Maximize your Mornings challenge for the summer @ Hello Mornings

With 2 weeks of holidays coming (we call it May holiday).... and in 10 weeks the summer , I definitely do not want to lose sight on whats important. When I saw this challenge, I thought to myself, its the summer, things are chaotic anyway, we will be away on holiday perhaps, oh , of course we will be moving into our new home for starters. Thats going to be super busy with living in and out of boxes. Nah! maybe I will join the chalenge after everything is settled and I am in regular routine. Essentially, I was taking a break from Jesus during the summer, and telling Him to take a chill pill and enjoy the summer too. That was a blow to my face. To think I was abandoning my Lord for a season. So, whether its the summer, or trips, or moving into a new home, my time with the Lord should be the first thing every morning. So, here I am taking the challenge.

Now whats the challenge all about:

• A 13-week challenge to maximize your mornings, via online accountability groups.
• Starts May 6th and runs through August 2nd.
• Registration is open until Friday, May 3th.
• Perfection is not a requirement. Just a desire to meet with God in the morning and a commitment to checking in with your group.
• There is also a free Bible study for all HelloMornings participants, Meet Jesus, a walk through the book of John.

So, think about this wonderful opportunity to learn and sit at His feet with accountability and perseverance.

 

Here

Making friends comes natural to me. I am an extrovert. But being an expat in an expat world with expat friends slightly changes that extrovert nature in me.

When I came to the Netherlands to join Bobby, everything was new here. But since Bobby was part of a church with his own set of friends, they became my friends too. And one such friend is Lingwei. We had an automatic connection, felt like we knew each other for years. We loved stationary and she was the only person I know and still know, who will be excited with me in a stationary store. Books, pens and papers and even paper clips excited us. She is Chinese but lived here most of her childhood. So she was'nt going anywhere. But then she met Matt, and long story short, she married him and moved with him to the U.S. That rocked my world. I had other friends here but she was my best friend. We kept in touch and send each other a book where we would write each other special things and paste photos... and even send each other pretty stationary things.  After her, I was very cautious about making friends, knowing very well, they are here for a short time or would leave suddenly. It went completely against my character to be "Hi/Bye/how are you ?"type of friend. Years went by, and I learnt that I could not just stay that way. That friends come and go, but they remain dear and valuable, even if we speak once in a blue moon, and is vital to your seasons of life.

Here is where I am and here is where I need to impact others and be impacted by others. So, I commit to new friends and give them all I have. And they bless me and my family more than I can imagine. They are part of what makes life interesting and meaningful. We can't say no to community. Even for an introvert.

Here is where I have learnt to nuture and value the relationships in my life.Here is where I have learnt many times on how to accept them they way they are because they love me the way I am.

I am so blessed to have a select set of really close women, whom I love and can go crazy on them. Can corner them and force them to tell me whats wrong. Can just laugh ridiculously for no reason. Make special "death by chocolate " dates. Who just know you need a hug without words. And also blessed with select few who are so far away, yet freshly close to my heart.

As I prepare my heart, yet again to say good bye to one crazy lady, who hates it when food touches each other and spends at least 5 minutes separating them on her plate, who introduced me to this space on blogosphere and the world of Pinterest without her knowledge, who calls me "friend " with so much love and kindness in her heart, I continue to learn new things about her, continue to be blessed by her words and actions and continue to behave as if she is going to be here forever. This friendship is not going to end because of geographical distance. Friend, you are stuck with me for life. Here and there.

The work has begun

April 2, 2013 we signed the deed to the house and every relevant document was transferred. There was much less signing to do as compared to when we were applying for the mortgage. Especially, when they read out the risks and responsibilities or like how they translated from Dutch " burdens", we gulped and looked at each other. Nevertheless, we knew this was the house God saved up for us. And signed the documents with God on our side. Last week,we
signed agreements  with the contractor. The kitchen has been chosen. And they have started ripping out the interiors. A good feeling indeed. This contractor will be the one who will be doing everything. From, fixing new windows,rebuilding and repairing damages, building my breakfast nook, painting, flooring and finally installing the kitchen. Around 40 working days is what he says. And we plan to move in by God's grace in June. We also got our Pastor and his wife to walk through the house and pray. A lot of spiritual cleansing and chucking out was much required. We realize that even more now.

Check out the huge container parked outside the house!
Tomorrow we get an update on all the work that has been done so far.

Dumping container

Sold

Remembering

Buying a house has been the major  development of this year so far. What He has in store for us with that house will be the "big" reveal of His purpose for us. Tuesday was the day when we signed papers and the deed to the house and the mortgage. We gulped and looked at each other when the notary person read out the risk and "burdens" (probably how he was translating from Dutch). to buying a house. No turning back?

We are currently waiting for the contracts to be signed with the contractor, so the renovation can begun. At least two months have been estimated. I wanted the work to begin on Wednesday, but Bobby is being very careful with the contract and crunching the numbers , and making sure that we are not agreeing to any other situations, or estimates. There has been a lot of issues in the news, these days, about home owners being stranded without any work done after half the payment was made and how they never pick up the phone and cause other problems. So being careful  and PATIENT is whats required now.

Enjoying our "old" home

People tell me, "look, you have a house now finally after being so patient...". Patient? who me? I had no other choice except to wait with Bobby being so patient and careful, following the housing market. Guess, that's why God made Man the head of the family. Imagine what it would have happened if that responsibility was given to me.

So I wait and continue being patient with him and Him. And while I do that, I have a huge de cluttering job to do. No one needs to carry junk from one place to another. But where to start is always the dilemma.

When I avoid that , I look at the memories and events that this house carried.

Came as a newly wed to this house. Benjamin and Elijah were born here. Elijah had his tooth come out at 1. All the birthday parties. The mums and toddlers bible study group. Young adults Bible study group. 4U2 Bible group. The stain on the walls reminding me what happened at that time.

Every room  fully lived. Filled with laughter  and tears.

I will miss this house. And will have lots of occasions to pass by and see how this house becomes someones else's home.

The new house(Minus the car)

Home

A really late response to last weeks Five minute Friday.....

I am Indian , living in the Netherlands and grew up in Kuwait. 3 countries in one sentence and thats as confusing for me , as it can ever be.  So, when people ask me where is home, I say The Netherlands. Thast were we are now and thats were I began my married, family life. My kids were born here and this is were I make my own rented home. This is were we raise our boys, build my relationship with my husband, work, and have a wonderful church family and cell group. In all the confusion, I knew for sure the Netherlands was my home. For now.

Since Elijah was born , we have been looking for a house to buy. He is 3 now. The need to own a house wasnt the criteria. I wanted a bigger nicer house. Great kitchen and play/office space on the ground floor. Our current house was great, until 2 boys joined the equation. It still is fine.

We silently made fun of other friends who saw 30 houses before they bought there own. And now we realize we have crossed that number quite a while ago. We visited houses. Disagreed always on which ones we liked. There was always one person who didnt like the house. Thankfully, we didnt include the boys in the desicion making madness. Our budget was low and our wants were on the higher end. It seemed impossible to own a house with the money we had in mind. Or rather what Bobby had in mind. We bid for two house along this journey. Didnt get anywhere with the low figures we were prepared to bid. Bobby was patient. I was impatient. I mocked him for the magic low number he always started with. "We are never ever going to get a house we like for that amount"i traumatized him.

As we celebrated Elijah's 3rd Birthday, I huffed and puffed about never going to have that dream house.

On January 22, 2013, we went to see a house that looked promising. Like many other we saw. I pulled myself together and thought, one more, and thats it. Bobby can go see the others, if any. We saw it, we liked. It required a fair amount of  renovation. We went back home. The price was really low, that means it was within our budget. It was the right size we wanted. BIG. So what was the catch?

Long story short,The house was taken by the bank and they were selling it , at almost 100,000 Euro less than the original price. The owners got a divorce and they put it in the market. It wasn't moving, so they gave it for rent , who gave it to someone else, who was growing weed in a professional set up. Finally, the couple couldn't pay, the bank took the house. The weed people were busted. The house was a mess with the insulations ripped out (to take in the smell, so one would detect it), ripping out some plastered walls. It wasn't maintained for 2 years at least and hence a run down look.

But I wasn't sure because of the weed thing and of course its going to take some money to renovate and bring it back to its original glory. We went with our real estate agent to see it again. By the end of the week we put in a bid. Like we did 2 other times. No hope at this point, since Bobby has this number which is always too low to bid. And I give him the silent treatment. The real estate guy bids for us from a low number until our maximum which was 10,000 below the asking price. The carnival holidays come and go and we still havent heard from the bank. Monday morning after holidays, when I was at work, I get a text message from Bobby. "We got it for 225,000 Euros! We have a house. " That magic number of his worked. God gave us a house for Bobby's desired value. It was 20,000 below the asking price! I couldn't comprehend what happened, and it still didn't sink in a week later. How did we get it?

Was God that interested to get a house for us in the right price, and the right house? Was God into giving us material gifts too?

Now all of a sudden, I was feeling was this really from God full heartedly, or was it a response to my whining?

It took a while for  me to feel grounded with this gift from God, when  I was reading "Radical" by David Plaat. That God gives us material gifts to bless others and most importantly to show His glory and kindness.

We had to quickly apply for the mortgage since my residence permit was expiring on March 1 and we had to have valid permits before applying. As we send the forms on February 28th  and the next day, my permit expired, it was another challenge I trusted God to see us through. With this time in the housing market, it wasn't easy to get a mortgage, and anything could happen for it to get rejected. I would only get a sticker in the passport as an alternative, while I waited for my new residence card on the 13th of March. As I went to the immigration office to get this sticker, the lady behind the counter said, that she couldn't give me the sticker. My immediate response was wear burlap and throw ashes on myself and begin mourning. It was only a few seconds later , that she said that my card was already here and she rather give me the card, than a sticker. Okay! burlap out and mourning ended. How quick I was to sinking! And if this itself wasn't enough, the date on my card begins from February 27th . Even though I was technically illegal for the past 13 days, this card says I had continuos permit without a single day without one. I never even prayed for this and never had to two sense to do it.... But my God, even thought of the minute things....

Yesterday, we heard that we got the mortgage. As we sign the documents , on the 2nd of April and get the key, and as we begin the renovation, I only pray that I continue to trust Him in ALL things and know that He has a good plan for me and my family.

Beloved

Five minutes and more for My Beloved this Friday.

My Elijah turned 3 this week and I can barely contain myself with emotions. I can spend time looking at him, hearing his words put into long sentences, asking whether I like his drawing, and his endless requests for juice in the big boys cup and apples in the green bowl. I went through his pictures of the last year, and notice how he has grown. The baby look a little faded.His eyes bright and curious as ever.He didn't like much of hugging or snuggling early on, but now hugs me tight when he comes into our bed at 4 a.m. A strong willed child, I call him. 

Beloved Elijah,I pray you grow up to be a kind and compassionate man. Filled with His knowledge and wisdom.  And remember that by your name, "Yahweh is your God".

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:52

                                                                                                 

Preparing to journey to the Cross and beyond

I can't remember if I went for the service for the beginning of Lent last year. But I am still touched and moved by yesterdays service in leading us towards the beginning of our journey to the Cross. The meaning of Lent became clear to me, its true meaning, in the introductory note in the Ash Wednesday Service booklet.

Here is what it said:

This Ash Wednesday Liturgy leads us into the penitential season of Lent- a season marked by stripping away the non-essential and the unimportant, by listening in quietness to the groaning of all creation as it writhes in sinfulness, by reflecting on our own sinfulness and on God's gift of forgiveness which comes through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We begin the season with powerful prayers of confession, greatly expanded over our usual brief corporate confession. We stand before God with contrite hearts, knowing our weaknesses and failings and not hiding from them.

At this point in most acts of confession, we receive the absolution of forgiveness but tonight it is delayed. Instead, firstly we hear the words:" Remember that you are dust , and to dust you shall return,"and we are so marked with the dust of ashes. The non - essential is stripped away. The unimportant is removed. In this act, we finally confess that all our finery, our clothing, our possessions, our abilities- all that we think that makes us who we are- is not at all who we are. We are only dust, and in and of ourselves stand as dusty beings before the Lord.

I had the privilege of reading the old Testament passage for this service taken from Isaiah 58:1-12

The true meaning of fasting

True Fasting

58 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
² For day after day they seek me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near them.
³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.