competition date was fixed. Every week it got postponed.

God helped me in those days of preparation, by making me to cling on to Him and seek His help. He gave me the below verse

"Mathew 10;19,20

When they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.

20. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

and made me pray with belief. I prayed each day as "God as you have said "For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak", please help me in that elocution competition.I still remember writing that verse in one of my text books and praying each time when I see it.

As the competition day kept prolonging, I was just thinking that I will escape. But for God's glory that day finally came. I was given the topic "Terrorism". Half an hour we were given time to get ourselves prepared. I started writing in a sheet of paper. Just at that time, one of my sister's friend luckily passed by that way. She helped me to jot the points. As much as I can, I memorized the points and went in prayer. As I stood in front of the mike , looking at the huge crowd, without my knowledge words came out of my mouth and my legs started shaking terribly and my heart started beating too fast wanting to come out. My three minutes of short speech was over, and I won the second place. Glory to God for I was competing with brilliants. All of my teachers and my friends were greatly astonished that day.

Genesis 1:2

Earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

Psalm 148:5

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for He commanded and they were created.

Yes, Jesus my Master , only You can change this void earth to a beautiful place for billions of your creatures to cherish in You. We praise You Oh Lord. Only you can make the stammering Moses to lead more than 600 thousand people from Egypt to Canaan. Great are Your works and Your love and Your mercy Oh Lord.

Encounter with the Angel

Who are angels?

Hebrews 1:14 says "Are they not. all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation."

Well, all Christians would have encountered angels some way or the other. They would have experienced the timely help sent by God through angels in an unimaginable manner. I would like to call even the people who are most helpful when we want their help most desperately as ANGELS.

I would like to narrate one of the timely help that we got through a woman whom I and my sister believe as an angel sent by God. Years have passed, but still we haven't forgotten the great mercy of God.

Psalm 8:3-5

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

What is man that You are mindful of him.

And the son of man that you visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels.

And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

One of my uncle was working in Air-Force in Punjab. My Dad being a lover of travels took us to meet his sister and the place during my 3rd std annual holidays.My uncle's family stayed in quarters. There was a park nearby which was 5 minutes walk from the quarters. Most of the mornings and evenings my sister, my brother and myself used to spend our time in the park. Unlike Chennai, rarely could we see people in that area but there were numerous dogs at that time.

One morning on returning from the park , we were surrounded by dogs on the way more than ten in number. There was no one around for us to seek help. Moreover we didn't know Hindi to shout nor was there anyone to hear us. We were desperate. But still I can remember, that we prayed in our hearts for help from God. I think my sister asked us to pray. There were so many dogs, waiting to have a bite of us. All three of us being kids, were filled with fear and didn't know what to do. There came a woman who knew tamil to help us. Not anybody else could have conversed with us. :-) She chased the dogs away and lead us to our house. She came with us upto the entrance of the quarters. Glory be to God who sent her. Had she come a bit later, we would have suffered. Great is the Lord.

Psalm 34-10

"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing".

Jeremiah 31:2-3 Thus says the LORD:”The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Train Tickets

Mathew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father's will.
30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31. Fear ye not therefore , ye are of more value than many sparrows.

The miracle of train tickets getting confirmed in the pearl city express has always happened for me with a thrill. I have found that God always cares for me in all little things. Whenever I am sick, I somehow have the confirmed tickets. When my tickets are not confirmed till the last, still God helps me to sleep someway or the other. Glory be to God

On one situation, my dad, my mom and myself were traveling to Hyderabad. We had only two Rac tickets in hand when the chart was prepared. One more was still in waiting status. We boarded the train believing that God will work wonders. I was filled with fear whether TTR will be asking us to get down. But my Father was more confident of getting one more berth. Glory be to God that we had got two berths wherein I and my mother shared a berth happily praising God for what He has done.

On another situation I had got Rac wherein I was sharing a seat with another elder man. Normally people adjust within the compartment that only two ladies or two gents together share the lower berth. But here was this man not wanting to go anywhere else but wanting to sit for the whole night. Although vexed at this situation, still God helped me by placing a friend in the same train who was ready to share a berth with me. Glory to God.

The best of all situations was during my sister's marriage. My dad booked Ac tickets for my sister and my brother in law. For the rest of the family , that is for all my relatives nearly fifteen in number he booked in normal sleeper coach. All the tickets were in waiting list when booked two months before. My dad thought of hiring a bus or booking in tatkal if it doesn't get confirmed. My mom kept on praying that the tickets should get confirmed. My sister's marriage was over. And we were getting to ready to attend the reception in Chennai. On the day when tatkal tickets have to be booked, few tickets moved to Rac. My parents didn't book in tatkal believing that all will get confirmed. On the day of boarding the train all the relatives were giving suggestions that tatkal should have been tried. My mother was still praying in firm belief. At the time of boarding the train , Glory be to God that all tickets were confirmed with only two Rac's. Those were also confirmed with everyone sleeping comfortably, thanking God. God is marvelous. Is'nt it?

Dad's First Lesson

The first lesson that I learnt from my Dad.

Thus says the Lord 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little , I also would have given you much more!' 2Samuel 12:8

God says this to David when he sinned by lusting upon Uriah's wife. God says that he who had given the whole of Israel and Judah would have given him anything had David asked him. David forcefully took a married woman by lusting upon her and adding to his sin killed her husband Uriah.

As far as my brains go back, I think it was in my 2nd standard. Early morning around 8 or 9 I went chasing my sister all because she ate a cake extra. I had eaten only one cake whereas she somehow got two cakes. Somehow my Dad noticed this and got annoyed as I was doing this while he was getting ready to office. He called me and beat me for this stupid fight. This is apparent in my brains as it was the first and last time that I was beaten by my father. He scolded telling "why do you chase your sister. If you come and ask me. I will give you how much ever cakes you want. It is I who can buy and give it to you and not your sister."

This is what God was trying to tell David also. 'You could have asked me how much ever you want. I would have given it to you. Why do you sin?'

How truthful in our lives with our Heavenly Father too.... We keep chasing the world for joy, peace, riches........ But our God says "Ask"

Yes lets seek God and ask Him as He is the Great King of Kings and King of riches and One who gives to all liberally.

Travel Alergy

Luke 12:27

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin: and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28: If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith.

Mathew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them, are you not of more value than they?

One Saturday on returning from office I was just wishing to take a long route bus, and travel in the window seat as far as it goes, gazing at the city. Just a moment. Oh is it the same Christina? I pinched myself. Yes it is the same Christina who 10 years back have been thinking not to travel in life forever. I used to think when travelling "cursed are the people or woe to the people who are now travelling by bus, train or plane". As only a sinner can understand the Mighty grace of God, I have always been experiencing His sweetness in my journey of travels. As I have been allergic to bus or any modes, it not only gave displeasure to me, but also to my loving parents. But only they and not anybody else could travel with me. As I grew up, I continuously used to pray in my travels, "Lord help me, Let me not vomit oh Mighty God". Thanks be to God who has heard my cry many a times. I can never forget my travels in plane. As the plane takes off, I ask for a vomit bag and as the plane lands one more vomit bag. Looking at the delicious meals kept before me, I can never keep myself without eating them. In buses that are rush, where many are standing, I can hear voices "there is a seat here. Come over here. " Glory to God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People in Chennai know what it means to travel in 21G in peak hours. I used to take this bus in Chrompet to go to Anna university and have vomitted most times. Glory to God who has led me in those dark days. I have thought, will not the days come when I stand to give seat for the old ladies. I used to never eat anything in travel, be in train or bus. I don't used to speak also because of the vomit feeling that I used to have. Some of my friends get irritated at my silence.

But today in my 25th year, God has changed all those dark days of travel into pleasure. Yes, I am travelling today in bus for 12 hrs, with no more avomins and no more nearer to window seats and by having regular meals. Glory to God in the highest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been travelling in flight all alone, with no feelings of vomit but with feeling of praises in my mouth. Glory to God.

Above all, I am loving to travel. Glory be to God who has changed it. Today as I am grown up, with my parents not always nearer to me, I just can't think of travelling like the old days.

Glory be to God who alone cares for us,more than anybody else. Thanks Lord for traveling with me all these days. Make me travel more and more for you and let my journeys be with You , my Loving Master.