Later that morning, the children and I went for a stroll. They flitted around as children do, bringing me their little treasures, a smooth round pebble, a fire stone, a green striped bug, a clump of touch-me-nots. Suddenly one of them shouted, �Hey, look Mama! See what I have found!� It was a long branch studded with wood roses.
�Wood Roses!� I gasped, �But God I didn�t even pray, it was just a thought, not even an important thought, just a fleeting distracted thought. You mean You heard?� I sensed His smile, yes, He had heard.
The children were now staring up into the tree above us. I followed their gaze and caught my breath again. It was a massive tree, and the tendrils of a creeper in full bloom entwined every branch. A Wood Rose creeper.
�Let�s ask that man for some flowers,� they chirped. I snapped out of my reverie. � No don�t, we�ve got this little branch, that�s enough. What will he think? What will he say?� I rambled on incoherently. It was of no use, he was already striding towards us purposefully, his army boots crunching the dry earth, �Let�s just ask him Mum,� they said. So we asked. He nodded his head smartly, did a sharp 90-degree turn, and disappeared behind the bushes. He emerged with a hook on a long pole.
Within moments, we were showered with wood roses, golden brown, crisp, perfectly formed blooms. The children scampered about collecting armfuls, while I stood there feeling strangely like a young bride embarrassed by a public display of affection. I stammered like a stuck record. �But God, I�. I didn�t even ask, I didn�t even pray, and You have showered me, You have overwhelmed me.� I sensed Him smile again, and heard the gentle rebuke, �Why didn�t you ask, why didn�t you pray? So often you have not, because you ask not. Ask that your joy may be full.� (John 16:24)
�I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking to Me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.� Isaiah 65:24
Sent By: Patricia D'Souza (India) June 1997
�Who is God?� I asked myself bitterly, if He cannot heal illnesses, or assure people of their future? Why should anyone trust Him? Look at the frightening mess the world is in --- the gory wars, the hideous slaughter-houses, the cancer wards��
All around me I searched for proof of His existence, but in vain. I did not find Him in churches or in homes, nor at my place of work or anywhere else. Where was He? Had He ever existed at all? That He once had I did not doubt, but now that I needed Him so desperately, why did He not show His face?
I continued my relentless search, finally exhausted, I gave up. It never occurred to me to trust Him to find me. I was like the lost sheep that had strayed, bleating my fear and my confusion to all who would hear. Maybe it had been adventurous at the beginning, reading strange and thought provoking books that challenged my earlier simplistic belief. I had enjoyed reasoning and arguing things out, stretching my mind to accommodate new thoughts, even if they contradicted my earlier experiences. But now, I was tired, defeated and worst of all, no wiser than I had begun. In fact, in many ways, I was sadder because I felt an aching void in me that no amount of human achievement or knowledge could fill. Like the writer of Ecclesiastes, I could only mourn that all was vanity and a striving after the wind.
So what was the solution? Find God, of course! But then, that is where my story began. It is easier in many ways to find oneself than to find God. It was at this spiritually bankrupt stage of my life, that I received an invitation to a prayer meeting. Why not? I asked myself. I had nothing to lose. So I went. But the aridity within me poisoned everything for me. I lost interest and stopped going. It would have been so easy for God to leave that willful sheep to stray wherever it wanted. But no! He set out after me again.
When the next invitation came, I was spiritually ready to welcome Him. I had already recognized the severe limitations that blocked any love or healing sent in my direction. Limitations that perpetuated the void in me and prevented me from trusting Him again.
So I began earnestly to pray for trust and faith. This sounds easier than it actually was because obviously, someone who has lost all faith has no one to pray to! In addition, while a child-like faith is quite easily accessible to children or to those who do not seek to question things deeply, it was, for someone like me, a singularly difficult task. I had to unlearn many things, shed my pessimism and my complexity and acknowledge my intellectual arrogance that was, in truth, abysmal ignorance. My prayers were more like a plea for a spiritual restoration.
And God heard!
On the first of July, I went for a cell group in my neighborhood and was inundated by an outpouring of love that could only have come from God Himself. I cannot really explain what happened when the group laid hands and prayed for me; it was like a spiritual homecoming. I died a little as my crusty skepticism melted. I felt remorse as once again, the world took on shapes and colors that interested me and made me feel alive. The na�ve faith I had once despised had now been returned to me, tempered with a sense of adult responsibility and an intuitive grasp of God�s timing. This time, I understood the value of it all. I also knew for sure that the joy was not mine alone, but also the Lord�s at having brought His lost sheep back into His fold. I should have trusted Him! And that is what I will do now- no matter how deplorable things in this world appear to be and no matter how appealing rationalist arguments may sound.
Most of all, I know that it is His concern for me that gave me back my faith.
�For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God- not because of works, lest any man should boast.� Ephesians 2:8-9
Sent By: Rebecca D�Souza (India) September 1997
In recent years, my loving aged parents had passed away peacefully. I had been privileged to care for them. Recently, the youngest son had gone and so it was not surprising that after years of cooking endless meals, caring for a happy noisy household, apart from part-time work at the clinic, I was lost. A wave of panic rose within me. How would I cope?
I reached for my familiar Bible and flipped the pages. Here and there were dates and prayer requests; some more dates when the Lord in His mercy had sent answers. I started to read. Familiar words took on a new meaning. �Be still and know that I am God.� �Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.� I realized that yet again in this unknown chapter of life, the trusted Rod and Staff were here to comfort me.
I thought of my children and prayed for each one, then for friends who had been helpful and supporting in the recent shift of house; some had asked for specific prayer, One was not well, one for guidance for future plans, another working for a Government agency involving personal risk, a childhood friend across the seas who kept in touch and prayed. My thoughts wandered to last night�s TV news�. the unrest, violence, corruption. How often had I prayed for the leaders of our country?
I decided to start this phase of life with planned emphasis and renewed specific prayer. �Lord teach me to pray�. One day at a time. My future is in Your hands. Grant me Your peace�thank You my Lord.�
The Lord sent peace as I continued�
Sent By: Dr. Shama Singh (India) September 1997
The television is my Shepherd, My spiritual life doth want.
It maketh me to sit down and do nothing.
It leadeth me beside the man of no faith,
It restoreth my desire for worldly pleasure.
It requireth all my spare time and keepeth me from doing the will of God,
Because it presenteth so much foolishness which I must see.
It increaseth my knowledge of nonsense and keepeth me from the study of God�s Word.
Yea, though I live to be a hundred, yet the viewing of my television shall have first place
In my life as long as it doth operate, for it is my closest companion.
Its sound and its picture, they comfort me. It presenteth foolishness and folly before me continually,
and keepeth me from surrendering my whole life to God.
It anoints my mind with seeds of corruption and fills my head with vanity, which profiteth me nothing.
My cup remains empty.
Surely no good thing will come of my life, because I am devoted to my television, which leaveth me no time
To serve God acceptably.
Thus I will dwell in the house of confusion forever.
How swayed we are today from things that are spiritual and attracted to temporal pleasures that are much more destructive than edifying? We need to take stock of our lives at this time and examine whether we have our priorities right. Where do we stand? What we are and what we do in our private lives is what will influence us in our professional life out there in our institutions. The effect on our lives by evil is something that will impede our spiritual growth. How then can we be like the Great Physician � even our Lord and Master Jesus Christ??
�Let the WORD of CHRIST dwell in you richly�and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do in the name of Jesus.�
Colossians 3:16-17
Sent By: Anonymous September 1997
There came a day, however, that my mother fell extremely anemic and sick. The doctors informed us she had a fibroid in her uterus and it was the size of a five-month-old foetus. Fear gripped my mother on hearing this, and she thought her end had come. The doctor said she would have to go in for surgery. Everything was packed and ready for her to be admitted in hospital.
It was then the Lord Jesus gave me faith and wisdom, and a word to share with my mother. I called her aside and told her, �Look you are not going to be admitted in the hospital. Let us try this Jesus once. Leave all other gods and trust in Jesus alone and you will see a miracle.� In her desperation, she believed my word and did not go to the hospital. She started attending church with faith, and until today, Jesus has kept her alive, well and without any operation. Praise His wonderful Name.
Seeing what Jesus had done in her life, I�who was the biggest sinner, who had lust of eye, flesh, arrogance, disobed -ience, robbery, revenge and my mouth full of lies, filth and cursing, confessed all my sins to Jesus and I know He cleansed me completely. I was baptized later by immersion.
God has showered His blessings not only on me, but also on every member of my family. We stand witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. As I grew closer to Jesus by praying, fasting and reading His Word, He baptized me with the Holy Spirit.
I praise the Lord for all He has done in our lives, and I want you to know He can do the same for all who trust and obey Him and seek Him with all their hearts.
Nalini Dakshina Murthy(India) September 1997
One who replied, �A Warrior, to set the captives free.�
�Who goes by?� cried the mourners, and I heard a voice so mild,
Of One who replied, �A Father, to comfort His beloved child.�
�Who goes by?� asked the priests, while I prayed for some grave need,
I heard One say, �A High priest, to help her and intercede.�
�Who goes by?� sighed the hungry, while I too was hungry and sighing,
One said, �Living Bread and Water, to satisfy the dying.�
�Who goes by?� asked the angry world, while sinful I was led to die,
One - only One then boldly said, �A sacrificial Lamb,
To take your place on the cross�. I go by.�
When I was a little girl, I remember having knelt one night on the balcony and asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me. Well, that never happened and I wondered why. However, it was only in later years, that I received my answer.
Though Jesus never revealed Himself to me in some grand, mind-blowing vision, He did reveal Himself in my day-to-day experiences. I became aware of Jesus as a Friend, a Guide, a Father, an Intercessor. He took up various roles in my life as the situation demanded.
My prayer is that you too will learn to see Jesus with your heart�s eyes and acknowledge His glorious role in your life.
Priscilla Arundati D.(India) September 1997
Days and months went past and the only fellowship I had was with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit as my partner and some cassettes on the battery operated two in one player, as there was no electricity.
Christmas was approaching�I started praying, �Lord, for how long will You keep me away from Your people?� Streams of tears poured from my eyes. Every Sunday I used to feel thousands of arrows piercing my body, as I used to groan with pain to pray with someone. The thought that Christians all over the world would be preparing themselves for worship made me often ask God, �Why Lord why me?�
My God was not a deaf God. He answered my thirst at that remote place. One evening I received a call on our field telephone, that one of my relatives wanted to speak to me. As I took the handset close to my ears, I heard a voice saying, �Praise the Lord.� I didn�t know who that person was, but for sure I knew he was a believer. He introduced himself to me saying he had come from Kerala and had come to preach God�s Word in this remote place. He had heard from a Junior Commissioned Officer that there was a Christian officer posted in his unit. This J.C.O. also helped him to speak to me on the telephone as in forward areas, civilians are not allowed access to Army camps.
Brother G.M. requested me to come down and meet him. But how was that possible? He was staying an hour�s drive away from our Headquarters. Once again I poured my heart out to the Lord and asked Him to intervene with His Divine Power. Late that evening I received a call from Headquarters, that there was some army training being planned for a week at the very place where Brother G.M. was residing, and I had been detailed to attend that training. What an immediate answer to my cry. I thanked God as His Presence was so real and that His answer was so instant. �But you would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.� Psalm 81:16
I met Brother G.M. the following day and realized what a faithful God we serve. When this brother had arrived, the locals had stoned him, but he continued spreading God�s Word with perseverance. He established a church with three families; one Muslim, one Sikh, one Keralite and I attended the service. The Bible was read in five different languages- in Urdu, Punjabi, Malayalam, Hindi and English. What joy it was to be part of that group.
Who says our Lord does not know our frame? He knew my limits had been reached and so stepped in and provided me with these precious people to praise His Name. On the other hand, by me visiting Brother in uniform, it deterred the locals to further harass him, as there is an awe of the Army in such areas. Our Lord met the needs of both of us in a remarkable way. I do not know about Brother G.M. as of now, but the Word tells me that we share a common destiny in Heaven.
Major Navneet Chabra (India) September 1997
When men fail you, call Psalm 27.
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.
When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, call 1Corinthians 13.
For Paul�s secret to happiness, call Colossians 3:12-17.
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31-39.
When you want peace and rest, call Matthew 11:25-30
When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, call Romans 8:1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call Psalm 67.
When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1
How to get along with fellowmen, call Romans 12.
If you are depressed, call Psalm 27.
If your pocket book is empty, call Psalm 37.
If you are losing confidence in people, call 1Corinthians 13.
If people seem unkind, call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small and yourself great, call Psalm 19.
Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines are open to Heaven twenty-four hours a day! Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.
�But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.� Isaiah 40:31
Sent By: Anonymous
My husband drove off and as he was picking up speed, the door slammed shut with my thumb caught in the door, while I got dragged along the road. When my husband eventually heard my cries, he stopped. By this time, I was under the car, one more turn of the wheel and I would not have been here to tell you this story!
I struggled up, opened the car door and picked up the top of my thumb. I tried to stick it on the remaining part of my thumb, and then held my arm up high and PRAYED. I called out to a fellow worker for some ice to place on my thumb and she immediately fainted! The sight was too much for her to behold.
I got back into the car and continued to pray while my husband broke all the speed limits to get me to hospital. Once there, my distraught husband had to be attended to first by several nurses, while I sat by and waited patiently for the doctor!!
A plastic surgeon was contacted. After a delicate operation, my thumb was wonderfully and skillfully re-attached, but I was told that I would never have a thumb nail again. God, however, had other plans. I now have two nails, and where the two nails join together, the scar is there to permanently remind me of God�s healing power.
I have complete mobility of my thumb and perfect healing. I was back at work within six weeks. I have learnt never to get out of the car in a hurry and always to put the seat belt in side when alighting. Most of all I TRUST GOD IMPLICITLY. �All praise and honor and glory to God, for He has done marvelous things.�
Dot (from Frankston, Australia) June 1998
I grew up till the age of seven in the same religious atmosphere with regular fasting and observation of all the auspicious days throughout the year. Then we as a family started experiencing the fatal blows of death, which first victimized my younger sister who was still born. In quick succession, my father died in a motorcycle accident. My mother and I were left alone with a heavy burden of loans, not knowing what to do.
All my mother�s prayers to the family gods and goddesses seemed all in vain, as I later realized they were only deaf and dumb idols. Where was the silver idol, which was supposed to protect and prosper me throughout my life? Then came the last blow when it was detected that I was suffering from Nephritic Syndrome, which affected the functioning of my kidney.
This was too great a blow for my mother and she started losing faith in her god�s existence. In fact, she held him totally responsible for all the tragedies we were undergoing. With a broken heart, I witnessed all my mother�s sufferings and consequently, I too underwent a lot of stress and strain.
But very soon, the true and living God brought light into our darkness, through my second father who introduced Jesus into our lives. He thus became my spiritual father as well. Being an evangelist and preacher of the gospel, he not only took up the burden of the family, but also encouraged us to pray for my healing.
I realized that my mother and I were straying from the true and living God by following the ancestral rituals and traditions. We did exactly what God dislikes through our ignorance. We realized we were sinners and it was only by the grace of God could we be redeemed through the Blood of the Lamb - Jesus Christ Himself. After earnest prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ, I received a miraculous healing. I give all praise, glory and honor to Jehovah Rapha- my healer; who healed not only my sick body but also my spirit and my mind.
Shefali Du Pratt (India) September 1998