“By the grace of our loving LORD JESUS CHRIST,  I got placed in a reputed IT company when I was doing my final year (June 2006). I got trained in Mysore and posted in Bangalore. I got transferred to Chennai by HIS grace, which is again another miracle as it is not easier to get swapped from Bangalore.

I reported in Chennai Mcity office by the end of December 2007. My native is Madurai. My parents planned to get transferred to Chennai and stay with me. They applied for transfer to Chennai but everyone disappointed us saying that it is difficult to get as it was surplus of strength in Chennai office. I gave it as a prayer request to our fellowship at Mcity. I wanted it to happen if and only if it was the LORD’s will. My mom took leave and stayed with me in Chennai.

Praise God. My dad got transfer order 2 months back but is yet to get his relieving order. My mom had no clues of getting transferred and so finally we decided to drop the idea of coming to Chennai  thinking that it is not to the will of GOD. We were totally confused and thought of taking a fasting prayer on Saturday. Just then, we received a call from my dad, from Madurai saying that my mom has received the order. Immediately, my mom left to Madurai and got the relieving order in just a few days amazingly by the grace of our GOD.

I praise and thank the LORD ALMIGHTY for HIS wonderful leading from the bottom of my heart. I thank all the fellowship members for upholding me in their prayers. . The LORD has honored all our prayers. May all glory be to HIM.

With the LORD, all things are possible. Nothing is too difficult for HIM”

On my 35^th Birthday, I was thinking about God’s goodness in my life thus far. I must admit that I have written many articles in the past in several forums both secular & spiritual but I am finding this a really tough article to write; that’s the extent of God’s goodness in my life. It would be tough to list all of God’s goodness in one article but I will attempt to capture the major acts of God in my life in the process of a thanksgiving to him.

I thank God that…

• Even though I failed in the 12^th Standard & Dropped out of college, he gave me the grace to never give up in life & today I am blessed to be a double post graduate degree holder in Marketing & HR.
• Though I dropped out of college, He gave me the gift of the Holy Spirit& a desire to live while a fellow college student who got 85% marks committed suicide.
• Though I was never good in academics, I have been blessed by him to always get the right opportunity at the right time and today I find myself ahead in position compared to most people my age.
• Even though I went through testing times for my marriage, I finally got married to a wonderful woman who best compliments me in life and supports me in all that I do in work or ministry.
• Though we were tested when we did not have children after 2 years of marriage, today God has blessed us with a son who is bringing joy to my whole family.
• Though I have been a poor planner in personal matters, in matters of the Kingdom I have been blessed to plan very successful programs, concerts, seminars & other events for Jesus.
• Though I cannot even read or write in my own mother tongue Malayalam, God has blessed me with grace to stand and teach his word in front of large gatherings in almost every language spoken in South India and in India’s national language.

I cannot thank God enough for the fact that he has raised a complete failure like me to be a shining light for Him. Since Jesus came into my life, I have worked with so many successful and mighty servants of God that I have often asked God “Am I Worthy?”

His answer to me & to all of you reading this message is simple. God loves you enough that He sent his only son Jesus to take your unworthiness and make you worthy.

As I contemplate on my birthday, I am glad to be a shining light for Jesus and I pray that you will all be too.

V Chacko Jacob

A walk with my Saviour and Redeemer ‘JESUS CHRIST’

Um passeio com o meu Salvador e Redentor “JESUS CRISTO”

I hail from a village in Tamilnadu. The Lord Jesus Christ saved me 23 years back. My mother was possessed by so many evil spirits used by grand father for his black magic works. We were discarded socially, financially and in all the other ways. My father left us, when we were very young. My mother was knocking the door of death with the three children. Day by day the evil spirit’s manifestations worsened and we were literally on the road. When everything and everybody left our life, the loving and living God Jesus Christ was/is present in our life.

My mother got divine deliverance from the devil spiritually and physically. We started our born again Christian life in a small hut. My mother admitted all of us (three children) in an orphanage organisation (CMS) where our physical, spiritual and educational requirements were met. We were blessed a lot by HIS immense grace. My father came back after 13 years. I completed my post graduation with the sponsorship of that orphanage hostel. Now all of us (myself and my two brothers) are well settled by HIS grace.

We gained back whatever we lost. So whatever I received from the Lord freely by HIS grace, I would like to give it back.

Without JESUS CHRIST everybody is an orphan, even though they have worldly parents;

But with JESUS CHRIST nobody is orphan, even though they don’t have worldly parents.

The same Lord Jesus Christ who is your creator and saviour, is very curious to bless U. HE said,” I am the Way and the Truth and the Life”-Jn 14:6

Praise be to the LORD ALMIGHTY and our loving saviour JESUS CHRIST.

From the time I joined (Feb 2006) as a fresher I have been working for a reputed client in a team of about 16 members. God has been so faithful in my work life. Sometime during the end of 2007 when I just neared 2 years of experience, the Project Lead moved out of the team for a different onsite assignment. Before leaving he called for a team meeting and gave a team structure (drew on the board) to be followed after he would leave. He categorized me with one of the leads and placed almost 8 team members ranging from my own batch mates to some leads under me. I still don’t understand why he did so.

 After he left the Account, nothing was followed as he proposed .But I had to battle some egos and attitudes from my team mates. If I was still able to enjoy the work and retain my peace it was just due my God and the virtue of forgiveness he had planted in me. Few months later one of the offended team member became Team leader based on experience and few others some key roles. Being their turn they tried to arrange for a similar meeting and were ready with their sketch.

 But just before the meeting we all got the news that the entire account was moved to another consultancy. Nobody was really interested in roles and positions and the guy whom they prepared for my role became angry with them thinking that they want him to take a more responsible role only because nobody else would do it for a winding down project. The meeting was a flop.

 In my personal prayers I went to the Lord’s presence and pleaded for a minimum of 10 days stay in bench that might help me spend my time reading bible and worshipping. But the Lord showed me a crew of people plotting against me and he expressed his wrath against them. I just told that I forgive them and pleaded that not one will be held on account of me and slept.

 Few days later the names of people to be released started coming by phases. My name came up in the first phase while my deliverables for an ongoing project were still pending. Well ahead of my release date, I was placed in a new project also. Praise God!!. I was personally convinced by this (God’s decision) for I have known him as a God who never lets me down before anyone. Praise be to my Lord!!!.

 In my new development project I had to work in a new technology SAS. Just by God’s grace I could develop and code from the day 1 in an entirely new language. And my work was well recognized. But after very few months I came to know that the development project is going to get stalled and some billings will get closed. I was also informed that I will get released.

 Couldn’t get much disturbed for I KNOW NO MAN OR SITUATION CAN BE A DECISION MAKER IN MY LIFE BUT MY GOD ALONE. I kept working with good attitude and team relationship. (The Project Lead and few Team mates even personally asked me as to what makes me remain cool. I shared about my faith and was able to glorify God. To my surprise many spoke high of my faith (even few who ridiculed my faith initially since I’m basically from a different faith background) and a fresher even started reading Bible and started coming to my church).

Praise be to God alone. Still no one worked anything to retain me.

When the time came for my release most unexpected people got released and I was not. In this recession time, a billing was added – new module came just for me. I’m still working in the same team.

PRAISE BE TO my GOD of GOODNESS.

A software professional working in a multinational company in MEPZ, Chennai

2009 has been a terrible year across the world. The Corporate World has seen the worst of times and it has resulted in huge job losses, increments cut, tightening of belts and the like. My promotion was long due and I was hoping for it, when the announcement came in that all promotions, incentives are all being put on hold. God had promised me that He will promote me in 2009, I was wondering how it was going to happen.

By the abundant grace of God, early in the year, we won a new account and we started transition work for it in 2009. In the midst of recession, the account grew by leaps and bounds and things were hectic. Little did we realise that we were in the midst of a global crisis. This is the Lord’s doing. He can make streams in the desert, as He has promised in Isaiah 43:19.

As things improved, my company announced about promotions going to happen. Things were tough, with many more people in the fray. This world will give you any benefit only if they receive benefit from you personally. That can be changed only by our Lord.

I left everything to the Lord’s hands and miraculously I got promoted. Amen. It was purely by the grace of God. He is the one who makes it happen. It is always best to leave it to Him and not worry, as He is in control always. What more, my wife also got promoted as a Senior Lecturer in her college, beyond our expectations.

If you have been going through tough times and not seeing anything coming, just leave it to the Lord’s hands and proclaim His promises and pray and leave it to Him as in Psalm 37:5. Don’t utter any negative words, but always proclaim His promises and pray. As in Joel 2:26, He will never let us be ashamed, but note, His ways of lifting up is entirely different than what the world thinks of. We know that, we just cannot comprehend His plans, but rest assured, He has the best for us always. Amen.

(The Author is a Manager with one of the software MNCs in Chennai – he can be contacted through the Editor (CCF) – [email protected] )