A Special Tribute to My Angels.

A Special Tribute to My Angels.

Recently I suffered from a bout of gastrointestinal disorder. I was throwing up whatever I ate and drank and at the exact same time I was passing watery stools at my rear end. I was glued to the toilet seat throwing up on the bathroom floor. Believe me, it was like hell on earth. I was continuously doing this for about 4 to 5 times, when my husband had to literally drag me to the A&E at KTPH at 3.15am. Every time the vomitting stopped I kept telling him that I would be alright and that I had to go to school to conduct formative assessments. My concerned husband was so concerned about my health that what I told  him fell on deaf ears. Once at the emergency section of the hospital I was given two jabs and sent home with 3 days medical leave to rest. The doctor wanted me to rest for five days but I insisted on only three. He wrote out a three day medical leave chit shaking his head.

That day was my youngest son's birthday and we had planned to have a celebration at a restaurant. All our plans were thwarted by my sudden ill health. Furthermore that very day I was to have conducted a formative assessment in school and now in my condition I could not even think about it. But it was amazing how God was with me through it all in the form of angels and brought me out of the nightmare I was going through.

Here are the angels I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart.

Firstly I would like to thank my dear husband who insisted I go to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning and brought me there, patiently waited with me and brought me back and ensured that I was OK before he went to a fitful sleep for only two hours and then went to work. Thank you darling. I don't know what I would ever do without you. I need you by my side every single day of my life.

Next I would like to thank my two younger sons who were  with me ensuring I was OK and getting me what I needed and doing the chores around the house helping their dad who was juggling between work and home, and at the same time managing their own work schedules and studies. Thank you dearest Chimmy and Lawrence for being such loving and caring children. I am proud of you both for taking up responsibilities.

Then I would like to thank my dearest colleagues Sasikala and Nirmala for taking over my work and ensuring that my pupils did not miss out on anything important. They held the fort for the three days I was away despite drowning in their own tight schedules. It is very rare you get such precious gems as colleagues and I am truly blessed. Thank you dearest Sasi and Nimms, you both are very special to me. I am truly blessed to be working alongside with you.

Next and most importantly I would like to thank my dearest sister in Christ, Sujatha Sajan for doing only what a mother would do and I want to thank  her dear daughter who is also my daughter in Christ. When sis Sujatha heard that I was sick, she called her helper from her office and told her to prepare a special cumin porridge for me and did not stop at that, she got her helper to cook a special rasam and a  sumptuous feast for my family as we could not go out to celebrate our youngest son's birthday that evening. She asked her daughter Victoriya Priya who was preparing for her diploma exams to personally deliver the food to our home. In awhile sweet Victoriya Priya was knocking at our door with all the food and porridge and the special rasam. Thank you sister Sujatha and dear Priya you both have examplified the meaning of, 'A friend in need is a friend in deed' so aptly.

When I went to class on Thursday morning at 7.15am and I was greeted by my colleague Mdm Syahidah  and 36 concerned pupils  who had made a huge big 'Get Well' card for me.  It showed their appreciation and love for me. I was so touched by their love and was glad to be back in school. Thank you Mdm Syahidah and my dear Primary 5Compassion angels.

How God works through His earthly angels whom He has placed all around us! It is so amazing and exhilarating to bask  in our Lord's presence, His goodness and His loving grace!

I pray God's abundant blessings of awesome health of mind, emotions, body and spirit upon each one who allowed God to work through them.

My dearest angels, you who were amazing blessings to me, I love you all with the love of Christ Jesus!

Mrs Mary Augustine
20th Feb 2016

How To Win Spiritual Battles Effectively

My Thoughts on  Exodus17 : 8-16 &
Exodus 18:13-24

Strategies to be learnt, to win spiritual battles.

Exo 17-Vs 9
*stand on top of the hill - refers to going to a quiet place to meet with God.

*with the staff of God in my hands- here, the staff or rod represents God's power.

Exodus 17:11 NIV
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. (Coincidentally the Amalekites are the descendants of Esau, the eldest sonnof Isaac and Rebecca & the Israelites are the descendants of Jacob the second son of Isaac and Rebecca)

*As long as he prevailed in prayer, as long as he lifted up his hands in surrender to God, God defeated the enemies and the Israelites were winning but when he was overcome by tiredness and frailty and could not pray, the enemies were winning.

How does one prevail in prayer? How do we win the constant spiritual battles in our lives? As human beings we too face times when we can't pray because we are too troubled and overwhelmed with sorrows. What do we do then? Here is where the role of the prayer partners cone in. Let us see what happens in the Exodus scenario...

Exodus 17:12-13 NIV
When Moses' hands grew tired, they (Aaron and Hur)took a stone (rock)and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up---one on one side, one on the other---so that his hands remained steady till sunset. [13] So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

* took a stone (rock)and put it under him and he sat on it- here the stone or rock represents Jesus our Rock and Cornerstone. Moses sits on it...we should rest our heartaches, sorrows, anxieties and worries on Jesus and wait upon Him Who is our Rock, Foundation and Cornerstone.

* Aaron and Hur held his hands up---one on one side, one on the other---so that his hands remained steady till sunset. [13] So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

*just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses hands to be up steady till sunset, we too must help one another in intercessory prayer and encourage our prayer partners to stand steady till the results are seen and the victory is won.

What if we are like Moses bearing the troubles of everyone and are weighed down heavily by them? Regarding this we hear a very sound and Godly advice from an elderly man of great experiences, Moses' father in law Jethro.

Jethro advises Moses on how to handle people and situations wisely to be effectively win every battle we face in life.

Let us read further in
Exodus 18:13-24 KJV
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: (here Moses was facing the people) and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. [14] And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? [15] And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: [16] When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. [17] And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. [18] Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. [19] Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: [20] And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. [21] Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: [22] And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. [23] If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so , then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. [24] So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

*Here Jethro says thus, " Be thou for the people to God-ward, (that means, for the sake of those you are praying, stand toward God, stand facing God instead of the people, instead of being engrossed in their problems and being weighed down by those problems) that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:( bring their problems to God, tell God everything and seek His counsel)  [20] And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do ( thus you will be able to advise them and guide them to do the right thing to solve their problems through the Wisdom of God.

In summary, we as prayer warriors must employ the following strategies to win spiritual battles effectively:-

1) Go to a quiet place to seek God's face.
2) Rest your burdens on our Lord Jesus our Rock.
3) Surrender everything to God our Father.
4) Praise and worship Him as if nothing else matters, just knowing that He will fight the battle for us while we praise Him. 
5) When the battle is heavy, alert prayer partners to pray alongside with you.
6) Never give up till the battle is won.
7) Continue to stand before God for every detail in your life and seek His Counsel.

If we do this everyday we can rejoice in the Lord at all times.

Mary Augustine
17th Feb 2016