HE Speaks…

…and I just do not listen.

I have so many questions. Typically, these questions are discussed. I explain all that remains in my heart. I pour out my heart and keep waiting for an answer. I am hopeful, never in doubt, I know the answer will come, I keep at it. And again, I do have a listening problem. I do not know how to pause and listen to that still small voice.

A few days back was the Favor Conference and it was very special for me! Unreal, unbelievable, unimaginable. The Lord was surely busy working in and through me. I had much to take away, as it was helping me change my thinking. The insights I received must lead to changing my ways and I will sincerely focus on this.

Risk It All – Ps Chris Estrada shared from Judges 7. One question stayed with me that night: “Where is HE calling you to stand?” I relate to this question. I look at my life, and it began in 2004. Without any doubt, I know the Lord moved us to India. My work took me there, and He prepared all of us. We moved out of our comfort zone. We moved into a new culture. We moved with two young kids. We had to deal with starting life from scratch. A few years after our stint in India, we were moved to the Philippines. Then we were moved to Malaysia. We then returned to our home country, Sri Lanka. In 2017, we went back to the Philippines. He called us to stand in all these moves, what is He calling us to do right now?

Seasons have changed, our two sons are no longer dependents, they are independent grown-up adults. One is already married and no longer with us at home. Our second will move out of home in a month. He too plans to be married. The Lord is speaking to us “Where are you called to stand?”

My takeaway – I am so fearful of the enemy. As a result, I am of no real use in this warfare. I can be so self-centered, rather than God centered, and I find little place for effective ministry. Our God had a plan for us from the moment we were in the ‘womb.’ He reminded me to ask; are you war ready, are you ready to go where He sends me!

Prayer Moves a King – Ps Mark Varughese knocked me on the head! I can say without exaggeration that I have had this ‘thorn’ for more than 25 years. In my mind, I was certain and remained certain until this day, that I can change the situation. And on this day, I realized how wrong I was!!

The teaching was from Luke 18:1-8. It is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Jesus tells it to illustrate the necessity of persistent prayer. It also emphasizes not giving up. A widow repeatedly pleads with an ungodly judge. She seeks justice against her adversary and eventually gets what she wants. Her success does not come out of righteousness. It comes because of her persistence.

My takeaway – The example Jesus used highlighted that God, unlike the judge, will surely grant justice to his people. I must pray to him day and night about this ‘thorn’. I am certain that He will make a way! I must trust in God’s nature. Perseverance will change me!

Loosed By A Miracle – Ps. Jemima Varughese, she was a firecracker that night! Luke 13: 10 – 17 is when Jesus healed a crippled who had this condition for eighteen years. The women continued like this for many years, yet she still chose to come to the synagogue on the sabbath. Jesus showed His total mastery of illness and disease and deformity, no matter if the cause were spiritual or physical. The woman was happy she decided to go to the synagogue on that Sabbath day.

I looked at my life, I have a birth deformity according to my doctor. I went to him with severe back pain and the prognosis was Scoliosis. The treatment was simple; I was prescribed to wear an insole on my left shoe. I have done this for the last 5 to 6 years. I have had no issues. I have no pain at all. I am happy and amazingly comfortable to continue this way!

My takeaway – The story highlighted Jesus’ compassion and His authority to heal. It also encouraged me on God’s power to liberate and the importance of responding to God’s will without delay. I got it – I am not willing to walk in faith and trust in my healer. I am not asking for healing. I am very comfortable. I acted. I put my faith foot ahead. I claimed healing that night. I trust in His healing. I removed my insole. I will go back to my doctor. I will get myself examined. I will talk about the miracle with my doctor and everyone else!

Ps Gary Morgan addressed the business community and talked about windows of Perspective from Daniel Chapter 6. His message to the leaders was that we, like Daniel, needed to build a ‘place’ in the upper room. We also needed a ‘perspective’, a ‘posture’, and a ‘pattern’. Additionally, it was important to build a ‘precedent’ and a ‘perspective of perseverance’.

He shared about the ‘Quadrant of Victory’ for leaders. He explained that whilst Vision and Values are key in an organization, our vocabulary is critical for our Vocation.

Give the Shepherd his Job Back was the message by Ps Mark Varughese on the last day. He reminded me on how I had forgotten the most important aspect of Psalm 23:1. The Lord is My shepherd! He reminded me that ‘I am never lost’. He also helped me know that ‘I am never lonely’, ‘never late’ or ‘never lack nothing’.

My takeaway – ‘Never’ and ‘Always’ belongs only to the Shepherd. He will NEVER leave me. He will ALWAYS be there for me. But, ‘Never’ and ‘Always’ are two words I will NOT use in my marriage. They do not belong to our marriage and I must work at it. They belong only to the Shepherd!