Through it All

Thank  you  for   your   prayers  and  loving  thoughts my   dear  friends.
The  battle   is  not  mine  but the Lord 's  and  He   has  given  me  strength and  victory. Glory  to His  name. I  just  have  to  exert  my  faith   and He  will  do  the  rest. I 've  had  anxious and discouraging  moments
 but   the  Lord  brought   me  out  of  them.

I  believe  it  is   a  privilege  and  honor  and blessing to  face  hostility  for  His   name  sake. I   have  it  good , friends -  my  brethren  are  suffering  much  more.
11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you. (Matthew 5 -  New Testament- ASV)

If I   didn 't  have  a  problem, I  wouldn 't  know  that  God  could  solve it -  those  are  the  words  from  the   song  I  have   shared  here.
This  song  is   my  personal  testimony.

Through It All
-Andrae  Crouch

i've Had Many Tears And Sorrows,
i've Had Questions For Tomorrow,
there's Been Times I Didn't Know Right From Wrong.
but In Every Situation,
God Gave Me Blessed Consolation,
that My Trials Come To Only Make Me Strong.

chorus:

through It All,
through It All,
i've Learned To Trust In Jesus,
i've Learned To Trust In God.through It All,
through It All,
i've Learned To Depend Upon His Word.

i've Been To Lots Of Places,
i've Seen A Lot Of Faces,
there's Been Times I Felt So All Alone.
but In My Lonely Hours,
yes, Those Precious Lonely Hours,
Jesus Lets Me Know That I Was His Own

i Thank God For The Mountains,
and I Thank Him For The Valleys,
i Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through.
for If I'd Never Had A Problem,
i Wouldn't Know God Could Solve Them
i'd Never Know What Faith In God Could  Do

Art a ' Trois

My precious artist friend, Shirley Jonas

surprised me this morning by emailing me

me this beautiful painting which she

painted.It is based on a photograph she saw on my

blog.

Thank you so much Shirley.

Shirley has been an Arizona resident for many years. She grew up in a small town in Nebraska and majored in art at the University of Nebraska. Subsequently she moved to Arizona. She married and raised 3 sons. Art has always been a part of her life and after her sons were grown, she turned serious attention to painting.
Shirley especially enjoys the natural beauty she sees around her and always has her camera at the ready for a good subject. She draws inspiration from her travels with her husband around the U. S., Canada and some in Europe. Her works are an ever-evolving learning process of using light, color and form.
She is a juried member of the Arizona Art Alliance, a member of the Scottsdale Artists League and the Phoenix Artists Guild. For a time her paintings were chosen to be displayed in the famed Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix and can now be seen regularly at various spots around Phoenix and Scottsdale and the Valley of the Sun, as well as on this site. Recently several of her works were chosen to be published on the covers of some publications in Arizona's Valley of the Sun.
This is such a brilliant piece of work.

Dear friends please visit Shirley 's

website http://www.artatrois.com/

and look at all the masterpieces created

by Shirley and her friends.

You can buy their paintings too.

I want to mention that Shirley is my friend Donetta 's

MIL.Donetta calls her Mother in Love

Soul Giggles

There is all kinds of soul giggles

for the mind and body

Got the mind/heart dose first

Oue church odd-jobs man came around this morning and told my mother that there would be a

"mating"

in Aunt Virginia 's(elderly widow) house and we are invited.Further investigation revealed that it is the cottage prayer

"meeting"

So this evening Mom and I are going to this

"mating" oops "meeting"!!!

I made semolina/molasses pudding or

Gur ka halwa for tea today

Cook the semolina in a syrup of molasses and garnish it with dry fruit.

My Internet connection is very bad today. I 'll post the picture as soon as it improves.

Oh Happy Day

The Golden Girls

Sandra, Gail, Mom Golden and Terry

Saija and a big buddy

Ring...ring...ring Miss Terry gave me such a thrill by calling me this morning all the way from Ontario. It was such a delight talking to you Terry. Suddenly I felt the planet earth has shrunk.
And by the afternoon post I got a lovely postcard sent by Saija in Manitoba. That was so sweet. And I felt 10 times better.
Actually the worst is over and I am feeling much better.Praise God, I was thinking it will take longer than this. But God is merciful.
And thank you for your prayers.

Today is Abner 's 7th birthday (Sonia 's son).
Happy birthday Abner.Sonia must be cooking a wonderful dinner for a family gathering. I will call them in a while.

Last night I felt so sick that I boiled a few potatoes and we had them with salt and pepper and a bit of left over curry. But tonight I made "French Fries" with colocasia (arvi) . Its a root. Very similar to potatoes.I just fried it in mustard oil with a bit of ajwain ( a spice like thyme), a pinch of asfoteda, salt and pepper.It goes well with bread.

An August Christmas

The one thing I could not change for the past 2 days was the nearly 12 hour long electricity cut.

Power came back after 9 pm

We 've had 2 difficult days.

Thank you for your prayers. My mother 's cough is much better now.

But the power cuts drain her out and she is like a little child ,I have to pacify. Tonight in all the dark confusion I pressed a wrong button on the TV digital control and lost all the channels.I rang up the cable guy and he gave me complicated instructions over the phone. I got half way but couldn 't complete the job...it was too complex and perplexing -setting the digital controls again.My mother was very impressed and said,"You should have gone into electronic technology". A compliment in the dark!

Tomorrow a technician will cone to correct the fault.

And I will have a mini training session with him.

After all setting digital controls is not rocket science.

We have a battery run inverter but it gives out after running for a number of hours and I light my 2 kerosene lamps and Christmas Santa Claus candles. Its almost like Christmas except for the heat and humidity and a throbbing headache.

And instead of singing 'Silent Night '( the night is literally dark and silent)

I should be singing -

'Give me Oil In my Lamp, Keep me burning '

We are hoping that tomorrow will be a 'good day ' without an extra long unpredictable power cut.

Sunday Blessings - Children of the Day!

For he will command his angels concerning to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.Psalm 91;11,12 (New International Version)

On her way to church my mother again had a fall.

It was not very serious,she just sank down on the steps as she could not negotiate the high,uneven steps.

Our church steps are about 200 years old, built for strong British soldiers who could scamper up and down (it was a Garrison church)

The aging members of our church find it difficult to climb up those steps.

When the Lord will enable us, we will fix them or build a proper ramp.

No bones broken, but pretty shaken up .The angels were there to cushion her fall.Please pray for my mother, she is not eating properly and that is causing her to become weak.

Sometimes the sky looks very dark

This morning before leaving for church I was listening to a Christian Radio Station and there was a song by 'Children of the Day 'called"For Those Tears I Died" I just started crying as I listened to that song.I used to sing it ages ago with my sisters and it really wrapped itself around my heart as I face my daily trials.

Jesus wept so that he may wipe away my tears

He died so that I may live

Everyone who is hurting or facing a difficult situation take courage.
From the mid 70s to the 80s there was hardly any Christian music available in my city. I used to listen to missionary Radio stations.

They were my daily sustanence - food water and air.

FEBC - Manila Philippines

FEBA - Seychelles (Indian Ocean)

Trans World Radio - Shri Lanka

TWR - Agana, Guam

SLBC - Shri Lanka etc

Family Radio (North America)

I learnt all my songs from these broadcasts.

Spent all my free time trying to record songs on a little tape recorder and play the tapes over and over again to transcribe the lyrics.

I spent a major part of my pocket money writing to the radio stations.

Most of the time the reception was not good enough, and I couldn 't decipher the words, but I just kept going.

I learnt this song that way.

It is like a cool drink for my thirsty soul.

As a Post script to this video I must add that a friend told me about Marsha Stevens, the woman who wrote this song and is singing in this presentation.She has fallen away from the Lord and no longer upholds Biblical morality or values. I don 't subscribe to her present music or teaching. But there is a lesson to be learnt from this. If you are faithful to the Word of God God can use you as His instrument, the moment you turn away from Him you can be anything you want.

Sheeba 's Scoop

Mistress Terry wanted a picture of me eating ice-cream

So my Mistress Amrita organized it for me.

Dinner Menu

1st course

Chicken soup with bread

2nd course

chicken with bread

Dessert

Vanilla ice-cream

Kind Miss Terry you can ask my Mistress to

take photos of me eating all

my favourite food.

Thankyou kindly Miss Terry

I am wagging my tail like a windmill for you

Birthday + Eclipse

Thank you so much Prem, Terry and dear Pilgrim Pals for greetings on your blogs.I 'd like to thank all my dear Angel friends for your greetings.

This is the Day that the Lord has made "I"will rejoice and be glad in it.

Had a good day with my Mom. But it was coloured by 2 eclipses.
For several hours had no electricity.and every time I turned on the computer the lights vent out.
Good part - In the evening had a church cottage prayer meeting in a church member 's home and our Pastor prayed for me.
Then we had our partial solar eclipse.

I tried to capture it on camera

but couldn 't as I don 't have a filter.

I did this to Mama 's consternation

as she thought I 'd die or something trying to photograph a dangerous thing like an eclipse.(She had a medical concern)

But I thought it would be a good thing to die on your birthday

so that people wont have to remember 2 dates.LOL

They were showing live telecasts of the eclipse on various TV Channels.And the Hindi language channels had hosts of astrologers, visemen and pundits advising people hao to ward off the ill effects of the eclipse and how to appease the planets and gods.

They were like the wisemen of Egypt and Persia.

There vere phone -ins and forums -

Our hope and trust is in the Lord - the creator of the heavenly bodies.The movement of these created objects do not govern our lives.

Our lives are in the hands of our Creator God.

-------------------------------------

Our project work is moving along.
Yesterday a group of unruly gang-like boys from a neighbouring area tried to disrupt the work.Our men reprimanded them and they threatened them in return.

They came back later and tried to break parts of the vall and disgustingly they defecated on the path leading to the building site to make us mad.

Clearly the devil 's instruments, trying to disrupt the building work like what happened in Nehemiah 's day.

We are recycling old bricks to keep the costs low.

These men are carrying the bricks to the work area.

Tedious job.

These lovely

lilies blooming out of season.

But they don 't last very long.

Reminds us that if God takes care of the lilies which last for a short time, how much more vwll He take care of us who are made to last

for eternity.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMRITA

Dear Amrita ,

Wishing you a very happy Birthday.God bless you abundantly.There is no greater Joy in knowing that there is no safe place except being cradled like a little child in the arms of Jesus.Psalms 32 verse 7 says You are my hiding place ,you protect me from trouble, you surround me with songs of victory.The lord says I will guide you in the best pathway for your life,i will advise you and watch over you.You have been selfless in your service to the Seniors and shown love and compassion to the needy.The Word says those who sow in tears will reap with Joy.Have a wonderful Birthday and enjoy the pilgrimage with Jesus Christ.We thank God for His faithfulness despite all handicaps and odds has allowed you to see this day.Remember that Greater is He that is within us than who is in the World.Leaving you with a promise found in 1 chronicles 28 verse 20 Be strong and courageous and do the work Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task for the Lord God my God is with you.He will not fail or forsake you.He will see to it that all the task related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.Dear sister Choti( pet name for smallest in Hindi) ,Anju Ashish and Mahima send our warmest love kisses and hugs on your Birthday.Have Fun

Love

Prem

Happy Birthday Prem

Sunday Blessings - Mera Yassu

Here is a lovely Punjabi Praise song sung by Shreya Kant. It has an English rap to go along, so its bilingual.It says My Jesus,My Father died on the Cross for my Salvation. The roadside tea shop you see is typical.

Had a number of first time people in church so that 's good.

Simran 's first ? on Sat. evening vas; Can I come tomorrow? We told her she could.Its the love she is getting , and she has dinner too.Please pray this child may put her trust in Jesus and be like those young people in the video singing a praise song to the Lord.

Please pray that some important papers may be cleared in our bank.I am asking for God 's special favor. Things are so hard to settle.

I tell you

now is the time of God 's favor

now is the day

of salvation

2 Cor 6;2

Some days back I heard that a young missionary couple working for UESI (sister organization of the Inter Varsity Fellowship) vas injured in a bus accident. They were on their vay to Delhi from the Punjab.Srinivasan Rao and their little son vere not hurt very badly but Padma 's (his wife) arm and hand vas badly smashed.

The doctor 's have operated 3 times and put in metal plates but there are not sure if she can use her hand again.Padma is in great pain.They also need financial aid.Believers are supporting them.Please remember the Rao 's in prayer.

__________________

You must have heard that last weekend 2 Indian cities vere rocked by terror attacks.One person died in Bangalore and 45 died in Ahmadabad.Shame-faced covards the murderers are. TV mages are so heart rending. Security is just another word.

I vas telling my mother. I will write out my funeral service etc on a sheet of paper and put it in my Bible, and suppose I don 't return home one day, just take it out and follow it.On the side bar on one lady 's blog she has mentioned her funeral service.

Its good to remember

The Lord watches over you -

the Lord is your shade

at your right hand

The Lord vill

keep you from all harm -

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over

your coming and going

both now

and forevermore

Psalm 121;5, 7-8

Thank You Robin

Robin thank you for your red ribbon

I love reading about your Romanian experiences. Your last post made me chuckle.There are so many similarities between India and Romania.

Thankyou Kostas

Thank you Kostas for giving me this award..

I enjoy the pictures of the Greek coast and natural beauty

which you post on your blog and also your comments.

In God 's Clinic

My friend Terry who is very talented in composing photos did this for me. Thank you so Terry, you are a diamond and Felisol our Norwegian ruby.

These are flowers from our March garden.

_________________________

Since the past few weeks my feet had been very sore and I could hardly stay mobile. I was struggling a lot, changing shoes and slippers every few hours, but nothing helped. Two days ago I went to a homeopathic store and told the doctor about my pain and bone growth of the left toe, the soles of my feet are very sensitive. He gave me Calcarea Flour 6X and I got relief after just one dose. Praise God.

This afternoon Aunt Sybil had a fall, she just slipped, the bones of her feet are misshapen so she has trouble walking. Thank God no bones were broken but she has a lot of pain.I have given her a pain-killer and rubbed inflammation cream on her right side and back.Please pray for healing.

Please pray for Prem and Anju 's Shri Lankan friend who lives in New Brunswick.. Ruan 39 has been diagnosed with stomach and brain cancer.

Kumari is a school teacher.They have 3 very small children.He is going for radiation therapy in Moncton. Ruan has strong faith and believes God will heal him.

I was telling someone our bodies are not eternal but our souls are, and God knows what we need. We are all in God 's hands. let us lift each other before the throne of grace.

Sunday Blessings-Happy Birthday & A House Full of Children

Good church in the morning. This has been a weekend of birthdays Today is Anju"s birthday. (my sister). I called her up and later spoke on Yahoo Messenger.They were leaving for church.Anju you look lovely as a bride . I have your sari hanging safely in my wardrobe. You must wear it again one day. The silver purse - where is it?

Today also is my friend Ruth 's birthday.She is a very dear friend from Woodstock School. Paul and Ruth were teachers while their 3 children went to school.They live and work in UK now.Happy birthday Ruth.

Yesterday was Sinran 's birthday. She turned 7.Shalu invited us for dinner.

Today these kids had a rollicking time in our house.Here are Babu, Abner and Simran .

Here is another one of them making faces.