Testimonies

“REAL GOOD”

January 19, 2010

Our Lord’s “REAL GOOD” goodness in my life is undeniable and the year’s best memories I have are from My Lord. I cherish them and desire for more of HIM. The year’s (2008) first memory happened around the watch night service itself in our hometown. I kept seeking God. It is a practice that we take promise cards at the end of the service in Tamil Nadu. But, I felt within that i will not do that this year, instead seek the Lord and receive it directly! Yes indeed, the Lord gave me a verse after the church service when i kept reading the Bible. I believe, it was not just for a year. But for a Phase and a Purpose. I had taken a commitment to study the Bible this year!!! That was something i had never done before. But the desire within was so strong, that i started making BIBLE READING as my prime time, when kids went to school. After having worked for years, being a house wife was a tough task for me. But, the joy of spending time with God and HIS WORD, was thus possible. Most of what i want to share centre around this.

• I had never read any books of the OT. But they came so alive to me.
• Several passages got stuck in my heart. Like i know how it felt when i read those passages and it is hard to forget them.
• Till date, I have done 44 books from OT and NT in the Life application study bible without missing a title or an explanation. This is just not me. This is the power of God that dwells in me; He has drawn me for a closer fellowship with Him.
• Books: I love reading. I have always loved reading. God introduced several books to read alongside the study. This is pure miracle. The books i read would clarify the principle i have read from the Bible. Only i know, how the Sprit of God urged and guided me to choose the books of study or reading! God provided some books through friends and most through the generosity of my husband.
• The name of the Lord: On a particular day, I felt prompted to pray for my maid. After a while i told her, that she too must ask sincerely to the Lord for her health. I kept praying and did not realize that she too had sat in a corner for prayer. Suddenly there was a wild manifestation of something evil. There was no one around to ask for help or for prayer. I simply prayed in the name of Jesus and ordered that evil spirit to leave her and not to disturb and she fell flat on her face with a thud. I personally experienced what i had read from the gospel (I was studying the gospels then) and have known for myself the power of our Lord’s name.
• In the year 2009 till date, not a single church service that I have attended has been casual. Every single one has been special and ministered very deeply to me.
• During very short visits to my home town, several children of God have come over, not even knowing i was in town and have prayed for me. They would pray in tongues and interpret them. I treasure them in my heart and I remind myself of those and am in anticipation to see those promises of God coming true in my life. I know in my spirit, they will.
• The next new thing was, God puts sudden burden about some things in my heart. That is simply amazing .God through this process connected a need and a source for a missionary kids’ school twice in a way I could not imagine. This has taught me, that I am here to do His purposes with his provision and not to toil for self crafted vision , no matter how noble they may be. The joy of pleasing the master and being in his good books is a feeling of great satisfaction.
• The predominant part of the year 2009, we were in Hyderabad. We worshiped at NLAG church. I have been blessed by the messages very much. But, several years ago, a particular message taught at APC, kept coming to my mind about feeling God through all senses. I have felt the urge to pray along that message several times in Hyderabad. And, I have felt a quaint, tingling feeling all over me sometimes when I pray on my own or with others or mostly when I testify or share god’s word to someone. I am a person, who loves affirmation. To get it from the Lord is most gratifying. I love my lord for the way He reaches out to me. I am being taught by my God to feel sure and contented without affirmations from people these days!
• Lastly, let me say this: In the Missions conference in NLAG, when an altar call was given, to serve the Lord, I got up and walked to the front. I am till date, not sure how. But, I have told the Lord I am available to him. Again on our return to Bangalore, in a local missionary support organizational meeting, if felt very clearly that I will stand to give account to God alone. None from family or church will be accountable for me to do what the lord wants me to do. Inconveniences to serve will always be in plenty.

My challenges in life are silly, simple yet very much there. They are scary at times, some sinful, some not understandable at all. To settle on a good routine has been very tough. Dealing with my own very rough edges is discouraging many a time. But, now, I have learnt to keep the lull phases short, purely by the power of our Lord. I go back to him sooner than before during phases of discouragements.

By way of testifying the above, I want to get across, how gratifying to know the savior of my soul and the one who loves me despite my many human errors and shortcomings. It is my prayer that the Lord will make me live in the Sprit all the time and to never forget Him. I testify that I LOVE HIM. Hepzibah Sharmila.

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Marriage Restored

January 03, 2010

Dear Pastor,

I thank you for ministering God's word to me which helped me to claim HIS promises year after year. I am blessed by my God to be as happy as i am today as witnessed by the attached photos. God has been very GRACIOUS to me. Please continue to remember us in your prayers. Thank you for guiding me in the right direction. Always grateful to you, Regards.

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Success in Exams

January 01, 2010

Dear Pastor,

Reconciliation and restoration, word of the lord for this year.... wonderful. Yes and amen to his purpose for all the situations that we go through.

As pastor Ashish was praying yesterday, for the things that was taken away, i just thought about the 2 papers which i ought to have passed on my previous attempt. Now the phenomenon might not understandable, though the results were announced on 31 December 09, we could not access it until today in the new year… I got the 2 papers and with good marks.

I praise god not just for the marks and being passed, but also for the time I faced when I had failed, was of course peaceful for me, but many of my friends have been astonished by the way I handled the failure. I did not be sad or angry, everything was normal, I had received the best internals, did all the work I needed to do in college and wrote the exam better than 2nd time. But i had to fail that time to show my friends the peace of god sustains in all the situations of life.

This 2nd attempt was a very difficult paper, but I did confess that I will pass, though the fact was there is little hope. We have prayed about our results in the cell group and Praise the lord here I am with good marks and bright news to say to everybody, sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the New Year. I have been restored with the victory that was due. Praise the lord, all glory to him. Thank you for the prayer.