Inspiration

It was beautiful – this castle I built in the air.
The architecture magnificent, the detailing intricate.
T’was everything I wanted – everything I couldn’t have.
My deepest desire, my highest hope,
My desperate longing – never to be.

I’m sure at some point in life, you’ve heard (or read) the words “You can be anything you want to be” or “You can do anything you want to do”. But the harsh reality is that life doesn’t always work that way.

When I was 13, I decided I wanted to become a software engineer. That was my dream. Everything I did was directed towards achieving that dream. I earned my Master’s degree in Software Engineering and proceeded to work in a reputed IT company. I was officially a software engineer – I was at the steps leading to my castle. Except that my castle no longer existed – in its place lay a pile of ruins.

You see, my dream job did not give me the satisfaction I sought. I constantly battled with God, asking Him why He put my brain and my heart in the same body. Did that sound weird to you? Let me explain… While my logical-thinking, problem-solving brain was at its best in an IT job, my heart longed to do something that would truly make a difference in somebody’s life.

The castle I had been building in the air for 10 years had crashed. As I gazed at the heap of ruins before me, I realized that maybe MY plans were not the best ones after all… I was reminded of my life verse, the first verse in the Bible I actually claimed for myself when I was 13.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

It was the latter half of the year 2006, when I took a week off work and pondered about my future. Little did I know that within a year, God would turn my life right side up and make HIS plans for me a reality.

It has been 3 years since I gave up my job. Truth be told, I wasn’t ready to give it up at that time. I craved the independence, financial security, and comfortable lifestyle that my job in the corporate world had provided. I rebelled even after I knew that it was God’s plan for me to stay at home in this season of our kids’ lives.

After extending my leave for more than a year, I finally let go of my job and trusted God and my husband for provision and security. It was a humbling experience, and it took me several months to come to terms with it. I am now unemployed, but not jobless! My husband, kids, and my home are my full-time occupation now – and I have finally found the job satisfaction I always craved.

God found a place for me in the tiniest corner of the internet, where He would be able to use my mind and my heart for His glory. It humbles me every time one of you stops by to tell me that you read my blog. I am blessed to be clay in my Potter’s Hands. And if this imperfect, cracked clay pot could share a drop of living water with another thirsty soul, I have done the job my Potter requires of me.

If you are going through a time in your life when your castle has crashed… Your dreams lie shattered, and your hopes have crash-landed… God reminds you…

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God has something greater in store for you. Trust me, it’s the story of my life! I know from personal experience that He “…is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Photo by Federico Burgalassi on Unsplash

As I was reading the book “Tell Your Time” last week, I came across a bunch of questions that unsettled me…

“How do you want to be known and remembered? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?” 

My maternal uncle passed away last week and the legacy he left behind was his music. For almost two decades, he played his keyboard and coached the choir in his local church. He will always be remembered for using his talent to glorify God. He had earlier recorded several cassettes of himself singing various hymns; his son played those tapes over the sound system during the funeral. When people came by to pay their last respects, they heard these comforting words over the speaker…

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;

…which brings me back to the purpose of today’s blog post. It didn’t take me long to asked myself, “What will people remember me for, when I die?“. Will they think of me as…

A software engineer? Maybe.
A good student? Probably.
A blogger? Definitely.
Mother of triplets? Most definitely.

But that is hardly enough. What difference am I making in the lives of those around me? What memories will I leave behind? After much pondering, I came up with a list (yes, I love lists :)).

I want to be known as a woman who:

1. Loved God above all else.
2. Served her husband with respect.
3. Led her sons to Christ by example.

I wonder at times if this list is too audacious. But then I realize, it isn’t – it all comes down to the basics. Living out my faith in the struggles of everyday life. Joyfully meeting my husband’s needs. Learning to be a good example to my kids. In the end, this is what it comes down to. I leave you now, with the same words that got me thinking…

“How do you want to be known and remembered? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?” 

I have never been fond of making decisions. I don’t mind the responsibility of having to make a decision, but I have always been terrified that I might make a wrong choice and mess up my life. Oh, I am not talking about which flavor of ice cream to choose… But, rather in terms of… Whom should I marry? Should I go back to work? What kind of education do we want our kids to have?

I’ve been there all too often. Over the years, I have found myself following a pattern for every decision I make and it seems to be quite effective. The only tools you will need are a notepad, pen and a sound, unbiased mind! 🙂

My first ever decision making method – one I started used when I was 13 {yes, I had to make very important decisions at 13 ;)} was the pros and cons list. It was simple and straightforward and it served the purpose at that time. Here’s how I did it back then…

1. On a piece of paper, write down all the pros in one column and the cons in another.
2. If the pros outweigh the cons, you are good to go.
3. However, if the cons outweigh the pros, then look at each item on the cons list individually.
4. Ask questions like… Does it really matter to me? Is there a work around?
5. As these questions are answered, you might be able to strike a few items off the cons list.
6. Review the list again, and if the cons still outweigh the pros, then you may have to ditch the plan.
7. If the pros outweigh the cons, go for it!

This method worked pretty well for me all through my teens and early twenties. And then I got married, had triplets and life got a whole lot more complicated… I soon realized decisions no longer revolved around “do the pros outweigh the cons”. There were several other factors to consider when making a decision. Over the years my husband and I have asked ourselves some tough questions when it came to making decisions for ourselves or for our family.

1. Do I really want to do it?
2. Is it going to benefit anybody else beside me?
3. If I go ahead with it, will I be at peace?
4. If I say “No”, will I regret it later?
5. Do I want to do it just because of the financial benefit ?
6. Will it deprive me of my time with God and my family?
7. Is it really worth the extra time and effort?
8. Am I doing it to please someone else?
9. What does my spouse feel about it?
10. Is it in line with the principles I stand by?

Answers to these questions usually give us a clearer picture of “why” we actually want to do something. When a particular plan passes all these questions, we are left with nothing else to do but pray. Wouldn’t want to do something without His approval, would we ;)? And prayer works.

Some of the most important decisions in our life were made after a whole lot of prayer. Getting married, finding a house, quitting my job, finding a school for our kids… We just knew it was the right decision to make. I believe that when we go to God, and respectfully ask for His guidance, He will guide us.

Have we had times of uncertainty, unsure of God’s will in our lives? Yes, of course! But we have never regretted waiting on God for an answer. And our God does not disappoint. “He has made every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Have we wanted to do things our way, without God’s counsel? Absolutely! At times we have told Him how badly we wanted something, and struggled to conclude with the words “yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). But God has not failed us yet. For He is able “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

If you are at crossroads, take your time. Use whichever decision making technique works for you. Analyze, be logical, be practical… and don’t forget to pray! God who knows you best, knows what’s best for you!

I browsed through the internet to find a perfect definition for the word “Adoption” – something simple, yet meaningful, that I could use in this post. I came up with several definitions and it blew my mind just thinking of how profound the word is. Here are a just a few statements I found from Wikipedia, Merriam-Webster Dictionary & dictionary.reference.com.

• To choose or take as one’s own.
• Make one’s own by selection.
• To take by choice into a relationship.
• The act of accepting with approval.
• Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status.

With these statements in mind, would you read the following verse with me…

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5)

I came across this verse during my daily Bible Study of the book of Ephesians with Good Morning Girls. When I think of God adopting me as His child, my heart is overwhelmed… with praise… with gratitude… and with joy!

God Almighty chose me… He selected me… handpicked me… But I wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment choice! He predestined me for adoption – He had already planned on adopting me! WOW!

He brought me into a relationship with Him. He accepted me with all my flaws. He chose me to be His own.

My purpose for this post is twofold:

#1 If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, I urge you to go to Him today. Accepting that I was a sinner and believing that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins was without doubt the best decision I have ever made. I am free now, no longer encumbered with my past because He has blotted it out with His blood. God wants to adopt you as His own. TRY JESUS TODAY! You won’t regret it :).

#2 If you do have a relationship with Jesus, would you take a deeper look at it? As I mentioned earlier, “Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in status”. Are we truly living our lives as children of a holy God? In everything we do, say or think – do we bring glory to our Father?

I read the verse 3 days back, but the question lingers in my mind. And I am going to let it haunt me everyday. In everything I do, say or think, do I bring glory to the one who adopted me? I pray I will.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you are probably aware that I am trying to work on developing one good habit a month – and the habit for January is “Positive Speech”.

Imagine my delight when I found a simple acronym online that perfectly defines what I am working towards.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/pin/221380137902652212/

Before you Speak, THINK: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind?

This also serves as an excellent reminder of a verse from the Bible – one the Lord wanted me to implement in my life this year.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

I’m linking up with:

“…And grasping her hand, He called, saying, Child, arise…” (Luke 8: 54)

Once in a while (and all too often for mothers of 3 little boys) we all end up down in the dumps. Physically, emotionally and spiritually…

You have reached your breaking point…
Bad things happen…
Aches and pains are all you feel…
Difficult circumstances remain unchanged…
You are in the lowest point of your life…

And you realize there’s no where to go but up… No where to look but to Him…

But, when you do… you realize there is HOPE. When He opens our eyes – we see not the harsh dark reality we are living in… But Him – and only Him.

He who promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
He “who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19).
He whose “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

And when we look to Him, we see His outstretched hands… We see our Father reaching out… We hear Him say “Child, Arise!“.

Our circumstances may not change, our pains may not disappear, but we can still choose to obey Him when He says, “Child, Arise!”.

Some practical ways to “arise” :

• Kick self-pity out the door.
• Tell yourself you’ve had enough & it’s time for an attitude change. It’s time to look up!
• Get yourself a glass of water… or a cup of tea/coffee.
• If you haven’t had a decent meal in a few hours, go eat something.
• Browse through your Bible… even if it’s just to read those verses you may have marked a long  time back.
• Get out of your rut. Go outside – take a walk, or a drive.
• If you can’t get out, take a few minutes to just look out the window.
• Thank God. But don’t just ‘think’ about what you are thankful for… Write down/type out what you are thankful for. It makes a difference, trust me!
• Talk to someone – your spouse, friend, colleague, pastor, sibling, parent…
• Pray! That’s what it all comes down to. That’s where our hope remains. Hang in there. Jesus Never Fails!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Last week, I came across a list of Top Ten Songs That Teach The True Meaning Of Christmas on Muthering Heights. This song was the first I heard from the list and it is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I have heard till date.

Click here if you’re unable to view the video below.

Lyrics:

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe after all we’ve projected
A child in a manger
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl
Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?
It’s who we’ve waited for

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me

All for me, All for you…

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