Knowing God's bigger picture ( IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD)

Folks, I would love to share a story of a woman who changes the course of the history of great and mighty nation as mention in the Bible. Her partnership with God in accomplishing God’s mission was unimaginable. This woman who was called by God to be a mother not just fulfills her motherly duty towards her children and family but fulfilled the mission assigned by God.  She was non-other than Hannah wife of Elkanah (the mother of Samuel).

Hannah lived in a time of decline. Israel had arrived at one of the darkness points in her history. After Moses and Joshua had ruled the nation so capably, the time of the judges arrived. It was during those times people were so uninterested in God and they increasingly turned toward serving idols. The spiritual climate was no longer liveable. People have become so sinful that even Eli, the head priest who was the keeper of the tabernacle started to tolerate the sinful behaviour of his sons. In the midst of all these social, political and spiritual turmoil that was happening, God preserve Hannah’s heart to be burden with something greater than all the circumstances around. The Lord shut up Hannah’s womb and because of which Hannah was a curse in front of Penninah (the other wife of Elkanah). She had shed countless tears because she also felt forsaken by God for making her barren and most of all because of Peninnah who like to pick on her and ridicule her.

As I continue to study about this amazing woman, I was so encouraged by the fact that Hannah first committed her situation to God. This God guided act was so pleasing to God and eventually blessed her with more children and delivered Israel. The severity of Hannah’s misery was heighten by the cultural obligation that bearing children was the very most utmost important duty of a married woman under the Old Testament culture. I can’t imagine how Hannah must be feeling when her husband took another wife and the second wife gave him children. I wonder what Hannah must have gone through all those sleepless nights and hopeless days, but there’s one thing that am deeply convinced. Hannah never falls into such self-pity trap. She never gave Satan that foothold.

In fact, when she prayed, she didn’t ask for a son so that she can compete with Peninnah or get her husband’s attention or redeem herself from the cultural norms or boost her own self esteem but instead she presented God with a great petition followed by a promise “THEN I WILL GIVE HIM BACK TO YOU FOR ALL OF HIS LIFE…” (1 Samuel 1:11 onwards). It was a very personal cut throat like situation for her because she was making an almost impossible promise to God (what if she really had a son who’s more handsome or smarter than Penninah’s or any boys in the neighbourhood or what if her husband disagree). Only a mother or someone who have the heart of a mother could possibly realize how great a sacrifice that Hannah was making. Hannah however had this crystal clear understanding that she was called by God and there she’s eventually called to a bigger partnership. Her faith never wavered. She unshakably stood the test of time though many times she cried and felt lonely.  Hannah built her life on the rock. She knew there was no firmer foundation. How could she do that? Hannah had a personal relationship with God that fuelled her trust, commitment, and life. She experienced his power and his fruitfulness, and she learned that her truest joy was in God alone. That’s what her song said: “I rejoice in the Lord!” And while we focus on people and on things, we miss the whole point! Only God can fill our heart with permanent joy, and she found this. She became a bold witness for him.

Hannah’s influence was absolutely immeasurable on her nation. Hannah gave Israel a son that turned the nation around. Bible scholars say it was Samuel that brought them back Israelites to righteousness. It was Samuel that anointed the first king; Samuel that anointed the second king; Samuel who became the last judge and the first prophet. However, many including me in many occasions are like Penninah who never know that even in the midst of all hopelessness and decaying, the will of God is actively at work. Penninah couldn’t look beyond what she can see with her physical eyes. Many can relate well with Penninah because many times we in our own strength want our children to be the smartest kid in the town or ensure they attend the best school and make every afford to provide future security…but what about dedicating our children before God. Israel needed a God fearing man, and God gave Samuel to them, but he gave him the mother that would be so committed to God that she wanted her son to serve him. Hannah gave her son to worship the true living God; she gave her son to serve God. It was so visible that Hannah nurtured the heart of her son and did exercise authority as God’s agent. But above all she gave herself to God first. Not to forget, she was a wonderful & faithful life partner too.

We therefore begin to see something of the reason why Samuel grew up to be a great man in the service of God. God still needs mothers like that! God still needs children like that! But are we willing to step out of the boat like Hannah and take a leap of faith. Am sure the storm’s big enough to overwhelmed & daunt us down but friends, there’s no firmer foundation than to be in Christ for we know that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness and to that end we will learn like Hannah to know that the will of God is actively at work even when the world seems hopeless and meaningless. As we celebrate mother’s day, we can only re-examine our motives and check whether our goals are Godward oriented and are willing to partnership with God for the labourers are few.  God bless you as you spare your time reading this article.

THE SELF MADE GOURMET SPECIAL

LIFE IN THE METRO...

So much of work to do, so much of appointments but all these never stops me from getting dirty and do what makes me smile and bring smiles to the ones i love. I will share all the recipies once my holiday calender comes in. For now, as you watch this food (made with labour of love)... i must be somewhere in the heart of the great vibrant city of Delhi or most probably inside the metro continuing my great journey.... Untill am back.. BON APPETIT...

PORK RIBS (marinated with Rosemary and Black Bean SoyaSause)

Tender Beef with garden herbs like garlic,ginger, lemon grass and vegies like Zukini, carrots, beans and potatoes.

WIND OF CHANGE

How amazing and wonderful to see how nature are so closely compared with our lives... God in his awesome ways, he design the four season to reminds us and to speak to us everyday that he is in control. We are called to live in each season under God's perfect plan for our lives. It was not easy to walk that talk... the stormy wintry walk and the almost giving up autumn season of my life was something i looked back and say...Lord, had not been U...I must have been like a withered grass by now. Lord, you have planted me in your garden of love for a greater cause, lift me when I falter, blow me with your grace when my soul gets weary and prune me when i needed to grow.... 

You can pluck all the flowers that bloom in the spring but you cannot stop spring from coming

In the depth of winter, i finally learned that within me there lay an invincible SPRING

 

Chithe-Nga (Seed Sowing festival of Oinam Nagas)

During the SEED SOWING festival (Chithenga in local dialect) at Oinam. The festival mark the arrival of the spring season and the beautiful promises the villagers hope for. Food/cultural games/singing/dances/pottery making/fishing etc some of the highlights of the festival. Oinam is also a home to many exotic endangered spices and species. Most of all, the HISTORIC concentration camp memorial site (blue bird operation 1987) also known as ground zero is one of the site one can always visit during your stay in Oinam village. Because of it's God given landscape and altitude, Oinam also grows the famous Oinam Cabbage and produces many varied bamboo related handmade crafts. Seasonal fruits and wild apple juice are some of the cuisine one shouldn't miss... The rest, there's no better way to explore than to visit this land as guest and go back as family member. 

Chicken

Pork

   

Smoke pork



Sunburn Beef

Daos one of the symbol for Naga Male knighthood and a trait of  Manliness




Mothers/sisters and daughters

Shangla Raih and Sabina Raih ( The young generation)



Young proud Oinam Naughty Boy....




Oinam in the transitional phase between  modernity and tradition

Gifts and token such paddy (grains) and cooked /fresh  meat wrapped in the leaves are given to newly married daughters /sisters of Oinam 

The participants in their traditional attire for the man's Pota throw



During the folk song competition



Traditional indigenous women's sport

FOOD... One of God's precious gift....

HOME is the best place in the world because we get to eat... may be not the best food but food prepared with lots of LOVE... I have a friend who's originally from the southern part of India... she's always CHEF's bestfriend because she respect food and how she appreciate the way it was prepared. It is always a ton of joy to see your tablemate smiling and munching away all the food... in other words ..labour of LOVE...

Below is the Northeast Continental PORK , FISH, Fresh Veg and Green Apple salad, veg spicy chutney and Bokchoy Leafs prepared for some of my friends during one of the weekend...

Pork

Pork with plain boiled gourd

Fish with veg spicy chutney and bokchoy

WAR SURVIVOR's DIARY

BLUE BIRD FLASH MEMORIES EPISODES

This story retrieved back the horrific event that shook the heart of a child who survived the BLUE BIRD OPERATION war between the Naga Freedom Fighters and the Indian Army on 9th July,1987 at Oinam Hill Village. The story follows her village turbulent passage through the frenzied war years and interestingly shocking human undying spirit of love, Heartrending sufferings of innocent children, Poverty, Depression, Sacrifice, Heartbreaks and the long waited thunder of Justice.

1. Dead cold night : The noise of the heavy boots of the Indian army trouting through outside at the dead of the night.- I can still feel the soft breath of my younger siblings who agreed not to cry for parents who just left the village for mission work few days before the outbreak. 
2. Waiting for the sunrise : Grab my cloak and rush to the concentration camp site to look out for the best location to build our tent through the day.
3. The almost run away event : Birds were silenced, forest retreated – displaced, people for the first time wish to run away from home once the abode of the loved once turn red and darken with a deep sense torn between the long forgotten Naga underground and the fierce gnashing teeth of the Indian army.
4. A day with Pi Soni (Pi is a local dialect term for granny), the enchanted old granny every children talk about : Who was famous among the neighbourhood children. The strange enchanted Pi who outsmart the Indian army during one of the raid. 
5. Our church that turn into a mockery theatre : Though they may have exploited and silenced our physical church that stood there, they're not able to mock the temple of God that is within me. The Indian army converted our village church into a movie hall. I vividly remember the hindi movie Tarzan shown inside the church. I remember all the sequences of how Tarzan came to save his lady from the forest. The animals coming to help him was much liberating to see because it was that spirit of freedom i was longing for. 
6. Helicopters and truck load of fully armed armies: Felt so uneasy and strange to see how many helicopters landed in my humble sleepy village each new day after at 9th July. The sound of the landing choppers, the sound of war within each heart, I will never forget the sound of my heartbeat that resounded for many years after.
7. The RADIO: Our family price possession "radio". I was assign by my grandparents to safeguard this family treasure. The size of the radio was much bigger than me. I took charged and protected with all the pride and head held high. Each time i carry my family price possession, i remember my dad who always listen to the early morning show "voice of america".

8. The salted potatoes (saving grace) : That kept us alive until the war slowly died down. I still remember how I cried and had my food and how I quietly kept some food inside my pocket fearing for another new day of hunger.  
9. The burning HOUSE: I will never forget how my grandparents cried and deeply mourn over their beautiful home when it went up to flame. The house once stood as the monument of love and sacrifice they share with their children has become but a black ashes the next day. Granny woke up early in the morning to look around and see her home... She must have had a longest night waiting for the sun to rise. Three days later, the Army came back again to sow mustard seeds. They say this is the ultimate sign of rage and an insult to the mother earth.
10. HELL on EARTH : Many of the village elders and leaders were blindly arrested and beaten them until their last blood stops dripping.

• Uncle 1: buried alive
• Uncle 2: hang him upside down and made the 100 ton rice press his weaken body and kept him breathless.
• Uncle 3: Beaten and smashed his eye balls.
• Aunties (2 of them): gave birth to a baby in the open community view with no mercy shown by the army.
• Aunties : sexually assaulted. 

10. The Martyred: That night all my villagers mourn in their own home as the villagers brought the remaining physical bodies of my uncles-great warriors and champions of our hope and spirit. The sun refused to shine. The sky was dark the next day, my village was clouded with the cry of the orphans, widows and their loved ones. Their spirit still invoke us today to share such stories of human undying spirit.
11. POST war depression : Many children and adult alike who survived the war went through deep depression post war. Many of us bear the invisible scars of bluebird. It was like a new birth and new second life i felt as i slowly started to cope up with new me with hopes and dreams. My parents after the war ensure that we move out of the village and start a new chapter of life. They gathered all possible means to safeguard our dreams that almost turn a nightmare. I went to a new school, met new friends and long after i started to write letters to my cousins and friends.

13. The land (Oinam) worth dying and living for : This is the cradle of the Naga war of independence from the Government of India. The story takes the readers through soul searching journey between pure childhood dreams and painful human realities that continue to move the hearts of the Naga hills and Human Rights community in India and abroad.... (under the process of publication).

When HURTS and PAIN happen to you finally for REAL...

God, for many many times I always say to myself " how fortunate I am not to go through the same way she/he or this person is going through....i will just die if am her/him. I never realize how wrong to have such attitude towards people... who am i to judge that she/he's in a worse condition or whatever... as i realize in  the process, am left with nothing in owe of God who continue to search human hearts. There's deep down in me, I try to ask myself... what in this cosmic world God had allowed me to face such situation... It is so hard to love a human unconditionally... am no God and i'll be a fool if i try to. But God commands us to love our neighbours just as ourselves (infact Christ says that fulfilled the law and prophets)... but how difficult it is... This is the only paryer i can utter at this point of time....

Dear loving gracious God

You already knows it well what is inside my mind and my heart. You already know before it was formed. If i may say, i will but fall and stumble. But your words said, you doesn't necessarily listen to the loudest cry or the best words but only the sincere hearts. Father, I pour out my heart to you and ask of you for your mercy and grace. As i close my eyes, i can see the images of people who'll be laughing at my sorrow, the way how my loved ones will be greiving... Father, there's nothing on this earth that happens without your knowledge...I ask your loving Holy Spirit to touch me afresh and strengthen my feet as am at the verge of falling to the bottomless pit of sin...My enemies are almost running over my life. My heart's hurt... my tears have dried up...But in all the matters i face this day, Father let me be reminded each moment of my life to glorify your name and believe in your doing. Never leave your bright shadow from my heart. Because it is ONLY in you I TRUST.

AMEN....