GOING TO ISRAEL

A Jewish businessman in Chicago decided to send his son to Israel to absorb some of the culture of the homeland. When the son returned, the father asked him to tell him about his trip. 

The son said, "Pop, I had a great time in Israel . By the way, I converted to Christianity."

"Oy vey," said the father. "Vot haf I dun?" He decided to go ask his friend Jacob what to do.

Jake said, "Funny you should ask. I too sent my son to Israel , and he also came back a Christian. Perhaps we should go see the rabbi and ask him what we should do." So they went to see the rabbi. 

The rabbi said, "Funny you should ask. I too sent my son to Israel . He also came back a Christian. What is happening to our young people? Perhaps we should go talk to God and ask him what to do."

The three of them prayed and explained what had happened to their sons and asked God what to do. 

Suddenly a voice came loud and clear from Heaven. The Voice said, "Funny you should ask. I, too, sent my Son to Israel .. ..... !

BE A SPONGE

John 7:37-39:

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Have you stopped to consider just how versatile a common household sponge is. I'd say amazingly so. Personally, I've used them for washing cars, dishes, mop floors and years ago, even bathe my little children. If you have not pondered its efficiency to absorb and release liquid countless number of time when squeezed, be mindful the next time you do so. There is a parallel in each and everything.


Similarly in life, there exist this flow; a continuous interchange of receiving (taking in) and giving out. These two processes are inter-dependent on each other.


The giving out relies solely on the power to take in.


In John 7:37, Jesus invited those who thirst to come to Him and drink. Specifically, He was directing this at people who needed to place their faith in Him, by this allowing His Spirit to fill them with the gift of salvation.


To put it plainly, when we live for Christ and serve Him, we will recognize the continual need for His Spirit to fill us, in order for Him to work in and through us. It is not a one off process but a daily happening whereby we come before His throne of grace for His mercies which flows afresh each day.


Is there a heart-wringing trial you are experiencing, having so dried you up or emptied you and you thirst for this to pass by? Perhaps you are experiencing a deluge of financial burden, insurmountable targets, failure in relationship or finding acceptance in the midst of society in the process robbing you of the much desired love, peace, happiness and fulfillment.


Take heed, 'It is only in the emptiness that comes from the parting with what we have, that the divine fullness of His Spirit can flow in,'.  Andrew Murray

There must be a letting go out of obedience and belief in His word. 

Place a dry sponge on the palm of your hand and imagine its readiness to absorb more water. That's you as you begin to empty your woes and troubles unto Him with belief in your heart.  He will fill you with His Spirit and begin to turn things around.

Those who recognize their need for living water will have their thirst quenched by Christ, who is the Living Water.

Next time you handle a sponge, remember all is not lost. Be a sponge!

BE FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."Matthew 25:21. 

In the mid 1850's a troubled teenager from Northfield, Massachusetts moved to Boston to try to find work. 

He hadn't gone to school beyond the fifth grade; he couldn't spell, his grammar was awful and his manners were brash and crude. 

Thankfully, an uncle took him on as a shoe salesman--on condition that he be obedient and that he attend church.

The boy had been raised in a Unitarian church which denied the full divinity of Messiah and did not emphasize human need for salvation from sins. 

At his uncle's church, he began learning about these things, but decided that he wanted to enjoy the pleasures of the world and wait until just before he died to give His life to the Lord. 

However, through the kindness and persistence of his Sunday School teacher-

Edward Kimball, the rebellious teen was encouraged to continue coming to church and study the Bible regularly. 

Kimball said he had never seen anyone whose mind was as spiritually dark.

On April 21, 1855, Kimball decided to pay a special visit to the boy at his uncle's shoe store in order to ask if he would commit his life to the Lord. 

The boy listened closely and gave his heart to God that day. 

Immediately he began sharing his faith with others. 

Later, the young man moved to Chicago. 

He wandered the streets to find other young boys to bring to his Church. 

He had a passion for saving souls and determined never to let a day pass without telling someone about the gospel. 

The boy's name was D.L. Moody.

And he became a great man of faith.

Among his many achievements on either side of the Atlantic was the founding of Moody Bible Institute. 

In fact, to this day, Moody Bible Institute and the Moody Broadcasting Network continue to reach thousands of souls on a daily basis! 

It was estimated that before D.L. Moody passed away that as many as a million souls were brought to the Lord.

What a testimony Moody's is! 

But we overlook the fact that it was a faithful Sunday school teacher's obedience and persistence that changed the course of history! 

We may think we are doing very little for the the Lord... that we're merely teaching a few kids at Sunday school. 

But the Lord can use anyone in His service...those whose hearts are given to Him. 

Be an Edward Kimball-

-  reach out and touch someone today for Him.

Through one touch, you may be touching future millions.

SIMPLICITY @ ITS BEST

Can you answer the following questions in one word?

1. The word has seven letters....
2. Preceded God...
3. Greater than God...
4. More Evil than the devil...
5. All poor people have it...
6. Wealthy people need it....
7. If you eat it, you will die.

Did you figure it out?

 

Try hard before looking at the answers

Did you get it yet?
 

 

 

  

Give up?

 

 

 

 

Brace yourself for the answer....

The Answer is: 

NOTHING!
NOTHING has 7 letters.
NOTHING preceded God.
NOTHING is greater than God.
NOTHING is more Evil than the devil.
All poor people have NOTHING.
Wealthy people need NOTHING.
If you eat NOTHING, you will die. 

GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS

What did you say is wrong with this picture?

I cringe whenever I hear preachers standing behind a pulpit making blanket statements condemning gadgets such as the Laptop, Smartphones and Ipad as destructive. 

This was common a few 

years ago.

 

There was a time the cross era Jews much to their chagrin vilified all attempts to translate the bible in print instead of chugging around with the scrolls. Heresies and judgemental rebukes were the order of the day.
 

With time however today we accept the bible in the printed form and that too with the many versions.
   

Well the time has come when the norm would be to access the scripture via the tablets, Smartphones and no telling what else. I often wondered about the end times, in the book of Revelation, as to how the world would get to see the return of Christ in majestic splendor and glory simultaneously or watch 'LIVE".
 

Well apart from the idiot box, these are the other avenues I'd say. So preacherman, please abstain from making foolish statements about the advent of such gadgets during sunday service as the fool may turn out to be you.

 

Some of the ones already using these have to acknowledge their once scepticism openly announced over the pulpit

LIGHTING UP THE INTERIORS

Challenging task ahead: 

Proposal to set-up six community centers for some of the remote tribes, to enable their children attend pre-school activities.



Apparently the ones set-up by the local authorities ends with their children embracing other religion's virtues much to the parents' displeasure.

For starters, logistics issues in hard terrain, planning and design implementation of CKD structures are challenging. But the works got to be done. Kudos to my enthusiastic never-say-die team.

TO RECEIVE, GIVE FIRST

RM50.00 looks so big an amount when
given to the poor,

But looks small when given
as a tip in a hotel.

Praying for three minutes looks hard,
But three hours of movie is okay.

After a day of hardwork , there is no
problem going to the gym,
But to do house work and help;
we feel tired.

One hesitates to give a piece of bread
to the child in the picture,
But this painting where he looks sad
was sold for RM10,000.00.

Luke 6:38:

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap.

For with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you." It not only applies to finances but talents, time, understanding, forbearance and being considerate.