Sunday Blessings -Keep your eyes on Jesus

Our  Sanctuary

Megan  brought  us  a  word  of  encouragement  from  the  Bible last  Sunday She  spoke  about  making  Christ  the  focal point  of  our  lives and  receiving our  sustenance  and  from Him alone.Trying  to  nourish  ourselves  by   'digging   our  own  cisterns ' will  not  satisfy  us. Keep  your  eyes  on  Jesus ,for  He  is  the   Water  and  Bread  of  Life.
Megan  spoke  in  English while  I   translated  her  message into Hindi.

Nephew Ashish  greeting  the  church  family  and  sharing  words  of  blessings.

Chandi,  Milka and Abner

Sonia had  to  leave  just  before  church because  Abner  had  school  on  Monday.

Me, Sonia, Ashish  and  Abner

We  bid goodbye  to Ash and  Megan last   night  - they  left   for Delhi and  Agra ( to see  the Taj Mahal)

They  will  fly  back  to  Canada  on  Tues   morning.

We  are  missing  them  terribly.

Today  is  my Dad 's  7th  death   anniversary.

I want  to  share  a page  out  of  the  devotional

Experiencing  God by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Be Blessed

Sowing Seeds of Righteousness

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. (Proverbs 11:18b)


There are many ways to invest our lives, but none offers greater reward than devoting ourselves to the pursuit of righteousness. Every area of our lives should reflect the holiness of God that is ours by salvation: our thoughts, so that nothing we think about would be inappropriate for a child of God; our actions, so that our lives demonstrate that we serve a holy God; our integrity, so that we are above reproach in all our relationships.


Are you taking God’s righteousness in your life for granted? Righteousness is something you must allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Instead of sowing holy thoughts, are you allowing evil and sinful thoughts to grow in your mind? Are you allowing lust to grow unchecked within you? Does enmity, bitterness, jealousy, or unforgiveness remain in your life? Jesus said if we seek first God and His righteousness, everything else will follow (Matt. 6:33). There is great reward in sowing righteousness. What_are you presently doing to plant holiness in your life?_(1 Pet. 1:15). How are you putting righteousness in your mind so that your thoughts are holy? How are you cultivating righteousness in your relationships so that you maintain your integrity? Are you instilling righteousness in your activities so that your life is above reproach? If you want to harvest righteousness in your life tomorrow, you must plant seeds of righteousness today

My cousin Vijay

The morning dawned cold and foggy but the sun came out at noon.
It was still too cold for Mama to venture outside but after my devotions I sat out on the porch to talk to the Lord. I had just begun my conversation when in rode cousin Vijay in his big van.

I had met him him at (cousin) Dr A 's birthday party - he is his elder brother who now lives in Dehra Dun (Doon). Vijay was singing worship songs at the party which surprised me because their family is traditional , nominal Christian - just good church going people.

Vijay is a pop singer, impresario and film maker and it surprised me to see him sing only worship songs for almost 2 hours I was there. He sings just like Elvis Presley by the way.

When I remarked about the change in his music genre , he said he was a pastor and was singing in churches and Christian events and people were blessed and healed by his music. I couldn 't believe what he was saying. Actually the pastor bit was a joke.

Vijay is a very light hearted and jovial person , a great story teller - no one can get bored in his company. He is in his late 50s but looks very young and fresh.

Vijay is singing for the glory of the Lord but he himself doesn 't have a very vibrant relationship with Him. I encouraged him to get on the path himself - the path he was pointing out to others. He is not doing it for financial gain or anything - he says God used sinners and prostitutes for his glory , so he is using me.

Well he knows all about the steps to salvation and his wife , who is a skin specialist and served in the Leprosy Mission (Christian) Hospital as doctor and Director before moving to Dehra Dun , is a believer

Anyway he stayed for a long time and went in and sat with Mama while I brought out tea and cake. We talked abut the old times, family memories , happy and sad . Theirs was a dysfunctional family , but they managed to stay together - 6 brothers and sisters and parents. And although they were never united in thought or action , they all pitch in to help and support each other financially and otherwise - they all are doing very well professionally. They may not agree with each other but they wear out the storm together.

Time went by very quickly but I d id'nt bother to start lunch. Later on I just made yellow rice with potatoes with yogurt raita and poppadoms.

Well, we shall pray for my cousin, that may truly know the God he is praising with his voice and talent.

It is so easy to point the way to others and not walk on it. Many people are afraid of accepting Christ as their saviour for they think He will require a hard thing of them, like going off to be a missionary in the jungles of Jharkhand. And I think that 's what is preventing Vijay from making that decision. A gross misconception.

God is not a killjoy fact He fills our lives with joy.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. (Bible)

Vijay with his wife

Mother and daughter - who is studying in St Stephen 's college New Delhi.

Here is another report about our price rise.

The prices quoted here are much less than what I found in the market 3 days ago.

Onions - Rs 60 a kg

Tomatoes - Rs 30 per kg

Fresh green peas Rs 25- per kg

A small bottle gourd Rs 15 - 20

We have mostly greens growing in our garden

spinach

mustard (sarson)

green soya or dill

fenugreek

bathua leaves

radish

very few aubergine

little green beans

tomatoes

the carrot are not ready yet

the cauliflower are almost over.

We harvested some sweet potatoes.
Read this news story if you have the time.

Allahabad Prices
Here is a news report about how poor shanty dwellers are trying to survive.

A Christmas Wish

Today I have a special

Christmas wish.

I wish for a holiday reunion

with my 3 sisters and their families

in a tourist resort

where all of us

can relax and have fun

and no one would have to do

the cooking and cleaning LOL.
There 's a special kind

of freedom sisters enjoy.

Freedom to share the uttermost

thoughts , to ask a favor,

to show their true feelings.

The freedom to simply

be themselves

My elder sister Anjali with her family

Younger sister Namrita at a

school picnic


With a friend

She was with us last
winter with her 2 sons.
Today is her birthday.

Sonia came with her son and husband
just for 24 hours.
They were on their
way to M P state
to spend Christmas with
an aunt and her family.
Here they are waving goodbye
as their left
for the railway station
to catch a train this afternoon.

I have another Christmas wish and this is for the whole country

I just wish the prices of onions,garlic and vegetable may come down.

In the past one week food prices have sky rocketed and poor and middle class people are really suffering. Onions and garlic which is an essential part of our food is literally bringing tears to our eyes. Its going to be a bland frugal holiday season. They say the situation will remain the same till March. Read more about it HERE and THE PRICE MONSTER

I wish Santa would fill my stocking with onion, garlic and fresh ginger etc. LOL.

Sunday Blessings- We are Family

I scanned some photos from the 80s to show you our family and friends. My sister Anju and I were in University and sis Namrita was in school. We lived in a small flat - 9 of us, space and privacy challenged, but we never missed it as we were all so happy together.

We were newly born again belonging to a traditional Christian family and being a part of God 's greater family gave us new life and energy.

Above L-R (front) Papa, Mama, Amrita, Grandmother, Anju, Uncle Kenneth (Papa 's elder brother) his wife Aunt Virginia

Back row- Namrita, our friends Alex and Korah, Aunt Sybil and Sonia

Here we are with our friends George and his sister Antima. George had Afro style hair. You can see my sitar at the back and my sister Anju 's batik painting of the horses.

Again one big happy family.

There some more people in this faded picture. We are celebrating Papa' s birthday- in the centre is the cake.

On the extreme left is Uncle Ariel (Papa 's younger brother) and Aunt Marjorie (Papa' s elder sister) both are with the Lord.

All of the elders are with the Lord now and my sisters are with their families , we miss them so much. Life feels incomplete without them.

Now its Generation Next.From tomorrow my niece Mahima is starting University. Here she is with her brother Ashish. God go with you Mahima.

The following devotional from Joni Eareckson Tada spoke to my heart , specially the questions are something to think about.

_______________________

Grow in Grace"

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory."--2 Corinthians 3:18

I received a letter from an old school friend the other day. After twenty-five years of friendship, it was good to read that she is still growing in the Lord. But I was especially touched with her closing salutation, "Grow in grace." It made me think: Just how have I grown in God's grace over the last year? Is this something that can be measured?

Bishop J.C. Ryle puts it this way: "When I speak of growth in grace, I mean an increase in the degree, size, strength, vigor, and power of the graces that the Spirit plants in our hearts. When I speak of a person growing in grace, I mean simply this-that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, and his spiritual-mindedness more marked. He feels more of the power of godliness in his heart. He manifests more of it in his life; He goes on from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from grace to grace.

"Is your sense of sin deeper than it was last year?

Is your hope brighter?

Do you sense more of the power of godliness in your heart?

We can be transformed into His likeness; something fundamentally different can happen in our lives from year to year. Change is possible, and a new and improved you is within reach. This is how it happens: Behold the Lord's glory and you will grow in grace.

Lord Jesus, I behold You today in all of Your majesty and splendor, Your excellence and purity. Transform me into the person You want me to be as I grow in Your grace.

I have made an entry on the Scarf Sisters blog too- go if you Here wan t to see how I made a HOTWICH

Niece Mahima 's Graduation Pictures

With Mom and Dad

A day to remember with Mom, Dad and brother Ashish

Hello friends. Pray everyone is doing well. Had a peaceful quiet time after the funeral and memorial prayer service. We are getting lots of phone calls from everywhere, messages and visits too. News of Aunt V 's passing away travelled fast through the Internet and SMSs and friends responded from far and wide places, connected with some people after 20 years. This is the good side of technology.

On Wednesday I took an aunt to buy hearing aid batteries and collect her pathology reports.

On Friday I visited her (Aunt) and a Christian couple . The husband and wife have a photography and videography business.. They also do graphic designing. It was lovely to get out of the heat and humidity and visit them in their nice air conditioned office.

We had a very light shower in the afternoon, but its still very hot and humid. This weather is not conducive for arthritis suffers.. I have to take pain killers.

As FIFA World Cup draws to an close, the two soothsayers Octopus Paul and Parrot Mani are center stage whetting the better 's appetite.I think they are the bookies conspiracy. Here the local Shyama bird is also making predictions. They had an hour long TV program featuring the animal "prophets".

In India you can see parrots, birds and cows making predictions and telling fortunes. Usu sally a certain type of people go after them. I was joking with my Sheeba ( my doggie);I will lay two biscuits before you marked Spain and Netherlands.The one you eat first will be the champions. But my experiment will fail...Sheeba is too quick , she will grab both the biscuits at the same time. LOL.

Jokes aside my future is not in the beak, claw , hoof or tentacle of an animal.It is in the Lord 's hands.

For I know the plans I have for you 'declares the Lord,"plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ' Jeremiah 29:11.

Mahima' s future too.

18 Years Ago

Today, 18 years ago my sister Namrita was joined in marriage with Sengrak Marak. It was a thrilling day full of excitement and sad

emotions too as we would be bidding dear Namrita goodbye.

Meghalaya (state) where she made her home with Sengrak is

in the North East of India very far from the plains.

Their culture is very alien to what we are used to.

Kudos to Namrita as she adapted herself

to this foreign culture and lifestyle.

Just like Ruth (of the Bible) she modified herself

to fit in with her husband 's people. And his

family and community adopted her as their own

very proud at the way she stands out among them.

God has blessed them with 2 lovely boys

Mishael soon to be 13 and

Rayguel 9 years old.

Congratulations to Namrita and Sengrak.

"May the lord give you increase

You and your children

May you be blessed

of the Lord

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord

But the earth He has given to the sons of men

May you be blessed of the Lord

(song based on Psalm 115;14-16)

This is Namrita 's favorite tree.

I don 't know what it is called.

But its green foliage is

a reminder that the Lord is a

shade over this family.

This is the area where the Maraks

are building their house

It is a lush green area

It gets plenty of rainfall.

Meghalaya is known for its forest wealth.

agriculture and tea gardens.

This is their plot of land.

A mountain stream flows by it.

They will harvest the water for their garden.

Here is Namrita with Mishael at

the construction site.She has a

traditional hand woven shawl

draped over her shoulders.
Work in progress.

When they were driving down to Guwahati

to get on the train to Allahabad

they took a photo of the beautiful

countryside of Assam (state).

These are pictures of some animals

in the Guwahati Zoo.

Assam has rich rain forests with

all kinds of wild life, the rhino , tiger and elephant

among them. It has a

flourishing timber industry too.

All the North Eastern states are

famous for their handicrafts.

It also has oil fields and mineral wealth.

Assam tea is exported all over the world.

The 4 states of Meghalaya,Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur are predominantly Christian

Please do pray for the Maraks.

May they always walk in closeness

with the Lord with His shadow over them.

May the children be nurtured and directed in

the ways of the Lord.

_________________

Do watch this spectular video to get a taste of India 's North East

Saying it with Roses

Happy New Year Everyone.

We had our New Year worship service.

In India most churches Happy New Year have New Year 's Eve

services and morning service on Jan 1st.

Christian institutions (except hospitals)

are closed whereas other places

are open for business.

Mishael and Rayguel gifted

Nani a bouquet on New Year.

We had lots of visitors after church

and during church!!!.

So we had lunch at about 3.30.

We shared our food with our helpers and

a shut-in aunt.

We had lamb pilaf

with a potato and yogurt salad called raita

and popadoms.

Happy New Year....may peace break into your home

and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become magnets for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline

and may laughter assault your lips.

May happiness slap u... across ur face and

may your problems forget your home address!
(I found this on Facebook)

Since the past 2 days our weather has turned cold,

rainy and foggy.But today we had

weak sunshine. The whole of North India

is in the grip of a cold wave.

Many people have died of the cold.

Abner and Rayguel doing a puzzle
with Sonia watching

Sheeba under the table

puzzling it all out.

Rejoice,Rejoice!

Hello friends.

My family and I wish you a very blessed Christmas.

Namrita , Mishael and Rayguel arrived

yesterday morning and since then I

have been very busy.

The boys decorated our living room

This stone manger scene is from Nigeria,

a gift from my elder sister Anjali, the bears too.

The above Christmas trees and decorations were also gifted by Anjali

I bought this metal candle holder tree from

a crafts fair.

These are a string of Chinese lights.

I like the little lanterns.

They were very cheap,

I got them 3 years ago LOL

Mishael and Rayguel playing their game.

Among the lights.

Misheal is 12 and Rayguel is 9.

Today they had a lot of fun

cycling and playing badminton and basketball

in the sun.

Its quite chilly, but the sun is very pleasant.

Sheeba wants to be in the center of things,.

Yesterday was Namrita 's birthday.

We were so tired we skipped the cake.

I set it up tonight.

Namrita celebrated her birthday with us after 15 y4ears I think.

Evoked a lot of memories in us,

specially loved ones who have departed from us.

Namrita likes dogs,but draws strict boundaries around them

She is training Sheeba to sit in this chair rather

than the sofa where she leaves a lot of hair.

Sheeba has to obey orders.

We took some pictures in the garden

God bless you.