4 Queries -Answered
"Do not be afraid Daniel ! since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God , Your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But prince of persian kingdom (Satan) resisted me.....Then Michael , of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there ...." Daniel 10:12,13I sat in His presence.. after my intensive supplications and prayers, the gist of prayer was written in 4 questions.
(From Dec 31st 1984. now it is 1st of January 1985, and according to my academic year i.e., from March 31st,1985 to March 31st 1986 .And I need to take a decision in that month so that, I could answer my authorities.) Therefore I sought for the presence of God , in prayer and supplications. As the days to give my acceptance to join in one of the two colleges are approaching fast, I thought I better to start prayer from January for the next academic year.
The first question was like this. 1) Lord, Should I work or not? Is it YOUR WILL for me to continue to work? "Lord tell me, should I work or not, your servants told me to resign the job, but you told me to apply leave for one year as 'leave on loss of pay'. Soon the days would come to an end. Tell me, should I work or not. As I was keeping on asking Him in prayer; within the first few days, I got the answer for the first question in Philippians 4:6, 7 which guided me aptly. "Do not be anxious about any thing but in every situation,by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. and the peace of God which transcends, all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I took this as an advise from my Lord and keep on praying as I intended to seek His counselling. Then His voice echoed in my heart.After a few days of prayers, and supplications, suddenly all my anxiety vanished, and I found that the Lord was leading me to go on with second question of mine in prayer. Taking this sign from Him I was assured that I was going to work, certainly. With that assurance I started to pray about my second question. 2) Lord If you want me to work, where should I work? In Vijayawada? Or Eluru? In Maris Stella? Or St. Theresa's college?
The Peace of God which transcends , all understanding, which guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus encompassed me.I continued my prayer anxiously, because everyone had some piece of advice for me, whom to believe, whom not to believe, each one has their own reasons to convince me of their view, of course with good intentions only; some were telling me to resign the job in Eluru and settle here in Vijayawada, some were advising me not to do so.
Whatever, the question of doing job, was properly answered by my Good Shepherd, and so the next come next question. Believing that " Seeking His will never put us in shame." I picked up my Book to look into the last page , and put my finger on the second question. 2. Should I work in Eluru, or in Vijayawada?
I was praying for the answer , no answer for me. But I waited in the presence of God, till He answer me. It was January 13th night, I was alone in my front room, on a mat, with my Bible and prayer book, and songs book. knelt and prayed, only one question thumping out in my heart. "Lord tell me where to work. I want to know your clear guidance. You tell me what to do, what to choose, you know the best for me, I want your best, Lord, not my thoughts, nor the thoughts of any one, You decide my future. I trust in Thee Lord. You talk to me."
It was 12:05 in the mid night, I was led by the Lord to read that day daily portion from the Bible, I was reading Numbers, 30th chapter, next 31st chapter, then I came to 32nd chapter, the verses were going on like this. I dare not miss one sentence there,(Search the book of the LORD, and see what he will do.Isaiah 34:16) I quote only a few lines here to high lighten the message from God to me. The children of Gad and children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying. "if we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan"------" Do not make us cross the Jordan" See the verse 4th, last part of it. My eyes widen up on seeing this sentence. Then I remembered the promise God has given on that watch Night service 1983, Deuteronomy 11 chapter, 11 to 13. Go from here and "cross the river Jordan," to the place with mountains, and valleys "The Land you go,you have to cross the Jordan," "Crossing the Jordan, important word for me; Because on that Watch night service of 31st December, God told me " Not to be afraid to cross the River to go to the land --he asked me to go, He told me that land is full of mountains and valleys, to go to that land I had to cross the river . Therefore I crossed the river of test and (Krishna river was in Vijayawada) I went there . Now these two tribes in Numbers 32 chapter i.,e. children of Reuben and children of Gad are saying now, Do not make us cross the Jordan" 5v
God told me to CROSS The RIVER, but now these people were asking Moses that they would not CROSS the Jordan, the River.
I understood that I need to go back to Eluru. I was in the shoes of these children of Reuben and Gad, they were in front of Moses and I was in front of God.
But Moses was annoyed and scolded them severely, And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben "Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? 8) Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9.) For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10.) Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10. So the Lord's anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying 11 Surely none of the men who came up from egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me , except Calev the son of Jephnneth, the kenizite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord. So the Lord's anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone. and look! you have risen in your father's lace , a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel. for if your turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness and destroy all these people.----- brood of sinners, you are discouraging ---- The wrath of Moses, as we knew, did not spare them a bit.
My heart sunk into the depths of the earth, I dare not to lift up my eyes unto the Lord, after a few minutes I picked up courage to read the next few verses, with great fear in my heart to face whatever I have to face. I set my heart to listen to God to know His verdict, whatever.
To my great surprise, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad were undaunted, persuasive; they were not cowards, they were still pleading Moses in verse 16 to 19th verses.16v. Then they came near to him and said: "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little one, 17 but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little one will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18. We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received hi inheritance. 19 for we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond.
What were they saying,
" We will build pens for our livestock and cities for our women and children.
We do not not mean that we do not do the work of God, we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead ... meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land.
We will not go or claim anything on the other side of the Jordan , but we will have inheritance to the East side of the Jordan.
Oh yes, East side of Jordan, I visualised Eluru exactly to the East of Vijayawada.. my heart was pounding louder and louder, what would Moses say now..? What will be the answer about their request?
Anxiously I proceeded further to read the rest of the chapter.
Strangely enough Moses was telling them like this,20. Then Moses said to them, " If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, 21 v. and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him 22 and then when the land is subdued before the Lord,
You may return then afterward you may return and be blameless before Him . And this land shall be your possession before the Lord.
But if you do not do so, then take note you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.
24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep,
and do what has proceeded out of your mouth”
"If you will do this--If you will arm yourselves for the battle, armed over the Jordan, You are free from your obligation to the Lord.
( Now I know even though we go to Eluru, we are supposed to do the work of God both in Vijayawada and in Eluru, I should be concerned of the ministry there and a helping hand to the evangelist Eluru. and he should help in the ministry of Vijaywada as we were ordered by HQ
"Was this a CALL for us to work in His ministry?"
Moses was telling them still " If you will arm yourselves for the battle, armed over the Jordan you are free from your obligation to the Lord"--If you do not, you will be sinning against the Lord, your sin will find you out.
All right? Build cities for your women and children and pens(backyards)for your flocks , but do what you have promised."
25.And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to 'Moses, saying: Your servants will do as my Lord commands. 26: Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead, ( therefore me, and children go back to Eluru and stay there, and work there in His vineyard, and my husband as usual come to Vijayawada and help in the ministry there.)27: but we your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to the battle, just as my Lord says. 28: Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel.
32We will cross over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, but the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us on this side of the Jordan
Moses gave permission to them to stay back in the place and need not come over the river crossing it I got clear guidance .Now I understood why God told me to apply for One Year Loss of Pay Leave and obey the HQ to stay for one year, in Vijayawada.
I sighed loudly to my heart's content. I prostrated on my face in His presence for long time. Now I know God's mind in my case. I need to go back to Eluru. That middle of the night I still continued my Bible Study, still I went further, of that wonderful chapter, Previously I never did give much heed to these words, except this verse, Your sin will find you out--in Sunday messages or children retreats, or Revival meetings. I never gave much importance to this big story connected to this verse. - I read this chapter a number of times before but never it was so VIVID and clear to my vision. In the next verses they said again to Moses, We, your servants will do as our lord commands, Our children and wives, our folks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead."
NOW I knew we were going back to Eluru, very clearly and I was going to join my job in St. Theresa's college. My children would live in fortified cities of the land, St, Theresa's school is a fortified safe place for my children to study. I am going to join my children in the school, and I work in the same premises , in the college. I knew this. So with lighter heart, I retired to the bed and got up from my bed with a song in my heart Praising God.
As usual I was busy in the kitchen, hot water boiling for drinking purpose as well for baths, on Railway coal, which was cheaper and for lesser price. It was a great tedious work for me. I prepared breakfast and sent him to the office and after rendering my daily chore with my little children ; Once again I sat down with my Bible to read the same chapter again and again. As I was reading it, I found the message was more vivid and more clear.
3) Lord, If you want me not to work , can I sustain the same faith as of now? Assure me that I would not lose my faith in any unforeseen problems I may have to face in future
About the 3rd question about FAITH with no salary is proved excellent for the past year in Vijayawada, that experience gave me confidence that I should not depend on my own resources but on His resources. whether my own resources available or not, if His blessing is upon the resources, I could live peaceful life and I would not lack any thing. The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall lack nothing, was practically proved.The The question of Faith to lead life was tested and passed through the fire of that past year only with one salary. He tested our faith He walked with us until we came out victoriously. That experience helped me in other situations, later where I need to save money and go for only minimum needs.
Next I thought if God is telling me to go back what about the children of God from HQ'would say? Shouldn't they also tell me to go back? /28.so Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar, to Joshua, and the chief fathers.."
Claiming that promise I waited upon the Lord, and I felt my God would command them and tell them what to tell me. So I prayed about this and went to do other mundane things and to prepare lunch with extra love for my husband and the family.
When my husband came for lunch that afternoon, while he was eating the food, he said, " Leela I wonder where we will be next year" You see we were enjoying our stay here in Vijayawada, though we did not have much money. And God created a lecturer post for me even in this place. We had peace and joy in home. Life is not that bad, and in fact it is more cosier than in Eluru, having own house in Railway quarters, without any rent, there is Railway school for children near by, the College bus could pick up me to Maris Stella College, and I need not hurriedly prepare food in the morning, as my husband could go to office leisurely and come to lunch , and he had good bunch of friends in the church in this place, life is very comfortable than in Eluru to be true. But strangely enough even he was led to go back to Eluru and he likes to go back to Eluru. both of us were a bit anxious about our settlement common. When he expressed his doubt like that, I thought in my mind," Where we would be? Certainly in Eluru"and I blurted it out half loudly too. He was astonished and looked up at me,and smiled happily.
But some wonderful thing happened then, there before he finished his meal, the postman was there at the door, I got a postcard from the same sister who asked me to resign the job. Could any one imagine what was in it? I myself took the card with much known expectations.. and it was amazing to read it that afternoon.
I ran to my sweet husband and almost hugged him with shouts of joy, "Hubby look look what is in it? I read the contents loudly showing the card to him too, "Leela, i talked about you to my amma, and my brother,both wanted me to tell you that you should go back to Eluru and join in St. Theresa's College. " --Is n't it straight answer from my Lord God, from Heaven to me? Yes it is indeed !
.4) Lord , or otherwise, if you want me to work, Please provide me a HELP to carry on the work with my little children.
About the HELP the Lord astoundingly provided a Helper Yesumani who voluntarily came along with me to Eluru to be with my children in my absence at home, Later as and when my sisters-in- had college vacation, they used to come and stay with my children, Later the Church members Suryakantham, Sugunamma family, Esther and others used help me to take care of my children. Thus the request for HELP was fulfilled from the Lord, in astonishing way. (but this promise again and again fulfilled in my life in the coming years in more miraculous way, once as a Machine and later as Man as The HELP FROM ABOVE.
After I got those promises I was very happy.
The promises of God gave me assurance , joy, and courage without any trace of doubt, to go back to Eluru and join in- -St.Theresa's Degree college,and resume my work as lecturer in Social work again in the year, 1985.
We were actively participating in the ministry, both in Vijayawada and Eluru. Mostly in Vijayawada center, sometimes my husband used to stay back in the week ends, in Vijayawada. And I used to go to Vijayawada in the College vacation and helping them in the ministry.
About the HELP the Lord astoundingly provided a Helper Yesumani who voluntarily came along with me to Eluru to be with my children in my absence at home, Later as and when my sisters-in- had college vacation, they used to come and stay with my children, Later the Church members Suryakantham, Sugunamma family, Esther and others used help me to take care of my children. Thus the request for HELP was fulfilled from the Lord, in astonishing way. (but this promise again and again fulfilled in my life in the coming years in more miraculous way, once as a Machine and later as Man as The HELP FROM ABOVE.
After I got those promises I was very happy.
The promises of God gave me assurance , joy, and courage without any trace of doubt, to go back to Eluru and join in- -St.Theresa's Degree college,and resume my work as lecturer in Social work again in the year, 1985.
We were actively participating in the ministry, both in Vijayawada and Eluru. Mostly in Vijayawada center, sometimes my husband used to stay back in the week ends, in Vijayawada. And I used to go to Vijayawada in the College vacation and helping them in the ministry.
At the same time I told the Evangelist Br. Peter Paul that I would be handy in helping any work entrusted to me in Eluru ministry. We had three families, from illiterate background and also three School teachers in the Eluru center church. I started to take Sunday School and take active part in midweek and week end prayers in the evening. When I look back at those events., The Sovereign God has planned everything and designed everything before hand but Tested me whether I would seek His will in every decision of mine.
.I joined my children in St. Theresa's Elementary school. In those days, though I was a Lecturer in a college of St. Theresa, still to get a seat to my daughter was an ordeal. She had to prepare for the oral and written test. My husband went to school at 6 am itself to get a chit for an interview and waited there till in the Que to be called in. I prepared my daughter for the interview and took her to school where my husband was waiting for us in the Que. Our Intermediate cum Degree and P.G was in the same premises attached to the school compound. I was working in the same college since 1976 so I was taking the children along with me to school in the same Riksha and drop them in their school premises. I used to go to them in lunch hour to feed them.
But the things in Eluru center was changed, Br. Peter ,he was an atheist and communist before, but the Lord took him and changed his life pattern entirely. His wife was a retired nurse, therefore they used to get some pension for their livelihood. The HQ was giving only Rs.200/ per month and asking him to write the accounts for it, told him not to use money which was taken as offertory , later he had problems with his daughter's marriage in the organization. He being an upright old gentleman ,wanted to leave the church and do the ministry independently. We were residing in the next portion of the house where this Godly man was living with his small family. I was the witness for his simple and Godly life. They hardly used money for any luxury. When he was taken into task about his expenditure in the home, he showed indignation and segregated. We both tried to pacify the things and talked to his son -in -law and HQ people as mediators, but by that time the things were blazing between and we could not help him any way. In that situation the HQ ordered us to take care of the few families coming to the Eluru Center.
I thought God sent me back to Eluru to keep me and my children safe in big Educational Buildings.
I did not have least idea about the "Pens for the sheep" at that time, I had a promise from God about Eluru Ministry right before I got married, in 1977 itself. It was "You will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. " Isaiah 58:12
I forgot the promise given by God about the ministry in 1977, Even if I remembered it, I felt that it was about we being a help in the local evangelists either in Eluru or in Vijayawada. Never I thought that we would be in charge of whole church.
Now that was the year 1989 I reclaimed the same promise and started to pray about the ministry. But we maintained good relationship with Br. Peter Paul, who later retreated to a remote village, Kuchimpudi along with his wife and daughter for some time.
"Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth . Amazing things happen, and we are given privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's Prayer."---Elisabeth Elliot
For next chapter click the link below:
https://www.mygodmystory.com/thrilling-story-…the-refrigerator/
.I joined my children in St. Theresa's Elementary school. In those days, though I was a Lecturer in a college of St. Theresa, still to get a seat to my daughter was an ordeal. She had to prepare for the oral and written test. My husband went to school at 6 am itself to get a chit for an interview and waited there till in the Que to be called in. I prepared my daughter for the interview and took her to school where my husband was waiting for us in the Que. Our Intermediate cum Degree and P.G was in the same premises attached to the school compound. I was working in the same college since 1976 so I was taking the children along with me to school in the same Riksha and drop them in their school premises. I used to go to them in lunch hour to feed them.
But the things in Eluru center was changed, Br. Peter ,he was an atheist and communist before, but the Lord took him and changed his life pattern entirely. His wife was a retired nurse, therefore they used to get some pension for their livelihood. The HQ was giving only Rs.200/ per month and asking him to write the accounts for it, told him not to use money which was taken as offertory , later he had problems with his daughter's marriage in the organization. He being an upright old gentleman ,wanted to leave the church and do the ministry independently. We were residing in the next portion of the house where this Godly man was living with his small family. I was the witness for his simple and Godly life. They hardly used money for any luxury. When he was taken into task about his expenditure in the home, he showed indignation and segregated. We both tried to pacify the things and talked to his son -in -law and HQ people as mediators, but by that time the things were blazing between and we could not help him any way. In that situation the HQ ordered us to take care of the few families coming to the Eluru Center.
I thought God sent me back to Eluru to keep me and my children safe in big Educational Buildings.
I did not have least idea about the "Pens for the sheep" at that time, I had a promise from God about Eluru Ministry right before I got married, in 1977 itself. It was "You will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. " Isaiah 58:12
I forgot the promise given by God about the ministry in 1977, Even if I remembered it, I felt that it was about we being a help in the local evangelists either in Eluru or in Vijayawada. Never I thought that we would be in charge of whole church.
Now that was the year 1989 I reclaimed the same promise and started to pray about the ministry. But we maintained good relationship with Br. Peter Paul, who later retreated to a remote village, Kuchimpudi along with his wife and daughter for some time.
Meanwhile there were some changes in the administration of the college where I was working and the Degree college was segregated from the Intermediate section to a far end of the Town in the Panchayathi section. Therefore I could no more accompany my children to the school, and as the timings were different for their school and for my college , I found it's very difficult to carry on my schedule smoothly. Again the extra anxiety of daily routine took its toll on me, I was slowly suffering from unknown fear, confusion and in taking care of my little children.
First I started with Sunday School ministry, I used to invite all the children in our neighbourhood, classmates of my children for sunday school. My husband was taking care of the main ministry on Sunday. He was not insisted to stay back in Vijayawada any more as it was the previous proposal of HQ. Many a times when he could not make to come home early on Wednesdays, I used to conduct that mid-week prayer too in our home. Later as the ministry was getting wider, I started Youth meeting , entrusting children ministry to the women in the church while overseeing it. Esther Francis was the first helper to us in this Sunday School ministry. When I found the women were facing problems in their homes, I entrusted the youth meeting to my husband I started to conduct women's meeting soon after the Sunday worship, as they could not come again and again in the middle of the week to the church from distant places. This women meeting almost became as a family meeting, as even their husbands were listening to the word of God, and testimonies, sitting a bit nearby, here and there. The women meeting became the main backbone of the ministry, as the women learned many things to build a home for the Lord. Their first task is, to win their unsaved husbands by faithfully praying for them and introducing them to my husband, and thus to the church and we both used to visit their homes to invite them as family. The women started to accompany their little children and young children to Sunday school and also youth meeting some times, till they found the Savior in their lives. So the wives had much role to play in bringing their whole family to the Lord by their good example and by encouraging the family members to come to church. Thus the Eluru ministry was started. And we gird up our lions to rebuild in 1987 onwards."Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth . Amazing things happen, and we are given privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's Prayer."---Elisabeth Elliot
For next chapter click the link below:
https://www.mygodmystory.com/thrilling-story-…the-refrigerator/
