Penguin in a burrow
"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skilled writer ."Psalm 45:1
Hiding in the Rock
My God is my rock, For He will hide me in HIS ROCK my God is my Rock Psalm 18;2 "He alone is my Rock; He is my fortress , I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:2
Yes , with light luggage, and much lighter hearts we shifted to Vijayawada in the month of April , 1984. The promise of God was my forte, my anchor and my strength, Once I have His promise in decisions of my life, I walk in the 9th cloud and nothing can dwindle my strong foot, on the strong rock; it would be my guide to go further. My husband's faith was like Isaac's , more passive. Isaac's faith was unlike his father Abraham's, whose faith was very active. My husband was covert type, his walk with God was, more of exemplary and inexpressive, impressive, and undaunted, by just trusting Him like a tree rooted on the banks of the river of His will and in His word. He blossom like the 'dew on lotus', take 'root as the cedars' of Lebanon. His faith was trusting Him and walking with Him.-- Unlike mine, mine is demanding, questioning, and getting His assurance at every turn of life. Therefore, our married life in the Lord was a balanced and cohesive one.Hiding in the Rock
My God is my rock, For He will hide me in HIS ROCK my God is my Rock Psalm 18;2 "He alone is my Rock; He is my fortress , I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:2
Jesus told us," The one who listen to My word and do accordingly would be like the one who built his house on the rock, there was storm and wind, but the house was standing still because its foundation was on the Rock'. Matthew 7:24 This Penguine after it day long expedition in the vast ocean comes to the sands of the beach, at St. Kilda and hiding in this burrow for the night's rest, away from all fear and storms of the darkest night.
Yes, when I do anything basing on His word, it would be the safest place for me, and it would give me security, it is the linchpin of my life.
After I left Eluru we shifted to the the Railway quarters of Satyanarayanapuram, Vijayawada . The life was very cozy, very comfortable ever since; comparing to all those previous years of my married life since 1979. I had all the time in the world. I was afraid about money matters, but God blessed us so much, we could save every possible way; strangely enough we could buy a scooter for him, and also a small place in Manglagiri.
I started to take Sunday school in my little hall to the kids of that area and became very active in church work among young girls and women meetings. No grumbling or worrying over leaving the best job in Eluru. Being in perfect will of God is living in peace in this life. In the Christmas story of the gospel according Luke, a beautiful verse(2:14) often challenges me, " Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He pleased"
During these days after a few months in the same year strangely in the month of October, 1984; the most unexpected way I saw an advertisement in The Indian Express,an English News paper, the advertisement was for a Field Supervisor in Maris Stella college,in Social work Department, Vijayawada . The advertisement was in small corner of the paper occupying only three or four lines, in classified section. If I did not see that advertisement the incidents that took place in this story of my life, would be quiet unchallenged. As I already mentioned, once we gird up to do the will of God according to His word, everything will be arranged in perfect pattern in life.
I told my husband about this, and I went to meet Sister Subramanyam, Principal of the college. She was very much impressed with me, and told me that I can come and join the faculty immediately. I told her that my name was still on the roll of the staff register St. Theresa college, Eluru;, and that I was seeking for a job in Vijayawada.
She appreciated my fairness and asked me to come to college and take classes, any way, for which I accepted to work on voluntary basis. She entrusted three or four Moral science classes beside Field Supervisor post. I was working voluntarily without any salary, College bus used to pick me up at my residence therefore the life was more cozier than in Eluru.
I think my God had given me a taste of beautiful life if I chose to work in Vijayawada leaving my job in Eluru.
I worked for a few months. The time has come to choose the college where I should work. The question was whether to choose Vijayawada or go back to Eluru. God told me to come here for only one year for sure. strangely enough, now the Lecturer/ /Field supervisor post was opened for me in this place.
Sister Subramanyam created the Lecturer post for me dismissing terminating contract post of a particular lecturer as the principal was not pleased with her performance. Therefore a clear vacancy of that particular Lecturer post was created for me.
When God intended to give training to us to do His will, He brings many situations to choose; many tests to face in our lives.
He opens Heavenly Manna to us every day and tells us not to gather it on Sabbath. It look like we have a blessing on one side and choosing and obeying His Will on the other side.
Sr. Principal requested me to come and join in Maris Stella. Look, I have a post and I can join in it. But the management from the college in Eluru also insisting me to come and join in my own post immediately, and they asked me to inform them whether I would come or not by the end of that academic year. that is by March 31st of 1985. Both Principals want me to come to a decision immediately and inform them.
Did I ever thought I would gain job in vijayawada college? If I did not see that small advertisement in Indian Express about the post of Field Supervisor in Maris Stella college that day, I would not had applied and entered into Maris Stella. God had given me a chance to opt for working in Vijayawada too.
It was His doing, not human interference. Now I need to choose one. This or that.
First of all the HQ of the church organization wanted me to resign my job in Eluru, they do not want me to work at all, by all means, they wanted us to stay in Vijayawada .that was their intention when they told me to resign my job in Eluru.
Any way when they come to know that I already got a chance to work in this place too. I thought that they may want me not to work in Eluru but in Vijayawada surely. still I do not know whether they would allow me to work at all.
Now I need to choose to work or not to work, if I am allowed to work where to work. After tasting the leisurely life for one whole academic year and enjoying at home I wondered whether I should work at all or not.---
Meanwhile I had a hint from the local evangelists that I need not work at all.
Therefore I decided to take everything to my Lord and seek His advice.
Is He not the Great Counselor? Why I ever should be confused at all ? I see only a small part of whole big colorful design of the Big Picture of God. My Designer of my life. He sees my life as it is, the past, the present, the future of mine.
Therefore I wanted to get the Super Advice from my Lord. I set apart some days for fasting and praying. That was from January 1st, 1985 whole day I was on meager food and drink and nights no food except some coffee, I set those nights for prayer and to seek His will. The Lord told me that His eye is on me for this year from the beginning to the end, and told me to apply loss of leave. Now from Dec 31st,(1983) to Dec 31st(1984) one year over. But I applied leave from March 31st,(1984) My decision should be given by March 31st 1985--Any way ONE solid year of God's promise fulfilled here in this particular situation of my life. Isaiah 32: Lord you are my hiding place from the wind I wrote 4 questions on the back page of my Bible. I sat in His presence.. wrote the questions after my supplications and prayers. The gist of prayer was written on the back page of my Bible into 4 questions. 1) Lord, Should I work or not? Is it YOUR WILL for me to continue to work or not? 2) Lord If you want me to work, where should I work? In Vijayawada? Or Eluru; In Maris Stella? Or St. Theresa's college? 3) Lord, If you want me not to work , can I sustain the same faith as of now? In spite of any unforeseen financial problems I may have to face? 4) Lord , If you want me to work, Please provide me a HELP to carry on the responsibilities of my little children.
St.Paul said,
"I will pray in Spirit and I will pray in my understanding."--1 Corinthians 14:13
In what sense he said, I do not know, but I often experience, I pray something, which I never thought to pray or do not know how to pray or what to pray, in such a way beyond my own understanding . Even sometimes I found my own answers I give in the times of great confused incidents, were beyond my knowledge or wisdom or understanding. They come from above, and those were precise and accurate and transparent and to the point. Only the Spirit of God helped me many times what to pray. The Holy Spirit prays, on behalf of us: Romans 8:26 The Holy Spirit intercedes with sighs, the Spirit helps using our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express Therefore Four questions I wrote on the back page of my Bible and started to pray, seeking His guidance.
I started to pray one question after the other, all questions one by one were answered from above. Did you see the hand of God?
How come a clear vacancy was created for me in Maris Stella in that year?
How come Sister Principal of that College and also Sr. Vincenza the Principal in charge of St. Theresa's college, both would ask me to give answer whether I will come and join the post??
Do you think its just coincidence?
Do you think these things happen in our lives just accidentally?
No No, God has a design and a plan for me, for you, we are supposed to take time to know about it at His feet.
God answered all the questions, also gave me call for His ministry and a guidance to buy a house to live and a place for His worship and the future plan for my life in ONE CHAPTER of the Holy Book. during my fasting prayers in that month January 1985.which were fulfilled in amazing way according to His will.
Standing on Rock of Ages and enjoying His bountiful blessings, is like a dream of colourful Rainbow. For others who read my life, it look like a unbelievable story.
There are many Human Rights Activists,Agnostics, Atheists, who do not believe the True Loving and Living Father God. They try to give explanation for these happenings, they even talk of the Power of Positive mind, but I tell you, I do not know these foolish arguments nor I am an expert of these methods, but one thing I have, that is, my Loving and Living God who answeres us if we pray. in ordinary language.
Elijah was a man just like us, with the same disposition, he prayed that there would not be rain in that sinful land, for three years, and there was no rain. Later he prayed again, and there was rain. This sentence from the letter of James is a great encouragement. We too can pray and see the miracles in our lives. " He will hide me in the shelter of His Tabernacle and set me high upon a Rock. Ps 27:5
"He is the ROCK, His works are perfect, and all his ways are just." Deuteronomy 32:3b
Where there is love there is no fear. where there is no fear, Love trusts everything."
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