Lessons from Leah

[7/9, 6:20 PM] : One story from the Bible seems especially steeped in disappointment. Jacob agreed to work 7 years for the right to marry his boss’s daughter Rachel. But after fulfilling his contract, Jacob got a wedding night surprise. In the morning he discovered not Rachel but her sister Leah.

We focus on Jacob’s disappointment, but imagine how Leah must have felt! What hopes and dreams of hers began to die that day as she was forced to marry a man who did not love or want her?

Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Are we to believe that God-fearing people are never disappointed? No, the psalm clearly shows that the writer sees injustice all around him. But he takes the long view: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (v. 7). His conclusion: “The meek will inherit the land” (v. 11).

In the end, it was Leah whom Jacob honored and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 49:31). And it was through the lineage of Leah—who in life thought she was unloved—that God blessed the world with our Savior. Jesus brings justice, restores hope, and gives us an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.
[7/9, 6:21 PM] Cecilia: Came across this , the meek will inherit the Land !
[7/9, 7:09 PM] Juliet: How true!! I was surprised to see how Leah was good and blessed than Rachel when I did a detailed study for “Women in the Bible” sometime back... a new perception

Leah didn’t envy, steal, lie but glorified GOD after every child birth in choosing names... she was unloved by her own husband but loved by the eternal bridegroom.. Levi and Judah tribes come from her.. she herself bore 6 sons..

Rachel envied, stole the idol, lied to her father.. first to give her maid as wife..

People name their kids after her just for the beauty may be.. Leah is also a good name and in fact better 😊
[7/9, 9:01 PM] : God must have honored Leah’s cry for love
[7/9, 11:39 PM] : True the prayers of His parents didn’t  fall on deaf ears. 😬 Our God fulfils His promises no matter who claims them. V just need to understand the authority we have and speak them over our lives and over the lives of those we love in faith. ❤
[7/9, 11:46 PM]: It is said that after Jacob wrestles with God he had a limp all his life. Because his hip was out of joint. If Jacob didn’t cheat maybe just maybe he would have been able to meet Laban and with his parents support marry the girl he wanted without being taken advantage of and then wouldn’t have had to fight with God.
For God had already decided to bless his entire family.
[7/9, 11:47 PM] : Sometimes we mess up our own lives in pursuit of the best forgetting that His plans for us are better that even our wildest dreams.
[7/9, 11:55 PM] : We tend to assume blessing happen with miracles.. abraham, issac, jacob are testimony for how much effort it takes to get the blessing to manifest and reflect in life..
[7/10, 4:57 AM] : 👌🏼 very true.

Jacob cheated his bro tricked his dad yo get the blessing. But that didn't make his life better. He had to run for His own life soon after receiving the blessing, that too from his very own brother.

But
1. God's encounter with Jacob by dream and His Promise/covenant(made to Abraham) at Bethel.

2. Jacob's heart believing God n receiving the promise(vow)

That's the turning point. Not just that. Even while he was away from his fathers home in a foreign land *Gen 31:13*, while running away from his father in law *Gen 31:42* and while he returned after two decades with fear and distress before meeting Esau *Gen 32:9-12*, he still believed.

Life wasn't easier for him but still he believed in God n claimed His promises. Whereas Esau was mighty n had become a great ruler/nation. But one who was promised had to wait.

We often mess with our lives. But are we turning to God? Are we trusting God in difficult situation? Are we claiming His promises in impossible circumstances?

Healing from above

I'll share what i meant by sharing...

I had gone through mental illness,i guess still i am..everyone in my family!

For 22 years i had seen Physical and mental abuses of my parents.
They abuse each other. Publically, Privately...
There was not a place they never shouted,quarrelled,abused at each other...
Every night since child hood i used to cry myself to sleep... Every day they fight, every night they fight...

My longing prayer since childhood, is God please take them away or take me away.. sometimes i prayed to God to take my life just so that they can part their ways and move on with each other...
Children who usually being raise in this situation will bcme  mentally affected/ their studies will get weak/ they get affected psychologically. There was never a soul to ask me how i am.
But as a single child i am,God made sure i was protected from all those things...

You are seeing me happy and sane ,100% his grace and protection over my life.
He thought, "poor kid having a hard time, let me raise her up!"

He took me into his arms, he helped me speak to him in all those nights and days.He made sure there is always a soul to look after me or be with. He made sure i didnt go insane!

I should have also been treat psychologically as my mom and my Father but He made sure Am protected under His wings..

I have experienced what mental Illness is. I had a very dark childhood, that even now i fear if i think I'd go crazy!
But As Long as He is there for us,we dont need to worry about anything.

My parents stand as a testimony from divorce! They united in applying divorce in court, but God united them in soul and Spirit again!

If anyone can heal a soul, it's only Him❤

It you feel you are going through mental illness, stay there,He is with you in there!
Remember to whom you committed your soul and body with!

Fgb testimony- school for kids

Praise God for Olive school

I am an FGB. We were searching for school this year for my elder son. My husband wanted to put my son in NSN or Vivekananda (they don't even teach Johnny, Johnny yes papa because Johnny is a Christian name) in chitlapakam. But I wanted to put my son in a Christian school because I received salvation through aChristian school. I knew my God may have some other salvation plan for my kids since God already told me that (Genesis 17:7 - to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.) he will be our GOD. But it is my desire that my kids should study in a Christian school.
Before this incident ,God had taught me that “BOLD PRAYERES HONOURS GOD” so I decided to pray like this “God I don’t need any recommendation but I need Yours” After this prayer , things started to happen in other way, like my husband began to search higher authorities' recommendations. I was asking God to help me in my unbelief. As days went by my husband started to seek people’s help very badly which I did not want to happen . But God strengthened me in amazing ways in all these situations.
Praise God that he closed all the unnecessary doors which is not according his will and opened the door for Olive school. One day while I was on my way to office, God spoke to me through the word OLIVE - Thy children will be like olive. For my surprise the same verse was written everywhere in that school. Finally June 8th we paid the fees in olive public and June 10th was my son’s first day to school.
Important thing here is my husband doesnt know even a single bit of my heart’s desire but our LORD JESUS knows everything and he granted my request.

Yeah!!!! Praise be to his Glorious name.

Tv time tips for parents

[5/21, 2:59 PM] Beulah: How many of you, have no TV at home? And how do you handle it?
[5/21, 3:03 PM] Jansi Word Of: No screentime for kids? (Reframe the question) my 1.25 is already glued to screen at times
[5/21, 3:05 PM] Rosy Priyan Fshp: I think if they are not exposed, it doesn't become an issue at all..
[5/21, 3:05 PM] Rosy Priyan Fshp: My kids watch though.
[5/21, 3:06 PM] Beulah: We don't have a TV at home. But they are used to watching phone, which I think is worse than the TV😒😐
[5/21, 3:11 PM] Rexlin: Laptop is better than mobile... With restricted timings... Strictly to be followed....

Not to have any games in mobile...
I installed few bible puzzle games recently and dealing with it now.. 🤷🏼‍♀
[5/21, 3:11 PM] Rexlin: Try new board games along with them when they ask for mobile / laptop
[5/21, 3:12 PM] Rexlin: Mobile should not be reachable to them... 😉
[5/21, 3:13 PM] Beulah: True, but they get it someone when we use it for calls.
[5/21, 3:18 PM] Prarthana: Agree..  we too don't have TV but my son is fond of mobiles and he is just 1.7 years.. I try my best to engage him with other toys but he goes for the mobile .. it's because of the colourful motion pictures..
[5/21, 3:21 PM] Jansi Word Of: Hmm and I think they must be exposed to at least few good things they can engage with, with strict supervision and time control.
[5/21, 3:21 PM] Jansi Word Of: If we don’t teach them, the world would, obviously down the line
[5/21, 3:31 PM] Janani mcity: As a child I was glued to Tv whenever it's on. Even now when screen is on my eyes will be glued. I don't want my kids to be like me. Though I have strict screen times for them, they do pop in front of the tv. Lesser the better I feel.
1. I minimise taking mobile when they're home.
2. Tab, laptop - Password secured
3. TV Remote not reachable earlier (now in front but they ask if wanna watch)
4. Set time before turning on.
5. Less than 2 yr - NO gadgets- as it affects the brain/neural development not just eyes.
6. Better to avoid mobile/tab(very close to eyes)
[5/21, 4:36 PM] Sharon Preeti: No TV at home, but kids do have screen time. We have a desktop computer with a big screen, which doubles up as 'TV', of course, controlled content.

What I do? I am guilty of spending much time on phone. Trying to reduce usage. One thing I do is, I avoid phone from about 9 AM to 12, so I can have focussed time with the kids. I pick up phone calls, though, which I usually don't have many of.

For kids: they usually have 30 minutes of 'TV time' in the evenings after they clean up plus on some days, a few minutes here and there of some supervised content, usually educational or seeing photos, on the computer or phone screen. No unsupervised phone or tablet for kids. I know screen is not good for less than 2 years, but my 20 month also watches with his brothers, 😔 because it is very hard to engage him in something else when other kids are watching. He is drawn to thr screen.

How we manage? I think it harder to introduce and then stop. At one point, they were getting out of hand watching TV at grandparents place - they live right down the stairs. We had to lay down rules and also teach kids why we don't watch certain shows. It is easier to control time on the computer because we choose one episode and watch through it. So it's usually 30 mins.
[5/21, 4:39 PM] Sharon Preeti: And I think it is easier to manage when I am not glued to the phone 😁
[5/21, 4:42 PM] Beu Sam: In my house, the kids have chores and they earn their TV privilege to watch 2 episodes of wild Kratts which are about animals. When they lie, or not obeying, the first punishment will be no TV for a week... since my 4 yr is still in preschool, she gets to play some learning games in my phone for another hour... they both love to sing songs... me n my husband don't play anything other than Christian songs at home or in car/ van...  we watch couple of programs ( like amazing race, sea world) with the kids during weekends... otherwise, they will play in their room when the TV is on..
[5/21, 4:45 PM] Beu Sam: If we limit our TV time, it will be much easier to make them understand the TV time... so, when it is my TV time, they aren't suppose to watch if they don't want to loose their TV time😝
[5/21, 4:46 PM] Kani: I don't watch TV . And I don't mostly use phone in front of her.
We subscribed few channels but now we shut t down.
She uses phone while eating alone. Less than one hour screen per day s my rule.
Other than eating time no other time mobile to her.
I observed that when I dont use phone she doesn't bother much only wen I use it she cries for it. But others using is real challenge , she some how manages to get from my MIL. Dont know how to control it. I m praying that she starts  somehow to dislike it by herself.
[5/21, 4:51 PM] Kani: But I started disliking it recently. I believe wen I dont expose her for a prolonged period I mean for really looong period they ll dislike t. I stopped watching movies since 2007 till 2012, I mean zero movies or any entertainment in those 6 yrs by Gods supernatural grace. . I do watch now and then. . I do watch but that addiction is totally gone down to almost zero. So I m praying so.
[5/21, 4:52 PM] Kani: After 2012 now and then I m watching now. But I m out of t now.

Testimony on God's care

My son is turning 7 today...!

Yes... Today is my little boy's birthday 😊
Whenever I look at him, I used to blame myself and that past instance came to my mind which cause an impact on his development. When he was around 1.5 yrs old, his fever got shoot up to 104 and got seizers for few minutes. This was happened when he was in my lap and I was about to give him sponge bath. He got hospitalized, recovered and then for next 2 to 3 yes we were observed a delay in his socialize development. We ran to Chennai's no 1peadiatric psychiatrist, followed with number of therapies to make him normal.

But in all these ways which he travelled so far, we can sense and praise God's presence over him all the time.... For others eye he is a normal boy who is just shy of to communicate but as parents we know where he need support and encouragement. As worldly parents if we know our kids these much, how far our heavenly Father knows us and cares for us each and every second.... This is a great learning for us from our son's life so far.... He is a great blessing for us who unite me and husband under one roof(we were just met on       weekends for last 10 yrs due to job nature) and he is a perfect younger brother for my eldest son ( he used to tell this often).
My son is improving a lot by God's grace and God has perfectly set forth his way wherever he go (school environment/therapists/friends etc.,).
I completely trust on God for my son's future as He is the one who gave him in our hand to bring him for His glory 😊
Praise our heavenly Father with me and pray for our little boy 😊