I always dread going into something new and unknown, like most people. But a new year which comes along every 365 days is not so dreaded. All of us are so excited to be stepping into a new year where you are starting off with a clean slate, have some resolutions you want to keep through the year and possibly lose or gain something 🙂 It is so exciting.

But when you look back at the year gone by, are you looking back with regret or with contentment? There is a beautiful song which talks about counting your blessings and naming them one by one. It didn’t hold any meaning for me when I sang it as a kid in the choir, but I realized that it held a really deeper significance when I was away from my family out here in the United States. Too often, I realize that I give more weight to the bad than the good in my life and I fail to give thanks or count my blessings at the end of the year.  I want to move away from bad as soon as possible and always be in the good side. Unfortunately life doesn’t work that way, I’ll explain. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, God put us here on this earth for a reason and we are to praise Him everything.

I remember when I was saying my marriage vows with Jessica there was a line which stuck with me which said. ” in sickness and in health, for good or for worse.” If I’m allowed to ask a question, If we can praise God for the good, He has done in our life why can’t we praise Him for the bad as well? Wait a minute, you say I’m suggesting praising God for the bad too! Yes I am!!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“

Ephesians 5:20 says

Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s take in these verses to heart and give thanks to the Lord for everything that He has done for us in the past year and let us not forget what He has done

Psalm 103:2

I will praise the Lord.
    I won’t forget anything he does for me.

As I look back into 2014, it has been amazing not just because everything was good. Far from it, it was because God was with us all through and we are so content. I’m so thankful for His love which is leading us everyday. As I look ahead to 2015, I’m excited about the arrival of our son, holding him in our arms, oh the list is endless! I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year and may this year be filled with so many blessings that when you count them you are reminded of His love for you on the cross so that you might have eternal life! God bless you all

-David

What goes through your mind when you are expecting something to work out and nothing happens? I get pretty disappointed every time, but then lately I’ve been working on Psalms of the Bible where the writer always is in trouble in the beginning or is expressing disappointment over things which are not going according to what he expected, but still he finds purpose in praising God who is in control.

Wait!! How is that possible? How can you find purpose when nothing goes your way? I want to point out to a Psalm which probably is known as the Shepherd’s Psalm.The psalm talks about how a shepherd takes care of his sheep. The opening statement is very classic; it says when the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want of anything. Well I always say, that God is in control, yet I always seek something more and can never be satisfied without things in my control. Through the next verses, the psalmist talks about the Lord leading through phases in life which show His sovereignty and demonstrate His love for me.

I cannot believe how a simple psalm can proclaim so much about God’s love for me. He is not only with me through the good times, but also through the bad times. How does that help in finding purpose? It’s a very simple answer, God who is my shepherd, the creator of everything on this earth is with me, what more shall I need? Even though, I lack everything, in Christ I have everything that I need, my cup overflows with joy.

Well having God is not enough right? I know that, the first step towards any goal is going to start with a blank paper which is open to endless possibilities. It can be used to write, draw, paint, wipe or be discarded away. When the Lord is my shepherd, am I really letting Him take my life by the green pastures, still waters, in the path of righteousness or letting Him anoint my head with oil? I believe that Christ started working in my life when I let Him into my heart 12 years ago, leading me through experiences, incidents, learning curves to teach me, guide me, transform me and make me into a beautiful canvas which praises His name.

Every step of the way is abundant with resources without which I cannot have gone further. When nothing seems to happen in my favor, I’m disappointed sure for sometime, but then what I do not know is that is that it is refining me like gold and silver in the fire to be able to shine even brighter to love Him, serve Him and show His glory on this earth through me.

I love Romans 5:3-5

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

My purpose in nothing is to rejoice in Him because of God’s love which leads me in every situation.

-David

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
By the lights or its décor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me  sputter and gasp-
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, “What’s the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.

And why’s everyone so quiet,
So somber? Give me a clue.”
“Hush, child,” said He, “They’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d see you.”

Judge NOT.

-Jessica Kiran

To all the single ladies!
Got a man and wondering if he’s husband-potential? Check out:

25 Qualities to look for in a man!

1. He loves God more than he could possibly love you
2. He treats you with respect and honors your concerns
3. He shares the same values important to you
4. He encourages you and lifts you up instead of breaking you down
5. He holds your heart in careful hands
6. He gives as equally as he takes
7. He respects you even in arguments
8. He is self-motivated
9. He has a job! (or is working toward one) Bums not accepted!
10. He understands the word, RESPONSIBILITY
11. He honors your body, instead of treating it like free meat
12. He respects his parents and the elderly
13. He drives responsibly (be wary of those with [genuine] road rage and habitually heavy feet, girls!)
14. He thinks for himself, instead of letting others think for him
15. His habits coincide with your values
16. He doesn’t push you to do things you don’t want to do
17. He addresses you respectfully! No name calling, girls. If he can’t address you respectfully, then he doesn’t respect you.
18. He respects not only you, but also himself
19. He is not bound to the past. Sorry, ladies. You want a man able to look forward, not one continually looking back.
20. He is goal-oriented.
21. He is financially responsible.
22. He knows how to control his temper! Important ladies! Do not stay with a man who can’t control his anger!
23. He spends quality time with God outside of church
24. He’s humble enough to admit when he’s wrong
25. He’s health conscious. How’s he going to look after the health of your children if he can’t take care of his own?

A final word, girls. It’s all cute and nice to look for all of these traits in our future mate, but if he can’t find growth of these same traits in us, then maybe God is not finished maturing us for marriage. And if we’re not ready for marriage, then why are we dating?

Just food for thought. I know this because I followed these rules and they led me to my husband.

– Jessica Kiran

Marriage is really good according to the Bible and it does really seem so.  As far as my  perspective goes, I do not have to worry about cooking my own meals anymore. To be honest, it is a mixed blessing though, because even though I don’t cook, I’m in charge of dishwashing!

All in all, marriage does require work to be done from both sides and it is definitely not an easy ride. The honeymoon phase is still going on, so we are still on the clouds! I have to say though, even though we’ve just been married for around 2 months it feels a lot longer than that because we are just meant to be. To every person who’s thinking about marriage or having second thoughts, I only have one word to say to you guys! Keep God at the center of your relationship and everything will fall into place.

We aren’t there yet, but by His love and mercy we are building the foundation brick by brick each day through prayer.

-David