A Pleasant Surprise

For about two weeks, I've had this gut-feeling that life as I know it now is about to change...BIG-TIME.  I've pondered this feeling, wondering, "Lord, Is it almost time to go to Bangladesh?  If so, what about the finances?"  It was not a doubtful question, but a trusting one.  Have you ever had faith in God for something, not only HOPING He will do it, but actually KNOWING He will do it?  That's how I feel.  I truly believe God will provide the finances for the India/Bangladesh missions endeavor when it is time to go.

If we have placed our trust and confidence in God for such matters, then why are we surprised when He actually answers the prayer?!  Yet, I was pleasantly stunned today when someone gave $2,000 towards the mission.  After the initial shock wore off, I was left in awe of my God once again.  My faith and confidence in Him was deepened.  He never ceases to amaze me! 

Bangladesh Crusade 2012

Bangladesh was on my mind all day today.  My heart longs to be on the mission field with these precious people yet I am content to wait on God's perfect timing and plan.  Below is a video of Bangladesh's February 2012 crusade.  Several hundred people were filled with the Spirit of God during this crusade.  The video is rather long at 17 minutes.  The first 5 minutes are Bangladesh scenery.  The remaining 12 minutes are various clips from the crusade.

Happy Diwali 2012

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (or deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Diwali, celebrated in October or November each year, originated as a harvest festival that marked the last harvest of the year before winter. India was an agricultural society where people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as they closed their accounting books and prayed for success at the outset of a new financial year. Today, this practice extends to businesses all over the Indian subcontinent, which mark the day after Diwali as the first day of the new financial year.

Indians celebrate with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship to Lakshmi. Some believe that Lakshmi wanders the Earth looking for homes where she will be welcomed. People open their doors and windows and light lamps to invite Lakshmi in.
 

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:

• In North India they celebrate the story of King Rama's return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
• South India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
• In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.

In all interpretations, one common thread rings true—the festival marks the victory of good over evil.

Five Days of Diwali
On the first day of Diwali, housewives consider it auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils.

On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps or diyas and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.

This is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.

This is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.

On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.

Information obtained from:

kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/diwali/

Restoring the Years

“Is there anything too hard for Jehovah?” Genesis 18:14

Here is God’s loving challenge to you and to me today. He wants us to think of the deepest, highest, worthiest desire and longing of our hearts, something which perhaps was our desire for ourselves or for someone dear to us, yet which has been so long unfulfilled that we have looked upon it as only a lost desire, that which might have been but now cannot be, and so have given up hope of seeing it fulfilled in this life.

That thing, if it is in line with what we know to be His expressed will (as a son to Abraham and Sarah was), God intends to do for us, even if we know that it is of such utter impossibility that we only laugh at the absurdity of anyone’s supposing it could ever now come to pass. That thing God intends to do for us, if we will let Him.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Not when we believe in Him enough to go forward and do His will, and let Him do the impossible for us. Even Abraham and Sarah could have blocked God’s plan if they had continued to disbelieve.

The only thing too hard for Jehovah is deliberate, continued disbelief in His love and power, and our final rejection of His plans for us. Nothing is too hard for Jehovah to do for them that trust Him – Streams in the Desert, November 5

Tears of joy ran down my face when I read the above devotional because today God fulfilled a deep longing of my heart. Several times recently during prayer the verse found in Joel 2:25 kept coming to my mind. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm..." Joel 2:25

I was familiar with the verse but had not really pondered its true meaning. The children of Israel had suffered a severe famine, great loss and destruction (all sent by God), but in this scripture God promises to restore everything to them. He promises to bless their lives as if those things had never happened to them. They shall eat in plenty, be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord their God.

I have suffered a lot of losses in my life. Reading those verses, God revealed to me that He was going to make my life as if those losses had never occurred. He promised to restore some long-lost dreams of mine.

Today one of the dreams became a reality as I was reconciled with my sister whom I had not seen in 20 years. It was a good refreshing meeting and the conversation flowed easily. It was as if we had never been apart all those years. A true restoration indeed! My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude and satisfaction as I embrace God's abundant gift to me.