Bye, Bye 2010

Bye bye 2010
Time has come for us to let you go
2011 is waiting at the door
to be welcomed in with blasts of fireworks
and splash of hope for a bright New Year.

This year had been tough on many
for the nation's economy took a
downward spin and made most despair
Many lost their jobs
some lost their houses
some businesses merged
and some were forced to closed down

Yes, moneywise everyone felt the pinch
but on the bright side
it brought family support much stronger
it taught us not to see our identity in
job we do, house we own or money we posess
For all these things can be taken away from us
without any notice, and without our permission.

 Blessings do come in disguise at times
And what we see as loss, could be a blessing, who knows
2010 surely brought clarity and solidarity in many peoples lives
rather than prosperity and productivity we all longed for
This year , otherwise, had been a good year nationwide
No tsunamis, no hurricane and no fire or earquake to make us flee

Personally it had been a good year for me too
God blessed me to see my daughter graduate from college this year
And helped me to start a women's writers group and facilitate a Bible study
And getting into blogging, gave my creativity a boost too
 Also, my  work at office further strengthened my commitment and confidence
My health too didn't suffer much for me to complain.

So, as I sit here on the last morning of the year 2010
I thank the Lord for the lessons He had taught me  this year
and the closeness He had brought me towards Him and towards others
I thank for the opportunities He had given and new friends He had brought into my life
I thank Him for the love of my family and the health and safety He provided
 I thank Him for His  "Yes"s and "No" and "Wait"s
For if not for them, I wouldn't have learn to trust Him as He want me to do

So, bye bye 2010
You have been good to us in so many ways
We cannot blame you for the downspin of our economy
Nor for the disasters and damages done in this year
It's us and our doing
so depart from us with clear conscious
and worry no more what we think or talk about you
Good Bye 2010!
Good Bye and Bye!***

A Memorable Christmas

I can't thank the Lord enough for bringing my niece and family to spend Christmas with us this year. Surprise it was, when my niece sent me an e-mail two weeks before Christmas to tell that her family decided to visit California during Christmas time. It was like my wish coming true for this Christmas, and I wasted no time planning for their visit from that moment onwards. With four grown up children aged 26, 23, 17 and 15, it was a stretch to accomodate them in our two bedroom apartment. But when heart and will joined in alliance, overcrowding never seemed like a barrier.

Thankfully I'm blessed to have a sister in Christ like Trish living in my apartment complex. She and her husband were leaving to visit their parents on Christmas morning and her apartment, just opposite to ours would be empty except for their dear cat for at least a week. Normally I'm a person shy to ask favor from others even if it's very urgent. I don't know what pushed me to ask, but I did ask Trish if we could use her apartment when my nieces family come over.

 Kind and generous as she is, she was too willing to not only allow my guests to sleep at her place, but also to shower, rest and for them to feel free to use it as their own place. She put fresh towels to use, provided her pull-out bed and blown-up mattress for them to sleep with the comfort of her soft and cosy fleece blankets and so forth. She also allowed me to store my 15lbs fresh turkey in her fridge until need to be roasted. Her oven, cutlery and dishes, she lovingly offered us to use. Yes, she was the good neighbor Christ would have been proud of, and it was His mercy that enabled us to have this Christmas a memorable one for me and my family.

My niece's family arrived on Christmas eve after we returned from our candle light service. That evening they had attended the candle light service at Saddleback church where pastor Rich Warren is the senior pastor.  Oh, how joyous it was to hug and welcome them when they all arrived around 9pm. at our door. I had made saffron rice, lamb curry, eggplant chutney, devilled shrimp and tomatoe salad in yogurt for Christmas eve supper and they all loved it, including the children who don't normally like rice and curry.

Because my niece requested no Christmas gifts given or exchanged to her family, I was compelled to honor her request. So, my own family exchanged gifts on the 23rd evening instead of the usual 25th morning. For Christmas, I planned to roast the turkey, but I had no idea how it would turn out in the end. Only once I had roasted a turkey before and that was at least five years back. Since our family is not much for turkey, I usually roast a chicken and cook lamb curry for Christmas meal. So, on Christmas morning as I thanked the Lord for Christmas, I also asked Him to help me with my turkey roasting too.

Yes, it sounds silly, but if a child needs help, won't she go to the father for help? That's what I did. If you have a close relationship with your Father, He wouldn't  mind the request is small or big, sound silly or serious. That's what the blessing of having an intimate relationship with the Lord. We can go to Him at anytime for anything, especially when you find yourself helpless.

On Christmas evening, when the roasted turkey came out of the oven, it looked shiny golden brown like the one exibited in Martha Stewart's cookbook. The turkey looked so beautiful in Trish's large green leaf like porcelein plate that my nephew couldn't help but take a couple of photos of it from different angles.

Marinated in freshly ground ginger, garlic, bayleaf and other herbs for six hours, the meat was  tender, juicy and tasted sooo good.  Everyone complimented me for roasting such a tasty turkey, but inwardly I was thanking the Lord for answering my prayers. Isn't it amazing that the King of kings has the love ,time and patience to attend to a simple request like mine. . In fact, when I told my daughters that I truly sought God's help for roasting the turkey, my oldest said, " Mom, you don't pray about roasting a turkey." Well, I did pray and He did answer as I requested,  and that's all I can say.

We didn't exchange gifts with my niece's family at Christmas, because that's the way my niece wanted it to be. But we exchanged love, laughter and stories till late into Christmas night.  True,  Christmas need not be about gifts. It need to be about Christ (the greatest gift of all)  family and friends. It's about love, joy and peace. It's about giving and not getting. Because I had the blessing of enjoying all of that, I value this Christmas 2010 a memorable and precious one to cherish.

It's Christmas, 2010

It's Christmas day, my Lord
It's Your birthday that we celebrate today
It's on this day, two thousand years ago
You were born in Bethlehem
Because there was no room in the inn
You had no place to sleep,
So, wrapped in swaddling clothes, You
the Son of God, the King of kings
layed in a manger with sweet smile on Your face
Shepherds came to see You by night
Wisemen from the East brought you gifts
Mary and Joseph, the most blessed parents
to be on earth watched you with care and love

Yes, it was two thousand years ago
You came on earth to save me and mankind
Let me not ever forget You on this blessed day
It's not about turkey
it's not about gifts or guests we've at home on this day
It's about You, it's should be always about You
The world which we live today
may want to rob You out of Christmas
it may push us to celebrate this day deleting Your name
Christmas without Christ, would be just 'mas
Yes, it would be surely a mess, this day without Christ
You came to save us from getting into a mess
So, why do we want to get back to mess, I don't understand.

On this day, as I celebrate Christmas with my family and relatives
I bow before You my Lord, for coming to earth to save us from sin
Angels had sung on sky to announce Your royal birth
Shepherds had seen God's glory shine on that starry night
Let me too see You  on this day in a glorious way
to love and worship You with joy and love in my heart
Come Jesus, Son of Almighty God
Come and abide in my heart forever
It's You, Christ Child I want to celebrate
It's to You, the Babe in the Manger,
I give myself as a gift on Your birthday.

Happy Birthday Jesus, God's only begotten Son
Glorious day this is for us, because You had come.
I praise and worship You on this Christmas morning
I rejoice and thank You for coming to us as God's precious Gift!

Joseph, the overlooked character in the Nativity Story

Mary, Baby Jesus, angels, shepherds, the Star and the manger mostly stole the spotlight in the Nativity scene while Joseph moved about as a shadowy figure in the picture. We haven't heard of any carol sung about him or a song equivalent to " Mary , do you know your Baby boy," that asked Joseph what he thought about bringing up the Christ Child as his own baby boy.

What a tremendous responsibility and high expectation were placed upon his shoulders,yet no one bothered to write a song pondering about Joseph's situations. I hadn't given much thought to him either until  my pastor focused his entire sermon on Joseph on last Sunday.

Joseph was  no ordinary man as we assume him to be. According to Gospel of Mathew 1:19, he was a righteous man, meaning he stood right with God. Because he stood right with God, he had the wisdom to do the right thing at the right time.

Any other man in his shoes would have dragged Mary to a public place to be stoned to death no sooner he heard about her pregnancy from Mary's own mouth. But Joseph chose not to do that. That showed how much he must have loved and trusted Mary enough to not to disgrace her publicly. He could have easily cleared his name and protected his reputation by condemning Mary with adultery.

If Joseph chose to marry the pregnant Mary, his  community would definitely spit on his face for impregnating a virgin before marriage. No one would have bought Mary's story of angel appearing to her and she becoming pregnant by the power of Holy Spirit. Joseph was sure of facing the scorn of his parents as well as Mary's parents.  His also faced the risk of losing his business customers and his livelihood for the sake of his support for Mary. From every angle Joseph  must have foreseen the humiliation and rejection from his people.

Gone were the nights, which he spent on dreaming of the wonderful life he was going to have with Mary and the dream house he was planning to build. All those dreams must have got shattered when Mary broke the news of her pregnancy to him. Now, he had to come up with another plan to get out of the marriage without dragging Mary's reputation in the mud. So, he decided to divorce her quietly,

His new plan didn't work either, for an angel of the Lord interrupted his sleep in a dream and told him what he need to do next. It wasn't what Joseph planned to do. Yet, he was willing to change his plans and act according to God's plans. No wonder God chose no other man, but Joseph to bring up His only begotten Son down here on earth. Joseph was a righteous and obedient man of God, a perfect role model for Jesus to grow up under his roof.

The Bible also records that Joseph had no union with his wife Mary until she gave birth to God's Son Jesus. Yes, Joseph honored Mary's hallowed call on her life and let go of his husband right. He put Mary's purity and comfort before his need and pleasure. No husband would want to make that decision on his wedding day. Yet, Joseph did. By doing so, he stood taller than any other man in honor. No wonder, God chose no other man, but Joseph to be the earthly father to love and bring up baby Jesus to manhood.

When the call came to him in a dream to take his wife and baby to Egypt, Joseph raised no question. Later, when he was commanded to go back home, he acted at once. His trust in God must had been so strong and steadfast, he showed no hesitance whenever God asked him to do something. It's no surprise that the eyes of the Lord which are on the righteous chose Joseph to be the perfect father to bring up Jesus on earth.

Mary, the highly favored one was called the blessed one among women, and Joseph was called the righteous man. Both had a high calling in their lives to raise God's Son in a loving and healthy environment and both did their part well in raising boy Jesus to become what His heavenly Father intended Him to be.

What a great couple, what a strong marriage and what a holy family to remember during this Christmas season! Yes, no one wrote or sang a song, " Joseph, did you know that the Baby in the manger would one day raise the dead and make the blind see?" Yet, that doesn't diminish the important role Joseph played in the greatest story ever told on earth-the birth of Jesus.
(Published in Precious Moments on 12/23/2010)***

Gifts without Wrappings

Past is history, tomorrow is a blur, but today is a gift from God.
Sun, moon, stars along with snow and rain fall into similar gift boxes. So, do family, food, friends, jobs and health. Writing for God's glory is our call. It is also our gift back to Him. Put as much into it, work hard for it and quit not from it for any reason. Pay is not our primary goal, neither fame nor riches. It is our birthright to sing and worship and to put in writing how faithful and kind our God is to all who trust in Him.

In today's world, you and I must hold onto our faith tightly. World can trick us , laugh at us or try to drag us into its band-wagon. A world without Chirst is dark, chaotic and unforgiving. Christmas is the reminder that life is worth living on earth because Christ came to show us the way. If our focus is on Him and not on our surroundings, victory is ours to gain. Trials and triumphs pass through our paths to train and mold us for God's glory. Praying and waiting upon Him daily payback in wondrous ways.

So, on this Christmas, as you unwrap the glossy and glittory wrapping papers off the gifts your loved ones have given you, look around and count the number of unwrapped gifts God has given you. Let Christ hear your song of thanksgiving as you put Him, the everlasting, unwrappable gift to be your main focus on this Christmas.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
      O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,
      O come let us adore Him, Christ , the Lord.

CNN's 10 Heroes.

Last Saturday night, I sat and watched the CNN's fourth annual recognition of the top10 heroes of the world. Out of the 10, 000 nominations from more than 100 hundred countries, these heroes were selected  by the viewers in an online poll that ran for eight weeksto on CNN.com.

In order to get more people watch the event,the executive producer of CNN had made it a star studded program with celebrities like Hallie Berry, Renee Zeilweger, Demi Moore to present the awards and Grammy Award-winners Bon Jovi, John Legend and Sugarland to perform on the stage.  However, in the eyes of the audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA and of those who watched the program from their homes, the stars who glittered brighter and outshined the sheen of the celebrities on that night were the ten heroes who walked up the stage to get the awards.

Here the 74 -year old Guadalup De La Vega founded a hospital in Mexico that treated freely about 900 patients daily.  Despite the violence in the city, the 74-year old Dr.Guadalup De La Vegathe travels several times a week to attend to her patients at the hospital she founded in Mexico. Her hospital gives free treatment to about 900 patients daily.

After her son's tragic death, Susan Burton got into drugs and other problems that led her to spend years in prison. When she left the prison gate, the guard there told her that she'll be back soon like most inmates. Determined to not to return to prison, Susan sought the support of those who refused to give up on her and turned her life around. Through her fitness and nutrition program, Linda Fondren has helped the obese people in her hometown in Mississipi lose nearlyr 15,000 Mississippi hometown's battle with obesity.Today, her nonprofit A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides a home and support for the women released from prison. Here women are given opportunity  to get trained and  prepared to find jobs.

Narayanan Krishnan provides hot meals and dignity to homeless and destitute in his hometown Madurai in South India. He drives his van through out the city looking for the desperately poor and abandoned people, feed them, and if needed he even gives them a haircut and a bath. In his kindness, the poor and outcasts find hope and dignity. Narayanan gave up his dream of going abroad and pursuing his catering career and chose to serve the poor and destitute instead. Since 2002, he had provided 1.2 million hot meals.

Since 1997, Harman Parker has helped build 45 footbridges for people in Kenya so that they didn't need to walk across the perilous crocodile infested rivers.  The footbridges he helped to build helped the children go to school safely and for the people to go to the markets to buy or sell easily.
Aki Rai, a former child soldier helps to clear landmines in his country Cambodia. Since 1993, he and his Cambodian Self Help Demining  had helped to clear about 50,000 mine.

Evan Wadongo, aged 23 saw the need to invent something to bring light to his darkened village. With the cost of kerosine high rocketting and eyes of children getting damaged by reading under smoky kerosine lampspoor and dim light, Wadonga decided to do something to help out. So he invented solar lanterns using solar power and distributed them freely to rural families. Through his Use Solar, Save Lives program, he's distributed 10,000 free solar lanterns.

Since, 2005, Dan Wallrath, a Texas home builder had built veteran homes and given morgage free to injured Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers.

These people, once unknown and unrecognized in their own village or town have done extraordinary things for people in need. That's what set them apart from all the others in their communities as well as in that auditorium that night.

These were everyday people who performed extraordinary things when they saw a need in their communities.  They could have easily walked away as others do or could have left the need to be attended by the government or a charitable organization. But they didn't.to solve. Instead,when they saw the need, they stepped in to help in whatever way they could.

Out of the chosen top ten heros,Anuradha Koirala from Nepal was named as the 2010 CNN Hero of the year. Since 1993, through her organization Maiti Nepal, Koirala has rescued more than 12,000 women and provided shelter homes for them. Along with shelter, these homes provide hope, healing and  skills to find jobs.

 Barely five-footed Anuradha Koirala,draped in a colorful Indian silk sari stood next to Demi Moore with her face beaming with joy, and received her award on the stage for $100,000 to continue her work, she pleaded with the audience to join hands with her to end the heinous crime called human trafficking. " Demi Moore, who introduced Koirala on the stage had  founded  DNA foundation along with her husband to eliminate child sex slavery worldwide. It's so appropriate that CNN chose Moore to introduce Koira on that gala night.

Human trafficking, I've read about it and  seen some documentaries on television, but never gave much thought to it. And, two nights back I saw the movie Trade which dealt with sex slavery and that truly caught my dire attention. The movie is about two young girls, one of them barely thirteen and was happily biking in her neighborhood when she was pulled into a car and kidnapped by two men, and the other was a young woman who comes to America from Russia to join a modelling agency. Whoever had produced the movie had a great job to let the world know what a heinous crime this human traffiking is. The beating, the drugging, the raping and animal like treatment these young girls, some barely 10-12 yrs old  undergo is heartwrenching.

I live in a city  close to Mexican border where drug and humantrafficking continues even with heavy border patrols and strict government reguations. Innocent children are being kidnapped on their way to school, work or even from their homes and driven across the border and across states and sold for sex at high price. Yes, police and some organizations are working hand in hand to eliminate this atrocious crime. But that doesn't seem to be enough. Unless more and more Koiralas  rise up to do something, this is going to be an unending battle.

So what can you and I do? We can support a trustworthy organization that help to eliminate such traffiking; volunteer in shelters to bring hope and love to the victims; and Pray. Yes, pray on a regular basis for this cause. Prayer does has power, and God does hear heartfelt prayers. If one of those girls kidnapped is our own, won't we cry out to God? So, lets cry out to God together so that no son or daughter of any mother need to go through such horrendous suffering any longer.. If a simple, ordinary woman like Anuradha Koirala from Nepal could rescue 12000 women, can't we in North America be instrumental in helping at least one child from sex slavery by our prayers, financial support or volunteering to help in some ways? Sure we can.***

Why God chose Shepherds to be His first Messengers?

Christmas is just twenty days away and already the  stores are buzzling with early shoppers, and brightly colored lights have started to twinkle from most house- tops. Even the trees along the streets are displaying the joy of Christmas by turning into festive yellow, orange and red. It was really a delight to see the trees down the street leading to our church flashing bright in crimson all the way.

"Messengers" was the title of the sermon this morning and the messengers whom Pastor Bob chose to speak on were none other than the shepherds to whom the glory of Christmas was revealed on a silent starry night. Of all the people, why  did God choose those shepherds who ranked like outcasts in status, smelled like sheep,  owned no proper dwelling nor had any education.?

Yet, God Almighty chose to send His angel to announce the birth of His Son to them first. Yes, these  poor shepherds who ranked low in their communities  got to hear the first Christmas Carol ever sung on earth.

Why did God choose shepherds?

In the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, no one would have had the ears to hear the voice of an angel or had the leisure to look up the sky to see the great performance ever staged on sky. If it had been the religious pundits, they might  have probably stood there debating with the Angel over the prophesies in the scriptures and thus missed the joy of hearing the heavenly chorus on that night. If any king had been told, he might have brought costly gifts in his hands to the new born King, but sheepish in his mind, he might have plotted something bad to get rid of the child on that very night.

On the other hand, the shepherds were unhurried enough to listen. They also had the heart to believe what the angel said. They didn't summon  a meeting with fellow shepherds in the neighboring fields to discuss and analyse whether what they were told was true or not. Instead, no sooner the carol singing ended and the angels vanished from their sight, they said to one another, " Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15. They wasted no time to ponder or to find a perfect gift for the new born child.  Overjoyed by the message, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph ,and the baby who was lying in the manger.

Yes, the shepherds may have ranked low in IQ in people's poll, but they had the wisdom to know when to hurry and when to stand still and listen. When the call was given, they acted at once and had the blessing of seeing the Baby before anyone else. Even the wise men from the East with their vast knowledge of astronomy couldn't find their way to the manger before them. Yes, God chose the unhurried, humble and believing shepherd to be the first to see His Baby Boy.

The shepherds could have bowed before the Christ child, shown their delight to Mary and Joseph and left. But they didn't.  "...they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." Luke 2: 17-18. Yes, they became the first messengers to spread the Good News. Yes, those shepherds, however sheep like they smelled, did know how to stay still, when to hurry and also what to share.

Finally, " the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2: 19-20. Praise and worship wasn't an event or  cliche word for the shepherds when they returned to their fields. Though empty handed, they went to see the Christ Child, when they returned, they carried away with them a wealth of joy in their hearts and praise in their lips.

During this advent season, why not we take some lessons from these humble shepherds and truly celebrate Christ's birth as they did. Do not mind the smell of their clothing, the manner of their speech or the style of their dwelling. God didn't mind it. So, why do we?***

Birdie, What's your secret?

Birdie, birdie, my little birdie
What makes you so happy?
What keeps you so light hearted and free spirited?
Don't you know that cold weather is on the way?

Soon, it will be Winter
And there won't be anything for you to eat
no fruits on trees to peck
and no bugs in the bark to chew on

You seem so worry free
hopping from branch to branch
tweeting and squeaking your lungs out
Don't you ever sit and worry
as we, the humankind normally do

We've been told that we rank high in intelligence
common sense, creativity and performance
Yet, we don't seem to enjoy life at all
Wherever I look, I see people busy and strained
singing seemed stopped
and laughter hardly heard

Yes, we've  food to feed many tummies for an year
probably, enough wealth to last for decades
yet, we walk around joyless and heavy hearted.
No wonder the Lord told us to look at you
and to learn from you.

So, tell us little birdie
what's your secret?
What makes you sing even when there's nothing to eat
and no branches around to build your nest?***

Babies- Four Child Stars at Play

               Just the mention of the word-babies makes me want to coo and talk gibberish. I  love watching babies laugh, babble, whimper or smile in their sleep. So, when Thomas Balrnes, the  director of the movie Babies came on Oprah show to promote his film and showed some clips of it, I couldn't wait to see the movie. But then, as usual, I completely forgot about it untill my daughter reminded me to request it on Netflix. So, finally one fine evening ,when my husband who prefers action movies to sober ones was out of town, my daughter and I sat snugly in our couch and watched the long awaited-Babies.

What is unique about this movie is that it is filmed without narration. No dialogue, no romance and no drama. And its' neither a silent movie that resembled the good old movies of  pioneer times. It's all about babies, and how they grow up at different parts of the world. It gives us a look at one year in the life of four adorable babies growing up in four countries in the world. Three girls and a cute little  boy are the main characters. A girl named Ponijao from Opumo Nambia, a boy named Bayar from Mongolia, a girl named Mari from Tokyou Japan and a girl from San Francisco, California named Hatti.


Four babies with different sounding names born to parents with different skin color, speaking different language and eating different kinds of food. Although, they are so much different in many ways, they do resemble in some ways. They laugh when they're happy, cry when got hurt, get mad when things don't go their way and fight with siblings to get what they wanted. That's what the movie is about. It shows whoever these children maybe and wherever they grow up, they are loved and cared by their parents and learn to crawl, walk, talk and play almost in the same manner. Watching the mothers interacting with their babies surely make me realize that these are precious moments for them whether they record them in a video camera or not. Babies are definitely precious whether they are black, brown, yellow or white. And the moments spent with these God given gifts are nothing, but P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S!


Ponijao, who is growing up in a dry and hot climate hardly seen wearing any clothes. Nakedness doesn't seem bother her  nor those who live around her. She sits on bare bottom on mud floor, crawls and drinks muddy water in the stream, eat with barehand a gooey paste like something out of a clay pot.  When hungry, she sucks on her mother's breast, which is always hanging bare and within her reach. What is interesting to note is that she is  never left alone. Her mother is always near her, having a watch on her and her siblings. She grinds something to a red paste and rubs all over Ponijao's body to keep her from stinking bad in that hot and dry weather. Because of lack of water, the people living there had adapted some means to keep them clean and this must be one of the ways.


Bayar who lives in Mongola is mostly left alone to explore the nature around him. To see him enjoying his bath in a half filled tin bath tub, while a mountain goat with two sharply pointed horns bending and drinking water out of his bathtub make us so nervous. But Bayar didn't seem to be bothered at all by the intruder. Later we see him crawling all over the grassland where cows and calves graze and he looks so at home going undeneath the cattle legs and coming out unharmed. His mother or any adult in not to be seen around and he's on his own to explore. I can just imagine what a brave and independant ranger he would turn out to be one day.

Then  there's Mari, whose parents are mostly around her to keep company, and she even get to go to day care to be around other kids. Its' so funny to see her get frustrated over her attempt to place a spindle into a hole in a rubber ring. She falls on her back and throws her feet in the air and bangs them against the floor crying nonstop. When she's happy she coos and charms everyone. It's interesting  to see how cautiously she takes her first steps and her mother beaming with pride watching her from a distance.

Hatti, who seems to have got it all, looks like any kid growing up in any suburb in United States. Her parents are there to read to her, take her to the park, and even her grandmother is mostly around to keep a eye on her. It's also interesting to watch her eating a banana, carefully taking out the peel one by one and  handing it out to her mom.

Yes, we got a glimpse of these four child stars at play. They are growing up in different parts ot the world, yet learning to crawl, talk, walk almost the same way.  That was truly a precious and an ah-ha moment for me. I don't know whether these kids would ever get a chance to meet each other in their life time  or  what these innocent kids would become one day. But I dearly hope and pray that wherever they live, they'd be protected and guided to become great citizens of this world***

Unsung Saints-Precious in God's Sight

"The most saintly spirits are often existing in those who have never distinguished themselves as authors, or let any memorial of themselves to be the theme of the world's talk; but who have led an interior angelic life, having borne their sweet blossoms unseen like the young lily in a sequestered vale on the bank of a limpid stream."- Kenelm Digby

 Oh, how many saints had been in the past and are somewhere today unnoticed, unheard,  working behind the scene with no earthyly glory, but God's glory in mind.  Probably we would have even encountered some in our neighborhood, workplace, church,school, hospital.

I remember a precious woman who came to my door to purchase a leather couch I had put for sale,.A few days earlier I had returned to Saskatoon on a two week visit to put our house up for sale. Within that short period, I needed to pack, discard the unwanted, sell the furniture, clean the house to a shine and get back to San Diego in time to welcome some visitors home.

Sue, who came to look at my couch, not only bought many of my furniture, but also volunteered to come the next three days to help me pack, move and get the house ready to put up for sale. She was neither a friend nor a neighbor of mine. But a just an acquaintance who happened to drop by to see my furniture. She could have easily bought the stuff and gone. But she didn't . She saw my weary face, the number of unpacked Budget Moving boxes strewn around and my sole assistant-my teenage daughter chatting on the phone. Sue didn't stop with packing; she brought lunches for me and my daughter; she hauled our discarded stuff to the dumpsite in her small trailor and took us to the airport on the last day and bade us good-bye witha bear hug.

She was truly an angel sent by God to help me. That's what I told her and she took that with a sweet and modest gesture. Probably she would have done the same to any other person,I presumed. I don't think I would have gone to the extent Sue did. She went the extra mile. What she did, no one came to know. But God knew. No one goes unnoticed in His view.

In  today's market, whatever glitters brighter or  jingles louder gets sold. Genuine precious gems lie mostly unearthed. It is God who picks them up, blow away the dust and reveal their splendor in His light.  Maybe these are the ones prophet Isaiah talks about in chapter 61: 3, which I read today for my Bible study.
"They will be called oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor."

It brings also to my mind, a stanza of the Blogger's Prayer, Ann Voskamp posted in her blog. Yes, I'm a devout follower of Ann's postings, for I admire her heart for God and her beautiful writing. In the Blogger's Prayer, she writes,
'May I write not for subscribers... but only for Thy smile
.....
May my identity be in the innumerable graces of Christ
never, God forbid, the numbers of my comments."

As a new blogger, I know how tempting it could be to go again and again to  check for comments under my postings. Even a single line I see there brightens my day  and gives great  satisfaction. Something within us surely craves for recognition. Though it seems an innocent gesture, if unchecked, I could be easily carried away by others perception of me and my work. My craving for affirmation would soon become the driving force, and leave my identity in Christ without much attention.  Instant gratification seems assuring and comforting at times. As a result,  instead of becoming an oak of righteousness to display Christ's splendor ,I may end up like a dried weed waving in the draft of self-worship.

It is my prayer that my focus be God alone, and my walk with Him be steadfast. Let my craving for monuments for world's talk be replaced by yearning to have an angelic inner life and to become an oak of righteousness for His splendor!***

A Day to Remember and Celebrate

It's my birthday today, and it's a day of celebration at my house. I didn't want anything fancy this time, the usual going out to the restaurant for a grand meal and getting gifts. Instead, I wanted a simple candle light dinner at home. My 22-year-old opted to make the dinner and my husband was put in charge of setting the table with candles and flowers. I don't know how tasty the meal is going to be what my twenty-two-year old is busy making now, and how beautiful the table setting is going to be, but one thing I'm very sure is that a lot of love and effort is put in to make this day very special for me. No doubt, whatever is served tonight is going to be the most tasties in my palet and whatever is set on the table is going to look the loveliest in my eyes. What better gift could I ask other than this precious gift of love?

It had been six decades and four years since I let out my first cry on a tiny island in the middle of Indian oceon. Yes, I was born long time ago in the other side of the world,  when people there wake up to go to work, we, in this part of the world hurry back home in heavy traffic after long hours of work .Yes, I've been blessed to have lived in both of these two worlds, which are  far and wide apart in culture, taste and view of life.

 Looking back, I'm amazed how many places I've lived , how many countries I've visited, how many people I have met, how many friendships I've made in my life span. Yes, I've seen some of the wonders of the world like the Taj Mahal, Great wall of China, Eiffel Tower, Sistine chapel, etc. I had also seen the ugliness of injustice, devastation of ethnic war and  plight of poverty. I had walked down the steps of Buckingham palace in England and Versilles in France. I had also walked down the streets with my four -year old in my homeland while bullets rained down from helicopters and had experienced taking shelter in backyard bunkers when the sound of shellings blasted the air. Yes,in my memory I've pictures of laughter and cries, whoops of joy and wails of loss.  Courage and fear kept alternating and challenged my faith at times. Excitement and disappointment brushed different shade of color to the picture.

Tonight, as I sit here gray haired (dyed pitch black) and pounding words onto my blog screen, I can't thank the Lord enough for His  countless blessings. I thank Him for taking me through rocky paths and flowery meadows to make the person who I am today and where I'm today in my life. I may be qualified to be called a senior next year, but I still feel young at heart and much busier than years before.
I do work part-time, lead a writer's group and Bible study group. The days I've lived are God's gift to me, and how I lived those days are my gifts to the Lord. I cannot see what the days ahead behold for me, but I do know the One, who hold my days in His calendar!***

Precious Lord, Help us to Rest

Precious Lord,

Each moment I spend with you is precious and holy; but it doesn't always seem precious to me because of the state of mind I'm in, when I bend my knees before you. Sometimes, I'm too sleepy or lazy to see it's preciousness, other times I'm too much in a hurry to savor its holiness or too bogged down with anxiety and worry that I fail to cherish the moment.

Lord, help me not to see prayer as  mundane, a thing I should do out of duty. Instead let me long  after as a deer panteth after water. Let me seek you early in the morning as king David whose flesh and soul thirsted after you in earnestness.

Today is Sunday, a sabbath day was assigned for believers to rest and worship. God almighty designed Sabbath to be holy, set it aside for His people to stop doing anywork and to come before Him in worship and to meditate on His ways. But as always, people had made Your commandment, which was meant to rejuvenate their spirit and body, a heavy burdon to carry. It became all about do's and don'ts. Love and grace were barred from entry in their favor of religiousity.

Lord , it was You who came to correct and tell them, "Sabbath was made for man, and man was not made for Sabbath."  As always, people had taken that too to another extreme,  to the extent that Sabbath today is just like any other with a small difference. Yes, we  Christians go to church on this day to worship on a fairly regular basis.  But  do we really rest from  our hurriedness and feed on His faithfuness so that we are equipped to face the challenges of another week of work. Probably not. It's sad, but true, we've forgotten the meaning of rest these days.
Teach us Lord how to slow down and even to stop doing things that are not important in heaven's point of view. Coach us to breathe easy even things around us go round and round. Help us to rest in You and to rest on the Sabbath so that our minds and bodies are  relaxed and rejuvenated to serve You more effectively. Amen ***

It's A God's Thing

"It's a God thing." Yes, that's what I said to Shana last night, when she complimented me for what I do for our writer's group. I didn't  throw those words just to sound spiritual or as a cliche, but I truly meant it what I said.

This evening was one of the most enjoyable writers' meeting I ever had. There were lots of laughter, reading, sharing and learning. We had eight in total for attendance except for Cathy who couldn't be there because of her father-in -laws death, and Claris, whose car's fuel tank gave up on her when she tried to come for the meeting. Our ears were perked up when Sermsee's shared her experience with NaNoWriMo- writing a novel of 50,000wds in one month. It's the first time I came to hear about NaNoWriMo, and if saying the word could make my tongue twist,   wonder what and all of me would start to twist if I've signed up for that challenge.  I can't even imagine of writing anything beyond 5,0000wds, and what am I going to do for the rest of the words. Borrow? But it's so great to have someone in our group who was brave enough to take the challenge.

Brave? Here comes our next subject-Tianyu. How else can I term someone who took a sunrise hike with her adorable ten-year old son Timothy up a mountain cluttered with loose rocks and dark bushes in the early hours of the day, when the world around was dark and asleep? Just a small torch in hand to guide her steps and her son's, she took the challenge to see the sun's glory at the top of the mountain with no one around, but God alone. Yes, it must have been a holy experience for her, and I wish I too could go on a hike like her. However, going on a hike is something my body will never dare to do. So, why bother?

It was very interesting to listen to what Sermsee, Tianyu and young Victoria read. As always, Odetta was open to share her thoughts and knowledge to spice up the mood and interest in the group and the rest of the group, though kept quiet, I assume, were busy soaking up new ideas and storing them for future use.

Once back home, I couldn't thank the Lord enough for bringing these ladies to the group and enriching our writing life. Yes, it is He had brought them. Not me, or anyone else. It's not our doing. It's all His. He alone knows what's up in the future for each of us and how He's going to direct and fulfill His plan.

It's so amazing how this group was formed, and more amazing how I was given a role to play in it. Never had  I imagined myself leading a writer's group before. Never! But it happened.  When Shana, our leader at the Women's Bible study once asked the ladies at the S-H-A-P-E meeting, what  ideas we've got for new ministries at church, without thinking even for a moment, I blurted out writer's group or book club. Shana could have easily brushed off my idea. But she didn't. She stood there, her loving face beaming like a fullmoon and said "Sulo, I like that idea. Why don't you start a writer's group." Now it was my turn to brush her off. But I didn't. To my surprise, for once, I chose to obey without groping for any excuses. For the next couple of days, I was on my knees asking God to bail me out, but He chose to keep silent. I had no choice but to follow His leading there onwards.

So in Summer this year(2010,) we launched the group with five ladiesfrom our Bible study. It was somewhat a pioneer project, which could be continued in the Fall, if  interest in writing still persisted. We met bi-monthly on Mondays and the ladies kept to their regular attendance and writing interest. Our church gave permission to use it's name and soon we became Grace Point Women's Writers' Group. For Fall, Shana suggested we follow a book for instruction and I said amen to that. The good news was that I didn't need to look anywhere far to look for one, for within my reach, on my bookshelf stood a book tall and prim titled- An Introduction to Christian Writing. It had very good reviews and seemed like an ideal book for our group.

Strangely it may sound, I had bought that book two years back on Amazon.com for no particular reason. I've read a few chapters, highlighted few passages in lime-green color and stuck it among my books on the shelf and left it untouched until late this Summer. What made me to purchase that book two years earlier? I don't know. Why should this very book catch my eye when I was thinking of going to the library to find a suitable one for the writer's group? I don't know it either. Everything was falling in line as it was preplanned by someone unseen. Was there someone orchestrating behind the scene well before the thought of forming a writing group occured to our mind. Definitely. That's why I see this as a God thing.

It's God who had handpicked the ladies and brought them to the group. He who has gifted them knows what these writers are capable of and how best He can use them. He also knows that they need to be brought under a safe and suitable environment to grow and flourish. He knows our strength and weakness and in no way He considers one above the other. Some are quiet and confident; some are outspoken and supportive, while some are funny and inspiring. Yes, God Almighty, takes pleasure in making a pot-pouri of talents and personalities. He wants the best for us and He wants our best for Him. What better way to purpose His plan other than bringing us all under one roof -Grace Point Women's Writers' Group. That's why I see this as God's Thing from the very beginning.

Faith cannot be felt, but can be seen and grown

What is Faith?
Faith is that glimmer of hope that burns in your soul, that is yet to be seen

Faith is the mustard seed of steadfastness, that could move mountains of obstacles

Faith is the shimmering shield that you carry as your armor to bounce back the fiery darts of the enemy

Faith is believing; believing God for who He is and what He can do

Faith is patience; patient in waiting for God to act

Faith is courageous; courageous  in doing the right, and going forward with God given strength

Faith is Abraham-the man who didn't back away when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son

Faith is Mary-the young woman who surrendered to God's will to become pregnant knowing well the cost and ridicule she'd face in her community

Faith is the woman who was told no hope, yet reached out and touched the hem of Jesus robe

Faith is not at all the fussy feeling that goes up and down to suit your moods

Faith is the foundation that keeps you and me alive when things around go swirling

Faith is something that grows with intimacy-Intimacy with the LORD!

Precious Thoughts for the Day

         Presently, at our women's Bible study on Thursday nights, we are following Beth Moore's book, Breaking Free. I consider to be blessed to learn from Beth Moore whose passion for God vibrates through ever word she writes and so contagious that you are set on fire for God. Beth's story is a great display of God's amazing handiwork of bringing beauty out of ashes. If what she potrays herself as true and genuine, then she's God's trophy suited to be placed on the upper shelf of the awards cabinet.

         It's God's grace that I didn't go through the trial she went through and I'm thankful for that. But at the same time, seeing her heart ablaze for God and love for the women who had undergone similar trials like hers, I wish I had similar trials so that I'm on fire for God like her. Yes, it sounds silly and outrageous for who in the world want to go through the heart-breaking circumstances and bondage she suffered from. But see where she's now and who she has become? I'm not talking about how great her ministry is, or what a great author and Bible teacher she had become. No, not at all. I'm pointing to the woman she had become to serve the Lord with such a passion and obedience. That's what is amazing.

But years back when she was walking through the valley of destruction or crawled in her pit with self-loathing, she wouldn't have ever imagined to become a woman after God like this. But God knew. He knew what she would become when she yields herself to Him to remold her life. No doubt He heard her Why?s and Why me?s countless times, but He chose to remain silent for He knew she would never understand what He's trying to do with her. Today, freed from bondages, Beth is offering some great thoughts  from the Word and her experience that are very helpful to understand trouble and tribulations.

1. God never allows or appoints a fire unless He can bring beauty from the ashes. " In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7.

2. We cannot avoid fiery trials-
     a)  God is much more interested in our callings than our comfort.
      b) Even faithful people go through tremendous difficulties.
3.  The purpose of the refinement is always to make us.
      a) Objects of beauty
      b) Recepients of reward.
         " and into the inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you," 1 Peter1:4.
         " Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace
           they will rejoice in their inheritance; Isaiah 61:7a
4      One primary purpose of fiery trials is to surface the dross.
5       We cannot often refuse the fire, but we can refuse to be refined by it.
6        Sometimes our fiery trials are absolutely necessary to fulfill our calling.
         We see the last statement becoming a reality in Beth's life as well as many great servants of God, whether they're known or unknown to the world.

These thought I consider to be treasured for it gives us a right perspective of trials. Sometimes they are necessary  to fulfill our calling. Cross was necessary for Christ to become the Saviour of the world, evern though it cost him lots of physical and emotional suffering. He had to suffer so that you and I can live. It was His call and He willingly surrendered so that we can live a victorious life under His lordship on earth as well as in heaven.

A Crown of Beauty, instead of Ashes

            I thought of blogging on the lesson 6, we're studying in our Women's Bible study on Beth Moore's book, Breaking free. Last week lesson was so intense and memory provoking that I could pr feel the heaviness of the subjects pressing on my back to curve down. Yes, it dealt with child abuse, betrayal and loss which many women had faced in their lives and how the severity of it had crippled them and put them in captivity. I could almost touch the blackend nature of the subject hanging over my head as I sat and studied the lesson.

          But this week's lesson brushes the darkened picture with a  lighter paint that we come to see the silver lining of hope breaking through. Today's lesson talks about honor, to be a bride, to be beautifu, fruitful and to live happily ever after. Aren't these the four things every child born as a girl ever dreamed of whether she was born to a simple farmer living in a small plot of farmland or to a king living in a huge palace with multitude of servants in attendance. It's ever girl's dream and would remain to be the same for ever girl to born in this earth. Why? Because that's how we are wired up,longing to look beautiful, be a happy wife and have lovely and well behaved children and to live happily ever after. However, only a handful are blessed to have the life they dreamed of while some end up having almost the opposite to what they had dreamed of and in between are those who get part of the dreams come through.

The lesson start with the verse, Isaiah61:3 with the phrase; " to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes." to convey how God our creator desires to crown us with beauty, even though circumstances may have covered our head with ashes. Beth Moore takes us through the story of Tamara, the daughter of King David in 2 Samuel 13:19 where she was raped by her own brother Ammon and she ended up living in seclusion as a desolate woman. You don't need to end up as Tamara even if the same fate had fallen on you, if you're in Christ, says the author.

Today's society favors a non-display of emotions even at  funerals. Squelching emotions only stores them in explosive containers, Beth writes. In Biblical times, men and women practiced putting on sackcloth and ashes as they mourned losses or while repenting before God. Satan waits for an opportunity to hammer the victims of abuse with guilt and telling them they'd never regain their honor and dignity. Beth, herself who had undergone sexual abuse as a child knows the weight of guilt and condemnation and how it could turn any person into a captive for some addiction or behaviour for life. But her life is a great example of how God can make beauty out of ashes. She's God's trophy on display. Joyce Meyer who was abused by her own father until she left home at age 16 or 18 is a very good example of what Christ can do with someone who was destroyed and left to be trampled by the world. He stoops down, picks them up, wipes the tear bathed face, forgive them in His grace, bind their wounds and lift them up to be beautiful and to be used for His glory. No one else can ever do what He does and no one else could love anyone like him at all.

Then she talks about being the bride. Though every girl dreams of becoming a bride, not everyone end up being a bride. So many remain unmarried for some reason or another. Many women feel unfulfilled as a single person. They don't feel whole without a husband or man in her life. Not so, says Beth. Though it's natural to feel that way because the world that we live in say so, if we  are destined to be single, (some women are called to be so0 consider that to be a blessing for in that way you can fully devote your self to the Lord. Whether we are single or married, if we are devoted to Christ, He see us as His bride. He's truly our lover of our soul and bridegroom for eternity. Like the bride prepares herself for the groom bathing in fragrant water, let us His brides prepare us bathing in holiness, prayer and humility. A loving bride is willing to go where the groom leads even it seem like wilderness, but if she trusts him, she would know he'll never abandon her. Not all the places he pitches his tent may be favorable in your estimation, sometimes it makes you so uncomfortable and lonely you just want to flee. But you stay, because you know He'd come in search of you even when you leave. Once you're His, He wouldn't want to lose you, so He gets a good grip of you with His nail pierced hand.

Day 3, is about being beautiful. Find a girl who never wanted to be beautiful. The longing is drenched in the air we breathe and the sweat we perspire. If take a count of the number of women enrolled in a fitness class and those walk in and out of hair salons, beauty parlor and designer boutiques, you don't need to be an analyst to tell what their prime aim in life is. To be beautiful. Especially in today's culture and in North America, anyone who don't look beautiful is considered not in the in-group. The truth is not all are born beautiful to look at. I'm not. Are you? I'm short, on the plump side than on the slim side, lazy -eyed, round faced and curly haired. By now, you must have discarded my profile into the garbage crossing out my name for someone beautiful. But I've a husband who loves me and thinks I'm beautiful and two precious daughter who think I'm very beautiful. No they're neither blind nor near sighted. Their love for me makes me beautiful for them. But I was beautiful in so many ways. So are you. Never , never believe anyone saying you that you aren't beautiful and live your life feeling unattractive. Jesus sees you and me beautiful. That's all matters. We need to see us as He sees us. He's more interested in the inner beauty than the outer beauty, the world craves for. So, it's our duty to make our innerself beautiful and the Bible give us beauty tips on it. Christ has washed us clean. So, let us beautify us with His grace and become kind, compassionate, gentle, patient and loving to make ourself beautiful for His glory. The inner beauty is sure to seep through the skin and would add a glow to make our face beautiful too. So, be blessed you who are in Him to be called beautiful and be His bride.

Being fruitful was the next day's lesson. Fruitful means in the Bible to have children. Without doubt, every girl dreams of becoming a mother one day. This mother -to- be instinct is seen even in the tender years of a girls life, when she plays with a doll, dressing it up in beautiful mom stitched or store bought doll dresses, rocks the doll to sleep, bathes and rolls away the doll in a stroller with her mom beside. So when a woman find herself barren, she is crushed in sadness. In the olden days, even now in some countries, a barren woman is looked down and is made an object to be criticized by family and neigbors. Husbands had divorced their wives for this cause alone. She's considered a bad omen in some cultures.

It was told to be a punishment from God even in the scriptures. In Genesis, 30:1-3, when Rachel bothers Jacob to give her a child, he says, "Am I in the place of God who has kept you from having children?" indicating it was God who had closed her womb. There are other incidents in the Bible which tells the same reason. Though I don't understand why God blesses some with children and some without, I do agree with Beth saying Barrenness does not imply sinfulness. God created every life to be fruitful and multiply, but that may not imply in the physical sense in many cases.

Beth writes that it may imply to invest in something that matters and effective. Our disappointment with God for not blessing us with children may be small thinking , she says. Then she goes on to say how her friends though didn't have biological children, they did have spiritual off springs. Those youngsters who are mentored by godly older women become the spiritual children of these women. In that sense, I realize , I too have many spiritual daugters whom I've a close attachment to. Those in my leaders group, writers group whom I try to mentor whenever I can, I count them as my spiritual offsprings. I hope at least some of them consider me as their spiritual mother too. I'm so blesse to have my God placed among so many lovely and Christian women from whom I too learn so many things. It's a symbiotic growth , I suppose.

Finally, we come to the part-to live Happily Ever After. Who doesn't ever want that? That's every girl and woman's final goal. God's surpassing love can make anyone overcome even the devastating challenges in life. Joni Ereckson overcame her paralysis and became a spoke person for paralysed persons; The horrifying stay in Nazi concentration camp didn't keep God surpassing Corrie Ten Boom's dream nor Mother Theresa amidst deep poverty. The world may cause problems, life may bring traumatizing situations, but nothing could keep God from using someone from any such situation for His glory.
Even if we are not having a life we dreamed of, one day we're going to live the life God promised with much joy and celebration bowing down before Him and worshipping Him seated on His throne. That is to live Happily Ever After. It's worth dreaming of that life and working towards that dream!.

Playing the Game

Last night, we had Games Night for the leaders of our Women's Bible study , for both the morning and evening study leaders. Normally I would have avoided going to such night which say Games. I don't know for some reason, just sounding the word Games make me want to flee, especially it involves any physical exertion. In school, I never got involved in any kind of games except in the marching drill. Yes, my games teacher seemed to like the way I marched, I suppose, she picked me for the marching band. If you think that would have given me such a joy and pride, you're wrong. Instead of being enthusiastic and excited to show up for the practices, I found ways to give lame excuses and got my self out. Result-I lost the only chance of being in a school team. While my friends jumped, tossed and swirled in the net ball court or basket ball, I stood at a distance, behind the barricade line and clapped and cheered them on till my throat got parched.

What about board games? you may ask. Yes, that's my kind of game. I love playing board games. But it doesn't mean I win all the time. I do win at times, and lose also at times. I can take up to lose without a fuss, so it's not a problem to me.

As a child I loved playing snake and ladder and ludo. Those were the two board games that were available for four to five year olds at that time. I still remember the snake and ladder board with short and long ladder and huge snakes criscrossing the board. Oh the thrill it brought when you dice fell as you wanted to climb up the ladder to reach the home sooner. And when the dice fell and turned to show the number to bring you down the longest snake almost to the bottom as you were almost there to reach the square marked 'Home'.

Oh those precious moments of innocent child's jubiliation at winning and pouting face and tears brimmed faces at losing the game make me want to go back to that non-worry stage at any moment. Then came checkers and drafts with black and beige wooden rounds to play on board and I must say I was quite good at playing drafts most of the time.

As preteen years extended into teen years, reading took over my interest and I spent no time in playing board games after that until I got married. In fact, I played some traditional games like Pallanguli which is played on a wooden board with  two rows of carven cup like slots. The players are expected to fill each slot with six dried tamarind seeds, and who ever is able to do that is considered a winner. I'm not sure whether I remember the game correctly, but something similar to that pattern. there was another game we used to play with another tree's seed, similar to olives.

This one, we played seated on the cement floor and spirting the seed with our thumb and forefinger in such a way, it will go and hit another seed and if it hits, the player takes the hit seed and try to hit as many seeds as possible. The player who gets the maximum number of seeds get to be the winner. It was such an interesting and exciting game too.

Well, I loved to play marbles. Each of us have a favorite marble which we called lucky marble which we usually chose to hit other marbles with. Though I loved playing it, I don't think I was good at it because most of the time I kept losing my marbles to the opponent. But it felt so good to posess large and small glassy marbles in so many colors. Some marbles sparkeled in the blazing sun giving out radiant colors of blue green orange purple glow. Monopoly was unknown to me when I was growing up and as such I never got to play it until I became a parent.

When I got married, my husband introduced me to play chess, and for the first year of marriage until we left for Sweden (one and a half year after marriage) we enjoyed playing chess whenever we got some free time. But all playing stopped when my first child was born. When there was a child to play with, who would want to sit and play chess or any game for the matter. I didn't. For some years it was playing peek -a-boo and blowing bubbles and throwing balls with your kids were the games I got involved.

Then came the time, our girls dragged mom and dad to play Monopoly, Clue, Risk and some card games. As a family we had lots of fun beating each other in the game, cheating at times and rolling with laughter. Those are definitely precious moments I'd want to treasure until my end. The fun and laughter you have with your family is a God given gift. I wonder how many can see that as a gift in this world of hurry and bustle. But if they do, then nothing would they ask for more.

Some times, the life itself looks like a game played by different players of varying interests. At times, it' the game of war between the nations, other times it's a political game between two rivaling parties to win over the polls. Some times husband and wife tend to play the game of love and may even opt to play guesssing  game at times. Well childen too love to play secret games with the parents to avoid being getting into trouble and so it goes on. Whatever we play, it's important that we don't play a dirty game with anyone or against anyone. If we do, we become the biggest losers in the end, even if declare of winning the game.

Whether we are kids playing snake and ladder or adults playing chess or nations playing war games, let that be always a fair and good game. The motivation play a vital part in any game. If played with selfish motive and greed, it doesn't benefit either party. It only bring division and brews enemity. On the other hand, if played fair and good, both the parties do gain respect and comradeship. Winning surely brings joy and losing does bring sadness. In a game one is expected to win and the other to lose. Even the loser realizes that he hadn't lost much if the game played is fair. In contrast, it the game is played dirty, the winner however innings he won, would never reap the joy as someone who played the game fairly. So, let's play any game fair and proper!

The Simplest Things Can be the Most Powerful

It's Sunday, the day to go to church, do the grocery shopping at Jimbo and /or Von's on the way back home, eat some leftover and have aftenoon nap, cook supper, go to beach or walk if weather coorperates, watch recorded session of Hour of Power and go to bed after supper and light reading. That's what my Sunday usually looks like. 

 When I woke up this morning, the ashen sky of San Diego had already smothered the surrounding  area with a mantle of sombre greyness. Going to the beach this evening seemed out of question unless the sun decided to break through the greyness and brightened  the world for those desperately waiting for a dip in the sea or a ride on a rolling wave (surfing) In my case, it would be just a stroll on the beach, barefooted.

It was dristling when we got into the car to drive to church and by the time we arrived there, thin sheets of rain had washed the parking lot clean. Walking in the rain is something I enjoyed as a child and still the child in me took a delight while I walked up to the church door, bothering not to cover my head with my handbag.  By the time we arrived, the worship leader was leading the last song,and soon it was time for pastor Bob to give the announcement and start his sermon.

The title of today's message was Insights into Renewal.... and pastor Bob  was still continuing on Peter's journey to Maturity. The Bible reading for today was focused on John 21, where Jesus meets Peter for the third time after His resurrection. This time few of His other disciples John, James, Thomas and Natanael too were there and they were at the beach after a long fishing night with no catch. Early that morning Jesus shows up and asked them if they've got any fish. No one recognized Him to be Jesus. Only when they threw the net as Jesus instructed and caught multitude of fish in the net, their eyes were opened to see Jesus.

Yes, sometimes Jesus is not so visible to our sight. We expect Him to show up in a dramatic and miraculous manner. Such expectation make us to miss seeing the Lord in simple things in day to day life- In the beauty of sunflower, in the song of a humming bird, the loving touch of a caring friend, the smile of a jogger passing by, the laughter of children, the advise of an elderly person. If we are humble enough to seek and look, His fingerprints are everywhere to be seen. His message is written across the paddy field to pansies dancing wilderness. We don't need to have mountain top experience to see the hand of God.

Some of us recognize the presence of the Lord only when our nets are full like the disciples. Only when something happen miraculously then we recognize God. Others seek and see God only when their nets are empty. They feel God's closeness only when they're in need, in trouble or in danger. When they need is fulfilled and everything is taken care of, they seem to get caught up with life until the next bout of trouble knock at the door.

What would be my honest answer be, if asked when do I make time for God -when the nets are full or empty? I think, I feel more close to God when my nets are full than when they're empty. However, I need to confess that sometimes I get dragged into get busy to get more fish into the net.  I can become aloof even if I don't get busy too. Being full and satisfied may at times rob the hunger for the Lord. Whether my nets are full or empty doesn't need to come to play a part in our relationship and closeness to the Lord. The time with Him is holy and precious and as long as I remember this unshakable fact, I'm standing firm the solid ground.
"as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." 2 Corinthians 6:10b.
Yes, it doesn't matter whether we are empty handed or mighty in posession; having Him in our day to day lives is that what matters, and that's what counts a lot in heaven's economy.

Counting the precious moments

If I have eyes to see, ears to hear and some quiet time to think, I'm sure to view many of the moments in my life as precious. If we are waiting to see anything special and dramatic to happen to count them as precious, then mostly we'll end up frustrated. But if we take a close look at those happening around us, the day to day, simple ordinary things with a thankful heart and positive attitude, you'll have enough in your basket to consider as precious moments.

Yesterday, surely brought many moments for me to cherish. In the morning, I decided to go for a walk. I could have stayed indoors, done some cleaning, played scrabble on the computer or watched a comedy on tv to doodle my hours after all it looked  a dull and gloomy sky outside, not a favorable morning to go for a walk. Yet, I chose to go and I'm glad that I did.

A bottle of water in my hand and the bunch of keys in the other, I walked out our complex and down the hilll in my grey outfit to suit the weather. Instead of walking all the way down to the stop sign and turn around which I usually do, I decided to cross the street and walk along the cemented bridge leading towards the soccer field. Remembering the assignment I gave my gals in the writers group-to intensify the skill of observation, starting with sense of sight for the first day, I decided to sharpen my sight for the day , at least during this morning walk. And what did I see? Oh loveliness all around me in beautiful colors. Normally I wouldn't have had eyes to see them. But yesterday, I was determined to look at least for the assignment sake. After all I'm the instructor and if I don't do my homework, how do I expect my students to do theirs.

At the foot of the hill leading to our apartment I saw bright white star-shaped flowers on waxy leaved plants spreaded on the ground. Being not a gardener nor having a green thumb, I didn't expect to know the name of the flower. But they looked so lovely and pure close to the earth smiling brightly at the passersby. Wonder how many have noticed them to return a smile or appreciation. But I did and I count that as my precious moment.

Few feet ahead stood a well pruned hedge along the sidewalk with clusters of violet flowers waving in the soft wind. Onto my left along the parapeet wall lining the houses spreaded out a carpet of lily of the valley in glorious bloom. Then, when I crossed the street and walked along the bridge, I had a grand view of well manucured lawn with a million dollar worth houses arrayed side by side far below and across the field. On the other side stood gigantic trees and short bushes flashing with bunches of flowers of various sizes and colors. I could even smell fragrance of jasmine in the air, but wasn't able to locate that familiar plant or flowers anywhere. Bright orange tubular flowers beating the sharpness of Fanta drink in color stood high up and waved softly at me, beside the tree hanging with tiny green coriander seed like fruits. I wished I had some hint of horticulture in my vein to identify these plants to enjoy the existence more. Yes, walking through such loveliness, I count as precious moments for the day for me.