Fasting For My Girls

I'm not really sure how to start this testimony of God's goodness to me. I've typed a beginning twice and deleted it twice.

For the last two days my four daughters were on my heart especially regarding their spiritual and mental health. I had been laying my prayers before the Lord and I am here to testify He heard them!

At the start of this 2011 several of us are fasting and praying - individually - but with one spirit. It was not planned but one by one God has been bringing us together to fast and pray before him. We're not public about it, yet, somehow people come to know and almost daily people are added to our numbers.

This evening I was walking through our school and a C.'s class teacher, who is a Christian, stopped me and we talked for a few minutes and she asked how I was. I started to walk away and she called me back.

She said, "I'm fasting too. I started three days ago. I am fasting and praying only for your four daughters." She then asked me not to tell anyone, altho I don't think you count. :)

I have not ceased to be amazed at my God who would love me so much that he heard my concern for my daughters and a day before I even started to pray about it he chose his servant to start fasting and praying specifically and only for them.

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

I Wonder If God Ever Gets Tired Of Hearing My Name?

I wonder if God ever gets tired of hearing my name?

If it were possible I think he'd be feeling it over this past week. It's been an amazing week where I feel like everyone's been ringing God's doorbell with requests for me.

I've wept. I've broken down in tears in front of my students. I have young and old, counseling me, comforting me and praying over me.

It's Thanksgiving Week and I am so THANKFUL for the prayers of beloved friends who have helped me to not just hang on this past week, but to press on.

Lord, I know you never get tired of hearing my name.
You love me.

G.'s Prayer

Today my 3 1/2 year old, G. was with me in bed. She said, "Are you talking to Jesus?" I said "Yes." She said, "O-Kay." Then I said, "Do you want to talk to Jesus?" She said, "Yes."

I figured she needed some help so I started for her...

Me: Dear Jesus, Goodnight.

G: Dear Jesus, Goodnight.

Me: I love you.

G: I love you.

Me: (ready to close at this time with an "amen.")

G: (on her own) I am beautiful.

Me: Amen.

G: Amen.

I figure God already knows that since he made her that way, but I guess she wanted to remind him...

O. And Team Back At Home At Last

Everyone got home from Rajasthan about an hour ago. It was a long wait for them today.

As they ate food (gobbled it up really) they were recounting the numerous ways God moved in miraculous ways. We just talked about the hundreds (I said no thousands) of people who prayed.

I cannot tell you how many responses I got from people saying that they - and their whole church - are praying. Praise the Lord. The amount of prayers prayed in regards to the situation this past week is uncountable and awe inspiring to me.

Churches

One of the things O. and I both love about traveling around to different churches are the - different churches. We had last minute 2 night speaking engagement come up this week at the Jersey Shore - not bad. It was a totally new location for us and many new faces but a great blessing.

It was at a small church - more like a fellowship - with a colorful group of brothers and sisters in the Lord, but we loved it. One of the things I loved the most about the church was their way of greeting guests. They had us come forward before the message and then whoever wanted to laid hands on us and prayed. They did it both nights and we were truly blessed. It's something I'd like us to start in home church in India.

The Healing Of My Back

The day after we went for P.'s US citizenship interview my lower back started to hurt. That was June 4th. By June 6th my back hurt so badly I could not even walk on my own and I went right to the doctor.

I suspected I might have some internal problems of a gynec nature and was right and my doctor put me on antibiotics and sent me home. I started to feel better. Then after three days I started to feel worse and on the 5th day I went back. Eventually, the doctor put me on 5 more days of antibiotics assuring me my back pain would stop and I'd be good as new.

I wasn't.

By day 10 I was back in the doctors office where I was told to get an ultrasound and X-ray. I bailed on the X-ray but did get the ultrasound done which came up normal. I didn't even go back to the doctor after that. I decided I was going to pray and let the Lord heal me. I'd had enough of doctor's offices.

So, I prayed and asked others to pray for me (putting up with a lot of: "You started working too hard too soon after giving birth.") Finally, at our pastors conference on June 24th one of our pastors, Madhu, came in from South India and he often calls me with prayer requests and I know him to b e a person of great faith. I had previously told him about my lower back and asked for prayer. When he came for the conference I asked him to pray then and there and he said, I'm always praying for it, but let's both fast and pray on Sunday.

To tell you the truth, Sunday couldn't get here fast enough. I was tired of being in severe pain every minute of every day. I was moving around only by the help of painkillers. Sunday we both fasted and I later heard from a man who lives with us, that Madhu prayed* long into the night only for me and the healing of my back. Three-four hours continuously, as well as fasting 24 hours.

Seeing Madhu's faith, my faith in God increased.

Monday morning, my back still hurt.

Yet, instead of my usual 2 painkillers, I only needed one. By afternoon my back was feeling better. By Monday evening it barely hurt at all.

In the end, I had a stiff (but not very painful back) for a few days after the fasting and prayer, but now, a week later, I'm fine and pain free. Praise the Lord.

* Indians often pray out loud, even when praying alone.

Sick And Tired

I've been blogging in my head quite a bit recently, unfortunately I don't remember* most of it.

I've had really bad lower back pain for the last 12 days and I thought it might be gynec related. I did see the doctor - 3 times - and went on 2 courses of antibiotics and by yesterday my pain was getting worse again. Long story short, I got an ultrasound done today (don't even get me started on having to not pee for hours on end...) and everything is normal. So, that's that. I didn't even take the report back to my doctor. I've decided to just live with the pain and let the Lord deal with it is His time. You can pray for me, that would be great.

I have got to get back on with my life, back pain or no.

The "Mommy Blog" seems to have turned into the "Medical Blog" over the last month and I'm tired of it. Enough is enough already.

*The doctor asked me my age and I am not kidding you, I had no idea. I was like, "36, oh, I don't know, maybe 35?" I'm still not sure. I had to count from my actual birthday which is September 1973 and I think that makes me 35?

Prayer Rally Tomorrow

We had the meeting today with the local pastors and Christian leaders in O.'s new office. It was inaugurated today. About 20 people were there and it was a fruitful time.

The rally will run from about 10:30AM to 12:30PM. We'll be walking and praying through the main parts of our city with banners and signs. We're bringing our kids with us, they can walk if they want to, otherwise we'll pile them in the car. I want them to be there, children should be represented, and personally, I can still remember going to protests as a young child with my mom and how it affected me.

The persecution continues in Orrisa. Agraj (our Orrisa Bible Student) was telling me this afternoon that many children are separated from parents and wives from husbands. Families are searching for their family members and not finding them.

Please pray for us as we walk tomorrow. If you pray before you go to bed tonight (Monday) it will be about the right time. (US)

Chicklee was great and we had a wonderful time at the ordination. Also, back to O.'s office inauguration: Today we had all the local Christian leaders there and afterwards we had all the local government leaders there because our school hosted a stop during the run for the "Youth Commonwealth Games" being held in India this year.

Orissa, Bihar

The following is part of an email we sent out today requesting urgent prayer for some states in India that need it. I'm posting it here for anyone who prays but doesn't get my emails.

Orissa and Bihar are in Eastern India.

Pease pray for the state of Orissa. Since the month of December the Christians there have been severely persecuted. In the last few days the persecution has flared up once again. Numerous churches have been burned. Churches of people we know personally. Many Christians have fled into the jungles and are surviving there in hiding.

Please pray for this state and for this situation. Pray for the persecutors as well as our brothers and sister in Christ who are suffering. Please also pray for the local and national government leaders to take right action.

Pray also for the state of Bihar. There is major flooding in 15 districts, hundreds of thousands of people are homeless due to the flooding. Hundreds have died.

Finally, several Indian states that have instituted anti-conversion laws, making it very difficult for people to openly accept Christ. This law is being challenged currently, pray for victory. However, no matter what the outcome we thank God for the persecutions and trials, knowing He will be glorified through it all and will call many more to Himself.

Phil. 3:7-11 “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

This Present Darkness

You really can't search inside... Go to Amazon for that.



A friend of mine sent me this book recently, which was wonderful because I LOVE books, never have enough of them, and it came in a package. It just doesn't get much better than that.



I actually read this years ago - like 15-20 years ago - but I enjoyed it just as much this time. As always it led me to more prayer and especially to spiritual warfare prayer for my city. There can never be enough of that.

Prayer For India

Prayer Time

I feel a little bit like the "Little Engine That Could" while trying to get these conference pictures up, but we're getting there...

One of the most special parts of the 3 day conference were the times of prayer.

Discipleship Conference This Week

Tomorrow night we leave for a four day retreat/conference with all our pastors and co-workers. We're looking forward to it being a great time of fellowship and growth in the Lord.

Please pray for us all. We've been disturbed all day by different things and even knowing it is Satan attacking - it's still disturbing.

Please pray for O. Praveen, Suresh, and myself who are speaking and pray for Anoop and Amar who are leading - as well as the many other people involved in this program.

Our prayer is that it will be a time of transformation into Christ-likeness in all our lives.

I'll have Internet access so I'll try to keep you updated.

Big News In India

Yet not anywhere else. It amazes me how terrorism in India doesn't make it to international news - like at all.

Since Friday there have been 2 major terrorist attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Over 25 bombs exploded in public places. More unexploded bombs are being discovered in major cities all over India. Seventeen unexploded bombs were found in a city 1 hour south of us and 17 bombs exploded in a city 3 hours North of us on Saturday night.

I think they caught somebody or someone snitched and that's why they're finding the unexploded bombs.

Oh, and India has no Federal Bureau of Investigation. They're thinking of creating one - I think that would be a wise idea. Apparently, it keeps getting put on the back burner because some states are against the interference - and I actually get that - I do read loads of detective type novels. The locals hate it when the feds step in. But all in all, I think they're necessary.

Anyway, we're fine, unharmed and unalarmed. But pray for the peace of India.

Poor Goat

What you cannot see in this photo is a goat being stripped of it's skin behind the man preaching. I'm sure if I lightened it this picture would make a lot more sense.
Funny things happened in Rajasthan.
1. Before this meeting Suresh, our mission director, was asked to pray for a goat. He assumed* the goat was sick. He prayed a good 5 minutes for that goat's healing; he bound satanic spirits, he cast off curses. I, however, knew that we were having goat for dinner after the meeting, which Suresh did not. Poor goat was just getting prayed for because he was about to be slaughtered for our dinner. Suresh had a good laugh afterwards - me too.

The funnier thing was, the lady next to me leaned over while the goat was being slaughtered in front of us - right behind the man preaching and said, "We just prayed for that goat and now they've killed it!"

I told Suresh that at least the goat was healed and delivered before he breathed his last.

*We all know what assume spells: ass u me

Ordination

We're all heading out tomorrow after church for Pastor ordinations in Rajasthan on the 21st. We also have meetings in different villages and finish up our tour with a wedding on the 23rd. I should be back home by late on the 24th.

Pray for us over the next few days and pray for the meetings we have scheduled - as well as traveling - we have a lot of that ahead of us.

Please also keep our regular ongoing work in prayer - school, shop, etc. - since we won't be around for a few days. Thanks.

This Week's Prayer List

Last week I posted my prayer list that I send to my Mountain Rain praying ladies. Here it is for this week:

1. Elections in our state are tomorrow and the results come on Dec. 22nd. This is always a volatile time - even more so since Christmas is coming.
Please pray for peace, pray for protection, pray for God to raise up good leaders.

2. Our carol singing program is supposed to start from Dec. 17th and go to the 20th. But because of the elections, it is not certain if we can even do it this year. This is not only a fun time but a time to share the Gospel with unbelievers. Please pray for God to open this door.

3. On Dec. 21 we have our Christmas program- small this year, but please pray.

4. Please pray specifically for our co-workers to work in unity and to have good communication with one another. We fall way short in these areas.

5. Please pray for a bunch of Christmas cards we mailed to the US on Friday, please pray they reach their destinations.

6. Pray for me - I'm exhausted and the work is just beginning. I am starting to feel discouraged.

7.Pray for O. to make right decisions.

8. Please also pray for the grant proposal for our school to be approved. Last day is Dec. 15th.

9. Our house construction started on Sunday - Praise the Lord. Please pray that it will be built well, and within budget. Pray for wisdom for us.

December Prayers

I send out weekly prayer requests to a small team of ladies that I call "Mountain Rain" and here is this week's list. I thought I would share it because we can use all the prayer we can get!

1. Two days ago we were asked to vacate our office space - immediately. O. has spent the last 2 days looking for a place to go. This is very frustrating, someone or some ministry dept is always on the move due to being kicked out by our house owners.
Please pray for us to find good office space - like - right away :)

2. We have money for a down payment on land for offices, church and Bible College. It is located next to our school and if we get this land it will ensure that we will not loose road access in the coming days/years. We talked to the widow of the land owner who is ready to sell but her son (in London) is telling her not to sell it. Arg. Please pray for God to open this door if it is His will. I believe God is going to give us that land (or at least land nearby).

3. Pray for permanent land and buildings for all areas of ministry, it will be a great day when we don't have to be moving every month. Esp. pray for permanent housing for our co-workers.

4. Dec. 15 is the last day for the grant proposal we submitted to complete the 3rd floor of our school. We are praying that will be approved.

5. Christmas is coming - lot's of things going on. Please pray for us not to loose sight of why we are celebrating. Pray for joy and health and sweet fellowship. Most importantly, pray for opportunities to share the Gospel.

6. Friday we are starting to dig the foundation for our house. Whoopee! Please keep the whole house building thing in prayer. Thanks.

I want to end with some praises. Last Friday we had fasting prayer all day and we had prayed about how we could give Christmas bonuses to all our co-workers. Also, that night I looked out over our Children's home kids and thought - Lord, how in the world will I be able to buy new clothes for all these kids. That night I got a phone call that a person we don't even know was selling stock and giving it to our ministry for Christmas - to be used wherever! Hallelujah! Christmas bonuses and new clothes for everyone!

* I realize this is not the promised "mosquito post." coming, coming...

God's Two Choices

A beloved 6 year old relative of mine in the US prayed this prayer after hearing about our recent difficult situation.

"God -- You have two choices: Either kill those bad men or make them love Jesus."

I don't think I even need to comment.

A Little Opposition

Early on during today's fasting prayer, we were told by the Muslim neighbors on three sides of our Ministry office that we couldn't sing so we worshipped in our hearts and kept on praying. Then after 1PM we moved into our church hall which is located at our school and then sang our hearts out and prayed some more.

A little opposition is often just the kick needed to make you pray harder.