Search Results

Cain and Abel, the brothers known for their conflict, the Lord accepted one's offering and rejected the other's offering(because of the attitude issue). This infuriated Cain, who took it personally, instead of correcting himself he killed his brother. When God asked, he said the iconic statement, 'Am I supposed to take care of my brother?' (Genesis 4:9). God did not say anything to Cain there. Abel's blood, on the other hand, is also furious; it also sought revenge as verse 10 says, 'Your brother's blood is calling out to me from the ground,' like a voice calling for revenge. We humans are civilized people, as christians we should commit ourselves to be led by the spirit. But ,the old self will seek revenge naturally when we find any injustice happening to us. However, the Lord is the king of all; He is the judge. He sees and He answers. Every relationship on earth is fragile; it can go rotten in a second, be it a brother or a sister. Give the case to God. Our anger, our revenge can do nothing but harm to ourselves. One of the most surprised thing about the story is that the parents are not even in this pictures when this happens. As parents, Are we aware of everything that our child or children go through? Are we willing to listen, or are we quick to judge? Are we one sided or we are seeking God's wisdom to solve the crisis. Are we able to see just the outside character or are we aware of their attitude? May God gives us knowledge to raise children who have the right selfless attitude. Let none suffer rejection when done the right thing. Dear God, we pray for the relationships we have with our brothers and sisters. May you be the king, father, and everything over those fragile relationships. Guard us and them from causing pain to each other. And whatever has caused pain in the past, let us not seek revenge, but leave the case to you. In Jesus' name, we pray.

All of us like words like winning, success, overpowering, and overcoming. But the story of humanity starts with the fall, and surely it didn't end up in that way. Flip a few pages in the Bible; you can see the fall. The first family on earth, the family of Adam and Eve, have lots to teach. When they were shunned away from the Garden, in chapter 4 Eve says, 'By the Lord's help, I have acquired the son.' The Lord loved them so much that He didn't leave them alone to suffer on earth. In the midst of the suffering and pain, and even through the curse (the painful childbirth), the Lord was with them; He helped Eve. How unconditional His love was! Surely, Eve must have felt bad for hurting God, the one who can love her so much, regardless of her failing Him in every way. How great are His mercies towards us. Hey friend, are you away from God? Do you feel like you have been shunned away from His presence? The Lord can never shun you away. He will surely help you in your mess. He never fails as He is not mere human. Even in your falling state, run back to Him; never hesitate to look up in prayer. Even if your heart says you can never be forgiven, compel yourself to talk to God. God can turn your darkness into light. ('The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.' Psalm 18:28) This is never the end. Rise up! Dear God, thank you for every word in the Bible. Thank you for helping us in our mess. Thank you for lighting our darkness. May nothing from darkness ever separate us from your love. May you cover us and keep us close to your heart. Strengthen us and help us, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

"When the Lord is with you, He will do powerful things through you. In Isaiah 41, God says He is the one who determines the course of history (verse 4). He determines who should conquer the kings and the nations. When God determines to help a man to conquer, He strikes his enemy like dust with His arrow, scattering the enemy like straw before the wind. He makes him follow the pursuit and march safely (verse 3). None can stop him from moving forward. God cannot be controlled by time; He Himself is at the beginning and the end.This God Himself chooses us to be His people and says, 'Do not be afraid, I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you' (verse 10). This God, who helps the conqueror (Israel, us), says He knows that He is. He will strengthen us, help us, protect us, save us, and shame those who are angry at us with defeat (verse 11). He makes them as nothing, making His chosen one like a threshing board with sharp and new spikes. He now says we will thrash mountains and destroy them as dust. Verse 16 says, 'You will be happy because I am your God. You will praise me, the Holy God of Israel.' God will answer our prayers when we are in need.May the Lord our God fulfill all the above in our lives in this new year. Dear God, thank you for your powerful presence in our lives. Thank you for going to make us strong and sharp. Let us not be afraid of the unknown. May we know the One who is the beginning and the end is with us, to protect, save, strengthen, and make us victorious as conquerors. Thank you for answering our prayers. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

"What could be more rewarding than hearing from God, calling us His beloved sons and daughters? When Jesus got baptized, he received the words found in Luke 3:22, which say, 'You are my dear son. I am pleased with you.' Once, in a meeting, a pastor was preaching about forgiveness. He is now pastoring the biggest church in India, which was featured in a news report by CBN. In his early stages, a man constantly spread ill news about him, doing everything to damage his reputation. However, God told this man of God to send gifts and forgive him. The man of God found it very difficult to forgive. He knew nothing would change if he forgave. He asked God, 'God, why should I forgive him?' God answered, 'If you forgive him, you will be my beloved son.' The man of God said nothing but simply obeyed God. Yes, forgiveness is hard; at times, we find it meaningless. We have all sorts of reasons for not doing it. But if you love God and want to be His favorite, don't question it—just do it, as He deserves all your love. Dear God, thank you for your love. Fill us with a love like yours. May we be your favorite sons and daughters. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Who doesn't like to be powerful? We can see children going after superheroes and adults after movie heroes. Why should we go after them when we've been given power over everything by God? If you are a prayerful person, you are a powerful person too. Because, God Himself joins you if you pray together with someone. Do you have friends who pray with you? Pray to God for such friends, brothers, or sisters. Jesus says in Matthew 18 verses 18 and 29 as follows: 'And so I tell all of you: What you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. And I tell you more: whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them. 'Hey friend, we are at the end of the year 2023. Are you tired of anything that overpowers you and takes away your peace? Bind it in Jesus' name and release yourself from its grip. Join a friend, pray together, and may the Holy Spirit fill you with oneness, permitting what you ask for in His name. Dear God, grant us the desire to pray together as friends. Help us take charge of our prayer lives. We bind all thoughts and spirits that work against us and our peace. We release the joy of heaven into our lives. May nothing hinder this prayer as we pray in Your name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Many different kinds of people can be seen in just one single chapter in Acts. In Acts 14, we encounter Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking about God to the Gentiles. Following them, there were Jews who opposed Paul, and later, the Lord, who performed miracles and wonders. Finally, there was also a group who mistook Paul and Barnabas for Zeus and Hermes, the Greek mythology gods, and offered them sacrifices. When Paul began preaching the Gospel to them, it was the Lord who performed miracles to authenticate their message about Him. However, in the end, we see that the people could not comprehend the Lord God and instead worshipped mythological characters like Zeus and Hermes. How pathetic! We require God's power when proclaiming about Him. We need the Lord's miracles and wonders to validate it. Moreover, our most fervent prayers should be for people to open their hearts and minds, understanding that only the Lord God performs miracles and comprehending the Gospel. Nothing should be in vain but to save souls from any mythology that distances them from the Lord. When they didn't believe the non believing Jews turned their hearts against Paul and Barnabas. Verse 19 says, they won the crowd over to their side, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town. Evil is ready to take its place in the people's heart when the hearts are deceived by lies. Dear God, thank you for saving us, leading us every day, guiding us on the right path, granting us peace, grace, and your mercy. May everyone come to know you and be blessed. May your mighty protection be over ever one who shares your words to others. Dear Lord, when you perform miracles and wonders, may their eyes be opened to see you. Let their hearts burn for you. May everyone who hears the Gospel understand it. Let nothing hinder them from knowing you in this life, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The Lord God is the eternal being, whereas we are mere mortals. He sees the past, present, and the future. In Him lies all time—past, present, and future. In Ezekiel, the Lord predicted a famine in the land of Israel. Instead of repenting and seeking His grace, people began to repeat a proverb. Ezekiel chapter 12, verse 22 says, 'Time goes by and the predictions come to nothing.' The Lord said to them in verse 23, 'Time has come, and the predictions are coming true.' In verse 25, He says, 'I would do what I have warned you I would do.' We are living in the end times. The Bible contains many predictions about the time we're in. Are we, like the Israelites, saying Proverbs such as 'Time goes by and predictions come to nothing'? We're in a position where we can never utter such a proverb, witnessing predictions coming alive before our eyes. May we learn from the Bible that this is the hour to pray for our nation. Let us stand in the gap for ourselves and our people, the beloved Indians. Let us fast and pray for our nations, seeking the mercy of the Lord. May we never show carelessness about the times we're living in. Dear God, fill us with Your spirit to pray and stand in the gap for our nation. May we see Your mercy upon us. Protect us under Your mighty wings, dear Lord. May we live lives filled with prayer, fearing the Lord, shunning evil, and doing good as a nation. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

God, through His prophets, revealed His plans to mankind. His plans are for us to get saved from darkness. Salvation is definitely not a gift that we can take lightly; it is the most expensive, valuable gift any human can receive. We are living in a fallen world, where pitfalls and destructive paths that can make us stumble can be found everywhere. When Simeon saw child Jesus, he said the following: "In Luke chapter 2 verses 30 to 32," he says, "with my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles." Do we have this light in us, the light(God's word) that expels darkness? Jesus said, "The eyes are the lamp for the whole body; if our eyes are dark, our whole body will be dark. Yes, it is possible for us to have darkness in some places which like parasite that spreads across the whole body. In order to cut the darkness. We should drench ourselves fully with the word of God. Are we able to see salvation, or are we seeing the acts of darkness in us? In this Christmas season, let us choose light over darkness. Let our eyes see salvation (Jesus) like how the eyes of Simeon saw. Dear God, may with our eyes let us always see light and keep it fixed on your salvation. May your light fill our whole being. Let it bring glory to you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Those who are born in Christ are citizens of heaven. But, we live on earth until the Lord allows us to. The word 'time' has been stressed in many places in the Bible. Luke 1, verse 2, says, 'At that time, Emperor Augustus ordered a census throughout the Roman Empire.' Verse 5 says, 'Joseph went (to Bethlehem in Judaea) to register with Mary.' This incident illustrates that when the time came, he obeyed the law that should be followed at that time. He and his family went to Bethlehem to obey the Roman Emperor's order, fulfilling the prophecy about Jesus the Messiah being born in Bethlehem. Another incident about time and obedience is seen in verse 22, stating, 'The time came for Mary and Joseph to perform the ceremony of purification, as the law of Moses commanded, so they took the child to present Him to the Lord.' Here, they obeyed God's word in due time. God expects us to obey both earthly government and heavenly rule in due time to fulfill His will for us. Friends, are we, as families, living and leading our families as Joseph and Mary did? Are we dedicated to fulfilling our duties to our country and to our God? In Matthew 12:17, Jesus says, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' May God grant our families the wisdom and guidance to fulfill the words spoken by Jesus. May we give our hearts to Him. When we give the government the taxes we owe, it's expected to take care of its people. Similarly, when we give God our hearts, He will care for them eternally, as His kingdom is eternal. Let's commit our hearts to our heavenly King and never hesitate to submit them to anything of the world or evil. May our hearts always love and serve their King, God Almighty. Dear God, help us to be good citizens of our country. We offer our hearts completely to you, surrendering them so that you can reign over its wishes, emotions, and feelings. May Your will be done as we submit. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

We are joyful when people appreciate us, encourage us, talk greatly about us, and when they bless us. How will we behave when someone criticizes, hurls words of hatred at us, discourages us, and curses us? Those words and experiences will remain in our minds and stay as wounds. But in Luke chapter 1, verses 34 and 35, it says, 'Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother, "This child is chosen by God for the destruction and salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts."' This is the prophecy about Jesus Christ. Simeon, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, revealed these words about Jesus Christ. He was chosen to be against many. He was chosen to be spoken against by many. He is chosen to reveal people's secret thoughts. All of this was fulfilled in the life of Jesus when He was walking in flesh among the Israelites; He was spoken against by many. His ministry journey was not at all easy. But Jesus fulfilled everything He had to finish on earth amidst that. Till date, we can see people speaking against Jesus, His church, and His people. Hey friend, if you are going through the same, you are walking where Jesus walked through. Christian life is not only about receiving praise and rewards; it is also about enduring the tough words and overcoming them as Jesus did. Jesus was calm and, at the same time, so powerful. He heard people's words, and He also knew their thoughts. He was not troubled, afraid, or depressed by their words. May He equip us with the same attitude and make us fight a good fight. Dear God, thank you for every person who spoke against us, everyone who tries to discourage us. Strengthen us with Your Spirit, Lord. May we, as Your children and Your body, rise above everything and fulfill everything that You have appointed for us to do. Reveal Your secrets to us, Lord. May we know the hidden schemes and motivations of the enemy and triumph over them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Not many incidents about the young Jesus were recorded in the Bible. But, the Bible carefully recorded an incident in Luke 2, verses 41 to 51. Jesus was then twelve years old. He went to the Jerusalem church for the Passover festival along with his parents, but he stayed there. Without knowing, his parents continued their journey back home. At church, when they found him, he was sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Everybody around him was amazed at His answers. Two things we can learn from here are that 1. He preferred to stay at the Lord's house. 2. He was able to answer and talk with the teachers at church when he was young. We are raising a generation for God. Are we raising them in a way they love to stay at church? Are they in the midst of people who listen and talk about God's word? What is their preference? May they rise and shine for God from a very young age. May they be taught of the Lord. Another remarkable thing about this passage is that Mary was one day far from Jesus but found him at church after three days. This is like how He would be separated from her after he died on the cross for three days. Also, all these happen around the Passover festival when they sacrifice lambs for God. This incident symbolizes that Jesus is the lamb of God who will sacrifice His life to save many he will die and will not be found for three days. But will come back in the third day. Dear God, help us to raise our generation for you from their young age. May they be filled with God's word. May they be a generation who thirsts for the presence of God. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

There are many prophets and prophetesses in the Holy Bible. Many of the prophecies in the Bible have come true. Still, there are many others yet to come true, like the ones that have already come to pass. One of the greatest prophecies that came to life is the birth of Jesus. And very few prophets were able to see that come true. One such prophetess is the very old Anna. She lived just seven years with her husband. After he died, she fasted, prayed, and worshipped God.All of us find it easy to worship and sing unto God when life is going well, but Anna worshipped, prayed, and fasted when she lost everything. She was alone, but she never let her circumstances swallow her; instead, she chose to walk with the lion of Judah. God Himself came and revealed Himself to this prophetess. The Bible does not show a weak picture of this woman, but a most powerful one. Yes, she was a prophetess who not only prophesied but saw it getting fulfilled.We are still waiting for prophecies about the secret coming and the second coming to be fulfilled. Be it loss, tears, poverty, depression, or anything else, may we choose to live like Anna the prophetess. Let's pray, fast, and worship while we wait, and may God give us grace to see prophecies coming alive before us. Let's praise like Anna when we see it happening before our eyes. Let's not allow anything to sink us in sadness.Dear God, give us strength and courage to pray, worship, fast, and praise You while waiting for Your second coming. Thank You for every prophecy You have written in the Bible. Bless us and fill us with praise and thanksgiving when we see Your prophecies coming alive in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Waiting is one of the things that everyone has faced in our lives, especially in India, a densely populated nation. It is very common. The Bible, from the beginning, talked about God's promise to send a redeemer to save people from sin, which consequence is death. Many laid to rest without seeing the promised Messiah. But the Bible talks about very special people who recognized their redeemer when he was born. One such person was a widow who chose to stay and pray in the temple of God after she lost her husband.Many people were there in Israel, Jerusalem, and in the temple of God, but God chose to reveal himself to this wonderful woman of God. The Bible says in Luke 2:37, 'She never left the temple; day and night she worshiped God, fasting and praying.' When she saw the child, she was filled with praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 68:5 says, 'Father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.' So while Anna was in God's holy place, He was always watching over her as her defender. One of the easy targets in our present society is the widows. People believe that there is no protection over them as they are living without their husbands and easily hurt their emotions. But God is watching over them as he was watching over Anna as her defender and even chose to reveal His son to this woman. He honored her; the Bible doesn't record any young married women or any women from a royal family seeing the child. It was Anna who was special to God. Dear God, help us to see the widows in our society as you see them. Before we look at them, may we see you standing with them as their defenders. May we always consider them as special, just as you consider them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

God knows everything that happened in our past, is happening in our present, and will happen in the future. He knows when we will be born and also when we will return to Him. It is God who determines our days and protects us from every harm. In Matthew 2, verse 19 says, 'After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel because those who tried to kill the child are dead."' Jesus submitted himself to God's will at Gethsemane and chose the cross, dying. A Roman official, Pilate, who was not completely against Jesus, washed his hands in the bowl and left him to be killed on the cross.On the other hand, when Jesus was young, he was highly protected by an angel to keep him away from King Herod, who tried to kill him. The enemy who wanted to take his life couldn't succeed. When we walk in the will of God, He protects us and keeps us away from every intentional harm. He has started the journey of faith in us, and He will finish it.Hey friend, are you afraid of any Herod in your life, be it a disease or anything or anyone that is trying to destroy your life, your career, or your good name? The Lord knows, He protects. Make sure to listen to what God is telling you. Sharpen your ears and walk in His guidance. Dear God, fill us with courage and take away any kind of fear that grips us. Thank you for every angel You have appointed for us. May we cherish to walk and fulfill Your will in the days that have been given to us on this earth. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

One of my favorite carols for Christmas is 'Joy to the world, the Lord has come.' Indeed, it is joyful news but not for everyone. How could that be? How can anyone be sad when the king has come to redeem them from the enemy? It was particularly sad for a person who wants to be the king and not just anyone. It was King Herod. Matthew chapter 2 verse 3 says, when King Herod heard about this (about the birth of Christ), he was very upset. Are we happy about Jesus being the king over our lives, or do we want to reign over ourselves or our family? Are we able to submit ourselves and call Him the king of our lives? Living under His rule might mean that we have to put our own desires on the cross and follow Him with sacrifice. The path of following this king will cost anything that comes from our own selves, like self-desires, selfish ambitions, and self-righteousness. May, in this Christmas season and forever, the Lord reign over us. Dear God, be our king, be our head. May we always submit to your kingship. May we love you dearly. Thanks for being our compassionate king. Help us to serve you with all we have got. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"No makeup, but simply a straight preaching came from John the Baptist. He called the people 'You snakes and children of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to hell?' in Matthew 23:33. You might think, 'Oh, that's harsh.' A person who sins has to confess and repent to guard themselves in Christ. All of us are tempted every day in this life, but as sons and daughters of God, we are not to play with it but to strike it down.Imagine yourself enjoying a relaxing time in the park when a snake rises its head toward you. You will not be speaking to it, asking not to hurt you, or even more foolishly, thinking you can just play with it. We are supposed to flee or strike its head as quickly as possible. The same goes for sinning. When temptation comes, it is meaningless to replay those thoughts and believe that you can overpower them. Cut it straight, move away, and guard yourself from sinning. If you have sinned and are remorseful, repent and get back to God, who has great hopes for you and calls you the salt of the world and the light on the mountain.May we choose to be children of light and not children of snakes. And where can you equip yourself with the power to strike sin when it rises its head? The only answer is READING THE WORD OF GOD.Normally speaking, if we skip breakfast, we feel tired; if we skip lunch, we feel even more tired; if we skip dinner, then that is it. Our body will be too weak. In the same way, make sure not to miss your manna (God's word). Be a mighty warrior in God's kingdom. Do not hesitate but kill sin today. Dear God, thank you for the power that comes through your word. We confess our sins to you. Forgive us and strengthen us every day with your word. May we live a power-packed life, make us the salt and light that you intend us to be. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

God, in His grace, has given us the Holy Spirit, who guides us in all truth. The book of Luke, in chapter 2, talks about a man who was led by the Spirit even before Jesus was born. This man is Simeon, who lived in Jerusalem. He heard the Holy Spirit speaking to him; the Holy Spirit was with him (Verse 25). He was walking with God. The Holy Spirit led him to whichever place he needed to be at the particular time. It was not a coincidence that he met child Jesus when his parents took him to the church. It was God's plan. He saw the child as foretold by the Holy Spirit (Verse 26). Let us examine ourselves. Are we led by the Spirit in our everyday life? Are we attentive to listening to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit and obeying Him? One marvelous thing that could happen when we do so is that with our own eyes, we will see the prophecies told by God coming alive. He held the baby who was much bigger than the universe just because he chose to listen, obey, and live along with the Holy Spirit. Let us make a deliberate decision to walk with the Holy Spirit. May our every day be filled with obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Dear God, thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit. Help us to listen to Him, be led by Him, and be amazed every day by His wonderful leading. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

John the Baptist was appointed by God to be the prophet who paves the way for Christ. His father prophetically declared many things about his son from verse 67 to 79 in Luke Chapter 1. Zachariah clearly prophesied that the Lord would save his people from their sins, and John was to tell people the same in verse 76. The word and all the prophecies about his calling were growing inside him for a long time. He was growing in body and spirit and was in the desert until he came publicly to minister according to his calling. All of us may have prophecies about us, and we might think we are in a desert. It is necessary for a person to stay in the desert until the Lord uses him or her publicly before the eyes of all. The same happened to Lord Jesus. So, whenever you find yourself not doing much, remember that you are growing in your body and in spirit in the desert, soon to be revealed to walk in your calling. Romans 11:29 says, "For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable" (He never withdraws them once given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or sends His call). Stay strong, my friend; God is just strengthening you in your waiting. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 says, "Do not scoff at prophecies." The Bible we read every day is the confirmation that prophecies are told so that they will be fulfilled. Dear friend, do not be discouraged; you will also see yourself living in your calling. Dear God, thank you for all the prophecies you have told about us. May we never lose hope but cling to that, trusting that you fulfill all the prophecies about us. Thank you for helping us to walk in our calling. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The birth of Jesus in the Bible is closely connected to the birth of another child, John the Baptist. Zachariah and Elizabeth were old and were living good lives before the eyes of God (Luke 1:6). When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah, he told him that God is blessing them with a special child who will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth (Luke 1:15). By saying that, he said to Zachariah, 'God has heard your prayer.' It shows that the old couple were persistent in their prayers for a child, and God chose to answer it in a super special way. Verse 66 says the news about the birth of John, the supernatural naming ceremony of the child, spread across the hill country of Judea. They asked, 'What is this child going to be?' For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him. We don't know if the people in Judea knew about Elizabeth and Zachariah when they were waiting for the answers to their prayers. But the news about them and their son spread when God remembered them. When God intervenes in your waiting and acts, it will be incomprehensible to our little brains. He is the most supreme and will never fail to answer our prayers when we serve Him truthfully. And make sure to go awestruck and not to get mute when you are nearing the miracle. May your mouth always be filled with the praises of God like Zachariah, like Elizabeth, and like Mary. Hey friend, are you waiting for someone to be saved by praying for the same for a long time? Are you waiting for another breakthrough for a very long time? May these Christmas incidents bring more hope to your waiting and your long-awaiting prayer. When He answers you, it will not be a general answer. It will spread to many faster than you think. It will be powerful. The Lord's power will be upon it. Dear God, thank you for faithfully answering the prayers of Zachariah and Elizabeth. May your power rest over us and our generation like how it was then over John. Those who see us should plainly see that the Lord's power is with us. Thank you for all the answers that you are going to answer to us in a super special way. In Jesus' name, we thank. Amen.

God has every comfort in heaven, but He looked down at us and came to rescue us. His birth is all about choosing the lowly and small things in the world, taking part in people's suffering, and in the midst, sharing hope and the good news. Matthew 2:6 says, 'Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are in no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; for from you will come a leader who will guide my people Israel.' God chose the city that was considered the least. Also, He chose to be born in a manger; He sent His angels to shepherds. God and His ways are marvelous. God never lost anything by choosing to live in a poor place, a small city, and with poor parents. He goes in search of anything that is considered the least and lifts it. May God help us make choices like Him. May we not be satisfied by enjoying the companionship of a rich community. Let us reach out to the poor and act as God acted. We are in a situation where our city has despair, confusion, and hopelessness. Hey friend, you are the child of God, the God who chose to commit Himself to suffer with the poor. Carry the good news to comfort the worn-out and the needy. Go out as the angel went out in search of people to give them hope and the good news. Dear God, help us to live a life where we accommodate every poor person, the lowly, and the least. May our hearts go after them as Yours did. Make us a living embodiment of Your good news. May we become like Your son Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The star holds many significances in the Holy Bible. In the birth of Christ, we see the wise men coming to see Jesus by following the star. They commenced their journey guided by the star. However, they relied on their own understanding and went to the king's palace to see whether the King of Jews was born there. But they couldn't find him there. Matthew 2 verses 9 and 10 say that on their way back from the palace, they saw the same star they had seen in the east. When they noticed it, how happy and joyful they were. The star never ceased guiding them until it stood over the place where the child was born. It led them to the right place, bringing them joy. It persisted, moving ahead of them, leading them to the child. Daniel 12:3 says, "And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever." Are we willing to be the guiding star that leads people to the God they seek? Just as in Daniel, people shine when they help others do what is right. Make sure to lead the way based on biblical truth. The star wasn't mentioned again after it brought them to Jesus. It held a humbling attitude before the promised King, Jesus. We, as God's star should show way which leads to Jesus and let the king have the glory. The kind of star in God's kingdom leads people to find where Jesus is, without seeking its own glory. Dear God, help us shine like stars in your kingdom. May those who follow us end up finding who You are. May we shine brightly for those in need of light, dispersing every darkness with the shining lights within us, Your children. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Mary was told that she had received favor from God to give birth to the Son of God. Mary accepted and asked the question, "How is it possible?" The angel of God answered, "Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, it is a supernatural thing." He ended by referring to another great woman named Elizabeth, who was childless for a very long time, and said, "For there is nothing that God cannot do" (Luke 1:37). I am surprised that he is giving reference to Elizabeth to answer the question of Mary. This leads to Romans chapter 4, verse 17: "God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that are not as though they were." Jesus, in Matthew 3:9, says, "I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." All these incidents about Abraham, Elizabeth, and Mary point out one truth about God: that to all our questions like "How could something happen when it is utterly not possible from our knowledge?" The truth is that God needs nothing to do a miracle for you. He, in Himself, has everything. Seek after God to fulfill every nothingness, emptiness in your life as He is everything. May in this season, we receive our miracle out of nothingness from God. Dear God, we submit all our questions at your feet. Be our answer to every question, Lord. With your Holy Spirit's power, fill us and conceive every goodness in us, O Lord. We have nothing to boast inside us. Fill us with every good thing from heaven by your power. Thank you, Lord. Let there be no emptiness anywhere in our lives. May we be thoroughly filled by your Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Christmas season's greetings to all pearl divers! Let's dive deep to enjoy another pearl from the Bible in this Christmas month. The birth of Jesus is the most crucial thing that has ever happened in human history. God, as He promised, came into the world in flesh like one among us to save us from sins and to give us eternal life. Apostle John, in the Gospel of John, in Chapter 1:14 writes like this: 'The Word became a human being, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which He received as the Father's only son.' Jesus is the fulfillment of all hope, joy, and the freedom that was promised by God to His people. John starts to write about the life of Jesus by saying he saw the glory. Yes, this is not just a story like another saint's life. This is God coming to live among us. This is about God remembering us. This is all about God's incomprehensible love towards human beings. And the Bible says that God even gave his son for us; what else would he withhold? Verse 16 says, 'Out of the fullness of His grace, he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another.' Hey friend, God can never forget you; every single promise He gave will be fulfilled by God. He never changes. He is faithful to look after you. May the love of our Lord Jesus fill us; may the joy of this Good News stay with us throughout this month. Like how John saw God's glory, may God open our eyes to see this beauty in the birth of Jesus. May we see the glory of God like how John saw. Let Jesus be the strong reality in our lives. Dear God, thank you for giving your son Jesus. Open our eyes to see how you glorified him. May Jesus fill everywhere in our lives as we enter the month where we remember your greatest love towards us. Our dear Immanuel, be with us every second of the day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"Queen Sheba is one of the smart queens we can see in the Bible. She wants to challenge Solomon's wisdom and test his understanding. She found out she was no match for his wisdom. She praised God in 1 Kings 10, verse 9: 'Praise the Lord your God! He has shown how pleased He is with you by making you king of Israel.' She saw the whole kingdom was filled with Solomon's wisdom; she saw by the way he had built his palace, by the way he keeps his servants. She honored the king and gave him gifts. The Queen, who does not know the Lord, praised Him when she saw His mercy and love towards Solomon. But Solomon, the most gifted one under the earth with wisdom, deliberately chose to drift himself away from God (verse 11). He became unfaithful. But the Lord was so faithful to the promise he made to his father David and spared the kingdom of Solomon. May we examine ourselves and think whether we are deliberately moving towards Him or away from Him. We might not understand ourselves, as it is a slow fade. The Lord is merciful and gracious; maybe the mercy we are enjoying is because of someone's prayer. May we take guard of our life. May we stand as a watchman in prayer and guard ourselves, our families, and our friends. May we always find grace in the eyes of the Lord who blessed us with so much. The phrase 'so much' doesn't need to mean too much wealth. Living a peaceful life with good health and friends and having a good fellowship in itself is a tremendous blessing and His grace, as all belongs to Him. May we be ever grateful and praise the Lord our God when we see goodness in our lives and in the lives of others. Dear God, we thank you for every good gift you have showered over us, our friends, and our families. May we always find favor, grace, and mercy not just because of our ancestors. May we be considered faithful by you. May all our actions praise you. May we never drift away from you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Our beautiful, ever-grateful seventh wedding anniversary was over by August 12, 2023. We were planning for the next day's event. I was resting while my husband Mr. Jasper was anticipating the dawn of the next day, which is August 13. He had informed me about the same on August 11. By then, we were at the Madurai Kannappar Hotel in Porur. While we were waiting for the hot food to arrive, he revealed to me about the marathon that was being conducted for the cause of women's safety. Being a person who hadn't run for almost a decade, I was wondering at his request for me to join the run. I was an athlete when I was young, but when I entered tenth grade, I was made to focus on nothing but education. Since then, I never ran for any reason. Chennai is known for marathons and fitness enthusiasts. Two years ago, my husband participated in a marathon. I assisted him and gave him moral support, but I didn't run the race even then, so I wasn't aware of the prizes they would give to winners. My basic idea was that people run marathons for a good cause. Let's return to the scenario at Kannappar Hotel now. I was surprised by my husband's words about the winner's reward. I felt motivated and said, "Okay, I will come, and we will win. But let's keep it a secret." My husband, who had never seen me running, was taken aback but laughed and said, "Sure, I will never share our secret with anyone." He thought I was joking, but seeing my serious expression, he asked, "Ani ma, are you serious?" I hadn't expected that reply, as I was genuinely sincere about winning the prize. In my mind, I believed I could win, considering I had walked more than 5 km. I planned to walk faster to increase my chances of winning. So, I told my husband, "No, I am serious." Upon hearing my reply, he unfolded the truth that around 2000 young women had signed up for the marathon. Trained athletes were expected to participate from colleges. This reminded me of my college days, where I saw athletes practicing every day. I knew for sure I wasn't a match for them in terms of athletic abilities. So, my confidence started to waver. I told my husband, "Looks like my plan for winning won't work out." He laughed and said, "That's totally fine. Just come and stay beside me. You can do volunteering if you want." At that moment, my eyes sparkled, and I said, "Okay, I will come along with you and will do my part as a volunteer." The next morning, when the alarm rang, I was tired, but I didn't want to miss the adventure my husband had described. I got ready to attend the church as well as the marathon event which was arranged by the I'M SAFE app team. The drive was beautiful, with wide roads and no traffic in the early morning. As we neared the event, we encountered a busy and energetic team working like bees at the venue. Seeing their actions, I felt compelled to get involved in every little thing where I thought my assistance was needed. The energetic women from the I'M SAFE app were wearing their branded T-shirts and caps and working with laptops. They distributed T-shirts to the registered students. On a stage, a compering lady was using her English fluency to guide young women about everything they needed to know. Her confident presence and voice were guiding the girls. Students from Ethiraj Women's College and Stella Maris College flooded the booth, eagerly getting ready to run the marathon. When my husband started distributing T-shirts,Bibs etc.. I assisted him a little. The event began, and the stage was graced by the CEO of the I'M SAFE Mr. Giftson Selladurai, the Chairman of Ethiraj College Mr. V. M. Muralidharan, another woman dignitary, and finally the Deputy Commissioner Mrs. V.V. Geethanjali. My husband's duty was to safely hand over pure white doves to the chief guests. Two beautiful doves were waiting, looking at the crowd from their cage, longing for freedom. At last, the moment arrived. Those pure, beautiful birds were released into the air. It was one of the most joyful sights to behold. All the guests were happy, as they had participated in a prelude event to what they were about to witness: the young women flying as those birds did. A concise yet impactful speech was given by the woman police officer. She stressed that women should be safe not only from physical violence but also from online violence. Another captivating sight was the release of balloons in pink and white colors. These balloons were near where I was standing. A member of the I'M SAFE team asked me to pass the balloons to her by removing them from the stones they were tied to. I untied them and handed the balloons to Mr. Jim, my husband's colleague, who then passed them to the lady to take to the stage. The balloons were released, accompanied by the students' loud and joyful shouts. Students were asked to assemble behind the starting point. Young men from I'm Safe, Ruah Tech and Axlerate were ready on bikes and began to move when the highly anticipated marathon started. I felt a sense of awe as I saw the young women start from the beginning. They exuded joy, hope, and determination. It was a moment that gave me goosebumps, and I felt proud of each one of them. As they left, our team of volunteers and staff awaited their return to the starting point. I started a conversation with Mrs. Saranya Andrew, the wife of Mr. Andrew who heads the marketing team of I'M SAFE app and we shared many thoughts on various topics. I was least expecting the winner to show up in a very short period. But, While we were near where our car was parked, we saw the first winner reach the finish line. We were amazed by her swift running ability. The first winner was a young woman from Pollachi Physical Education College named GS college. She came to know about the event through Instagram. Remarkable thing about her performance and winning was the fact that she ran without wearing shoes. We went to the finish line to welcome and serve the winners with medals, water bottles, biscuits, and juice. Gen Z ladies posed with their medals, likely planning to share the photos on Instagram later. Though bottles were scattered, when we collected some, young women used the bins and thanked us for the service. After finishing the race, they sat on the ground for a while. The winners were announced, and their checks were awarded as everyone cheered. Laughter, joy, and smiling faces were everywhere, along with a sense of accomplishment. Apart from the students who were winning medals. We met another inspiring person Mrs. Monica Issac who finished the race in just 45 mins and won the medal. She encouraged me to join her in the next marathon event in future. The young women and every women who participated cheered each other and spread the message that they were strong, bold, and beautiful when united. The strong message that the I'M SAFE app aimed to convey to the world was achieved through them, through the spirit of the marathon. It showed that women are resilient, supportive, and willing to break barriers. Thanks to the teams of I'M SAFE, Ruah Tech, and Axlerate, that day became a memorable experience for everyone present. The event was a blessing for more than thousands of women. Post event we had a wonderful chance to meet Mrs.Preethi Daniel, the Co-founder of the organization called "You are Loved" that seeks to empower communities through education, employment and enlightenment. I was inspired by her Leadtalks where she was sharing about the journey of their organization along with her husband Mr. Daniel Jacob. Overall this Marathon empowered everyone who came to participate, volunteer and to work. This is now another remarkable memorable experience that will stay and will last in my memory lane timelessly. Photos credits to: I'M SAFE (Women's safety app) and Freepik.

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.-Og Mandino Loss of a loved one and the subsequent suffering that follows can teach us a number of lessons on Human Existence. It can break and shape one into a transformed person. No one would like to go through difficult situations in life but such situations will polish one to become a better version of oneself, to understand the fellow human better. Dr. Betty d'Coute once gave us a meaningful exercise in a Part II English class. I was a student of Ms. Dew Lawrent but our teacher was on leave and we were attending the class of our dear Betty mam. Our Professor asked us to define life in a single line by comparing it with something else. For example, life is like a candle, star etc.. the presentation started from the first row of the class, till my turn came I was rehearsing my lines for the presentation in my mind. I said in front of the class,"Life is a beautiful song with its both pitches (high and low)". My dear mam explained,"Anita, life is a song, more than being beautiful alone. It has very tough times, hard times and also happy moments". I took her words, nodded my head and went back to my seat by pondering deeply on what she said. Here comes one such lesson which life gave me to make me as a strong person emotionally. STAND WITH THEM? It was bright sunny, breezy day at Agarakattu. I was working as an Assistant professor in J.P college of Arts and Science, Tenkasi. A special meeting for freshers was organised by the college. The meeting's motive was to encourage the students to get ready for the academic challenges they will face soon. I was seated in the last row with my friend and a co-teacher, Asst. Professor Sudha who was a very talented soft skill trainer and a teacher, I was always amazed by her bold personality, which at times was a reason behind some of her unconventional teaching methods and style, still, I found it very fascinating. We were in the middle of the meeting and the speaker Mr. Jegan was advising the students to make their parents proud. When he was about to talk more about the sacrifice that parents are making to give their children a good education. He requested the students who have lost their father or mother to leave the auditorium and wait outside, as he thought it might kindle delicate emotions, memories and breach a sensitive zone for them. When the students were slowly moving out, the speaker asked some teachers to accompany them. My friend, Ms. Sudha turned her face towards the students and said to me, "Baby, join me, let's go and stand with the students", I didn't know how to react then, I felt uneasy as I never knew how to help the children handle their emotions. I totally regret today that I never stood along with them on that day. The children were in pain and were remembering their lost parent. When one started to cry, slowly the sadness gripped everyone and many started to shed tears. Sudha went and stood near them, she talked with some too to express moral support and solidarity. THE LIFE CHANGING LOSS Months rolled by and I was there in the phase of my life where I faced a similar loss of a parent, I lost my dad on Oct 19, 2015. I never thought or dreamt that I would be going through something like that in the near future. When it struck my home, I felt utter despair for the first time. But all these never happened on day one. All my spiritual wisdom that I got for years from my dad helped me to face it when he was lying before me lifelessly. He was a great believer of christ who walked very close with Him and have imparted so much wisdom about resurrection in my young mind. So when I looked at him I was saying to myself, "This is not my dad, He is alive, just not here". As I was the only child, as much as I got everything (all love, gifts) for myself, the same happened here, I was there facing the loss all by myself. My dad was my best friend when he was alive, he was my brother who played with me whenever I needed a companionship. Everyday of mine started with him. I used to raise both hands from bed towards him, he lifted me up and carried me gently till the back door where I usually get ready to start the day. He was always there for me, when I was young, he taught me stories from a very colourful book of a Russian artist. The book had only drawings and my dad interpreted the stories for me. He was there teaching me to draw whenever I got ready for drawing competition. He stood with me whenever I needed strength. He worked so hard to give me the best of everything. In my whole life, I enjoyed the friendship with no one like that I had with my dad. But now, I was in a position where I needed to be strong for the family, without him being there. The family of three broke into two. The Bible says, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" in Ecclesiastes 4:12. We were trying very hard not to be broken inside. The sense of responsibility that I had on that day was huge. The way I behaved was totally unbelievable. One of my good friends who visited asked ,"How you are like this?" as my friends knew I was a sensitive person. I had no clear answer then but as Viktor Frankle, a challenging author of Man's search for meaning says,“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves". That was the most toughest moment where I challenged myself to be more strong and to be less sensitive to the actual pain. Yet, here comes the truth, anyone at one point can make themselves strong to stand before people. But when you have to face the reality alone you can never escape the grip of the grief. The toughest part of grieving for the loss is, you trying to come to terms that, as long as you live, the person will never come back. (Yes, to the fact that the one who loved you, cherished you, raised you will never come back). An irreversible loss can bring huge changes in one's life and family. It changed my life upside down. The innocent laughter I used to have when my father was there was gone in the wind. The carefree nature of mine changed, perspective toward life changed. Most importantly the perspective in looking at families who are going through the loss changed. It’s true you never knew somebody’s pain unless you walk through it by yourself. I understood what it feels to be treated like a fatherless, what it is to have a broken soul at home, what it is to have the longing to have all the lost joy back, what it is to struggle to sing again, what it is to struggle to enjoy music again, what it is to struggle not to drown in sorrow. My choices and decisions in life started to revolve around my family’s situation. I found the meaning of true friends. Yes those who stay with you when you grieve, listens to you without judgement are indeed true. I found a great friend and a well wisher named Ms. Victoria, HOD of English Department at J.P College who played a crucial role in the grieving or healing process of mine. I shared, poured my heart out to her for months. She was there to fulfil the place of a sister whom I never had in my life. The way she helped me to process what I had in mind and the way she helped me to deal with it brought me some comfort to the grief that was in my heart. Another person who became very close to me from a friend to a sister was my friend named Sheeba Mary, the girl whom I always looked upon as "special". Now I know the reason why she looked so special to me from the rest of us. God was her father throughout her life and adorned her with special abilities and gifts throughout her life. Whenever I talked with her, I totally felt the love of a sister who understands what I was going through. She was a beautiful, independent, smart daughter who was raised by a single mother. The only person who understood what my mother went through after losing her husband, (the pillar of the family) was my dear Sheeba. She was full of empathy and compassion. Our friendship grew in a very meaningful way after every conversation about our families. She knows what it is to walk in my shoes. All people have different ways in reacting and responding to a person who goes through loss. I found this out when people visited me. Some never care and will visit you for the sake of visiting. Some could stay before you when you grieve and have the guts to laugh like nuts. Some genuinely care, but will be afraid of the responsibility and develop fear to get closer to you. Some openly will say not to trust them to stay by your side always. Only very few will come, understand, empathise and most importantly will never leave your side. All one needs at the time of grieving is your presence, your shoulder to lean on, your genuine concern. I often thought how great it would be if people had an understanding heart on what was going on in the family when they were going through the loss. What if people empathised with them? What if we stay quietly with them with our presence? What if we never thought of a fatherless child as a burden? What if we visited them with a genuine concern? What if we ignore the society’s stereotype and look at a widow as someone who deserves to live and thrive well in life? I ask, why not? We all bleed the same my friend. One of the meaningful things that we can do when one bleeds is not simply watch them die before us. (Yes, many do perish in the grief) But in action, bind them with your love. A word of comfort, a simple visit, right word to brighten their darkness can do wonders. There is no need for us to wait to take action. Yes love is a not only a noun it is also a verb. When somebody asked Jesus, He rightly pointed out the golden rule as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Let us not wait and stare for somebody or someone's situation to get better. Do the little you could do which you will be wanting them to do to you if you went through the situation like theirs. (It will surely create a great difference in their lives.) It can happen to anyone as death is inevitable. I watch a vlog named "London Thamizhachi" where the wife Subi Charles is a nurse and the husband Charles is a psychologist. The man offers bites of wisdom now and then. Once he said when someone is sad, the gentle touch of comfort can do more healing, he said showing affection like holding a person's hand is a kind of therapy which works to bring good results. He called it as "Touch Therapy". We are the generation who are going through something very remarkable in the times of history. More than ever people search for love, people search for a word of comfort, people search for a meaningful conversation with someone who genuinely cares in these days. Why can't we be that generation who goes for an extra mile to show that we care and spread the message that "all are loved genuinely". Giving a call to that long lost friend, forgiving someone who wronged you, forgiving yourself for not standing for people when you should have and actually reach out and do more acts of kindness in the present. The world now needs love more than ever. Come on, let's do it. It is time to relearn something and do it right. The regular readers of the blog might find this content not light as usual. What stirred my soul for this writing is the passing away of the father of my beloved friend Jemima. Uncle John Sunderesan, "Josuda" they lovingly call him, known for his knowledge of the scripture finished his race recently. In 2015, the dear family of Jemima invited me to stay at their house when I went to Madurai for graduation after I lost my dad. I attended their church service and I also happened to see the library of this wise man, the varied collection of books in his shelf testified his thirst for the word of God. Uncle got miraculous healing from COVID 19 in the first wave. Till the end he lived a testimonial life. Jemima in her Whatsapp message said "Just few hours before his stroke attack, he was preaching the conclusion part of his Bible study on Book of Revelation in YouTube". I can very much relate the same scenario with my dad Sobitharaj, he was in his prayer room meditating on the holy Bible and was praying just few hours before he had his fatal heart attack. Now, I truly, firmly believe that both our fathers will be in the presence of God Almighty, singing the everlasting song of praise, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty. They left great footprints in the walk of their faith to be followed by the generations to come. Goodbye, until we meet you on the other side of that beautiful shore.

My thoughts on felicitation programme and my Interview with Doakian, olympian Revathi Veermani. All the pleasant memories of the sports day flooded my mind as I watched the Felicitation ceremony at our Lady Doak college in honour of our fellow Doakian Revathi Veeramani. I had this blessed opportunity to stay at Pandita Ramabai hostel for three years and so was able to observe the sports girls closely. They were staying in the nearby Amy Carmichael Hostel which was just behind Pandita Ramabai Hostel. The sports girls were extraordinary in their dedication to practice for their events. While the other hostel students were taking rest, these diligent honey bees were always busy sharpening their skill set for their sport. They had this early morning training which from my perspective was hard to imagine how these girls trained, disciplined their body, endured pain and became strong, achieving more whilst doing so. No matter what pain they go through they will be present for the training without fail. All their hard work resulted in great appreciation on the college Sports Day. We fellow Doakian students would be amazed at their excellence in University level competition and National level competition. The pyramid show and the army mime by the sports students have always been my favourite. I used to get thrilled at what these women were capable of with their training. I remember we all getting trained under Captain. Dr. Shanthameena for aerobics. She trained us, danced with us and taught us so many group formations. (Later, I was so fortunate to meet her by chance on one of my trips in an OLA ride in Chennai.) One such formation is the "Olympic Rings". We were given Helium filled balloons in the five colours of the Olympic rings which was used in the formation. We could not resist shouting out loud when we saw our fellow Doakians forming the alphabets L D C, the three letters which united all of us as sisters under one campus. Never did we know that we were foreshadowing the near future with our symbolic representation of the Olympic Rings. Never did we know that the hands that trained us will also train an Olympian. Never did we know that from among our hardworking Doakian sports girls will rise a star will be get the whole nation's attention and hope. We are Proud of you dear Revathy. You have set an example for every young girl in India. I was totally caught up with the words of Dr. Christiana Singh on the live programme on Aug 12, 2021 (my choir director under whose tutelage I sang in the college choir for three years). She was the Professor who always aimed at perfection. Her speech came from her heart. Our dear principal mam referred a book called Romans from the Bible to appreciate the hard work of our dear girl. She called Revathy - a star. She referred the history of the college and told that in the long history of 73 years, Revathy has set a great record. Dr. Kavitha Rani, in her speech, said, "Had our beloved Katie Wilcox been alive, she would have hugged Revathy with a proud heart." These words moved me to tears. Indeed our Revathy has earned glory for everybody and everything that LDC College represents. I was so impressed with the speech of the highly educated, people oriented leader, Dr. P.T.R. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the honourable finance minister of Tamil Nadu. He insisted the need for our nation to set a Goal in developing the required infrastructure for the development of sporting talent. He stressed the importance of investment and incentivising sports in our nation. Dr. P.T.R is the grandson of the former chief minister of Madras Presidency. So, in his speech he said that people from a good background, who have a head start in life, when they achieve things, it is not that impressive. He declared that people like Revathy, for who ostensibly the odds were stacked against in life, were the real path-breakers. From her humble beginnings, she has shown an extraordinary growth which is miraculous. The coach of our dear sister Revathy was truly a magnanimous man. A most dedicated coach that I have ever witnessed. The college have him a huge sum of money to appreciate him, but he immediately gave it to Revathy herself. A down to earth man with a great vision is how I would like to describe this great man. My humble opinion is that, teachers like him shape the better future for India. He gave a very small beginning to the girl. He bought her a shoe, appreciated her abilities, strengthened her, sought help from people for her, stood with her to make her an excellent version of herself. He sent her to the Olympics Games!!! Revathy would not be where she is today, had it not been for the sacrificial life of her grandmother. The woman who brought Revathy and her sister up. The grandmother was crucial to Revathy as she gave the complete freedom to go after a career in sports. The sporting career paved a way for Revathy to secure a job in the Indian Railways as a TTE (Train Ticket Examiner). This is a direct comparison with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, M.S.D, who was also pursuing a career in cricket while working in the Indian Railways. Her grandmother showed much gratitude in her speech to the professors, by addressing them as Revathy's mothers. From my heart, I could say, as a Doakian, we are all privileged to have such professors who have the heart of gold, the heart of a mother in them. I am ever grateful and indebted to them for the love and care they have shown towards me. As Dr. Christiana Singh said, the whole progamme is an encouragement not only for our star Doakian Olympian Revathy. But, for each and every one of us, who studied, are studying and will study at the prestigious Lady Doak College in the coming days. It is a symbol of what every Doakian is capable of achieving in life. Achieving greatness is possible for all. As women, many of us are losing our goal because of the various burdens and responsibilities which life has vested on us. We are the same women who got our values and education under the people who created an Olympian and made history. We are meant, equipped to create one too. Cheer up my fellow Doakians, take little steps a day, be consistent, have discipline, have faith, have vision for greatness. We will be soon creating one. The article which I published when I was studying in our college magazine was called as "Natchathira Kalloori". I wrote it in Tamil. I called the college, "a star". Just like how a star showed way to the wisemen when our Lord Jesus was born. We are called to show the way, lead the way. We are the chosen ones of God to bless others, bless the nation with what we have got from our star college, from our beloved, LDC. The Interview with Olympian Revathy. After seeing this felicitation programme, I had this earnest desire to meet this star woman of our LDC. When I share my thoughts with my dear friend Sheeba who is now working as an assistant professor in English Department, she revealed the fact that this incredible young woman was her student in the English subject. With her help, we shared all the questions with Revathy Veeramani. Revathy answered our questions. I have learned many lessons from her interview. I was surprised when she said she has no role model but she competes with herself. I felt her reply was excellent that she tries to be the best version of herself everyday. She also said whenever she gets tired, the only thing she used to ask herself is, "What am I going to do in life if I leave sport?". As she has spent so much of her time and energy in improving herself in sports, she made sure not to quit amidst any pain or challenges. I have attached my Interview with her here. Do listen and get motivated. Therefore my fellow Doakians, keep these words in your mind. Arise, Shine forth, for thy light hath come. (The Holy Bible). Now is the time to shine. References: https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2021/08/09/tamil-nadu-releases-white-paper-on-economy-says-gsdp-rate-declined-by-3-in-a-decade.html https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/olympian-revathi-is-a-motivation-force-for-girls/article35883566.ece