by Kim Turkington on February 15th
From Ghuna Kumar in India: During Lent it is quite edifying for us to spend 40 days reflecting on what the Lord has done for us on Calvary.
Beauty Instead of Ashes
Ashes in the Bible means sin and shame. When Tamar was put to shame she put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. (2 Sam 13:19) . When Job realized his blunders and sins, he despised himself in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). When the king of Nineveh realized their sins and judgment, he sat on ashes (Jonah 3:6). But God gives us beauty instead of ashes. He clothes us with the beauty of SALVATION FROM SIN AND SHAME.
Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord; My soul will exult in my God, for He has clothed me with garments of salvation; He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
The Oil of Gladness Instead of Mourning
Mourning in the Bible means loss of beloved ones or properties. We all go through losing our loved ones, job, children and so on. Abraham mourned when Sarah died (Genesis 23:2); Jacob mourned for Joseph (Genesis 37:34-35); David led the people as they mourned Abner (2 Samuel 3:31-32); Mary and Martha wept over their brother Lazarus (John 11:31). Tears are mentioned in the Bible in several places. “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3 ). “Record my lament, list my tears on Your scroll” (Psalm 56:8). But the Lord promises us the oil of gladness which means the SPIRIT FILLING LIFE. Hebrews 1:9 speaks of the oil of joy. Anointing of priests for setting them apart for God’s purposes is found in many places (Exodus 30:30). Oil was used for healing and casting out of demons. (James 5:14; Mark 6:13). Our lives will overflow when God anoints us (Psalm 23:5).
A Garment of Praise Instead of the Spirit of Heaviness
Heaviness means dimness, darkening , dullness and weightiness. Many times in our lives we experience something which is pulling us down. Our hearts are downcast. We feel hopeless as if a cloud is hanging over our spirits. At times we get oppressive feelings, too. But God promises a garment of praise. I would like to call it a SONGS OF PRAISE (WORSHIP). He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD (Psalm 40:3). By singing and praising the Lord our burdens and heaviness are rolled away. “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) Hallelujah!
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for giving me SALVATION from sin, shame, sickness and Satan; SPIRIT FILLING LIFE to over come my misfortunes and SONGS OF PRAISE in the place of feelings of oppression. May this Lent be days of experiencing these blessings.
Praises and Prayer Needs
- Praise God for His grace and Strength. I have been unwell for the past twenty days. I have had a severe chest cold and cough. Despite all kinds of treatment, still I am not returned to normal. Of course, I carried on the regular work. Please pray for me.
- Jaya had her left cataract done. She is improving. God willing, tonight we will be leaving Mount Zion and then on to Trichy and Coimbatore before we will arrive Chennai. Pray for my preaching in a retreat in Coimbatore on Sunday, February 17.
- Praise God for we had some rain at Mount Zion yesterday after a gap of almost two and half months. Please pray for more rain. This time our rice crop almost failed. The prices of rice has gone up again. What we used to buy for Rs. 32 has gone to Rs.40 this month.
- We are working for Government recognition of the sixth grade class we began in our Primary School. Pray that we will get this recognition.
- Please pray for the people who lost almost everything as a result of devastating tornado in MS and AL in USA.
- Pray for Angoon who is suffering much with her knee pain.
- Yesterday I was able to win Mariappan to come to faith in Jesus Christ. Pray his commitment will be strengthened.
- Pray for the certificate of accreditation which is yet to come from Asia Theological Association even though all the process from our end is over.
I want to thank all those who gave liberally for the cause of reaching the poorest and the downtrodden in India. Thank you and Praise God for His enabling grace bestowed on you. We certainly remember to pray for you more often these days.
by Kim Turkington on January 9th
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24)
As the people of God, we close 2012 and enter 2013 with HOPE. Yes, we are concerned about the future for our families, about the direction of our culture and about the plight of the world’s poor and oppressed, but above all else, we know our hope is secure.
You see, our hope in the Lord isn’t the world’s kind of hope. The world’s hope says, “I hope the country doesn’t fall off the fiscal cliff;” and “I hope my team wins the championship this year;” and “i hope this ice cream cone won’t make me fat!”
That kind of hope is little more than wishful thinking. But because the hope you and I have is based on God’s attributes, our hope is rooted in reality. It is not wishful thinking or a positive attitude. Instead our hope is based on the eternal love and faithfulness of the omnipotent God of the universe. So we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, in Who He is, in His glory. He is the fullness and perfection of all that is good. His glory, which is His very nature, is the source of our hope.
As I opened the Fishhook mail and as I saw the year end donations coming in online, I rejoiced as I saw God’s people demonstrating by their generosity the hope they have in Him. We may face economic and political uncertainty, but we choose to hope in the One who called us to take His “Good News to the whole world as a testimony to all nations.” (Matthew 24:14)
Thank you for standing with us by your prayers and your gifts to take His hope to the people of India! May the Lord bless you and keep you in His care in 2013!
by Kim Turkington on September 17th
“ IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING HIS PURPOSE.” Romans 8:28
From Ghuna Kumar
My mind has been very clouded these days about the loss of my brother who was a real moral support in the ministry and family. My only remaining brother in my family passed on 31st of Aug. And also my mind was filled with all chaotic things happening in the world which include of course the loss of lives in China; the Syria situation; the protests from Arab world and other countries; reports of 2,437 murders and 1,100 rapes in six months of time in Utter Pradesh State in India; the numerous deaths of tiny little ones due to carelessness - for an example that a newborn died in Chennai hospital because the rats bit the babe in an incubator. Therefore I have been contemplating much on THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
More »
by Kim Turkington on September 14th
God is working on our behalf in order to provide a place of discipleship, rest and renewal for believers in south India. We are thankful as we look back at what He has already done and also as we look forward and press on to take hold of that for which He has taken hold of us.
The Vision
In the late 1990’s Richard Samuel and other leaders at Christ Community Ministries realized the need believers in India have for spiritual rejuvenation and physical rest. The tasks the Lord has called His people in India to do are especially challenging in a culture that is mostly hostile to the Gospel. More »
by Kim Turkington on August 30th
The need for decent housing is vast in India. To have a roof that doesn’t leak and walls that are not steadily crumbling away is a dream many millions will never realize.
I often cite statistics when I am trying to convey the profound needs in India. But I realize that often real people and their real problems are blurred by the very statistics that seek to define the problem.
So when I say that 70% of India’s population lives on less than $2 a day, you may wonder what that looks like. Well, as you would guess, that amount of money is barely enough to survive on. So a family at this level can barely buy food and may or may not be able to keep their children in school. And the places where they live are often in worse shape than the buildings we would keep animals in.
Please allow me to share the story of an elderly couple my family and I visited in India this year. More »
by Kim Turkington on August 30th
Today I am pondering the many hurdles I have had to cross in my ministry journey. No doubt we are called to pass through many, many tests in life and ministry. About a week before my birthday I was doing some introspection of my past life and work. The obstacles I have faced were quite enormous. But praise God that if our target is clear, our convictions are deeper and stronger, and our determinations are iron-like, we can obtain the spirit of achievement and satisfaction by the grace of the Lord. More »
by Kim Turkington on July 16th
I want to share with you one of the highlights of my trip to India in May. My husband Will and I visited The Sahayam Home which is home to seven elderly women who have been rescued from neglect, abuse and even living on the streets. (”Sahayam” is the Tamil word meaning “divine help” or “divine favor”.)
What left such an impression on me is that when I asked these sweet women how we could pray for them, they didn’t talk about their physical needs or their families as I expected. More »
by Kim Turkington on June 18th
” … AND DAY AND NIGHT THEY NEVER CEASE TO SAY, ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME!’ ” (Rev. 4:8)
Yesterday I shared on the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation. It is a throne chapter. The main points were THE SOVEREIGN ON THE THRONE (v2-3); THE SAINTS AROUND THE THRONE (v 4), and THE SONGS BEFORE THE THRONE (v 5-11). We concluded in our study that even now we need to begin to praise Him so that we will be ready. More »
by Ghuna Kumar on May 2nd
“HE will satisfy your mouth with good things.” (Psalm 103:5)
Praise God for this new month of May 2012. Let me share with you from the Word of God what I shared on the 1st morning at 5am at Living Hope.
HE Forgives Me for I Am a Sinner
“…who forgives you all your iniquity…” (Psalm 103:3) Forgiveness of sins is a great relief and liberation in our soul. I am no longer guilty of any wrongdoing of the past for He has forgiven me and blotted out all my sins by His blood. More »
by Kim Turkington on May 1st
May 11, 2012
Our VBS concluded on May 5 after five days in which we had the privilege of ministering to 5,200 children and young people on our campus. Praise God that at this VBS we saw more commitments to Christ than ever before!
Now we are coordinating with pastors and Bible women to do a systematic follow up. On May 30 we have a meeting with area pastors to devise follow up strategies in the villages. There are hurdles in this work, including the religious and political extremists who oppose any prayer groups or other discipleship groups being formed.
Please pray that the committed ones will grow in grace and that God will help us find ways to help them. Also pray for the pastors, Bible women and our Theological students who will be involved in the follow up work.
May 1, 2012
While it is the morning of May 1 here in America, the day is nearly over in India. “So what,” you say? Well, the news is that May 1 is the first day of our south India VBS!
About 4,200 came for the opening day, and we are expecting more tomorrow! Please be in prayer for the children as many of them have never heard the Gospel before.
Our VBS will cost about $15,000. If you would like to partner with us to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus with the children of south India, click here.
