Disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, dejection, difficulty, disaster, disease, death. All of us have faced these at some point in our lives. They have existed since the days of Adam when sin entered the world. So the question we should ask ourselves is not "why does it happen?" but "what should we do when it happens?"
The apostle Paul encountered these problems more than anyone of us (1 Corinthians 6:4-10) yet he could "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18). We praise & give thanks to God not only for good times but for bad times too. When I was a young Christian, we used to say "PTLA" whenever something bad happened to us. The acronym stands for "Praise the Lord always" or "Praise the Lord anyway".
I would like to share the following story which tells of an elderly couple who were brought together after some 35 years by a seemingly "coincidental" circumstance. I hope the story will comfort us to know that everything God allows to happen in our lives happens for a purpose.
The gold & ivory tablecloth
by : Howard C. Schade
original source : Reader's Digest, 1954
At Christmas time men and women everywhere gather in their churches to wonder anew at the greatest miracle the world has ever known. But the story I like best to recall was not a miracle -- not exactly.
It happened to a pastor who was very young. His church was very old. Once, long ago, it had flourished. Famous men had preached from its pulpit, prayed before its altar. Rich and poor alike had worshipped there and built it beautifully. Now the good days had passed from the section of town where it stood. But the pastor and his young wife believed in their run-down church. They felt that with paint, hammer, and faith they could get it in shape. Together they went to work.
But late in December a severe storm whipped through the river valley, and the worst blow fell on the little church -- a huge chunk of rain-soaked plaster fell out of the inside wall just behind the altar. Sorrowfully the pastor and his wife swept away the mess, but they couldn't hide the ragged hole.
The pastor looked at it and had to remind himself quickly, "Thy will be done!" But his wife wept, "Christmas is only two days away!"
That afternoon the dispirited couple attended the auction held for the benefit of a youth group. The auctioneer opened a box and shook out of its folds a handsome gold and ivory lace tablecloth. It was a magnificent item, nearly 15 feet long. but it, too, dated from a long vanished era. Who, today, had any use for such a thing? There were a few halfhearted bids. Then the pastor was seized with what he thought was a great idea.
He bid it in for $6.50.
He carried the cloth back to the church and tacked it up on the wall behind the altar. It completely hid the hole! And the extraordinary beauty of its shimmering handwork cast a fine, holiday glow over the chancel. It was a great triumph. Happily he went back to preparing his Christmas sermon.
Just before noon on the day of Christmas Eve, as the pastor was opening the church, he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop. "The bus won't be here for 40 minutes!" he called, and invited her into the church to get warm.
She told him that she had come from the city that morning to be interviewed for a job as governess to the children of one of the wealthy families in town but she had been turned down. A war refugee, her English was imperfect.
The woman sat down in a pew and chafed her hands and rested. After a while she dropped her head and prayed. She looked up as the pastor began to adjust the great gold and ivory cloth across the hole. She rose suddenly and walked up the steps of the chancel. She looked at the tablecloth. The pastor smiled and started to tell her about the storm damage, but she didn't seem to listen. She took up a fold of the cloth and rubbed it between her fingers.
"It is mine!" she said. "It is my banquet cloth!" She lifted up a corner and showed the surprised pastor that there were initials monogrammed on it. "My husband had the cloth made especially for me in Brussels! There could not be another like it."
For the next few minutes the woman and the pastor talked excitedly together. She explained that she was Viennese; that she and her husband had opposed the Nazis and decided to leave the country. They were advised to go separately. Her husband put her on a train for Switzerland. They planned that he would join her as soon as he could arrange to ship their household goods across the border. She never saw him again. Later she heard that he had died in a concentration camp.
"I have always felt that it was my fault -- to leave without him," she said. "Perhaps these years of wandering have been my punishment!" The pastor tried to comfort her and urged her to take the cloth with her. She refused. Then she went away.
As the church began to fill on Christmas Eve, it was clear that the cloth was going to be a great success. It had been skillfully designed to look its best by candlelight.
After the service, the pastor stood at the doorway. Many people told him that the church looked beautiful. One gentle-faced middle-aged man -- he was the local clock-and-watch repairman -- looked rather puzzled.
"It is strange," he said in his soft accent. "Many years ago my wife - God rest her -- and I owned such a cloth. In our home in Vienna, my wife put it on the table" -- and here he smiled -- "only when the bishop came to dinner."
The pastor suddenly became very excited. He told the jeweler about the woman who had been in church earlier that day. The startled jeweler clutched the pastor's arm. "Can it be? Does she live?"
Together the two got in touch with the family who had interviewed her. Then, in the pastor's car they started for the city. And as Christmas Day was born, this man and his wife, who had been separated through so many saddened Yule tides, were reunited.
To all who hear this story, the joyful purpose of the storm that had knocked a hole in the wall of the church was now quite clear. Of course, people said it was a miracle, but I think you will agree it was the season for it!
True love seems to find a way.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Saturday 31 May 2008
Thursday 29 May 2008
a miracle
Do you believe in miracles? I do. I have experienced 3 miracles in my life. I experienced my 1st miracle when I was 12 years old. I will share these miracles at an appropriate time in the future. But for now, I would like to share the following touching story with you. It's about the childlike faith of a little girl named Tess.
A Miracle
(author unknown)
Tess was eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money.
She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a small box from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the box, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the drug store.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was busy talking to another man and couldn't be bothered by an eight year old at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing ... she cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good ... Finally she took a quarter from her box and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages." he said, without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother." Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick ... and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
The pharmacist's brother happened to overhear the conversation. He was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"
"I don't know." Tess replied with eyes filled with tears. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents." Tess answered. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence." smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her hand and said , "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstong. a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
"That surgery", her Mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents, plus the faith of a little child.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
A Miracle
(author unknown)
Tess was eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money.
She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now." Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a small box from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the box, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the drug store.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was busy talking to another man and couldn't be bothered by an eight year old at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing ... she cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good ... Finally she took a quarter from her box and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages." he said, without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother." Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick ... and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
The pharmacist's brother happened to overhear the conversation. He was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"
"I don't know." Tess replied with eyes filled with tears. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents." Tess answered. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence." smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her hand and said , "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstong. a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
"That surgery", her Mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents, plus the faith of a little child.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Wednesday 28 May 2008
in the midst of the mist, there is joy
poem by : Penny A. Williams
When there are trials, troubles, tumult, or thunder;
When calamities, collisions and clouds arrive
That may darken the way you are walking today,
Take joy, for Christ is alive.
When you think you cannot take one more step forward,
When pain, and weakness and sickness prevail,
You may not have the words to cry out to the Master;
Do not despair; He is already there.
If the mist is so thick that you cannot see through it,
And the darkness is closing in fast,
And you can’t even see your own hands out before you,
Our Savior is present long after it’s past.
Do you think there are trials that no one has faced?
Do you think no one knows how you feel?
Do you think your temptations are oh, so unique?
Think again; Jesus Christ knows so well.
Are you thinking that suffering can just bring despair?
Do you think there is no one who cares?
Are you certain afflictions will not end for you?
Think again; Christ the healer is there.
In the midst of the mist, there is joy everlasting;
Pure joy that the world may not know.
In all of your trials, our Lord went before you,
And through them He’s helping you grow.
In the midst of the downpours and thunderous storms,
He is walking beside you to show
That in your weakness He is your strength.
Let Him guide you wherever you go.
So when you are weary and longing to quit,
Remember that He sees the start and the end;
He loves you, and holds you and leads you along
And gives joy for the journey, my friend.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
When there are trials, troubles, tumult, or thunder;
When calamities, collisions and clouds arrive
That may darken the way you are walking today,
Take joy, for Christ is alive.
When you think you cannot take one more step forward,
When pain, and weakness and sickness prevail,
You may not have the words to cry out to the Master;
Do not despair; He is already there.
If the mist is so thick that you cannot see through it,
And the darkness is closing in fast,
And you can’t even see your own hands out before you,
Our Savior is present long after it’s past.
Do you think there are trials that no one has faced?
Do you think no one knows how you feel?
Do you think your temptations are oh, so unique?
Think again; Jesus Christ knows so well.
Are you thinking that suffering can just bring despair?
Do you think there is no one who cares?
Are you certain afflictions will not end for you?
Think again; Christ the healer is there.
In the midst of the mist, there is joy everlasting;
Pure joy that the world may not know.
In all of your trials, our Lord went before you,
And through them He’s helping you grow.
In the midst of the downpours and thunderous storms,
He is walking beside you to show
That in your weakness He is your strength.
Let Him guide you wherever you go.
So when you are weary and longing to quit,
Remember that He sees the start and the end;
He loves you, and holds you and leads you along
And gives joy for the journey, my friend.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Tuesday 27 May 2008
our cross
I would like to share the following story with you.
A young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief. "Thank you, Lord, " he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses. Some were so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.
And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."
When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more blessed than you imagined.
That was what happened after I watched the testimony of Nick Vujicic, the man born without limbs. Tears rolled down my face the first time I saw this tiny man & listened to his inspiring testimony over Youtube. If someone who was born without arms & legs could testify that "God is good" and give thanks to God that "I am a miracle" and praise God that "I was fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14), I tell you it makes all my crosses look extremely small.
A young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief. "Thank you, Lord, " he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses. Some were so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.
And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."
When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more blessed than you imagined.
That was what happened after I watched the testimony of Nick Vujicic, the man born without limbs. Tears rolled down my face the first time I saw this tiny man & listened to his inspiring testimony over Youtube. If someone who was born without arms & legs could testify that "God is good" and give thanks to God that "I am a miracle" and praise God that "I was fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14), I tell you it makes all my crosses look extremely small.
You must watch these videos. It will change the way you look at problems in your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY5Uo1PfZuY
http://www.wretch.cc/video/ritahsia&func=single&vid=2282608&o=time_d&p=0
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Monday 26 May 2008
only believe
poem by : Beverly Shaffer
Has that trial in your life been going on so long
That everything in you screams, "This is so wrong."
You can't understand, it seems God is far away
As with tears you cry out to Him everyday,
If you read God's Word His truth you will see
That He has a job for you and a job for me,
ONLY BELIEVE! is what He has to say
At His feet this problem you must lay,
In His time and in His way
An answer to your problem will be there one day,
Keep on believing, don't lose hope
He'll give you His grace enabling you to cope,
Keep your eyes on Him as to to Him you cleave
He has promised He will never forsake you or leave,
Give Him time to work it all out
The devil just wants you to worry and doubt,
Praising Him is one thing He's looking for
To bless you is what He has in store,
So no matter what, even when you don't understand
ONLY BELIEVE! that's what moves His hand.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Has that trial in your life been going on so long
That everything in you screams, "This is so wrong."
You can't understand, it seems God is far away
As with tears you cry out to Him everyday,
If you read God's Word His truth you will see
That He has a job for you and a job for me,
ONLY BELIEVE! is what He has to say
At His feet this problem you must lay,
In His time and in His way
An answer to your problem will be there one day,
Keep on believing, don't lose hope
He'll give you His grace enabling you to cope,
Keep your eyes on Him as to to Him you cleave
He has promised He will never forsake you or leave,
Give Him time to work it all out
The devil just wants you to worry and doubt,
Praising Him is one thing He's looking for
To bless you is what He has in store,
So no matter what, even when you don't understand
ONLY BELIEVE! that's what moves His hand.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Sunday 25 May 2008
Not Yet!
Some people seem to be mercifully free of pain & suffering. Everything in life seems to be going well for them - loving spouse, adorable children, supportive in-laws, beautiful house, successful career, understanding boss, no financial burdens, no family squabbles, no health worries. And you wonder why all the bad things happen to you. You are hit by one calamity after another. Each new calamity is worse than the one just over. Is God angry with me? Does God care? How can a loving God allow me to go through such intense, unfair pain? Where is God when it hurts? You are discouraged. You can't go on anymore. You want to give up.
Dear beloved, the following story will lift up your spirit. It will bring God's comfort to your pain and relief to your suffering.
The trials of a teacup
(author unknown)
I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time in my life when I was just a lump of clay.
Then my Master took me and began to pat and mould and shape me. It was very painful and I begged Him to stop, but He only smiled and said, "Not yet!"
Then He placed me on a spinning wheel and I went round & round. I got so sick I thought I wasn't going to make it, but then He finally let me off. Just as I thought I was going to be all right, my Master put me in an oven. I didn't understand why He wanted to burn me. I yelled and begged for Him to stop, to let me out. I could see Him dimly through the glass in the oven door, but He only smiled, shook His head and said, "Not yet!"
Finally, He came and took me out of the oven. I sighed with relief. But, all of a sudden, my Master picked me up and started sanding and brushing me. He took a paintbrush and started painting colours all over me. The fumes were so strong I thought I was going to pass out. I pleaded with Him to stop, but He smiled and said, "Not yet!"
Then He placed me in another oven. This one was twice as hot as the first. I knew I would suffocate. I begged, I pleaded, I cried, but He only smiled and said, "Not yet!"
I began to feel there was no hope. I would never make it. I couldn't take it anymore. It was all over for me. I decided to give it all up.
Then the door swung open and my Master said, "Now!" He lifted me up and placed me on a shelf to rest. Later, He brought a mirror and told me to look. I could not believe my eyes. I had become a beautiful teacup.
Then my Master explained.
"I want you to understand that I knew it hurt when I patted and moulded you. I knew the spinning wheel made you sick. But if I had left you alone, you would have dried up and always would have been just a lump of clay. You would not have had any personality in your life."
"I knew it was hot when I put you in the first oven, but if I hadn't, you would have just crumbled."
"I knew it really bothered you to be brushed and painted, but if I hadn't, you would not have any colour in your life."
"Oh, how I knew the second oven was hard for you! But you see, if I hadn't put you there, you would not have been able to stand the pressures of life. Your strength would not have lasted, and you would not have survived for very long."
"So you see, when you thought it was all so very hard, I still had you in My care. I knew all along what you would be today. I had the finished product in mind from the day I first touched you!"
All of us have to go through pains in life. Each pain will help us to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Each pain will draw us closer to God. Each pain will help us see God in a new dimension. Without pain, our life will remain static & we will not have the opportunity to experience God in a new way. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)
Philippians 1:6
"......He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 4:12-13
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."
Isaiah 48:10
"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
Isaiah 64:8
"Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand."
Jeremiah 18:4b, 6b
".....so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him........like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand."
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Dear beloved, the following story will lift up your spirit. It will bring God's comfort to your pain and relief to your suffering.
The trials of a teacup
(author unknown)
I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time in my life when I was just a lump of clay.
Then my Master took me and began to pat and mould and shape me. It was very painful and I begged Him to stop, but He only smiled and said, "Not yet!"
Then He placed me on a spinning wheel and I went round & round. I got so sick I thought I wasn't going to make it, but then He finally let me off. Just as I thought I was going to be all right, my Master put me in an oven. I didn't understand why He wanted to burn me. I yelled and begged for Him to stop, to let me out. I could see Him dimly through the glass in the oven door, but He only smiled, shook His head and said, "Not yet!"
Finally, He came and took me out of the oven. I sighed with relief. But, all of a sudden, my Master picked me up and started sanding and brushing me. He took a paintbrush and started painting colours all over me. The fumes were so strong I thought I was going to pass out. I pleaded with Him to stop, but He smiled and said, "Not yet!"
Then He placed me in another oven. This one was twice as hot as the first. I knew I would suffocate. I begged, I pleaded, I cried, but He only smiled and said, "Not yet!"
I began to feel there was no hope. I would never make it. I couldn't take it anymore. It was all over for me. I decided to give it all up.
Then the door swung open and my Master said, "Now!" He lifted me up and placed me on a shelf to rest. Later, He brought a mirror and told me to look. I could not believe my eyes. I had become a beautiful teacup.
Then my Master explained.
"I want you to understand that I knew it hurt when I patted and moulded you. I knew the spinning wheel made you sick. But if I had left you alone, you would have dried up and always would have been just a lump of clay. You would not have had any personality in your life."
"I knew it was hot when I put you in the first oven, but if I hadn't, you would have just crumbled."
"I knew it really bothered you to be brushed and painted, but if I hadn't, you would not have any colour in your life."
"Oh, how I knew the second oven was hard for you! But you see, if I hadn't put you there, you would not have been able to stand the pressures of life. Your strength would not have lasted, and you would not have survived for very long."
"So you see, when you thought it was all so very hard, I still had you in My care. I knew all along what you would be today. I had the finished product in mind from the day I first touched you!"
All of us have to go through pains in life. Each pain will help us to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Each pain will draw us closer to God. Each pain will help us see God in a new dimension. Without pain, our life will remain static & we will not have the opportunity to experience God in a new way. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)
Philippians 1:6
"......He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 4:12-13
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."
Isaiah 48:10
"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
Isaiah 64:8
"Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand."
Jeremiah 18:4b, 6b
".....so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him........like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand."
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Saturday 24 May 2008
Why? Why? Oh, Why?
The following is taken from Our Daily Bread devotional published by RBC Ministries. Many of us would have probably asked God the same question when cancer or calamity hits us.
From ODB ( 7 April 2008)
Scripture Text - Proverbs 3:1-12
Why must I suffer disappointment, sorrow, and tribulation? What have I done that God should send me trials? Is He displeased with me? These questions are constantly asked by God's dear children.
Much of this fear and questioning is due to our misunderstanding of God's dealings with His own. He has His good reasons. And one of those reasons is for our spiritual discipline. We should be far more afraid of being left alone than of God's chastening, for He wastes no time on worthless objects that give no promise of fruitfulness.
On the shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest time comes.
God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11).
— M.R. De Haan
When blades of distress cut deep in the soul,
Breaking up ground that was untouched before,
The Lord is preparing soil to bear fruit
Fit for the harvest to feed many more.
—Hess
All sunshine and no rain make a desert.
nothing will separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
From ODB ( 7 April 2008)
Scripture Text - Proverbs 3:1-12
Why must I suffer disappointment, sorrow, and tribulation? What have I done that God should send me trials? Is He displeased with me? These questions are constantly asked by God's dear children.
Much of this fear and questioning is due to our misunderstanding of God's dealings with His own. He has His good reasons. And one of those reasons is for our spiritual discipline. We should be far more afraid of being left alone than of God's chastening, for He wastes no time on worthless objects that give no promise of fruitfulness.
On the shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest time comes.
God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11).
— M.R. De Haan
When blades of distress cut deep in the soul,
Breaking up ground that was untouched before,
The Lord is preparing soil to bear fruit
Fit for the harvest to feed many more.
—Hess
All sunshine and no rain make a desert.
nothing will separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Saturday 17 May 2008
this is your blog
Are you suffering from cancer? Then this blog is for you.
Are you recovering from cancer? Then this blog is for you too.
Are you a cancer survivor? Then this blog is for you as well.
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Then this blog is definitely for you.
Are you searching the truth about God? Then this blog warmly welcomes you!
Do you find there is no one you can talk to?
Do you find there is no one who has time for you?
Do you find there is no one who understands you?
Do you find there is no one who really cares?
Do you find there is no one who will let you be yourself?
This blog is for you.
This blog is for anyone who feels lost .....
This blog is for anyone who feels lonely .....
This blog is for anyone who feels discouraged .....
This blog is for anyone who feels like giving up .....
.......... because of cancer.
If any of the above describes you,
then you are at the right place.
This blog is created for you.
This blog is your listening ear.
This blog is here to serve you.
Drop me a line if you need to talk about your suffering and pain.
Drop me a line if you need someone to listen to what is bothering you.
Drop me a line if you need someone to pray for & with you.
You can be sure I will be your listening ear & confidante.
You can be sure I will whisper your name in my prayers to God.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Are you recovering from cancer? Then this blog is for you too.
Are you a cancer survivor? Then this blog is for you as well.
Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Then this blog is definitely for you.
Are you searching the truth about God? Then this blog warmly welcomes you!
Do you find there is no one you can talk to?
Do you find there is no one who has time for you?
Do you find there is no one who understands you?
Do you find there is no one who really cares?
Do you find there is no one who will let you be yourself?
This blog is for you.
This blog is for anyone who feels lost .....
This blog is for anyone who feels lonely .....
This blog is for anyone who feels discouraged .....
This blog is for anyone who feels like giving up .....
.......... because of cancer.
If any of the above describes you,
then you are at the right place.
This blog is created for you.
This blog is your listening ear.
This blog is here to serve you.
Drop me a line if you need to talk about your suffering and pain.
Drop me a line if you need someone to listen to what is bothering you.
Drop me a line if you need someone to pray for & with you.
You can be sure I will be your listening ear & confidante.
You can be sure I will whisper your name in my prayers to God.
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Friday 16 May 2008
why name blog Romans 838?
I am a cancer survivor. I have been in remission for one-and-half years. I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) or nose cancer in Aug 2006 and had radiotherapy in Sep-Oct 2006. My personal experience with cancer has helped me to see the pain that cancer sufferers go through. This pain can be physical, emotional or spiritual - the last two can remain long after the physical pain is gone.
Cancer can attack anyone anytime anywhere. No doctor or scientist can say for sure what causes cancer although many theories point to genetics, diet, environment and lifestyle as possible causes - this list practically includes everything in life! And for NPC cases, there is the presence of the EB-Virus infection in the blood.
So now you just discover you have cancer. You are confused, lost & fearful. Or maybe you are in remission like me. You feel uncertain about your future. Don't be afraid. We are in the same boat together. The boat will not sink because Jesus is in the boat with us. Remember the story about the fearful disciples who went to wake up Jesus when they were caught in a sudden, furious storm on the Sea of Galilee? The disciples cried out, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus rebuked the disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Jesus rebuked them for doubting & thinking that the boat could ever sink while He was in the boat with them. Jesus spoke to the wind & wave & the lake became calm. (Matt 8:23-27)
This story reminds us that Jesus has power & authority over nature. This and many other miracles of Jesus tell us that Jesus has power over diseases, disasters & demons. Jesus is the Lord of creation. He has power & authority over our lives, and that includes our health.
This blog is to encourage Christians who are suffering from cancer that Jesus has power over the storm of cancer that comes upon their lives. Sometimes we do not understand what is happening to our lives but we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Neither cancer nor calamity can separate us from the love of God.
And so I decided on the name "Romans 838". I believe it was the Holy Spirit who prompted this name in my heart. I first tried to register this blog using "Romans 828" but the blogname was unavailable as it had been taken by someone else. I went to check the "Romans 828" blogsite & was dismayed to find out that this person had registered it in the year 2000 but had left the blog empty all these years! What a waste, I thought. On hindsight, I am glad the name "Romans 828" was not available as I feel "Romans 838" is a more appropriate name for this blog.
I thank God for reserving the name "Romans 838" for my use. Every posting on this blog will be guided by Romans 8:38-39 which says,
"For I am convinced that 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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Cancer can attack anyone anytime anywhere. No doctor or scientist can say for sure what causes cancer although many theories point to genetics, diet, environment and lifestyle as possible causes - this list practically includes everything in life! And for NPC cases, there is the presence of the EB-Virus infection in the blood.
So now you just discover you have cancer. You are confused, lost & fearful. Or maybe you are in remission like me. You feel uncertain about your future. Don't be afraid. We are in the same boat together. The boat will not sink because Jesus is in the boat with us. Remember the story about the fearful disciples who went to wake up Jesus when they were caught in a sudden, furious storm on the Sea of Galilee? The disciples cried out, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus rebuked the disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Jesus rebuked them for doubting & thinking that the boat could ever sink while He was in the boat with them. Jesus spoke to the wind & wave & the lake became calm. (Matt 8:23-27)
This story reminds us that Jesus has power & authority over nature. This and many other miracles of Jesus tell us that Jesus has power over diseases, disasters & demons. Jesus is the Lord of creation. He has power & authority over our lives, and that includes our health.
This blog is to encourage Christians who are suffering from cancer that Jesus has power over the storm of cancer that comes upon their lives. Sometimes we do not understand what is happening to our lives but we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Neither cancer nor calamity can separate us from the love of God.
And so I decided on the name "Romans 838". I believe it was the Holy Spirit who prompted this name in my heart. I first tried to register this blog using "Romans 828" but the blogname was unavailable as it had been taken by someone else. I went to check the "Romans 828" blogsite & was dismayed to find out that this person had registered it in the year 2000 but had left the blog empty all these years! What a waste, I thought. On hindsight, I am glad the name "Romans 828" was not available as I feel "Romans 838" is a more appropriate name for this blog.
I thank God for reserving the name "Romans 838" for my use. Every posting on this blog will be guided by Romans 8:38-39 which says,
"For I am convinced that 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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Thursday 15 May 2008
aim and purpose
Cancer is a disease all of us find hard to accept when it hits us. Nobody wants to get cancer. We make an effort to eat well & live well to avoid getting cancer. We buy every health book on cancer. We read every page & follow every prescription that suggests how we can avoid getting cancer. And yet we are the ones who end up getting cancer.
Do you feel this describes you? Then we are in the same boat travelling along the same journey. Jesus is in the boat with us too. We have the same purpose with the same destination. As we travel on this boat together, we will fix our eyes on Jesus & trust Him to row us safely to our destination. This is a painful journey as there will be occasional storms along the way but we know that Jesus will calm the storms that come upon our lives.
The aim of this blog is to bring God's comfort to Christians who are suffering & hurting from cancer. In the midst of our suffering, I pray that we can see God in every circumstance of our lives and believe that God can use our suffering for His glory. As we experience God's comfort, I pray that we will comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Whether you have just begun your journey or are still travelling this painful journey, be assured that you are not travelling alone. There are many of us in the boat with you. Most important, Jesus is with us. Are you ready to begin this journey with me?
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Do you feel this describes you? Then we are in the same boat travelling along the same journey. Jesus is in the boat with us too. We have the same purpose with the same destination. As we travel on this boat together, we will fix our eyes on Jesus & trust Him to row us safely to our destination. This is a painful journey as there will be occasional storms along the way but we know that Jesus will calm the storms that come upon our lives.
The aim of this blog is to bring God's comfort to Christians who are suffering & hurting from cancer. In the midst of our suffering, I pray that we can see God in every circumstance of our lives and believe that God can use our suffering for His glory. As we experience God's comfort, I pray that we will comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Whether you have just begun your journey or are still travelling this painful journey, be assured that you are not travelling alone. There are many of us in the boat with you. Most important, Jesus is with us. Are you ready to begin this journey with me?
nothing can separate us from the love of God,
sockkim
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that
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
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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