Trivial matters Matters to God
"Even when I am old and gray do not forsake me, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come" Psalm 71:18I could save only 40 thousand in 13 years another 50 thousand in one year, and 90 thousand loan to buy a house within 6 days, between, 14th February to 19th February and could entered into the PROMISED HOUSE OF GOD pn28th February 1994. That miraculous story runs like this.
The next day I went to the Bank of Baroda where our salaries deposit every month by the UGC ( University Grants Commission) It was first time in my life to ask anyone for financial help. My throat was shaking, there was a kind clerk who used to do our work fast whenever we go to bank, knowing we went there in between the classes in our leisure hour. When I told him I need loan to purchase a house, he ushered me to the manager room. I told the manager about my need.
The first question was, " You are telling me this house you want to buy is old house, how old it is madam"
"25 years Sir"
He laughed , I was puzzled, I did not understand why he laughed. May be he laughed at my ignorance. He said," We will not give any loan for old houses if they exceed 10 years madam" ( 1 st Obstacle) I was jerked, I said , "But you gave to Swarna Kamala garu my friend, 4 lakhs"-, I reminded him, He said, " Madam they are buying a site to build a house" we will give loan for such transactions..Even for you we will give if you want to buy new house, or to buy a vacant site"
If here was somebody in my place then they could easily go for better house which could be loaned by the Bank. But not me. I sat there steadily looking at him. Because I am accustomed to face hurdles in my path of His Will. I could as well go for new house or a vacant land to build a house. But the promise I got in Levi 25:30 is very clear, that I should go for this house in Ashoknagar only.
I will tell you how I got the rest of the money...within 15 days,With all my hard toil I could save Rs.40000/ only in all those past years; and Rs.50000/ within one year; now I should earn Rs.90000/ within 15 days, could it be possible?We would not go for finance companies, or go to any person for debts. We never opted for Chits or go for Chit companies. Then how could it be possible? Will it be possible? Yes it could be possible because He promised me. , You will be astonished how God will make things possible in miraculous way when He give His word. Only to those who talk and listen to His voice it could be understood-
" Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and ye shall find, If you knock knock the door it will be opened to you every time, If his children ask the father, for a piece of bread, Will that father give him a stone instead? NOOOOO" Sunday school Song I taught to my children ringing in my ears.
TRIVIAL MATTERS - MATTERS TO GOD
"Matthews-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
. We were given an ultimatum that we should pay the full amount of Rs 180000/- at once on 28th of February, 1994 and get the house registered. Or else we can forgo our claims to negotiate to buy the house.. The Manager of the Baroda Bank told me I will not get any loan because the house is too old He said if it is above 10 years old they would not lend any loan; this house is +25 years old.
I went to the bank and asked for the loan on 14th February. So what to do? I asked the same question "Sir, then what to do? I need to purchase this house before 28th of this month.". . We were given an ultimatum that we should pay the full amount of Rs 180000/- at once on 28th of February, 1994 and get the house registered. Or else we can forgo our claims to negotiate to buy the house.. The Manager of the Baroda Bank told me I will not get any loan because the house is too old He said if it is above 10 years old they would not lend any loan; this house is +25 years old.
As I know this is the house God wants me to buy, I won't go for any other one for sure. When the seller is so obstinate, usually we do not like to take risk to buy the same one We as well go for another one, without a doubt, but that thought never occurred to me, as I knew God had directed me to buy this house only.
" Madam' may be you will get a personal loan, but not more than that. We cannot help you in any other way." He said very casually as a matter of fact. He must be astonished for my next persuasive question "As personal loan, How much you will give , Sir?" "Rs. 10000/-" "Ok, Sir, when will you give that amount?"
(Some may think that I am a docile in money matters, as often I do think of myself too, because, when I need money Rs. 180000/at that moment, how can I be satisfied with mere Rs.10000/? But I knew the God of Joshua, is my God all ways, in 3:8, He had proved Himself the most Faithful One in many instances even before; 'God has brought us so far, He is able to take me even further ' is my motto. Did not He ask Joshua to tell the priests like this?" Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant; ' When you reach the edge of the Jordan's' water, take a few steps into the water and stand in the river'" YOU WILL SEE the flood of water from above stop to flow, there will be dry place to cross the river.'
Therefore by faith I must take first step of mine into the water, to see the next miracle of crossing it on dry land. God will help me certainly, So far He is leading me, He will lead me further..I am sure of it. His promise to buy THIS HOUSE in Leviticus 25:30-If it is not redeemed before of full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to the buyer and the buyer's descendants through out his generation; it shall not go out in the jubilee"-Actually when I was told that the Bank on which I relied upon, rejected to give loan of Rs.90000/ I could as well with draw my negotiations with that owner of the house and as well I could get Rs. 4,00000/ and buy a new house or site very easily, but I never got that thought even for a second, because I knew the Will OF GOD IN PURCHASING THIS HOUSE.)
That was February 14th, within 6 days by 19th February,1994 I got the rest of the money I needed. I did not go for debts.
" Fill up these papers, and get your salary certificate tomorrow and we will pay you tomorrow itself, mam'. (2).The next day he gave me Rs. 10000/- I asked him about gold loan.
"Sir I have 4 gold bangles and one gold chain. Can you give me some loan?
"yes mam' we can give an agriculture loan to you for lesser interest, do you have any agriculture land?"
Yes, sir, we have a small piece of land on my husband name in his native village."\
"Well taking your word for assurance we will release the amount tomorrow on your gold, say. Rs.10000/-" Next day I went and received the total of amount Rs.20000/- Sometime back I heard that we can get loan on NSC certificates.
We lecturers were used to buy NSC-Certificates to evade the tax we had to pay on our salary.
Eg. when we need to pay Rs. 5000/- tax, if we buy 25000/ {5x5=25}- valued certificates and show them in income tax office, that amount of Rs. 5000 need not be paid for tax. But we cannot redeem them till 6 years completed, until they are matured to the double amount , because we bought those for the purpose of Tax elimination with Government permission. It was like walking in the clouds for me, I was led by the Holy Spirit all through, otherwise I had no other support financially from any other source. Not even one second I got a thought I should seek help from any other sources too. It was just liking on the water...looking unto Jesus. When God is leading there would not be any doubts, or plans of our own to implement, its sheer walking as He guides us.
Not knowing what to do and how to do, I went to the same bank and inquired the same clerk who was kind enough to advise me. He told me that I need to go to Post office where I purchased them through an agent, and ask them to give some loan. He counted the face value of those certificates which came to Rs. 75000/-
The next day my husband and myself went to different post offices, like Ashoknagar, Venkatarao pet post office , and Narasimha Rao pet post Offices. In Narasamiha Rao post office We had a strange incident with a gentle man who was tall and fair in white attire, the Postmaster. We had different treatment by him unlike the other postmasters, He was extremely cordial towards us, treated us as VIPs, taken us into the inner chamber of the post office and made us to sit comfortably, got two cups of tea for us, and inquired about our purchase of the house. after we told him about this old house to be purchased in Ashoknagar; he advised us like this; " I am like your father, I want to give you some good advice. I understand that you are buying an old house, then do not try to destroy it or do not be hasty to build a new one. Do not try to renovate it till you get rid of your loans. See I did the same thing and I built a very big house, but my children are grown up and they cannot stay with me due to the jobs they are doing in different places. Even if they come they could stay with me only a few days, or at the most for a fortnight , not more than that. I am getting old and it has become a great burden for me to maintain the house as it is a big house. Do not do like me. For one year do not try to do anything with that house. Just keep it as it is. Later, after you could pay the loans you made, and redeem the certificates, by and by, then you can think of repairing it or renovating it, slowly. This is my advise to you as an elderly person.."
It was just like my own dad was with me and telling me what to do and what not to do. He was so kind and gentle man and well known person in the town, Meesaala Appanna's family member. We took his good advice at once. He redeemed our certificates and gave us the cash. All together on our NSC certificates\
(3)we got Rs.45000/- on loan.so 20000+45000=65000
My friend Cecilia, physical directress, used to come with me to the Bank while I was going for personal loan and Gold loan, because she had classes only after the college academic hours , she was free to accompany me, in my leisure hour.
One day, on our way to the Bank, she said like this," Leela, I understand you need some money to buy this house,(4) I have Rs.10000/- in the bank as Fixed deposit. I would like to lend it to you, but will you pay the interest I am getting in the bank every month, until you repay the money to me?"--
I could not believe my own ears, Can you imagine my surprise? I never know that she would lend money like this, without me asking her. She herself was a widow, and living in a small rented house, trying to save every pie for the higher education of her only son who was studying in different state. -I never thought of asking for debt from any one in my life, asking MAN for my needs is completely out of my dictionary, not even letting them know of my financial needs, even indirectly is out of question. My God, My Father gives everything I need, so I did not thought of asking her or getting help from her.
I was so grateful to her and accepted her offer. So 65000+10000=75000 (dt 17/2/1994) We have no other sources to get some loan , no land, no more gold, no other property and we would not ask any one to lend money. I do not know how the rest of money I could get, I have to have somemore money too as any expenses for registration.
That day I went to college as usual to sign in the register, when I went to sign again for afternoon session, I saw a notice on the board which was not in the morning on College bulletin. A notice of that kind was never put on before or after wards in our college. Its an advertisement from IOB ( Indian Oversees Bank)
, "WWW---- Working women welfare - fund."
It was written that they were ready to give Rs.10000/- loan to the working women instantly, any body can apply for it bringing salary certificate from the employer.
My joy knew no bounds, I got my employment certificate from the Principal, and went home and informed my husband, and the next day we went to the Bank.
We both went immediately to Over Seas Bank in 1 town area, there was the Assistant Manager whom I knew since my childhood, I knew he was working in a bank but did not know that he was in that bank. His name was Arun kumar, his sister Shobha and me were childhood friends, as his dad also was Police Officer, he and my dad worked in the same towns three times, and lived in the bungalows side by side. in Bandar, Guntur, Eluru etc..But his sister and me were afraid of him because he was much older to us, and used to hit us on our heads, as he was thinking that we were wasting time all the time by playing in the ground. As I know him well , when I saw him there in the Bank I was happy and I introduced my husband to him, and told him that I came to claim for a loan on W.W.W-- He was kind enough to do the work within minutes and handed over the cash to us. We thanked him immensely and reached home so we got(5) another Rs.10000/ ( ---75000+10000=85000)
We both are very naive and not worldly wise, we take things as they are, mostly we depend on our Sovereign Almighty God. we never learned to plan or discuss things with others for our needs,. We used to tell our God on our knees all the needs we have. In the Arts Department in college where I worked we used to ask welfare of one another , and used to suggest pieces of advice to one another, most of them were my seniors so they used to ask about others welfare and give us advises. My friend and my well wisher Mrs. Umadevi, Lecturer in History asked me whether I pooled out all the money, when I told her I did pooled Rs.85000/ she calculated that I need some more ,say some Rs.30000/- for registration expenditure and other things. ---She said , " Your youngest sister is working in Andhra Bank and your brother-in-law in Bank of India, can't they get some loan on their name and give to you so that you can pay interest on it every month until you repay the principle money in due course of time?" --- Already I tasted this sort of arrangement from my friend Cecelia, taking Rs.10000/ on Bank interest, I found this is really a very good advice. I went home and shared this piece of information with my husband, so that day we called my sister and told her our need and requested her whether she could get some loan on her name and give to us , and we will repay the interest on that amount every month and the principle money within short period of time. She answered," O Leelakka, as it is we are in deep debts, you know we hardly get money as salary to bring home, as we bought the gas stove and fridge and all the gadgets on installment basis and our salary is being cut alltogether, we hardly can help you."
I was very disappointed, but as usual as the eldest of the three sisters, I demanded, " hey you have to help me , you being the banker you have to do something , we are coming to Jony's marriage, day after tomorrow,(19/2/1994)to Vizag, please try to get some help."--- In marriage hall she told me that some one in her office is in habit of lending money to good and sound party, on an agreement of paying the Bank interest. And he is willing to give us Rs. 30000/- but that money should be returned by the end of the April month. and gave me 30000 check. (6).(Rs.85000+30000=1,15000/))
(I was happy knowing very well, that the faithful God would help me to repay that money in due time. He is the one who would do wonders as He is my Father. He would not put me to shame. Knowing this, by faith, I accepted the offer. How I would pay I did not know but I would repay it, that I know. Not contemplating plans of solving problems of the future, is the secret of having FAITH in Him. I have faith in Him. Neither I was clever in counting and calculating or planning the financial matters. But I could depend on All knowing Loving Father God We en-cashed the check soon after we returned from Vizag Later they told me after 23 years that the stranger who lend money for Bank interest was none other than they themselves under the disguise of another banker. I thanked God for they had a role in increasing my faith in my God by pressing me to return the money by the end of April under the name of other person.
On 26th February , We met the owner of the house, who came from Hyderabad, to finalize the negotiations of the house purchase and met us in Document writer house. Strangely enough we found the one who already purchased half portion of the house suddenly after knowing that we are going to buy the other portion did a mischievous act. He built a wall encroaching some place in our site which had a municipality tap. He already had a well and steps to climb the terrace in his site, but he wanted to devour the tap also so he did it that way. Seeing this unjustful act of our neighbor, we thought of asking the owner on that day, that we should be given the tap, by all means as we bargained the house with tap water connection.
We came to know to get a new connection we need to pay Rs. 7000/, we also knew, not only money but the municipality is full of corruption, to get a new connection; we need to give bribes from top to toe of the administration, who would sanction a new connection. Which we do not want to do, and would not do. so we thought we should get the municipality water tap, from our encroached neighbor, even we thought kindly to ask for the tap by paying him half of the cost of the Tap connection i.e., Rs.3500/ to him so that he could add the remain money for himself, to get new connection, as he already have water well, and steps to climb to the terrace which we do not have. This was very clear bargain, we prayed over it and determined to tell our neighbor to take the money we offer, out of kindness, though we need not pay, and ask him to leave the municipality water tap to us.
Foolish Prattle Yet God's grace abundant.
But after we went to the Document writer's house, instead of sticking to our own statement , we said like this , " The tap belongs to us, now to have new tap we need to pay Rs.7000/ extra, , you have taken that the tap and also some place which belong to us,,which was ours when we bargain the house,you constructed a wall in wrong way, you give Rs.3500/ to us or we will give Rs.3500/ to you to get a new connection,." We added this last piece of statement Or we will give Rs.3500/ ,very very foolishly. Immediately the neighbor jumped to the proposal and said that he would give that Rs.3500/ and he will take tap. we both opened our mouths ajar, and could not believe our own ears. After the business was over when we came out, we both at once said to each other, "Oh Why we said so? Why we were prattled foolishly that we would give that half amount ,giving him a chance to grab the water tap." --But what is the use of lamenting now?//it now became the past,its over. Now.we understood that after registration of the house my husband has to make rounds again and again to get a municipal water tap. We did not know why we talked like that, with a sort of remorse, we launched into other work of gaining the house premises ,i.e., registration,etc.
But later we understood that God Himself made us to yield to the cunning encroachment of our neighbor. Though we thought we prattled foolishly about the tap bargaining, God has better plans for us. Oh yes not even a strangle of hair will fall without His order ? Even our foolish hasty prattle became a great wondrous blessing to us. In fact though we thought we spoke foolishly, in God's plan it was for our best. That story I will continue after I finished the story of purchasing the house.(-If we were given that old tap we would had forgone a MIRACLE of God awaiting for us.)
It was 27th February, the next day we will get the house registered. I was signing in the college register, one of our good friends Ms. Rajyalaxmi, Head of History Department, asked me
'Leela when is your house registration? I said, 'Tomorrow Miss" She sat on the sofa, in the office room, I too made my place beside hers. She said," You always say you would not give any bribes, but in case of house registration you have to give bribe, without paying bribe they would not register the house. "My heart just skipped a beat at once, I was shocked"What Miss, is it real? without bribe they do not register?" She affirmed her version of Bribe once again in plain words, that there would not be any escape from bribe. My face was pale, and I said, very slowly and steadily, looking down at the floor, "Miss, if.. if it is not possible to register the house ,without giving BRIBE in the Registration Office, yes, I will cancel the registration of the house Miss.." I said so, in a pensive mood, and sat there for some time even after she left for her class. In the evening when I went home and I knelt down at my bedside, I poured my heart, what I prayed, how I prayed I do not remember, but I was in deep agony which cannot be explained. How much time I was in His presence I do not remember now.
But One thing I remember very clearly, the Word of God was in front of me, my Lord spoke to me through His word, He consoled me by His word, He healed my ruptured heart with His word, he erased all my fears with His word.
Numbers 11:18 to 35--- You know what it is about? It was right in front of me in the open pages of the BOOK.
The Israelites were crying for the meat, Moses went into the presence of God and told Him,----' "See these people Lord, they are crying for the meat, what I can do?"---Surprisingly God told Him " Right, you feed them with meat " Moses was immensely surprised and exclaimed, "Oh Lord , what are you thinking? Am I supposed to feed this vast population with the meat? Do you think thousands and thousands of goat and sheep are enough for these people , how can I provide such heaps of meat for these greedy people?"--- It was his question to God, the answer He gave was, " Do you think the HAND OF YAHWEH IS SHORT enough?" that it could not provide it? I HEARD OF THEIR WAILING , Moses , feed them with the meat. Not one day, or two days, not even 5 days, or 10 or 20 days, I will give them for one month, go and tell them.'
Numbers 11:18 to 35--Then Moses was asking God, 'Lord I am among these people who are more than 6 lakh people, how can you give so much meat to them? Should I kill all the goats, and cattle? Should I gather all the fish in the oceans?--- Then the Lord answered him like this, verse 23, "Is the Lord's arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true to you"This was my promise. Later, they ate quails which were brought by the wind till it came out of their nostrils and loathed it, and still the meat was in between their teeth they were struck with plague.
Yes His arm was not short.. that was my promise.
So on 28th February we went to the Registrar office, I wanted to go along with him into the office, I used to feel that I should be with him to give him moral support. But he told me"Leela , you stand at the scooter under this tree, and pray for the registration to go on smoothly" --
It was my wont to obey him without another word. So I stood there and was praying, after two hours or so he came out with a big grin on his face. I was looking at him anxiously from distance. He approached me under that tree near the scooter and told me, " Leela, nobody asked me for bribe, instead I took New Testament Bibles in my suitcase , and I distributed those to them and came"
We got our house registered on 28th February, 1994. No body can imagine the great JOY we had when we stepped into that God given house. Even the Queen of England may not have felt that JOY I had when I stepped into my gracious abode, I felt like there were invisible angels with wings around me and they were fanning me as I stepped into the house.
You want to know how I re-payed that Rs.30000/- back to my sister in the month of April? And what the Lord did about the Municipality water tap? These are not ordinary stories.. There again the Lord was there and He extended His hand and did not allow us to face any shame in repaying that big amount of Rs.30000/- in time to my sister.
Faith walks in real sense, it is there when we were in rags or in costly apparel, You will have no words to speak when you know how we got that amount , or how we gained the Tap without any bribe giving. We did not stop to pay our regular interest payments in the bank and post offices, while we were doing so we were able to pay that amount and got the best connection of new Municipality water tap. And also Electric connection without giving any bribe.
We can gain things by ancestry inheritance, we can gain things by our hard earned savings, we can gain things by incurring debts, we can gain things by cheating others, but gaining things by God's approval and guidance and by His promises gives us two fluffy wings on our shoulders and cause us to fly in the clouds within a second. Even a Queen would not gain this joy of having an abode, as I have, to live in, unless they have faith in Jesus who gives every good gift from above.
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