Many times when we face tough times or have bad experiences, we think something is wrong with us. When someone is mean to us without any reason we tend to think that we are unlovable and begin to hate ourselves too.
The worst thing is that it also colours how we see God our Creator. We blame Him for the way others treat us.
The truth is He loves you immensely and He delights in you. But because people around you do not show you His love, you are feeling this way.
God says to you, "Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and because I love you, I will give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life." Isaiah 43:4 AMPC
You are precious, you are cherished! You are lovable and worth much more than you can imagine! These difficult times will pass. Don't give up hope.
If you want to know who this God, your Creator is, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He is real and He can hear you. He will answer you!
We live in a stressful world. Everyone is going through something. There comes a time in a person's life when the pressure is so high that they are not sure they can make it. It is a time when they need the assurance, support and encouragement of their loved ones, their friends or even someone with the heart to help.
A lot of people who reached the brink didn't know they could ask for help and were lost. We can stop that by reaching out to the people in our lives so that they can overcome whatever it is that is holding them down and be helped.
The Code Blue Campaign is for people of all age groups. It is for students who are going through exam pressure, career pressure, parents pressure or even peer pressure. It is for women who have seen trials in their lives and see no hope. It is for men who feel defeated and desolate. It is for elderly people who feel isolated and lonely with no one to care for them.
It is for those who see no meaning in life. It reminds us that we do have a responsibility in the well being of those around us and this gives us a chance to speak 'Life' into their situations and circumstances.
Let us spread the word around! 'Code Blue' means its time to reach out to someone in need. The person may need a listening ear, a prayer, a helping hand or even professional help. Reach out to them and connect to counselors or trained personnel from NGOs if you cannot handle the matter. But reach out. Your timely help can save someone's life!
The Code Blue Campaign was launched in Hyderabad and a group named 'Youth Alive' provided counselling for those in dire situations. The Deccan Chronicle carried a report about the campaign and soon there were calls coming in from different parts of the Twin cities. There were days when more than 500 calls were received. The Sakshi Newspaper also shared about this campaign and soon calls came in from various districts of AP (at that time it was united!) The campaign went on well during the time that the students were awaiting results and under pressure. After that period there was a decrease in the calls coming in.
Code Blue Campaign can be a boon to people anywhere as its basic idea is to have two words to enable a person to express the greatest trauma they are going through at that time. Anyone should never have to suffer alone. A person who is pushed into a corner and isolated during the worst grief or suffering tends to feel suicidal. He or she feels worthless and unwanted. CBC is an effort to ensure someone at that point in their life can reach out to someone sympathetic who will give them a listening ear and help them through that difficult time in their life.
Here is a link to the lyrics of a song that I wrote that appeals to a person who is feeling suicidal to not take their life.
http://henriettadecruz.blogspot.in/2011/05/life-is-calling-you-song.html
Check out the Facebook page of Code Blue Campaign...
https://www.facebook.com/codebluecampaign?_rdr=p
The article about Code Blue Campaign that appeared in the Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad.
Code Blue Campaign written about in Sakshi Newspaper
I've been through a lot of storms in my life and through the ups and downs I had to spend a huge chunk of time in pain - alone. During this time it was the Lord God who stood by me and reassured me, comforted me through His Word, His loving presence in my life.
The song 'Follow Me' contains the words and the gentle leading that I felt from the Lord during my difficult times. It portrays what the Lord did for me during those toughest times in my life. The truth is I owe my life and all that I am... and ever will be to Him! This song is my tribute to the Lord! I thank Jesus for all He has done for me !!
A Special Nudge
In 2010 while I was contemplating which song of mine to work on as my entry to the UK Songwriting Contest, a strange thing happened. I was attending a 2 day workshop in church. On the evening of the first day, which was a Saturday and I sensed a nudge to keep my songbook in my bag for the next day. It came repeatedly until I just kept the book in my bag.
The next day being Sunday, there was worship in church and I sensed the Lord asking me to pick my songbook and sing this song! I found myself thinking, 'Lord, they will think I am promoting myself! Moreover, no one knows the song so they won't be able to play any instrument along...' But then I sensed this was important to Him so I asked the Pastor's wife to check with the Pastor if it was okay to sing this song as the Lord was asking me to sing it. It was meant for someone in particular. She checked with him and said he said, "Yes!" so I was given permission to sing it.
I decided to stand in the aisle and sing. I said that there was a song that the Lord wanted me to sing and that He wanted to speak to someone specially through this song. I started to sing it and as I sang the first verse and the chorus, I heard someone sobbing loudly. I didn't know who it was, I just kept singing. At the end of the song, I asked the Lord if it was okay, that the person would speak to me. A young girl came and said that she felt like every word was meant for her. I was overwhelmed.
The Recording
This experience led me to choose to work on this song. My friend and colleague from CBN Paul Matthew was gracious to help me with the background music though he had a tight schedule. We recorded my voice in his home studio and he did the sound mixing too. I am glad that this song got me the Finalist position in the UKSC Contest! I am the first Indian to become a Finalist in this contest.
It was overwhelming that the Lord used this song to touch that young girl. Knowing how the Lord led me to choose this song, I decided to make it free to download and asked the Lord to take it wherever He wanted to take it and to touch all the lives He wants to touch.
Here's a lyric video of my song 'Follow Me.'
Here are the lyrics of the song.
Follow Me
I can see there’s so much hurt inside
Neath the smile that you are trying to hide
Hope is crushed, dreams all fade away
And you think, don’t wanna live another day.
Chorus:
Pick up your cross and follow Me,
There’s so much good for you to see
Throw all your burdens in My Hands
Even if you don’t understand
Just know, I care,
I’m there,
Forever I’ll be true,
That’s how much I love you.
Yes, they hurt, they cause a lot of pain,
And you tried, all your efforts were in vain,
For every deed of kindness you were hurt
And you thought that you had just no worth.
Chorus
You wonder how you will see the sun,
You’re tired how can this race be run?
Can’t you see that though they tried their worst
You’re standing still, and you won’t bite the dust.
What I pray for
Is invisible
But I can see it
With the eyes of faith.
It is there
Shining and glorious
Giving me joy
Filling me with hope
It is mine
It is done.
Others may wonder
Others may laugh
It doesn't matter
Who may think what.
It was said
And so it is
Like when my friend says
She sent me a letter
And I wait for it
Knowing it would
reach soon.
If you don't believe
You don't receive.
If you really want something
Why cry and complain
When all you ever need
Can be yours with a simple prayer
And believing faith?
You won't need money
But you will need power
The power of patient waiting.
I have seen answers
I have braved storms
But the joy of fulfilled waiting
Is beyond that of any calm
Some joys that could be measured
Some cares were blown away;
But some of them are priceless
And can't be mentioned anyway
Words can't measure the joy when
Faith having bid its time is victorious.
