Be Still
Be Still
Jeremiah 30-31; Philemon
Eric Liddell, memorialized in the filmChariots of Fire, won a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics before going to China as a missionary. Some years later, with the outbreak of World War II, Liddell sent his family to safety in Canada, but he remained in China. Soon Liddell and other foreign missionaries were interned in a Japanese detainment camp. After months of captivity, he developed what doctors feared was a brain tumor.
Every Sunday afternoon a band would play near the hospital, so one day Liddell requested they play the hymn “Be Still, My Soul.” As he listened, I wonder if Eric pondered these words from the song: Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on / When we shall be forever with the Lord. / When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, / Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. / Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past / All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
That beautiful hymn, so comforting to Eric as he faced an illness that led to his death 3 days later, expresses a great reality of Scripture. In Psalm 46:10, David wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God.” In our darkest moments, we can rest, for our Lord conquered death on our behalf. Be still, and allow Him to calm your greatest fears.
me to bear patiently the trials I face, and to
leave everything to You to direct and provide.
I know that You will always remain faithful.
Miracales Happen
Miracales Happen
“The scholarship is only for the rural students as mentioned in the application form”, said Prof S.V. Nagendra Rao, The manager of the trust which provides scholarship to Rural students.
Not ready to go, and wanting to explain that I indeed deserve for the scholarship, I said, “I want to continue my education.” Looking at my details filled in my application he asked “You are an urbanite and come from good school, I said that was my past when things were all green.
Now, what happened? Now things changed. My dad underwent huge loss in business; we had sold out everything and have nothing in our hands. My Mom is in her brother’s house who is a lecturer in a village. That’s how I got this form. My Mother, a homemaker and a heart patient wanted to do everything to support my education but her health would not let her to do. My dad was in his brother’s house. I am in my Grandparents house who were taken care by my uncle. I could feel the burden on them but as a girl I could not go anywhere outside. Family was totally split. I had a good percentage despite the tragic situations happened in my house. . My relatives are kind enough to provide the shelter though they were not comfortable. It would be too much to ask them for my education when they have their own families to find bread and butter, in fact they were suggesting me to work.
There was lot of questions to my Mom asked by my relatives? Why your Husband did like this despite having good job. My Mom had tough time answering them. Call Centers/BPO was in full bloom in India which offered great salaries to people who were good at communication skills. I was suggested to get into job so that I can look up my family. But I don’t want to work. I want to continue my education sir. It isn’t a great deal for someone who had seen difficulties at young age or born in poverty family. But, the thing is I was born with a silver spoon. To see this kind of sudden tragedies would be too much to handle. I had what I wanted in fact more than what I asked for just 1 year ago. All of sudden losing everything really took a lot from me. My dad is not in a position to worry about my education. But I and Mom tried everything in spite of all our criticisms from our relatives. When my cousins who had less percentage were bribed and sent to good colleges. But I was allocated seat based on my percentage in one of the reputed colleges. I was burning up internally when I had considered all these things.
I thought I will ask my friends But they are too young to understand what happened to my family. In fact I myself am not clear as what is happening. My Mom repeatedly asked my relatives for help. None were ready to help except asking big questions like why it happened?
Finally, my mom had arranged for the money from my uncle she was adamant when that day is the last day to pay the fees and promised to return the money somehow. My fee for the current year is already paid. I have come to you in the middle of the year. But this is my first year. How about for the next year? I wanted some financial support for my education going forward. I would be happy if someone lends money for my education without regrets. I don’t want to burden anyone.
Ok, “you would be granted the scholarship”. Study well all the very best. If your percentage is too good we will grant the fund till you complete your higher studies or at least make arrangements for education loans.
I was granted scholarship for my second year studies and new books as well to continue my education. Everything was smooth and kind with respect to expenses. I believe that, than your grades it’s your willingness to not to quit that should be identified and supported. I still don’t understand with what guts I spoke to the manager being that young. But that’s how things work and get you going when you want something that you deserve and when you are constantly striving for it honestly with all the efforts. You receive help from sources unknown and sources untraced. My education trust which funded me is an excellent example. If everything gets you down, god will not let you down when you deserve something and you are striving for it. I started staying in my relative’s house when we sold our house. I stayed in my mom’s brother house and mom’s sister house during my 8th, 9th and 10th standard. I was in my grandparents’ house during my pre-university that is for a period of two years. I finally completed my engineering in my own home with fair good percentage. During my engineering, we somehow managed to rent a house and though my dad was not working as he was deeply depressed or lost in his life. Food grains were given by aunt for almost three year that’s something too big. Even a small note book was a gift to me. I still appreciate relatives and friends who brought me note books. When you are not ready to give up something and if your views are strong and honest you will receive all the help from the world in magical ways. You will muster all courage to talk to anyone in any situation without being thought, because your talks will be from the heart and real. It might seem a very small amount today but that day it was huge blessing at that time. I used to feel happy even for the slightest help that I was receiving. Slowly when my relatives realized that I was not a girl who gives up things easily they also started supporting in big or small ways. Today I am blessed to realize even the smallest things that happen to me. Only I know how I happy I feel when good things happen. I value everything big or small. Life seems to be blessing and every day I am getting better and wiser.
From: www.values.com.