PAIN

 “We don’t deny the pain. We simply refuse to be defined by it.”

Pain comes without prejudice. It comes for people of all races, regions,religions, nations and ethnicity. It comes in all shapes and sizes. It comes when it’s most inconvenient. It comes when it’s most unexpected. It comes and it knocks the wind out of our sails.

If you’re alive, you understand that pain is an inevitable reality. The loss of a loved one, the demise of a dream, the break up of a decade long relationship, having to be a single mom, discovering you’re adopted after years of living out of another identity; pain is ruthless and leaves no one untouched. Heartbreak that plagues us years after the incident, grief that torments us long after the betrayal, anger that besets us each time the memory comes to mind, unforgiveness that poisons us when we are caught off guard; all of these only to surmise that pain is inevitable.

The only reasonable question then is how do we deal with it?

A life of Faith is one which entails suffering, which entails pain. But it is also one which equips us to process it in ways that don’t leave us feeling victimised but rather enriched and empowered by the experience; wherein we don’t deny the pain, we simply and blatantly refuse to be defined by it.

Having researched world leaders from nearly all walks of life as I wrote my first book, it was clear to me that anyone who has risen to exceptional heights of success have had to endure more than a fair share of pain, trauma, sickness and despair. It was not the set of circumstances that determined their outcome. It was in the tenacity of their spirit and the unflinching belief that something better was up ahead that gave them the fortitude to not only withstand the vicissitudes of life, but to steward them in such a way that the very thing that threatened to sabotage their Destiny became the very catalyst to catapult them into the next dimension of their being.

Take a moment, and see who comes to mind.

Whom do you admire and see greatness in who has not had to endure pain, criticism, rejection or heartbreak?

You get the point.

The substratum of this piece of writing is simply this. If we can’t avoid pain, and we certainly shouldn’t resist it, how do we respond?

At this juncture, Maya Angelou’s timeless words come to mind,

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Pain is never sent to break us, rather, it’s purpose is to make us and mould us into vessels that are large enough to carry the weight of whatever it is that God is calling us to.

The transformative power of pain is huge, should we choose to tap into it.

Think about it.

If we weren’t hurt, we wouldn’t have learnt to forgive.

If we weren’t heartbroken, we wouldn’t have healed.

If we weren’t abandoned, we wouldn’t have relied on His Presence.

If we weren’t rejected, we wouldn’t have learnt to hold our own.

If we weren’t crushed, we wouldn’t be anointed.

I don’t know what life has had you walk through, but I do know this. You are powerful, overcoming, strong, beautiful, magnificent. You are in the process of becoming – an even better and more glorious version of yourself than you can possibly imagine. It may seem gruelling at times, but when you set your eyes on the prize; there is literally NOTHING that can hold you back. Not even pain.

Together, I hope and pray that we would find the beauty in the ashes, the strength in the scars and the wisdom in the wounds. Pain may have found us, but guess what?

It doesn’t get to define us.

And THAT’S good news.

Blessed

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

The Message rendition of Matthew 5:8 simply blesses me.

This, to me, exemplifies true freedom. It reiterates the truth that our peace and joy are not contingent upon external circumstances or situations that seem to spiral out of control in the fast-paced, chaotic world we live in today. Rather, these virtues rest solely on the strength of our perspective.

There is no denying that wherever we look today, people are lost and hurting, in varying degrees and different areas. We can either choose to ignore them, or we can choose to see them through the lens of Heaven, reach out and help. We can choose to see them as God sees them. But how can that possibly happen in a way that is pure and authentic? How can it happen in a way that stems straight from the core?

I believe the answer rests in first, choosing to see ourselves right. As sons and daughters of the Most High God. As precious and honored in His sight. As the apple of His eye. As His absolute delight.

Will disappointments, disillusionment and discouragements come our way to taint our perspective and make us doubt whether or not our Maker truly loves us?

Yes.

Will we be shaken?

THAT depends on how much we have truly, unashamedly and unapologetically embraced an Identity freely bestowed upon us by God, Himself. The Bible clearly says neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.

Since THAT, my friends, is the absolute Truth, let us run our race with such an unparalleled joy and passion that it causes a stir in our households, in our communities, in our workplaces; in the tiny, little corner of the world we find ourselves in.

Let us choose to see ourselves right. Let us get our hearts and minds in alignment with God’s truth about us as opposed to the opinions of man. Let us learn to cherish ourselves the way He cherishes us.

Because I believe that when we do?

We will be able to authentically extend that same Grace and Love to the world that is around and about us. Allowing God’s Love to saturate,  permeate and heal  every broken crevice of our minds, bodies and souls puts us in an authentic position to pray the same for those in our sphere of influence. In short, getting our inside world right changes us from the inside out. Our spiritual lens are adjusted, bringing us closer to the Father Heart of God, thereby positioning us to see Him in the world that surrounds us.

And when we do?

Our only natural response to a lost and broken world would be not to criticize, but to become Love in a world that desperately needs to see it, a world that is waiting on you to step into the fullness of who you are called to be, a world that needs the unique contributions ONLY you can make, a world that would not be complete without you.

And it all begins with getting our inside world right. Because the outside? Is but, a mere reflection.

Selah.

A Fateful Encounter

It was 2008. I can’t quite recall the exact time or day, but the memory remains vivid.

A young, passionate dancer grappling with health issues, I found myself in the room of a military hospital. Diagnosed with malaria at the time, I was quite sick.

And then something changed.

In the room I was put up, I found company with a rather friendly Christian couple. We made friends quickly and felt an affinity that was unusual and divine. The husband,  Mr. Vinod, was to say the least, helpful, cordial and compassionate. On learning about my challenges, he quickly arranged for a Godly man, whom I fondly remember as Uncle Reddy, to come and pray for me. As God would have it, he not only prayed for me but even blessed me with my very first copy of The Holy Bible!

That night and the night after that and then some more, I found myself delving into the pages of The Word of God with such child like wonder and curiosity, that it even caught the attention of my roommate. I still can recall how God ministered His Peace to my anxious heart through the passage called, “Do Not Worry,” a passage I repeatedly feel the need to let sink into my bones till the end of time.

What followed the end of that hospital trip was only the beginning of a new life that was destined to be rooted and established in Grace, Love and Truth. It’s a journey I thank God consistently for. It was through the storms of life, the tempests that threaten to sabotage our peace, the winds and the waves we are all too familiar with, that His Word and His Promises have sustained me and strengthened me.

One particular thought that I felt God bring to my memory is what Uncle Reddy shared with me,

“One day at a time, God in His own time.”

It has been ten long years since that fateful encounter, but the Truth of this precious statement remains constant. God does His best work in the dark, in the unknown, in the mystery. It is in those times we feel obscure and unknown that we need to remind ourselves all the more of what God’s Word says as opposed to the lies presented to us by the giants we face. We need to learn to take Him at His Word, and take it by the day. We need to trust that bit-by-bit, He is leading us on towards the fullness of the life that He promises us.

Each time I find myself anxious about the future, Uncle Reddy’s words indefinitely come to mind. I take a  breath in and know that all is well. And if it isn’t? It will be.

As I sought to unpack this further, I felt God impress upon my heart the following verse:

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

The dawn of a new day always seems like this. It’s initially the first few rays of the morning sun, and as the day progresses, it keeps getting brighter and brighter. The path keeps getting clearer, the vision, stronger; the steps, bolder.

You get the picture.

So do not despise where you are at now. Look back to where His Sovereign Hand has brought you through, and trust that the same Hand that has seen you thus far, will see you further still.

And the next time you feel your heart race, your soul grow restless or your pulse misbehave, simply whisper to your soul,

“One day at a time, God in His own time.”

I will do the same.

Creativity

Let me  begin by asking you a simple question.

So what’s your story?

If it’s anything like mine, I’m guessing it’s a beautiful amalgam of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, highs and lows, valleys and summits, trials and triumph. It’s an intricate compilation of mistakes, failures, losses and defeat; as surely as it’s a delicate assemblage of strength, victory, comeback and conquest.

Life, in itself, is a delightful plethora of varied human emotions and situations which when viewed from a renewed perspective, possess the potential to translate our pain into purpose, our  joy into a double portion, our misery into ministry.

As a creative artist myself, I believe it’s the strength that comes from the struggle our story entails that is the very heartbeat of creativity.

Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say. I did a bit of research, and it goes something like this;

“Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed.”

Begs the question.

How can we create something new, something original and something valuable?

While deriving inspiration from artists and people from all walks of life has its place,  what we really need to go  after is, actually, quite simple.

What’s YOUR story?

What has marked you?

What has defined you?

What has shaped you?

What has informed you?

It’s in your answer to these simple yet profoundly powerful questions that your own, unique story will begin to unravel and crystallise. And once it does, I am convinced that  you will tap into the strength you derive as a result and find the resolve to give a language to what you have experienced.

A language that isn’t inhibited by the lies of fear or shame, rather a language that is rooted in truth, transparency and vulnerability. The voice that emanates thus, is a force to be reckoned with. It expresses that which once lay buried, and brings to life that which once was dormant.

And THAT my friends, is your “sweet spot,” a sacred space within yourself where you liberate yourself enough to create without limitation and trust without borders. A space where your unique story is revealed to the world, and a “new thing” has found its way into the light.

What makes your work of art, “new,” you ask?

Simply this, my friend.

When the Creator of this Universe breathed His life into you, He made only ONE of you. Across the timeline of this Universe, there will never be another “you.” You are uniquely made, purposely packaged and strategically designed to bring your own unique story into the world because we need to hear it, see it, experience it. Your raw transparency coupled with your unique persona and life experience is your strength, a strength this world needs to taste of too. It is your story buried within which has the potential to ignite the fire deep down on the inside of you which when unleashed, will produce the phenomenon called, “creativity.”

At this point, Maya Angelou’s timeless words come to mind,

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I hope and pray that it becomes our heartfelt endeavour to let our lives begin to birth such creative pursuits that people will have no choice but to “feel” like they matter; like they are seen, chosen, valued and esteemed. They “feel” it so strong that they begin to believe it. And guess what? Once they believe it, they will create from it, thereby starting a beautiful movement of creative artists and individuals committed to redefining humanity and recreating goodness, in a world that desperately needs to see it.

Selah.

Keep The Faith.

The Bible says that unto each man is given a measure of faith.

I love that. In my own personal walk with God, I have had the privilege to dig deep within my soul and process my experiences  with Him.  What has sustained me through the seasons of loss, failure, grief or trauma has been my faith in God, and perhaps allowing myself to even tap into His faith in me. I believe that God is so faithful that He would not allow us to walk through ANY situation without having prepared, equipped and empowered us first. As we enter into seasons that perhaps don’t make sense right now, I would like to share what He once put on my heart. It goes thus,

“The just shall walk by faith, and not by sight. Which is why things make sense ONLY in hindsight.”

Beautiful, right?

It spoke directly to my core so much so it is as fresh now as it was then.

What He perhaps is saying is really quite simple.

Listen – Trust – Obey – Repeat.

As we heed His gentle whispers to our soul, as we listen to the still, small voice within and as we align our hearts with what we hear; miracles are set in motion. Our obedience is what His heart is after. The outcome, in any case, is secure in His faithful hands. As I have done this and strive to continue to, never has He failed to come through. From believing for healing, to authoring a book, to starting a studio, to writing this blog; it has ALWAYS begun with heeding the gentle rumbling within.

We listen. We trust. We obey. We repeat.

This perhaps is a recipe to build our spiritual muscles  and strengthen our faith in our Maker. As we obey and take those steps He leads us to, and we see His Faithfulness back up our feeble attempts; a miracle happens. We learn to believe.

It can only be a baby step which will build in you the faith you need to eventually take giant leaps that are vital in order to walk into the fullness of your God ordained Destiny. But it is as The Bible says – faithful over few, ruler over many.

So. my message to you today is really quite simple.

Whatever it is that He has placed a passion in your heart for, a burning desire to pursue; go after it. Your triumph is not when you find your dream job. your destiny mate or your vision fulfilled. Rather. it’s in the process; the process of becoming an even better, higher and grander version of yourself. The process of morphing from a caterpillar to a butterfly, a girl to a woman, a boy to a man, a novice to an expert, a dreamer to a doer.

It’s all in the press.

And with each step you obey, be rest assured in your heart, that when you do what you can do, God will ALWAYS do what ONLY He can.

With that, I want you to know that the Heavens are leaning over the rails to watch your next move.

Will you make it?

Triumphant Thirty – tap into the unstoppable to do the impossible!

It was 27th March, 2018. My birthday. Yes! But also the publication date of my very FIRST book!

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“TRIUMPHANT THIRTY!” – tap into the unstoppable to do the impossible, is the name. The content?

I believe, the content is packed with tools, strategies and life affirming truths that are specifically designed to help us tap into our identity, pursue our purpose with passion, and rise above anything that stands in the way.

A manuscript that chronicles the unique testimonies of 30 chosen world leaders from different walks of life (Nick Vujicic, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson , Dr King, Stephen Curry, Mariah Carey – to mention a few!), this book encapsulates the heart of a victor.

The victor that lives within EVERY single one of us.

The victor that didn’t have it easy, but knows how to make it through, anyway.

The victor who wasn’t dealt the best set of cards, yet knows how to play the game in a way that remains unparalleled.

The victor that is rooted in Faith, Hope and Love; and as a result, thrives even in the midst of adversity.

The victor that is YOU!

The victor that is me.

The victor (pardon me for repeating) that lives within EVERY single one of us.

Available on amazon, (if you’re in India, your copy awaits you at – https://www.amazon.in/Triumphant-Thirty-Into-Unstoppable-Impossible/dp/1642496650/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1PPEHHTWSJLD5&keywords=triumphant+thirty&qid=1554745484&s=gateway&sprefix=triumphant+th&sr=8-1 , if you’re abroad, ( the link is – hhttps://www.amazon.com/Triumphant-Thirty-into-unstoppable-impossible-ebook/dp/B07BR2S6G9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=triumphant+thirty&qid=1554745699&s=gateway&sr=8-1) I hope and pray this book speaks to the dreams you’ve tucked away and the destiny that is yours and yours alone to fulfil.

It may be just 30 short reads, but don’t all good things come in small packages?!

I certainly hope so.

From The Father’s Heart!

Beloved Son/Daughter,

I know it’s not been easy, but I need you to know that you aren’t here by accident. I chose you before the very foundations of the Earth and lovingly formed you before I put you in the womb of your mother’s belly.

You aren’t an accident, but rather The Designer’s Original.

You are a masterpiece, never to be replicated again in the course of history.

You were made on purpose, for a Purpose, that you and ONLY you can fulfil. The unique gifts and talents that I’ve put deep down on the inside of you speak to the High Calling that I’ve placed upon your life.

I know you believe in me, but today, know that I believe in you too.When doubts arise (and they will), I need you to trust in my character as opposed to the temporal reality of fleeting circumstances. And you will see change happen before your very eyes.

But above all else, I want you to know that you are loved, you are called and you are known by the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth, who simply happens to be your Father too. You are precious in my sight, and as valuable at your broken worst as in your most whole self.

You are just as precious on the streets as you are on stage, on the hospital bed as you are on a helipad, on the backside of a desert as you are on the front lines of battle.

You NEVER have to perform to be accepted, for in my eyes, you already are. And this Truth is enough to sustain you through the rejection and ridicule that are an inevitable part of fulfilling your Destiny.

As I hasten to a close, there is much on my heart to say but if I reveal all to you now, then where is the mystery?

And as mystical as your Father is, know that mystery runs in your DNA too, in the very fabric of your being, so much so that each day you arise is simply another opportunity to unravel another layer of the enigma that is YOU.

THAT is what you are. And I know you will live upto the hope of the calling you have received.

Love you forevermore,

Your Father.

👑

🦅