LIKE THE MORNING WATCHMAN WAITS

School holidays was fun time but the waiting during a train ride during the late 60s through 70s was something of a dislike. At every station stop along the way to either Ipoh or Batu Gajah, I would trim the number of stops on my little paper before my stop is due. 

Much later the waiting took place again, this time at some airport in a distant land. Most certainly I didn't enjoy it either but this time it was a waiting with anticipation.

When I get home, I would be welcomed by my loved ones.

A similar kind of waiting was expressed by the one who wrote Psalm 130.

1.

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2.

Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

3.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?

4.

But with you there is forgiveness,

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

6.

I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

8.

He himself will redeem Israel

from all the

ir sins.

Clearly it appears he was in the ebb time of his life and in much despair over the guilt he bore.Verses 1-3 describes this.

In his petition he prays for forgiveness but much more than this it was the Lord Himself for whom he awaits. Just like the anticipation of a watchman who knows that light will appear at the crack of dawn.

Aren't we all hurting in many areas of lives? We too can look to Him and await with anticipation. The Lord will surely come to our rescue, be it through a rhema Word, counsel from friends/leaders or the quiet witness of the Holy Spirit. 

One thing is certain, as surely as morning light always breaks the darkness of night, He will meet our need

Little Boy's Explanation of God ~ Fabulous!!!

Out of the mouths of the Babes ~

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA . He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.'

I wonder if any of us could have done as well?

(and he had such an assignment, in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen!)

EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe inGod. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God.They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will

be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. 

It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of whatGod can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Many a times I've come across stories of magical genies popping up from a bottle, a lamp and the magical wishes they grant. There were times in my growing years I had wished chancing upon one such mythical figure but you know the end just as well as I did.

All this stems from the fact our desire to have everything we want in this life. If anything, life teaches us nothing comes that easy and more so whatever is it that we achieved will never satisfy us fully.

No arguments with that I hope.To add weight to this yearning the story about a stockbroker, though a folklore, is a rather poignant.

In this story he appeared to encounter a genie and was offered just one wish, to which he asked he be given a copy of the local newspaper dated half a year into the future.He hurriedly turned to the financial page of the local daily, hoping to make a killing in the market.More than what he bargained for is what he got. On the opposite end of the page was an obituary of him with clear details of his horrendous death the preceding day.

Mark 8:36 has a clear message: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"

Whilst we cannot know what the future holds, we however can ask the Lord to turn us away from trivial pursuits and direct our hearts to follow Him.

That was the prayer of Moses in Psalms 90;12: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

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.