An Update from India

I received this email from one of our closest partners in India. May this email prompt us to pray. ​

Dear Stacy,

Happy and Preeti are our closest family friends. We are in mentoring relationships. Happy does business as mission. Preeti is one of our women leaders and teaches in a local school. Last week their whole family became Corona positive. In our city Happy and Preeti got the beds in hospital . Parents had to be sent in other town hospital. Children were home quarantined alone. This is the common story of many covid patients.

BUT

This morning Happy was on the phone, he told, “God let my mother live as long as He wanted and than called her Home .” “The Lord spoke to me from David’s life, “My mother was down with Corona in the hospital, I thought , who knows? The Lord may be gracious to us and let her live, but now that she is dead why should I grieve ? Can I bring her back again ? I will go to her but she will not return to me.” “God gave her to us and took her back.”

Happy with tears, “We know the Lord and have hope of eternity . What about the others who do not know the Lord?”

We praise God for such testimonies. We also praise God that the churches and Christian institutions are opening their premises for use as Isolation centres because ALL our hospitals are full, we have few hundred hospitals in our mega city Ahmedabad. The population of my city is a round 8 million. Churches also provide free food service to people who are home quarantined.

PRAY

People die due to lack of oxygen and injections. They wait for long hours for ambulances to take them to hospitals.

In our city alone among the Christian community, in one week time we have lost more than 125 people. Some families have lost 4-5 members in few days time. Every morning our WhatsApp messages are filled with such messages. Sadly many of these people who died , we knew them personally. It is heart breaking because we can not go and hug them or give them a shoulder to cry on. We can not visit them in hospitals and can not attend the funerals. The intensity is worrying us. The Lord has to intervene now.

Pray that the Lord would visit India and His people in a new and fresh way.

With much grief, Koki & Johnny Desai

Ahmedabad, India

Blessed

Earlier this week, I began working my way through the Psalms. Psalm 1 is one of my favorites. Want to be blessed? This Psalm has some wisdom to share toward that end.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalms 1:1-6)

Take a few minutes to ponder what the Psalmist wrote:

• How is one blessed?
• What is the outcome of the one who is blessed?
• What is the outcome of the wicked?
• What one big idea stands out to you from this Psalm?
• How might the Lord want you to apply this Psalm in your life?

Maranatha (Come Lord!)

Wisdom of the Wise

Wisdom is different from information. In our internet-fed culture, information abounds but wisdom is seldom seen. When my two kids were in middle school and high school, I took each one separately to school one morning per week. We stopped for a quick breakfast at a fast-food restaurant and discussed for 15 minutes or so, a few verses out of Proverbs. We did this for all their years in these two schools.

Why did I do this? First it was for the relationship of a father with his growing child. Second it was to impart timeless wisdom. Check out Proverbs 1:1-7 to get an overview of what is available in Proverbs.

Below are just a few verses from Proverbs. Take a moment to read what is below and then ponder the questions.

“He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
          Than he who flatters with the tongue.
He who robs his father or his mother
          And says, “It is not a transgression,” Is the companion of a man who destroys.
An arrogant man stirs up strife,
          But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
          But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
He who gives to the poor will never want,
          But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
          But when they perish, the righteous increase.” (Proverbs 28:23-28)

Reflect on each verse then consider these questions for each verse

• How does this verse apply to one of your current circumstances?
• What wisdom do you glean from this verse?

Maranatha (Come Lord!)

Amazing Faith and Courage

Mary, a virgin, had just been visited by an angel and learned she would give birth to the Messiah, Son of the Most High. She was only 14 or 15 years old (Luke 1:26-38). Here is how she responded to this news:

“And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”” (Luke 1:46-55)

Take a moment to re-read her response and consider these questions:

• What do you admire about Mary’s response?
• What do you learn about God from her response?
• How does her response give you hope?

Maranatha (Come Lord!)