FOCUS on Today!

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matt 6:34

One of the hardest things for any of us today is, Just being soaked into any issue of "what will happen next?!". We see some future needs or problems  and we force ourselves automatically into it; but we fail to live for God today. By worrying about tomorrow, we miss many opportunities that God has for us today. Life is to be lived one day at a time. That is the essence of simplifying a difficult situation. Focus only on what is in front of you right now. 

An example is the bird of the air. Birds do not shop at supermarkets and they don’t use refrigerators or freezers. Each new day they must hunt and gather food, yet they don’t seem to worry. They are up every morning singing joyfully. 

Can you imagine a SCENE in the Bird's Nest where Momma Bird asks Papa Bird, What’s wrong Papa why aren’t you sleeping? Papa bird says, “I’m worried. We have three newly hatched chicks in the nest. How can I sleep when I do not know what we will do if I can’t find any worms tomorrow?!!!

Worry is empty and gets you nowhere. We need to learn to trust God. He gave us our life and he will sustain it. He will provide what we need for every day. He never gives us grace in bulk. It is the matter of “Fact : If you want to feel HAPPY, Do not do what you like to do; rather, Do what you have to do! “

We lose the joy of living in the present,
when we worry about the future!

Feathery!!!

Birds...Feathery touch! Fun time to doodle this feather .... ! Just wondered God's creation ! It's really beautiful!!

Right or Wrong!

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Gen 4:7

What’s the pressure in our heart pounding and warning us at some times? We know it. Temptations come at unexpected moments. When selfish feelings or thoughts begin to invade the heart, Be careful to listen to the voice of conviction. It’s the moment that speaks to you which God is not pleased with the direction of your thoughts and feelings that takes you. At that moment of conviction, you must master the sin that crouches at the door of your life. But we cannot master sin in our own strength. Instead, we must turn to God to receive faith for ourselves and faith and strength from other believers. Master the sin at the door of your life before it brings its inevitable and disastrous consequences. 

Heed His caution, and you will avoid unnecessary hardship for yourself and others. Life is always under our choice and we need to choose what is right and if we are not we have to face the consequences. The time between the initial temptation and the chosen response is critical. Much difference hangs in the balance. Where is your pressure point today?

Spicy Garlic Chicken!(Chettinad style)

Chicken chettinadu is a very famous dish from Tamilnadu. It’s prepared with lots of aromatic spices which makes this dish unique. I just tried with a little twist(spicy garlic) but it tastes delicious. This is a kind of chicken dish with some thick gravy. It has an unbeatable flavor and taste.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chicken (washed and chopped into fine pieces)
• Onions(Chopped) - 1 cup
• Tomato(Chopped) - ½ cup
• Ginger - 3/4 inch
• Garlic(finely chopped & crushed) - 10 to 12 pods
• Curd - 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - little
• Cinnomon sticks - 3
• Cardomom pods- 4
• Cloves - 5
• Fennel seeds- 1/2 tbsp
• Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
• Pepper(Coarsely grounded) - 1 tbsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tbsp.
• Garam masala - 1 tbsp.
• Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cut chicken into small pieces. Add curd and lemon juice 5 drops , turmeric powder, curry leaves, red chilli powder and little Salt. Keep this aside. Let it marinate for 30 min.

Dry roast the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, fennel seeds and grind it in the mix.

Heat oil into the pan, add the grounded spices powder and then add the chopped onion and fry till onion turns brown. Add the crushed garlic and then add the grated ginger....fry till the raw smell goes away. 

Add the tomatoes and cook until it makes a gravy. Add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder. Add garam masala, and little salt. Do not add any water, just cook till it leaves oil in the pan.

Add the marinated chicken and cook(if needed add 1 cup of water) till chicken is soft and tender, when the oil separates add the coarsely ground pepper and  chopped coriander leaves. Fry for 2 to 3 min. Garnish with curry leaves and Enjoy with fried rice or any rice variety.

Get Closer!

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10

What hardship or difficulty prevents you from being what God wants you to be?

What comes to mind right now? Are you willing to release your grip on that hope or dream, to the lord? Many times we have so much we are holding on to that we are unable to receive what God is waiting to give to us. We forget that God is a giver, and that He desires to give to us. So we fill up our own hands, trying to satisfy our souls, while He is watching and waiting until there is room in our hands and lives, to receive from Him.

Much of our walk is determined by how we desire Him. The Lord promises that if you draw near to Him ..... He will draw near to you. God wants this relationship very much. He wants You!

A Fresh Start!

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

God is always taking us forward, leading and guiding us into unknown territories as we learn to lean on Him in greater measure. 

It was 1818 in France, and Louis, a boy of 9, was sitting in his father’s workshop. The father was a harness-maker and the boy loved to watch his father work the leather. "Someday Father," said Louis, "I want to be a harness-maker, just like you."

"Why not start now?" said the father. He took a piece of leather and drew a design on it. "Now, my son," he said, "take the hole-puncher and a hammer and follow this design, but be careful that you don’t hit your hand." excited, the boy began to work, but when he hit the hole-puncher, it flew out of his hand and pierced his eye! He lost the sight of that eye immediately. Later, sight in the other eye failed. Louis was now totally blind. A few years later, Louis was sitting in the family garden when a friend handed him a pinecone. As he ran his sensitive fingers over the cone, an idea came to him. He became enthusiastic and began to create an alphabet of raised dots on paper so that the blind could feel and interpret what was written. Thus, Louis Braille opened up a whole new world for the blind--all because of an accident!

Aren’t you glad that God wants to do something new in your life? Doesn’t it make you excited to know that God desire to give you a fresh start, a new beginning in life. A Change is something that most of us does not want to do. We want to be in our so - called comfort zone. We like to be within our surroundings or within our situation and dont want to look the new realm of maturity to grow into. We cannot live forever in the comfort zone, “ within the womb” or “ within the cocoon”; A change must happen for us to grow. There is always a struggle when a change is manifested, still we need to understand that God is far more interested in our future than He is in our past. Sometimes, He removes His grace, so that a job, position, or task that we once enjoyed becomes tedious and joyless. Other times, the Lord puts pressure on us, squeezing us off the old path, and onto a new one. But still,

We serve a God who is going to do a new thing.  Just we must believe!

> where He leads.

> when He speaks.

> when He expects.

> when He offers.

> when He promises.

> when He reveals!

God has a way of moving you through even the hardest of circumstances. Just trust Him through the entire process. He will bring you out of your personal wilderness. Refocus the thoughts to get the change in life. Rethink the way what you think, the way you think determines the way you feel also itz the replica of what you act. If you are in distress, discouragement or depression, it may be because you are rehearsing those painful moments. It cannot go off without a single “start” from you. Success in life is not trying harder, but living smarter and giving God control of life. 


God has already set into motion a new direction and a new purpose for your life!!  “A Change is the bridge to tomorrow.”

Pleased Action!

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. Prov 16:7

Are you at peace with God personally, or is there some conflict, confusion, or doubt hindering your relationship with Him? 

Is He pleased with your actions? Is He pleased with the ways of your heart?

Has something been on your heart for a while? 

Let God handle the details of it. Choose to give it over to God. You will never be able to accomplish anything on your own, but God can accomplish all things! Commit whatever you do to God, and your plans WILL succeed! Just remember, this isn’t in your time; it’s all about God’s timing! How does your walk look to the Lord? God wants you to be living a right life before Him. Make sure you live rightly before the Lord and let Him bring peace between you and others.

Ask God to teach you His ways of peace and to show you how to be a peacemaker for His kingdom. Pray for the worldly peace and godly peace.

A Mom's Prayer!

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day, 

With little time to stop and pray, 

For Life's been anything but calm, 

Since You called me to be a mom - 

Running errands, matching socks, 

Building dreams with matching blocks, 

Cooking, cleaning and finding shoes

 And other stuff that children lose, 

Fitting lids on bottled bugs, 

Wiping tears and giving hugs, 

A stack of last week's mail to read - 

So where's the quiet time I need? 

Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,

 Just at the sink or ironing board, 

To ask the blessings of Your grace,

I see then, in my small one's face,

 That You have blessed me all the while- 

And I stoop to kiss... That precious smile.

Author Unknown

Tulips!

Most of us love flowers for their shape, color, fragrance and beauty. I really enjoy doing flower sketches. It's only when you start filling in details that you realize just how intricate the petals are. Flower drawings are simple and attractive! What you say?!

Mother's Touch!!!

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:4-5

Being a mother is a very important role that the Lord chooses to give to many women. Children are gift from the Lord. When we say “Mother’s love”, its the concept flows out of the word in the form of caring for children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly valuing each one as a unique gift from the hand of God. 

How does it works? Am I being a good mom? Check In!

@  Interact with them and know their hearts, discuss the plans, think and rethink, build the life process together.

@  Discipline them with the fear of the Lord, let them know the limits lovingly and firmly. 

@  Make the most of the time(walk, talk, sleep and arise) with them and have fun.

@  Teach the scriptures and tell them how to apply in life issues. Train the kid to develop their skills and know their efforts and encourage them.

@  Practice a “good moral life” from which he can learn the essence of godly living.

@  Provide the good verbal support, nurture them in all the good ways with unconditional love and affection. 

Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease.

The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously.

Finches!

I just love birds. I've always liked colorful littlebirds like kingfisher and hummingbirds...finches.! My all time favorite, where my dad feeds every morning when we were in college days. He really likes and loves to pet and care the birds. Just had the thought and sketched this ... hope it looks good. 

Great Mothers of Bible!

Eve - Mother of all the living.

Eve, the mother of us all. Eve was the first woman and the first mother. Without a single role model or mentor, she paved the maternal way to become "Mother of All the Living."- And she was the woman who made THE monumental, mind-blowing, affects-everybody forever mistake. So she probably deserves the bad rap she gets. But it wasn't like there were any other women around to make it instead of her, right? Maybe she was the first to partake of the fruit just because she was the only one who could remember where it was in the garden (women just know where stuff is). she just had to figure it out on her own, but, then again, nobody could look at her and tell her that she was doing it all wrong. And sure, she got us into epidurals, but she had the mother of all heartache, too. Her sons were involved in the first homicide.   Yet, despite these tragedies Eve went on to fullfill her part in God's plan of populating the Earth. 

Sarah - Mother of Isaac.

Sarah, the first of the Jewish matriarchs, was the wife of Abraham, the first Patriarch, and the mother of Isaac, the second Patriarch. She was a helpmate to Abraham but she was also protective of her son. She kept Isaac away from bad influences. Sarah was Abraham's partner in the desert. Their tent was always open on all four sides to allow travelers a place to rest and eat. The people who stopped and rested with them often became part of their family.
But Sarah wanted a child of her own. She prayed to God for a son and her prayers were answered. When she was 90 years old, she gave birth to Isaac. Sara made sure her son had a good home and a good upbringing for 37 years, until she passed away at the age of 127. Her faith serves as a shining example for every person who has to wait on God to act.

Rebekah - The mother of twins

Rebekah and Isaac married and Rebekah prayed for children. She became pregnant with twins. The twins fought with each other in the womb. When they were born, the first son came out, he was hairy and everyone called him Esav (Esau), which meant hairy. When the second son came out, he was holding the heel of the older son. His father, Isaac, called him Yaakov (Jacob) which came from the Hebrew word for heel.
As they got older, Esau was a hunter and a killer and Jacob was a learner. Jacob wanted to get his father's blessing. But Isaac was fooled by Esau. Esau brought his father, who had gone blind, meat from animals he had hunted and treated him well. But Rebekah saw that Jacob was the good son and told him how to fool his father. Because Isaac had grown up in the house of Abraham and Sarah, he only knew honesty. But Rebekah was the daughter of Betuel, who was dishonest in business and so she knew how to counteract Esau's deceptions. Rebekah saw to it that Isaac's blessing went to the appropriate son, Jacob.

Jochebed - Mother of Moses

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is one of the under appreciated mothers in the Bible, yet she also showed tremendous faith in God. To avoid the mass slaughter of Hebrew boys, she set her baby adrift in the Nile River, hoping someone would find him and raise him. God so worked that her baby was found by Pharaoh's daughter. Jochebed even became her own son's nurse. God used Moses mightily, to free the Hebrew people from their 400 year bondage of slavery and take them to the promised land. Although little is written about Jochebed in the Bible, her story speaks powerfully to mothers of today. 

Hannah -Mother of Samuel, the Prophet

Hannah's story is one of the most touching in the entire Bible. Like several other mothers in the Bible, she knew what it meant to suffer long years of barrenness. In Hannah's case she was cruelly taunted by her husband's other wife. But Hannah never gave up on God. Finally her heartfelt prayers were answered. She gave birth to a son, Samuel, then did something entirely selfless to honor her promise to God. God favored Hannah with five more children, bringing great blessing to her life. 

Bathsheba - Mother of Solomon

Bathsheba was well-named as it was her “bath-ing” that attracted the attention of King David. Their illicit affair resulted in the birth of a son. King David tried for some damage control by sending her husband out to war, back to the house hoping for a copulating cover-up, and then out to the front lines to get killed. (And we think we have seriously evil plots in our current movies.) David got his wish — Bathsheba’s husband was killed in battle, and David thought he had gotten away with it. Nathan confronted him and David repented bitterly. But we never really hear how it all affected Bathsheba. Their sin is well documented and the effects to David’s household long-lasting. However, a son was born from their union and Solomon turned out to be a peaceable ruler whose wisdom was legendary. Bathsheba’s motherhood gives women hope that, regardless of the circumstances surrounding your pregnancy and the birth of your child, God can redeem any situation. You never know, you might just have the wisest person ever on the planet staring back at you from that high chair.

Elizabeth - Mother of John the Baptist

The mother of John the Baptist, and the wife of Zechariah the priest. She is a descendant of Aaron. Elizabeth had been barren for many years, but God performed a miracle and she conceived a child who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. While Zechariah was burning incense in the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and announced that a son who would "be great before the Lord" would be born to Elizabeth. In Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, Gabriel also appeared to Mary and announced that she would become pregnant with a Son "called the Son of God." Mary then traveled to a Judean town (tradition places this town as, Ein Karem, just west of Jerusalem) to visit her relative Elizabeth. When Mary entered the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb".

Mary -Mother of Jesus Christ.

Mary was the most honored mother in the Bible, the human mother of Jesus, who saved the world from all sins. Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl, looking forward to marriage. Suddenly her life would forever be changed. Mary was fearful and troubled in the presence of the angel. She could never have expected to hear the most incredible news that she would have a child, and her son would be the Messiah. Although she could not comprehend how she would conceive the Savior, she responded to God with belief and obedience.

Although Mary's life held great honor, her calling would demand great suffering as well. Just as there is pain in childbirth and motherhood, there would be much pain in the privilege of being the mother of the Messiah. Mary stands as highly favored by God, a shining example of obedience and submission to the Father's will.

A Mother!

Somewhere between the youthful energy of a teenager and the golden years of a woman’s life, there lives a marvelous and loving person known as "Mother."

A mother is a curious mixture of patience, kindness, understanding, discipline, industriousness, purity and love.

A mother can be at one and the same time, both "lovelorn counselor" to a heartsick daughter, and "head soccer coach" to an athletic son.

A mother can sew the tiniest stitch in the material for that dainty prom dress and she is equally experienced in threading through the heaviest traffic with a station wagon or van.

A mother is the only creature on earth who can cry when she’s happy, laugh when she’s heartbroken, and work when she’s feeling ill.

A mother is as gentle as a lamb and as strong as a giant. Only a mother can appear so weak and helpless and yet be the same one who puts the fruit jar cover on so tightly even Dad can’t get it off.

A mother is a picture of helplessness when Dad is near, and a marvel of resourcefulness when she’s all alone.

A mother has the angelic voice of a member in the celestial choir as she sings Brahm’s lullaby to a babe held tight in her arms; yet this same voice can dwarf the sound of an amplifier when she call her boys in for supper, or cheers them on at a game.

A mother has the fascinating ability to be almost everywhere at once and she alone can somehow squeeze and enormous amount of living into an average day.

A mother is "old fashioned" to her teenager; just "Mom" to her third-grader; and simple "Mama" to little two-year old sister.

But there is hardly a thrill in life that can compete to pointing to that wonderful woman and be able to say to all the world, "That’s my mother!"