Thoughts on 2012 Fathers' day-Thankful for Uncle John

My thoughts on 17^th June, 2012: Father’s Day: on my dear Uncle John (John-mama) (Mama means 'maternal uncle' - mother's brother' in Indian language)

God is the best example of the perfect father - a loving, nurturing, and admonishing Father; he never abandons his children. What is that dads can learn on a day like Fathers’ Day?

Every child needs Dad around; it is just not enough to bring the child into the world. The phone call once a year or in a while is not enough. The visit here and there and toys every now and then is not enough. Children are given on a loan to us and we need to be careful to service the loans. We will stand before a Holy GOD one day who will demand an answer from all that He has placed in our hands, including raising our children.

Hearts cry out when we see many children and many homes that are fatherless these days and what is shocking is that number is on the rise. Kids are just encouraged to adapt to a “new normal” that they did not ask for. Both parents need to commit to working it out and stick together to give security, future, and a home.

Together with my siblings, I happened to be a child who has lived a few years away from our parents and therefore, know the value of home, security and protection! I remember, as a small child, thinking and seeing my Dad as a giant daddy, someone who stood by me to protect me and hug me, to guide and lead me. For a number of years of my childhood, Daddy and Mommie both were away in Africa and for sometime we were raised by a dear Uncle John (John-mama) back home in India! Uncle John too was like a lion yet soft hearted and loving. If I categorize my Dad as a lion, John-mama would be a tiger. I do not ever remember him showing any partiality between his own children and us; he and his dear loving wife both treated all of us alike. My two siblings and I were raised by him and his dear wife for a few years of our lives.  

I have good memories of Uncle John (John-mama) providing security, guidance, and protection to us. He would not leave us alone to ourselves or to the neighbors. We feared Uncle John out of good reverence. He was a civil servant working as an Income Tax officer and also enjoyed driving and hunting; he had cars that we traveled in (which was, in those days, a rare commodity); he was a hard working man who provided well for his family and was a great investor. He served the community well and was well respected by all both inside and outside the church. Every Christmas and Easter time he would go hunting and bring a great game and cook and feed us. I was the youngest of all the children so he would always joke with me and treat me extra kindly. After dinner, he would play simple games with us outside in the open yard in wonderful weather and he made us laugh. There was strict discipline in his household that I appreciated much. At his house, reading the Bible and praying at night together as a family before bedtime was mandatory. He also taught us the value of Fasting. He believed in discipline and ascertained that we attended church weekly. One of the remarkable set traditions of his household was a consistent, peculiar parting greeting: Anyone who stepped out of the house said, "Isu ni Jai" (meaning "Praise be to Jesus" - in Gujarati.) Almost similar to saying, "Ok, bye, God bless" and so no one stepped out of home before saying "Isu ni Jai." Those are beautiful memories.

I recall a hilarious incident: During one of those large family feasts in my childhood, I (the tiny, tiny, little one) was seated at the far end of the row; the food was being served by my dad, while the Grace before meal time was prayed by my Uncle John at that time, so the food serving stopped in the middle. As soon as he finished saying 'Amen', I jumped right in to continue praying loudly, "And Lord Jesus, the Okra vegetable dish has not yet reached me, please help hasten it to reach me as soon as possible. Amen." and everyone burst into roars of laughter. (hey, Okra was and is still my favorite dish, I still remember thinking in my little mind that it won't reach me and that I will be forgotten! So the best thing was to plead to the Lord Jesus - the higher authority! hahahaha) (smile)   

Uncle John was the only brother my mom had; he was younger than my mom just by a year and a half or so. Both my mom and he loved each other as the only siblings they were. He respectfully addressed my mom as "motiben" (literally, "elder sister.") I also remember he and my Dad hugging and crying like David and Jonathan before Dad left for Africa. My mom and uncle both were raised by a widowed mom; when he was barely born, his dad passed away. So, a lovely nurse by profession, my grandmother dedicated her life to raising both her kids alone with God’s help. I can say that she raised a fine son and a hardworking man of principles and one who loved Jesus. My mom used to tell us that John-mama was very hard working even as a youth and learnt driving at a young age and would go to the big, huge city of Mumbai on work prior to his full time job. I am thankful to God for John-mama. I am thankful that God softened his heart to provide for us the security, protection and love we needed when our own parents were away from us due to their own duties out side the country.

One thing I am personally grateful for is his parental wisdom over my life: In my teen years before I made a huge mess, John-mama sensed the urgency of the matter and before things got out of hand, he arranged for me to travel to and be with my Mom and Dad in Africa.  I am grateful to him and his family for that superb decision that they made on my behalf. That decision changed my life totally and entirely and made me closer to God more than ever and made me a person of worth. As a young woman, I learnt the biblical principle and obedience to stay pure till I got married and saved myself for Bharat, my husband. I learnt to value Bible reading, praying, and family togetherness. I learnt that caring relatives pick up God-given roles and assume parental authority with love and genuine care without expecting anything in return. When Dad passed away in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1984, Uncle John was thousands of miles away in India; after the funeral ceremonies and mourning days were over, he suggested to my mom that I, being the youngest in the family now, need to marry and settle down. I really appreciated his concern for me even at that time when Dad was gone; Uncle John, sitting far away, still felt responsible for me and wished for my good. When he learnt that I am waiting on God and His timings, he did not pressurize me but let me wait. When God sent Bharat in my life, both John-mama and Shanta-mami (my aunt) approved of him and blessed us.  

God used Uncle John in my life in a great way. This blog post page is dedicated to my dear uncle John (John Mama), who is close to my heart and who stepped in to play a fatherly role to me and my siblings while Dad was away.  

Uncle John went to be with the Lord few years back but I know I will see him in heaven at the feet of Jesus! Jesus, thank you for kind uncle like Johnmama who took us (his sister’s kids) and treated them as his own to guide, protect and care for, but mostly for teaching the fear of God, the importance of daily Bible reading as a family, praying and honoring Christ in our lives!

©copyrighted Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) 

2012 Mothers' Day thoughts

It is 2012 Mothers Day Eve. Tomorrow the Mothers' Day will be celebrated - largely in USA. As I am treated to a delicious yummy tasting Spicy Jambalaya Rice made by my dear husband Bharat, as a special treat for me for this evening, i am relishing each grain as I write this.

Well, what am i thinking? God choosing Bharat to make me a mother to our two precious girls.  This year our sweet Narita (Prarthna) "our prayer" graduates from our own home school with Honors diploma certificate. She has been a straight A student, a recipient of solid many years' literature achievement awards and an outstanding character award as well. When it comes to obedience we can count on her. She does it from her heart and so does her sister as well.

They remind me so much of the young Timothy to whom Paul wrong letters to reminding him of how his mother and grand mother had taught scriptures from his infancy. This is what God has enabled me to with my girls. Along with Timothy, I also read in the Bible of how young Joash was raised by his dear aunt, under ground until he became a king. My favourite is Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother who raised a fine son, who chose to live in the desert, and honored Christ. While some people in the world put their kids in front, at times God calls us to shield our children, nurture them, and teach them what He puts on our hearts. We must be obedient to do His bidding!

10years ago both our girls prayed, hoped and then requested me to resign from my air travel job because they had already short listed and employed me full time to be their home schooling mom! God was at work thru Stuti the younger one, on being adamant that I must resign and home school them personally.

Just only a few days before I realized while Stuti for sometime will still be taught by me, that this is Narita's last quarter to be my high school senior student, even though she chooses to continue to stay home with us, I had tears and cried. It has been a life time- one of a kind and a special honorable experience that I am grateful for! It is a joy and honor to be their teacher mommie, mentor and a Biblical counselor. Praying, reading and memorizing Bible,  Studying, learning, playing, driving, walking, talking, discussing, cooking, knitting, cleaning, snow shoveling, landscaping, leaves raking, and enjoying shopping as well field trips, facing hardships crying, encouraging, and hoping together; and being resourceful, we have been so part of each others' lives. I enjoy being with them and they enjoy being with us 24/7. This has been revolutionary for us as we come from a career minded world where women are recognized sadly and only by their out-of-home- profession; unfortunately, they do not consider that parenting, mothering and mentoring is a sacred call on our lives from the Creator Himself! and for us home schooling moms it is an added advantage to be a positive influence in their lives.

Additionally it has been an equal pleasure to learn from them as well. I remember earlier when on the express highways, girls would look at a sign of a speed limit and then look at the speedometer and ask what do those numbers mean, and when I would explain, they would gently and softly tell me that i might be over speeding. (Smile) see how God teaches us thru them? another high light was every time they find something that is not theirs, be it an extra toy at Micky D's restaurant or a coin found in the toy machine, they would responsibly and joyfully go and give it back stating it is not theirs. It was a thankful moment when those managers would so appreciate their truthfulness and honesty, and our upbringing. When someone bullied them, they bowed down and prayed for the bully. Those are special moments that comes only when Jesus  rules the hearts.

When they were little girls, they used to request me to take them in our car and drive them to buy gifts for me and Bharat for birthdays, Christmas and other holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day, and today, as they drive, as we sit in the car! its a joyful and tearful moment both, bittersweet!

It is a blessing when your children look upto you, know your strengths and weaknesses as you do theirs, and honor you, learn from you and want to continue to revere you! to Jesus alone be the glory for that!

As a mother I wish my 'dream-come-true-girl', will do well in any discipline and classes she chooses to take for further studies. I know that her eyes are on Lord Jesus and His ears are towards her. She rests knowing that God has a plan for her life and HE will lead her all the way to choose that which is good; all she has to do is trust and obey. In that Bharat and I rejoice that she is walking close with Jesus; my prayers as a mother has always been that my daughters will continue to walk with JESUS all the days of their lives and honor Him in all their beings, thinking, sayings and doings!

Thank you Narita, my dream, and Stuti, my praise, for loving me, appreciating my cooking, honoring me and employing me full time to be your home schooling mom and learning from me! I love my job and vocation! I thank God for giving me this privilege raise you up.I also thank God for Bharat for supporting and co-parenting with me.

In closing, we thank God for Bharat's strong, caring and very concerned mom who lives in India, and my late mom, strong, nursing and courageous who lives in paradise now; I also thank God for my sister, and his sister and all our relatives and dear friends, all those who honor motherhood and continue to be good moms!

Happy Mothers' Day to all of you.

Copyrighted, by Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Resurrection 2012 reflections

Reflections during Holy/passion week of 2012!

As i read about Palm Sunday and Holy week, i think about how someone wrote that "people hung on Jesus' words, and in few days, Jesus was hung on the cross on people's words." (of course we know it was God's divine will to have Jesus crushed so that he can pay the penalty for our sins but it was the people who shouted Hosanna on Palm Sunday, also shouted, 'Crucify Him' on Good Friday!

"Gethsemane garden is a wine press"...said Dr. Erwin Lutzer,.. ouch! and that really drove a point home. Wine press that crushes grapes so wine comes out to gladden us...Jesus was crushed and His holy blood that was shed cleanses us pure and makes us clean. i like what Max Lucado wrote also, "Jesus knows what it means to beg God to answer prayers and yet submit to His will." Jesus chose to humble, Philippians 2:13 says of Jesus, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped," i like that 'grasped' part- i do not think we fully comprehend what it means to grasp the humility of Jesus! wrote Edwardo shilito: "The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak; They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne; But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak, And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone."

Luke9:31 "As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." (NIV) Even Jesus' disciple Peter did not want Jesus to be tortured or killed, but Jesus was resolute, intentional, determined. He said, "No one takes it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." John10:18. Pilate had no power on him, even though he said, don't you know, i have the power to crucify you and to let you go free. Jesus replied, Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above...." (john 19:11) so wait it minute, Pilate! its not 'Jesus before Pilate' in reality it was 'Pilate before Jesus' and poor Pilate, he missed by inches, he was afraid to crucify Jesus and yet, when he asked Jesus, "what is truth?" without hearing the answer, Pilate walked out. like Dr. Lutzer says, 'Pilate if only you had waited to hear the truth, to hear from the one who proclaimed to be " the TRUTH, the way, and the life"! 

Luke12: 37 "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."(KJV)
this blows my mind away! i can try and fathom Jesus washing Disciples' feet but this future event of Jesus dressing himself to serve and wait on his saints, those who have been washed in his blood! this knocks me out. i barely understand, when i read! However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--1 Corinthians:9 (NIV) i cry in gratitude to God.

I read in a devotional book, called Today, "Maundy Thursday - The name comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” meaning “command.” On this night Jesus gave his disciples the “new command” to love one another as servants." wait a minute, i need to remind myself, like my biblical mentor kept pressing me on 2 years back, "Kalpna, we do not have a 'suggestion' to love others, we are commanded to love..its a command and commands are to be obeyed!" yes, we need to ask any military person what it means to disobey commands! yet this is a command to love...Lord teach us to love one another.

few years ago, i also used to think of love as a fairy tale and not really understand fully. Until i see the Cross of Jesus and submit myself to Him. He allowed a man to invade my life, who became my husband, over 2decades ago and still is! Bharat tried to show me what love was like; i kept rejecting love many times. Both Bharat and i came to realize, ours was a human love, bound to fail, bound to not last, until the Hero of Love, Jesus himself fills us with His divine love - to teach us to one another, and after 25yrs, we are now learning to practice 'Agape', the self-less loving one another. Then God put two beautiful daughters into our laps, and wow! what an example of love we learnt and continue to learn. "out of the mouth of the babes and nursing infants..." is what Bharat and i have experienced in our journey together. Even though we home school them, they teach us so much, God's tools are great. i am still learning to love these precious ones whom God has given me as per His divine rules.

Good Friday: it is said, "It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross, it was His love for you and me. "
or as one of the songs says, "He could have called ten thousands angels to destroy the world and set him free, but he died alone for you and me" "Cross is LOVE at its best"

Saturday is quiet and day of rest - it is Sabbath; some people say Jesus rested on Sabbath but i say Jesus also did good work on Sabbath. So, it was not on that reason that he did not rise, but because of the divine will - that He was to be in the belly of the earth for 3 days; women were preparing spices to go and visit his tomb! and lo and behold what did they encounter!

Sunday: Resurrection day: since i have come to read some stuff about the name "Easter", i do not like to call this day "Easter", i like to call Resurrection Sunday. call it, spiritually or Biblically correct, yes, i prefer to be Biblically correct and call it a Resurrection Sunday. Jesus rose from the dead and its not about Easter bunnies or Easter eggs, this day is about JESUS and HIS power to rise from the dead. HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!!!

Jesus resurrects lives even today, He resurrects dead marriages, families and relationships, dead things, trees, jobs, businesses, living matters and if need be nonliving matters too, for His glory and our good! ask many, read and find that some of us are the living testimonies of that resurrection. I dare you to know this Jesus! HE is risen and "because He lives, we can face tomorrow".

His blood is able to cleanse any sinner, His grace is able to sustain us and protect us from falling and to present us faultless, His love is able to make a difference in the lives of people and His resurrection gives us hope that there is tomorrow, there is eternity, there is life after death, there is GOD that we will face one day. John11:25 says "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;"

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Jesus conquered death! He is alive!

Dare to believe in the ONE who has conquered death and is living and is loving...yes, the Lord Jesus Christ!

My husband is touched and moved by this video for quite a few months now and so are we, all four of us would like you to be blessed watching this superb video of Hero by the group called 'Abandon' - you just cannot ignore this divine human!

from kalpna sharma and family (Bharat, narita and Stuti)

copy righted @ Kalpana Sharma (KC) Mrs. 

joyous in every stage of life, patient, forbearing and hopeful..

As i hear and read about the oppression, in the centuries that are gone and even today, all the while focusing on God's word and Christ, i sense in my spirit that in the state of oppression, one can either be bitter or be better. Being bitter spills out so badly that others get affected along with us and produces little bitterness here and there. We may be blessed to hear God correct us thru someone or something that that we need to rethink.

As we rethink, i believe that in the difficult circumstances the best way to respond is to look up to God, is to trust Him, and never give up, but also appreciate the sustaining power of the One who is not only a spectator in our difficult circumstances but who has our backs, the One who sees our sorrows, tears and oppression and allows it to produce in us what only 'this difficult circumstance' can produce, the beauty of patience, the beauty of wisdom, the beauty of Christ. says, 1 peter 2: 21 onwards says : "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

We are to thank God, worship, and praise Him as we look forward to our better tomorrow. I see this response of many who were oppressed and were under difficult situations and they produced the best hymns, wrote things to encourage and show the sustaining grace and control of the ultimate good GOD, who is just, loving and good. Their legacy lives on, and we will do well when we follow their examples.  

Copyrights @ Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Bible verses taken from KJV.

Why does God allow temptations?

Dear reader, 


remember -  God allows us to be tempted not that we feel helpless and yield to it but that for the purpose that we resist it.. through Him, by crying out to Him for His help! - Kalpana c Sharma

all copyrights reserved - Kcs

Jesus taken into wilderness, immediately....

I have often heard many preachers preach on this event:

Mark's gospel says in chapter 1:   9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
 10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
 11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
 12And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
 13And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

As i read again and again, i see that no sooner God had affirmed that Jesus IS THE beloved Son...than satan tried to tempt him saying, prove it...'if' you are the son of God, do this...and i love the way Jesus so amazingly answers.

1st of all, as someone has said, the minute we have high spiritual experiences, satan tries to tempt us and God allows us to be tempted so we can be ready for higher challenges. We do not need to give in to temptation. We can depend on God's word.

Mathew records and so does Luke of the deals that satan was trying to strike with Jesus.

Matthew 4: 1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

you see, how after God had affirmed that Jesus was the beloved Son, satan is trying to cause Jesus to doubt that...just the same trick he played with Eve in the garden of Eden that "Did God really say..." and sadly Eve got into a wrong argument with satan. Jesus did not even bother go into the game," 'yes, i am', no you are not, yes, i am...type.."

I see satan trying to meet the human legitimate need of hunger that Jesus had and yet, Jesus not only chose to not get into the 'son-ship argument but Jesus even eradicated the legitimate hunger need - 40 days of fasting was a legitimate need.

But Jesus answer shows that satan is not really only for the argument, he is there to make us disobey God. as the scripture says,  4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Jesus who fasted for 40 days made it clear that even then, we dont live by bread alone, but by God's word that is sufficient for us. Jesus' ego is not even touched, he saw what devil was trying to incite him to do! if only we can also be that vigilant!!!!

now wait a minute, devil is not yet done. read it:

 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

again, he is using the same card, 'if'...if you are the Son of God....lets have fun...let us put on a show...but Jesus is not buying into that game that would cause him to disobey or test God!

 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

you would think devil now would give up. but no!

 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

boy! he has the nerve to ask the Maker of the heaven and earth, the one in whom all things hold together to worship him???

like someone has said, devil did not own anything to give to Jesus, but also, he is the god of this world, and God in His Sovereignty has given satan the things for a time. Jesus didn't want to listen to satan and Jesus didn't go satan's way either...

ultimately devil wanted Jesus to avoid CROSS!!!!! yes, he did not seem to want Jesus to be our sacrificial lamb, because we would be saved..so, now he tries to stop people from becoming believers in Christ. Remember, satan's motive is to make us doubt God and eventually disobey God so he can have an upper hand in our lives...

 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (by the way, Luke puts it that satan left him for a more opportune time) that means, satan the defeated foe does not leave us alone, he is like a roaring lion, seeking to whom he may devour as 1peter 5 says...8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Dr. Erwin Lutzer says that, "Satan may be a roaring lion but remember that he has been declawed"

Let us stand firm in our faith, in our good God's good plans for our lives, and let us not give into temptations. We can use the scriptures that we have been given.

Be strong and be encouraged,

Kalpana Christian Sharma,

The scriptures are taken from KJV.

Copyrights reserved @ Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Joyous Christmas 2011 and Might Swell 2012

Have A Joyous Christmas and a mighty swell 2012

Dear precious family and friends, 
It is December 2011. The word “Joy” keeps popping up all around. Jesus, the true joy-giver, keeps reminding “Let my joy remain you.” As the devil tries to snatch that joy away, Lord Jesus continues to be our strength. We share the story of His faithfulness thru our lives here with a prayer that you too will sense Lord Jesus’ presence in a deeper way!

From Bharat:  This year had started with prayerful thoughts of last year’s verse “Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways; Psalms 91 9-11”; I had an assurance to be in the will of God, not in my own might. But the stronghold of the enemy was strong - to break that, God divinely brought up all covered up issues of past years. There was a huge impact of it on my life for the choices I had made and my own reasoning for disobedience. Of course the hurt and pain caused to God and to my family is irreversible and irrevocable. Not that I want to swift my short falls or failures to God, expecting miraculous air lift, its rather acknowledging the sin, the falls and asking Jesus to forgive and strengthen me, so that in doing so, His glory and mercy can be seen.  Despite of past mistakes and wrong choices of couple of years, the last few years taught me to be still and know that He is God. He asks me to do the best, walk in a narrow path prayerfully with peace, and leave the rest to Him. One of the lessons I have learned through incidences and events is: there is peace in following Jesus and seeking His forgiveness to erase my sins forever.  If I have to sum up 2011 for the Lord’s love and love of Kalp and both the girls, Narita and Stuti, for me I could echo it with the words of the song ‘ Lift Me Up’ by “The Afters” as follows:

Waiting for the sunrise, Waiting for the day, Waiting for a sign, That I’m where you want me to be,  You know my heart is heavy, And the hurt is deep, But when I feel like giving up, You’re reminding me, That we all fall down sometimes, But when I hit the ground,  You lift me up when I am weak, Your arms wrap around me, Your love catches me so I’m letting go, You lift me up when I can’t see, Your heart is all that I need, Your love carries me so I’m letting go  I know I’m not perfect, I know I make mistakes, I know that I have let you down, But you love me the same,  And when I’m surrounded, When I lose my way, When I’m crying out and falling down, You are here to lift me up. I can see the dawn is breaking, I am feeling overtaken with your love; I don’t know what I can offer, In this moment I surrender to your love! Quoting this I am able to say that now I am trying to move on with truth clarity and peace to celebrate ‘His birth’ and His death for me by choosing to obey Christ.~

From Narita: I don’t think I will ever forget 2011. It started as a turbulent storm (both literally and within our home). But, God has been so faithful. Personally, I had started the year with doubt hanging over me. This is my last high school year, so questions about college, jobs, etc. are beginning to want answers. I had begun to let my doubts take over my emotions which began to invade my relationship with the Lord. In the spring, I was able to read C. S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain. There was something he said that went somewhere along the lines of “How can we, who aren’t even inherently good, tell Goodness itself that it isn’t good.” Oh, how could I have doubted the Savior’s goodness? I’m speechless at God’s faithfulness, goodness, and love. This was a year of miracles! The house we live in is a huge blessing. He has blessed us with a wonderful neighborhood and sweet neighbors. Food, clothing, and miscellaneous items are so faithfully provided that I am amazed at how our fridge is always full, how we’ve never had to go without some clothing or shoes, or even how small things were miraculously provided. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: 25-30 “²⁵

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?  ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in his entire splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” Circumstances may resemble storms, but I will release my fears and troubles to the Lord and rest knowing I’m in His hands. A verse that I was so touched by was Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” ~

From Stuti: Sometimes you don’t know what to say to conclude the year because you don’t know if it’s an end of things or if things can really be summed up; you don’t know if you can really sum up the year. 2011 went by very fast, although at some times it seems like it was very slow. It started out rather difficultly, both personally for me and for our family. God has taught me much. God has promised me that He will complete the good work He has begun in me, and in our family. God has helped me. Even through all the difficult times, whether with our family, my personal problems, and health problems, God still allows some very fond memories. Despite the pain, I recall many occurrences of the past year as nice. This year has many good memories: we were able to move into a house that God provided. Every time I think of the miracle of this house, I don’t know how to thank God enough for it. He is so merciful. It is such an immense blessing in each and every respect. When I look at our fridge, I recall the words from Psalms, “I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” Or “Even the young lions go hungry, but the children of God lack no good thing.”  In all our struggles, I do not ever recall going hungry or not having nutritional food.

This year has been different. This school year is my last school year with Narita as my schoolmate; needless to say, it is bittersweet. This year has marked some extraordinary events: One of these being that we got to meet some friends that we had known solely through written/spoken communication. It was such a wonderful blessing that God made it able for us to fellowship with each other and “have our joy in full, when we talked face-to-face.”  In addition, during the year, I have made some new, very meaningful friendships. I have also been introduced to so many impacting books. I have learnt many things this year: the one lesson that comes to mind is being honest and sincere.
And, another lesson is definitely gratefulness. God does not have to give me a warm home, God does not have to give me understanding, God does not have to give me a mother who loves me and cares about me regardless, God does not have to give me a sister who loves me and makes me laugh regardless, God does not have to provide delicious food, quality clothing and shoes through my dad’s mystery shopping, God does not have to give me His love. But He does, because of the blood of Christ. Sometimes there’s quietness, quietness that hurts and I don’t know what to figure out about myself. Sometimes there’s a tumult of emotion that pains that makes me feel paralyzed and powerless. With all this uncertainty, I know that God is not uncertain. I do not say that because I have an extra amount of goodness or faith, but because “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Throughout this year, Philippians 4:13 is the one thing that always reappears to me in some way or another. I remember one day when I was feeling especially low, we were at Family Dollar, and I saw a cross plaque had that verse on it. Another time I recall is when we were walking in downtown, I glanced to the side of a Christian bookstore, and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” was on a displayed water bottle. The most remarkable one in my memory is when we had a bag of chips; the words “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” were printed on the packaging under the product description. God has shown himself so remarkably through providing a house just when we needed it, God has been so faithful to provide food and even little insignificant “desires of our heart.” way in the coming year.~

From Kalpna: 2011 seemed a start of a new dawn of a new decade - going to bless us in many ways. After much hardship that we have faced, with faith we have grown closer to God the Father’s heart. It was a year that cannot even be explained in better words, than to say that on February 1^st, when the snow storm hit Chicago land, the storm was not just outside in the streets, but our home had relationship storm within that was worse than what was outside. God, through His divine Will, purpose and mercy, pushed the waves and worked in and through us. “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” Isa 30:15 shouted aloud to me many times.

As we shoveled the snow outside, God exposed the dirt that needed to go from inside-debris of many years. What came out in the open is being dealt with tears, hurts, sorrows, joys and hugs and many PRAYERS! The reconciliation work is not easy especially when stuff was put under the carpet for so long; but God in his mercy has held us together as a family in the palm of His hand and is bringing healing in our lives. We are thankful for the few understanding people who keep us close to their hearts and in their prayers, who continue to encourage us, near and also far from where we are on the globe. Some faithfully call every week without fail, praying with us on the phone. We need your prayers! Thank you, dear close friends that care in Christ.

In home schooling, Narita is in the final year of her high school; my! Oh my, I didn’t even realize that time passed this fast. The years have rolled away so fast and we have enjoyed and share a close knit friendship with both girls that I cherish so very much. Stuti is happy to spend one more year with me alone. Please keep the girls in your prayers as they seek God’s wisdom in the areas of their strength where they will attend college and what they will serve God with. They are well versed in so many areas and I am just waiting to see what will become of these two fine ladies that God put into my lap to train, teach, and bring up. I am thankful to be their teacher Mommie and their mentor. I make mistakes but God uses my close dear ones to correct and teach me. He works on each of us, isn’t that awesome? 
We also have moved, as most of you know, to a south suburb in Chicago; it’s a blessing. We know we shall continue to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and be a living testimony of His grace working thru us. Jesus heals the broken hearts and walks the hard path of the long journey so faithfully.
Finally, each picture here even though it seems like a material blessing, it is more than that. These are the signs of God’s unfailing faithfulness to us. Each is a gift, including the reindeers, the car, home, food, and the kitties…all glory to Jesus…

Jesus is the centre of this household and we lift him up high in our lives.
This year also marks 10 years since we released our CD “Reach out” in Kenya. I am thinking of the words of the song I wrote for our family, “Knitted in lasting bond, we are a family, washed in Jesus’ precious blood, bound with His cord of love, His presence to abide, His spirit our Guide, together we’ll conquer life’s every trying time” this has be so true in the last 10 years.
Eternally connected to Jesus - knitted in a lasting bond to each other to proclaim His faithfulness - Bharat, Kalpna, Narita and Stuti Sharma
We wish you a Christ-filled joyous Christmas and a peaceful, mighty swell twenty twelve - 2012.