Prayer Letter - April 2009

Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” (John 12: 27-28 NLT)

My heart was deeply troubled this morning as I read the newspaper account of how a successful Indian working in the Silicon Valley of U.S. shot and killed his two school-going children, his brother-in-law, his brother-in-law’s wife and 11 month baby and critically wounded his own wife before killing himself. I see an increasing number of accounts of people unable to take the storms of life and choose to take what seems the easiest way out – that of putting an end to their lives and in some cases the lives of near and dear ones. How tragic!

As we continue to meditate on the subject of “Adversity” we ask the question: how should we view the storms of life? I think the best way to answer this question is to consider the life of our own Lord Jesus Christ. Looking into the future at the onset of the most excruciating week of His life and talking to His disciples He asked this heartrending question: Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? What is the prayer of every disciple? Is it this prayer? I realize even as I hammer these few lines on my computer keyboard that people are going through the storms of life. Financial storms, relational storms, loss of jobs, life-threatening diseases, an accident, a bereavement. And we do not know how to pray. Several years ago, I must confess that I would have prayed: ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’

The great missionary J Hudson Taylor said: I know He tries me only to increase my faith, and that is all in love. Well, if He is glorified, I am content. I have now realized that God is glorified through my trials. But that really depends on how I respond to the storms of life. Do I curse, grumble and surround myself with folks who say things I like to hear – things like: poor fellow, he did not deserve this or why this has to happen to her of all people? Or do I say like Jesus: This is the very reason why I came – to bring glory to God. Therefore Father, bring glory to your name! And you know God’s response: “I have already brought it glory, and I will do it again.” (Jn 12:28)

God doesn’t waste suffering. If He leads us into impossible spots, He will deliver us in His own time, in His own way and for His name’s sake. To Him alone belongs the glory. When we go through tough times, the tendency is for us to draw attention to ourselves. But God desires for us to draw people’s attention to Him. The Psalmist declares in vs. 1 of Ps 115: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness”. Whether in times of success and great jubilation or in times of great disappointment and defeat and especially in times of great disappointment and defeat, let us deflect the attention from us to God! Let this situation be for your glory and may Your name be glorified in and through this situation.

The great Bible commentator Mathew Henry said: “God sometimes raises difficulties in the way of His people that He may have the glory of subduing them, and helping His people over them”

The Lord devises ways of turning difficulties into deliverances and problems into praise. He gives beauty for ashes and an attitude of worship for the spirit of heaviness. He will glorify His name in the lives of His children, whatever their trials and disappointments. He will gain honor for Himself over our adversity. In the process, He will leave behind such blessings as makes the burdens melt away like a block of ice in the noonday Hyderabad sun!!

So, now, instead of asking “How can I get out of this mess” ask, “How can God be glorified in the situation I am facing?”

On a separate note, as we enter a new financial year - my grateful thanks to God for His faithfulness to the ministry He has entrusted to us. At a time when many ministries are suffering for want of financial resources, God has given us through you dear financial partners. I praise God and thank you for your faithfulness, and loving generosity.

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• The Bangalore and Trivandrum Alumni Associations meets held in the month of Mar’09.
• Promotional visits made by Mr. Vijay Sasane to Satara, Miraj, Aurangabad and Jaisinghpur in Maharashtra which have resulted in planning of seminars.
• The breakthrough received in Meerut, Ujjain-new district in Madhya Pradesh and also in a Methodist School in Lucknow where a teacher’s seminar is being planned for the month of May’09.
• The newly elected office bearers, President – Mr. P. Sampath & Secretary – Mrs. Mangala Mani of Twin Cities Alumni Association, AP Region, through elections held dated 29th Mar’09.
• The seminars conducted in the month of March: Southern Region: Madurai (Twin seminars), Tirunelveli; Western Region: Ahmedabad, Pune SS, Pune, Uchhamala-South Gujarat, Miraj SS; Central Region: Lucknow SS; NE Region: Kohima, Dimapur; AP Region: Secunderabad.

Please Pray For:

• The bereaved family of Prof. Sudhir Sharma, HI International Alumnus and State Faculty from Ahmednagar who passed away recently.
• Mr. Donald Pant’s health and his proposed visit to Kanpur to finalize the dates for a seminar.
• Regional Alumni Get-together for Central Region scheduled 28th and 29th Sep’09 at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Mrs. Suvarna Rani Gandham, Society Member, & Mr. T. G. V. Naidu, former Society Member, who are unwell.
• The good health of Mr. Kumardas, Hony. State Coordinator for AP Region and his wife, Mrs. Vijayalakshmi.
• The upcoming Staff Meeting scheduled 21st & 22nd Apr, National Executive Committee Meeting scheduled 23rd Apr and Haggai Institute National Society, 22nd Annual General Meeting scheduled 24th & 25th Apr’09 at Taj Banjara Hotel, Hyderabad.
• Suitable candidate for the post of Regional Director for Western Region.
• Suitable candidate for the post of Area Manager for Northeast Region.
• The upcoming State Level Seminars in 2009: Kohima 20 – 25 Apr, TLM Miraj 27 Apr – 1 May, Coonoor 1 – 5 May, Mettupalayam 1 – 5 May, Trivandrum 1 – 5 May, Panchgani 2 – 6 May, Panchgani 11 – 16 May, Kottayam 9 – 13 May, Panchgani 11 – 16 May, Navsadhana-Pune 19 – 23 May, Bilaspur 19 – 23 May, Jhansi 15 – 20 Jun, Pune 11 – 16 Aug, Belapur-Navi Mumbai 12 – 16 Aug, Pondicherry 12 – 16 Aug, Coonoor 26 – 30 Sep, Pune 12 – 16 Oct, Kolhapur 19 – 23 Oct.
  

NS – National Seminar, SLS – Special Leadership Seminar, SLSD– SLS for Doctors,
In-house - seminar fee is not disclosed as it is a sponsored seminar.

Please Note: We seek your prayer support for all these National Level seminars coming up. We also solicit your assistance in the recruitment of suitable candidates for these seminars. For more information regarding these seminars please feel free to call us at 040 27131209, 27141221 & 32928823 or email at hiindia@haggai-india.com also browse our website: www.haggai-india.com

Seminars in April 2009

Note: Please be informed that you can now deposit your donation Cheques/DD’s favouring ‘Haggai Institute’ directly with our account # 01262560000416 in any branch of HDFC Bank. Please do intimate our office the deposit details indicating your name, the amount and the date of deposit.

Yours in Him,
Paul Balasundaram