Out of the highlands of affliction

The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction- C.H Spurgeon

I looked calmly into the blazing fire that greedily devoured the pages of my diary. 2002,2003... all the way through 2008. One by one I tore the pages and watched them being charred to death. As the last page singed and shrivelled on the heap of ashes, I heard the voice of the gentle Holy Spirit reminding me - To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. I could feel that peace which comes when man is in the centre of God's will.

Last month, during the international youth conference, we girls from Bangalore stayed up till 2am discussing how to find the will of God. I had listened to the incisive statements made by my two better experienced friends with surprise. I didn't know if I knew what His will for my life was. Had reasons to believe I knew it, but somehow when prodded deeper, didn't have a leg to stand on. Why not my will instead of His? After all that I'd been through, it was perplexing why He wouldn't treat my will as his own?- Not a square deal.

Today, I perfectly understand the peace Lady Illusion( a friend who turned into a close buddy during the camp) was talking about. I've passed the school of hard knocks and it wasn't without any effect. Every circumstance in our life can mould our personality. Difficult people and situations can help us overhaul our attitude. Even the biggest disappointment has the potential to set our perspective right. Viewing sufferings as a sort of training puts every thing in place.

I've learnt my lesson. One of it is, not to be saddled with the past. I cannot live a life of absolute surrender to Jesus if I don't stop ruefully gazing at the water under the bridge. I've done it and now I know the peace that passeth all understanding!

Darling sis

The air was fresh and crisp last evening, as I watched the shuttlecock fly from side to side in the pale blue sky. I had just finished a good round of badminton with Papa, and now stood waiting for my turn as Papa tried his hand with my Sis. We were a rip-roaring trio that guiltlessly racked up the quietude of the surroundings. Who by turns both cheered and pulled each others' legs.

My Sis soldiered on to play well and every time she missed a shot, we could hear her shriek, 'Man! What's wrong with me?' As a kid, she competed with me in almost everything.Be it drawing a picture, brewing coffee or even sweeping the house. After the work was done, she'd call upon papa to judge it and declare the winner. The first time, he was fair in his duty. The whining and snivelling it brought forth from my Sis, however, taught him to judge better. She was the best- we learnt it the hard way...

But now, things are different. I've watched her slowly grow over a dozen years and now in a jiffy she seems threatening to overshoot my height! Now she has grown to love me, appreciate me... In fact, she keeps me going! Even now, as I played, I could hear her cheering from behind, 'Come on Chech, you can do it!'

Once we wound up our game, 'Papa' called out my sis. 'Tell me who plays better'.
'You', came the obvious reply.
'No...' cried my unsatisfied Sis. She has outgrown the age of jealousy and was only looking for an honest answer to assess her skill. Nevertheless, Papa would not take a chance.
'Please tell me the truth', she implored again. With bated breath I waited to hear my name, but Papa's answer left us all laughing
'Then', he said gravely 'it must be me'.

Saved by the Blood

For me, the symbol of blood in Christianity was one among the vaguely understood concepts. So to speak, almost as mysterious as the Holy Trinity. What did it mean to be cleansed by the Blood? (Imagine washing your robes with blood and finding them clean white!) If viewed apart from faith, it would seem highly irrational. However, thanks to the book I received as a new year gift from a generous person who wishes to remain anonymous, and to my mentor who picked it for me.

Although this book covers a vast range of topics, the section on blood intrigued me the most. I shall put down some interesting insights gathered from its pages, especially for those with whom I share my spiritual growth.

This is the Blood shed on Calvary...For the life and salvation of all mankind.
Shed blood often engenders the image of death. Therefore, it's sometimes difficult to imagine how it could mean life to a christian! In your determination to read the Bible from cover to cover, if you've ever managed to plod through endless laws and regulations in Leviticus, you'd also have come across a stern commandment which forbids us from drinking blood.(Lev 3:17, 7:26,27 17:11,14 Duet 12:23) It was a law to be followed even by the new gentile Christians.(Acts15:29) For the life of a creature is in its blood (so if you drank buffalo's blood, its life would enter into you). No wonder many who followed Jesus silently withdrew from Him after H e made the public statement: I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink from his blood, you have no life in you.
When every Sunday, at the Lord's table you drink from the cup, a blood transfusion occurs! His life is transfused into your pale anaemic spirit man.

Cleansed by the Blood...
There's a wonderful experiment mentioned in the book to illustrate blood's cleansing power. Try it if you get a chance. You'll need a B.P apparatus. Wrap the cuff around your upper arm and pump it up to 200mm - adequate pressure to cut off your blood supply to the lower arm. Now perform simple tasks with that hand, like driving a nail in a block of wood. Initially, you'll notice no difference but almost suddenly, a hot flash of pain strikes you. Your muscles cramp and if you continue with it, you'll probably cry out like a wounded child!
Explanation:
As muscles convert oxygen into energy, they produce certain waste products that normally would have been flushed away instantly in the blood stream. Because of the constricted blood flow, however, these wastes accumulated in your cells. They were not cleansed by the swirling stream of blood, and therefore in a few minutes you felt the agony of retained toxins.
Toxin in christian life is SIN. Is Jesus' blood circulating in all areas of your life?

Overcoming by the Blood...
This can be best explained through 'convalescent serum' used in immunisation. It is simply the blood of an overcomer.i.e, The blood of a person who has experienced a disease and has defeated it. When injected into another person, this convalescent serum with ready antibodies against a particular disease gives the host body enough time to produce its own antibodies. Therefore, the immunised person overcomes a disease not by his/her own resistance or vitality but as a result of a battle that had taken place previously within someone else.
Heb2:18 'Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.'
He has overcome the world!

For more information, grab a copy of 'IN HIS IMAGE' by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey from your nearest christian book store!

As for me, I'm looking forward to receive the Holy Qurbana... Now with a renewed mind!

Broken charm

The sun sinks, gathering in his arms,
Golden rays that once regaled alluring glow
But now shadows youthful graces,
And hides from my roving curious eyes.
The charm of wealth, praise from men,
The charm of beauty, fame and power;
They all fade...
And their clamour 's stilled
Away from the frantic throng,
On my heart a strange calm 's dawned
The sun of the world is now replaced, not by night,
But by the splendour of my Saviour's glorious light.

confused

Life has once again put forward various options before me. I'm at my wit's end, don't know what the right decision would be... Man, all these options are equally tempting but on my choice depends the whole course of my destiny. please pray for me that I decide wisely.
God bless.

happy new year

New year's dawned in our lives and with it have dawned new hopes for tomorrow. This year especially is a turning point in my life. I'll be joining work very soon. In fact, I got a call today from the hosp with which I have a contract, asking me to join asap.

There's something that worries me though... I'm offered a job in a maternity and child care speciality hospital- I've had a tough time even during the clinical postings in my student life. Don't know how I can make a living in that line. The moments when I stood in the labour ward, fruitlessly trying to console ladies writhing in pain are still alive in my mind. I don't mind this part of my job, but the delivery in itself makes my knees tremble. That queasy feeling in my tummy and the sudden loss of consciousness are more than what I can bear.

It's again a matter of choice, I can either accept or reject it. However, I don't know if God has chosen this path for me. If He asks me to go, I will. As for the weakness of mine, I'm convinced that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God bless
Have a blessed new year!