WOYWW: God’s Gracious Word

I am starting a new project. Maybe this will be a monster, or maybe a cute cat, or even a kid with pigtails! Whatever it is, I need to paint it white first and it’s hard to tell where you’ve missed a spot!!!

“I commend you now to the Lord, and to that gracious Word of His which can enlarge you...” Acts 20:32

Another version reads: “And now I entrust You to God and to the Word of His grace- His message that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.” Saint Luke in this chapter of Acts recounts the last words of Saint Paul to them at Miletus. He was fully prepared for what awaited him in Jerusalem. “The Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for the work assigned me by the Lord- the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” 

Yes, God’s gracious Word is really the best news any human being can be in possession of. This wonderful message can give us the only inheritance worth waiting for. I confess it was very hard for me to read the Bible at the start. It was tedious going, boring even. I would start reading with the intention of reading the Bible every day, but I would stop because of passages I disagreed with, could not understand or because I was just plain lazy. Then I would start again, stop and start again. Whatever we feed will grow. Whatever we starve will die.  

Perhaps we read and pray out of a sense of duty or obedience at first. But then we gain an interest, and then a love for it. God partners with us in our journey. We do not go through it alone.  

Eternal Life

“Now this is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God...” John 17:2

On earth, only Jesus would really know what eternal life tastes like, and feels like. In John 17:2, He reveals that eternal life is knowing God. As a child, we walked around with a sense of wonder. Everything was new and exciting. Even a blade of grass could occupy us for a long stretch of time. I remember when my son Josh would examine the wrapping paper with curiosity instead of the gift that came inside it. What happened to that sense of everything being a gift, a delight? What happened to the eagerness with which we greeted each day? I imagine that the appreciation for the newness of life’s pleasures each day would capture a little bit of what eternal life is.  

In the memoir, “Find Me Unafraid”, Kennedy Odede and his wife Jessica, wrote about the horrors of growing up in the evil-infested Kibera slums of Nairobi. Kennedy had to steal to eat. He witnessed friends and family murdered before his eyes, he was repeatedly beaten by his father, and he was raped by a priest. In spite of all that, he and his wife founded schools for girls and a community organization called Shining Hope for Communities. 

David Brooks, a journalist of New York Times, who noticed that Kennedy was full of joy, asked him how he is able to retain that sense of joy and wonder in the midst of pain and suffering. Kennedy answered: “While I didn’t have food and couldn’t go to school or when I was the victim or witness of violence, I tried to appreciate things like the sunrise—something that everyone in the world shares and can find joy in no matter if you are rich or poor. Seeing the sunrise was always healing for me, it was a new day and it was a beauty to behold.”

Contrast that with what Harry Patterson said when asked what he knew now that he would have wanted to know as a boy. Harry sold millions of books under the pseudonym Jack Higgins, and he did it all, the Hollywood dream, cars, eating in the best places.  He said sadly, “When you get to the top, there’s nothing there.” 

Lord, may we always be grateful whatever our circumstance. Gratefulness connects us to You, the giver of every good gift! 

Never Having to Say You’re Sorry

“...love one another...” John 15:12

It’s easy to love our family, our friends, our brothers and sisters in community, even strangers... in theory. But what happens when they do or say something you think is wrong, unfair, thoughtless, selfish or even just plain unkind? What do we do when we need to forgive or be forgiven? 

In 1st Corinthians 13:13, Saint Paul writes, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” In heaven, we will not need hope or faith. Our joy will be complete. But there will still be love. Perfect love is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The famous line in that 1970 movie which states, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” is really quite absurd. Without forgiveness, love cannot continue. Even God forgives us again and again. I am very grateful that Luigi is able to forgive me when I do things that hurt him. How can we mend broken relationships without love and forgiveness? 

We are all imperfect people and I find it hard to write about loving when I really have no right to “preach” about loving one another. But as in anything else, we need to feed what we want to grow. If I want to grow in love, I need to find ways to love and serve others and do it. 

Glorious Inheritance

“....glorious inheritance...” 

Ephesians 1:18

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to my glorious inheritance! Saint Paul wrote the Ephesians while he was a prisoner in Rome. He points out in the famous passage in Ephesians 6:12 that even if in the present there will be great conflict because of our battle with “evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world”, we have at our disposal the armor of God so we can be victorious over the enemy. 

Today we see the enemy clearly at work not only in our judicial system, but inside our very homes. We let him in with our dependence on the internet, and TV. We let him in if we become too busy to pray, read the Bible, go to church or spend time with our families. 

The apologist Ravi Zacharias once gave a talk to some successful sports stars who earned millions and millions of dollars. Since they were on the road most the time, Ravi shared about how to be men of God even when the enemy was ready and waiting to plunder what they had in their pockets, their integrity and even their very soul. After his talk, they lined up to speak with one. One man who was famous, handsome, big and strong, came forward, put his head on Ravi’s shoulder and wept uncontrollably. This man earned millions, and yet he cried, “I have lost everything of value that I have ever possessed!” 

Let us not think that being famous, successful and rich the pinnacle of what it means to be human. God made us for a purpose. He made us to live in intimacy with Him. Only that will give meaning to our lives. 

Inconceivable Love

“For the Father Himself loves you...” John 16:27

When a friend of yours tells you that his father or mother loves you dearly, thinks you are special, don’t you feel really good? You take it as fact because your friend knows his parent intimately and he must have seen or heard something to make him believe that you were somebody they cared for. 

Jesus is telling us that we are loved by the God of the earth and sky, the Creator who put the stars in their places and who fashioned the biggest star in the universe, the VY Canis Majoris. There is nothing impossible He cannot do. Jesus knows that His Father loves us. He says, “For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me...” 

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are a “community of love”. When we love Jesus, we join that community of love. We join the family of saints that have gone before us, brothers and sisters not linked by blood, but love! I believe we are put on earth to learn to love, to serve others as Jesus does. We are not fit for heaven as we are now. But God wants us with Him, and we know that we will one day join Him because He did everything to make that possible. He sent His Son down on earth to teach us and eventually to take our sins on the cross with Him. 

Thank You for Your inconceivable love, Father! 

Birth Pains

“...when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain...” 

John 16:21

Just yesterday evening, my friends and I were talking about being in labor and giving birth to our children. One of my friends was an obstetrician and she had to go back to her clinic after our meeting to deliver two babies! 

I recounted how my sister and I were pregnant at the same time. She was in labor for a long time, and even the doctor was in anguish for her, so when it came time to deliver her second child, the doctor decided on a caesarian delivery. That was also difficult because recuperation took so much longer. But just like Jesus said, when she had given birth, she no longer remembered the pain because of her joy that her child was born into the world. 

In life, we go through a lot of growing pains. When we grow a family, a business, a ministry, a talent, an ability, we always have to undergo some training, challenges, complications, pruning, etc. It is definitely not smooth sailing. 

Steven Covey wrote: “Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition- such as lifting weights- we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.” The challenges we have to face can be building blocks and stepping stones to learning and growing in the purpose God has for us. 

What Can He Mean???

“What can he mean...” John 16:17

I am certain this was not the first time the disciples were puzzled with Jesus’ words, and Jesus knew it. He tried to explain it to them but they could not fully understand. This is the same with us, but we have to keep trying.

I remember when it was so difficult for me to pray even for five minutes, when reading one chapter of the Bible was torture. When I read Bible verses, I would read with skepticism and a sense of duty. Then I went through a Life in the Spirit seminar, several actually, and brothers and sisters prayed over me. It seemed as if nothing happened, but after that, I could not stop reading the Bible. Bible verses would become “rhema”, and almost jump out of the page. I had to put a yellow pencil to underline most of the verses!  

There are many things in the Bible that may be too inscrutable for us to understand. I believe we should not expect God’s Word to be easy to comprehend. After all, His thoughts and ways are far above ours. But He is sooo good and generous, we will be able to understand if we are diligent and faithful in reading His Word and praying. I remember what a joy it was to teach Josh, my son, to read. It was so exciting when he would “get it”! The same is true in our relation with our Father in heaven. He wants us to get to know Him and His thoughts. It may not be easy, but if we apply ourselves, like little kids learning to read, the joy will be immeasurable for our Father and ourselves as well! 

WOYWW: The Most Powerful Weapon in the World

Here is what I just finished: W is for ....

I made this for a sample for the papemelroti Artisan’s Workshop. We have a lot of letters for painting on and embellishing.

“The Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.” John 16:3

“I’ve always thought that the most powerful weapon in the world was the bomb and that’s why I gave it to my people, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the most powerful weapon in the world is not the bomb but it’s the truth.” This was the statement released by Nobel Prize winner and International Humanist awardee Andrei Sakharov. He was the nuclear physicist responsible for the Soviet hydrogen bomb.Sakharov was eventually fired from his job and exiled because of his advocacy for human rights and his views against the arms race.

 The truth is the most powerful weapon in the world, and that’s why our enemies, both in heavenly realms and in the world, seek to destroy it. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Ever since the very beginning, we read in Genesis how the serpent sought to deceive and beguile Adam and Eve. “Did God really say that?” he insinuated. He continues to deceive us today, more and more blatantly. If we listen to him, just as it happened in the Garden, we will be filled with shame, guilt, confusion, uncertainty, doubt, and stress. These do not come from God. Truth comes from God. If we know His truth, we will be free. (John 8:32)

Our very identity should come from God’s truth, that we are loved by Him, worth so much to Him, that He gave His only Son that we might have a glorious future with Him. “Did God really say that?” the enemy asks again and again in so many ways, until the world does not put any value on a human being, until a woman, a child is seen as an object and dispensable. 

God has a unique, wonderful plan and purpose for each one of us. “Did God really say that?” the enemy asks again and again, in so many ways, until the plan and purpose becomes shredded in humanistic thinking that dismisses belief in God to superstition and dogma. 

We need to know the truth or we will be deceived. God gave us the truth in the Bible. We need to read it, study it and see what a treasure we have in His Word. 

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Glimpses of His Beauty

Blessings!

Patsy  

The Lord will Complete

“The Lord will complete what He has done for me...” Psalm 138:8

The Lord will work out His plans for my life. We can lean on Him, depend on Him, because His kindness and faithfulness endures forever. 

Derek Redmond is not known because he was awarded a Gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games. He did not get one. In the middle of his best game, the 400 meter semi-final, he tore his hamstring. He crumpled to the ground in agony while the other participants raced past him. He got up slowly, and started to limp towards the finish line, his face etched in pain. A man got out of the stands and ran to help him, driving away those who tried to stop him. “I’m his father,” he shouted. He reached Derek, put his arms out to brace him, and supported him to the end so Derek could finish the race. The crowd gave them a standing ovation, cheering wildly. The incident has been featured in one of the Olympic’s “Celebrate Humanity” videos and also Nike and Visa advertisements. Derek Redmond’s emotional Olympic story has been viewed 1.9 million times on Youtube. 

Just as Derek’s father came out to support Derek in his direst need, we can be sure our heavenly Father helps us finish our race too. One of my favorite verses is found in the 1st chapter of Philippians:  “We can be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Open our Heart!

“...a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth...listened, and the Lord opened her heart...” Acts 16:14

Sometimes, all we need to do is listen and the Lord will work. But for some of us, we need to do it our way. We can be stubborn, hard headed, self-destructive and make the wrong choices for our life even if God is waiting for us to call on Him and surrender. 

Janie Burkett tells her story in her book “Unshackled: A Road to Freedom”. Even if both her parents were pastors and she grew up in a loving home, she was so insecure that, when her parents went through a rocky time in their marriage, she rebelled against God. Janey turned her back on God and instead depended on alcohol, drug addiction, sex, and developed a severe eating disorder. At 17, she experienced her first cocaine high. When she was 22 years old, she had to sustain her $300-$400 a day drug habit by becoming a high profile drug dealer. She was sentenced to 40 years years in prison. All this time her parents were praying for her, pleading with her to come back to God. They were also talking with lawyer after lawyer in the hopes that one of them could help overturn the sentence. Every one of them said it was impossible. But one called back and said he was just so bothered about it and he agreed to help pro bono! Then the judge who gave the original sentence resigned, and a new judge agreed to a new hearing!!! 

In prison, Janey had a change of heart and asked God to give her another chance. She surrendered her life to Him and asked that if He did not want to free her, to please give her peace and help her. When she got her day in court, she got the miracle the family was praying for. The judge released her on condition she undergo rehab with Teen Challenge, which helps people with substance abuse. 

Today, Janey lives her life with passion and purpose. She started, along with her dad, “Janie’s House of Hope”, a 13 month faith-based program to help those struggling with addictions. 

Father, like Lydia, may we listen to You! Open our heart Lord! We surrender our life to You! May we not take u-turns or paths away from You. But should we stray away, call us back into Your loving arms. 

Love One Another

“Love one another as I have loved you.”John 15:12

Jesus continues, “And here is how to measure it- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” After Jesus taught His disciples about love, and prayed, they crossed to the Kidron Valley where He was betrayed. 

Usually when I think about this self-sacrificing kind of love, the kind of love that Jesus had, I think of the larger than life saints like Maximillian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in place of another prisoner in Auschwitz. Kolbe was a hero many times over before he sacrificed his life for another in that Nazi concentration camp. And there are many other saints who sacrificed their lives in love for others. 

But there are ordinary people who live extraordinary lives as well. Ronnie Smith was a 33 yr. old chemistry teacher in Austin, Texas, when he and his wife discovered that Chemistry teachers were much needed in Libya. Ronnie decided to go in spite of the many warnings he received. “They’ll see you as an enemy! They’ll kill you!” 

“I don’t care,” he said, “My life is in Jesus’ hands, my after life is in Jesus’ hands. Even if they do kill me, I’m still going.”

After 18 months of teaching in the International School of Benghazi, four unidentified gunmen in a black Jeep shot him down in December 5, 2013. Two weeks later his widow Anita wrote an open letter that was spread all over the news. When she and her husband traveled to Libya, they saw the suffering of the Libyan people, “but we also saw your hope, and we wanted to partner with you to build a better future.” To the attackers, she wrote: "I love you and I forgive you." 

She came out on CNN, and told Anderson Cooper, “I just envision the black Jeep driving up to him and I don't know their faces. I just want them to know that God loves them and can forgive them for this. I just really want them to know that I do love them and I forgive them, and Ronnie would want this, and I hope and pray that our son, Hosea, would believe this," she said.

"Yeah, they took away my husband. I loved my husband. But it's got to be God's spirit that's pushing me to show them that this is what God wants them to see.” 

How do we love as Jesus loves? How do we forgive as Jesus forgives? Only by His grace and Spirit within us! 

Seek What is Above

“Seek what is above, where Christ is seated...” Colossians 3:1

Facebook and Instagram and other social media platforms used to be a place you showed your better side. People were kind, polite and encouraging. I don’t know what happened but it seemed to have started with the last Philippine and U.S. election. It seems to me that there are more people who want to pick a fight about the oddest things. More people are unkind, intolerant, and lack a sense of humor. It saddens me when I read comments that are downright rude, insulting and unreasonable. People think it’s OK to judge others without knowing circumstances. What happened to civility, respect, and kindness? People leave Facebook because they can’t handle the aggression. Commenting on some Youtube videos is disabled because of the prevalence of hateful  remarks. 

Saint Paul wrote to the believers in city of Colosse that they should live in a way that will always honor and please the Lord. “Always do good, kind things for others, and get to know God more and more. Let heaven fill your thoughts and always set your sights on the realities of heaven.” It would be easy to write that from the comfort of one’s home, but Paul was, for the second time, imprisoned in Rome, and awaiting execution. It would have been normal if he had some bitterness and doubt in his heart. After all, he was giving his all to the Lord, and there he was, chained! 

We may be facing difficult challenges, angry at somebody, or being unfairly treated. Let us remember that in all we do and say, we should always strive to do good and give glory to God! 

Sing!

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands...” Psalm 100:1b

I do not praise God enough. We are surrounded by so much blessing and gifts that we take almost all of it for granted. On May 1, my sister and I took advantage of a promo from an online beauty portal. We had our lashes permed for the very first time...and last, I might add. The two hours we spent with our eyes closed was torture! Imagine seeing a constant, pervasive, grim blackness all your life! 

Jennifer Rorshack lost her sight when she was 15. She told an audience early this year to imagine waking up everyday in the dark. “I console myself with the fact that this is only temporary. I am in this world for a short journey. In eternity I will see as brightly as possible especially in the presence of the bright, very bright and luminous, Son of God!” 

Imagine what Jennifer and many other blind people would pay just to see for a day, a week, a month, a year, or to see till the end of their life. Imagine how much money we would be willing to give to have a healthy appetite, when all we feel when we see food, is nausea. We can’t put any monetary value on having our parents and siblings alive and well beside us. We can never be grateful enough. Just one cell, one tissue, one antibody, that runs amock in our body can be disastrous. 

In one of my favorite books, “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the main character is an impetuous redhead always getting into mischief. “Dear old world,” Anne Shirley murmured, “you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” Anne Shirley had very little in life. She was an orphan and had been living in strangers’ homes, but she was born with an eager appreciation for the beauty of God’s earth. 

Father, may we always have a thankful heart for the bountiful richness of this earth and the brothers and sisters You have blessed us with! 

The Way

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Many people have rejected Christianity because of its exclusivity. But truth by its very nature IS exclusive. You can’t have many truths. Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:38, “What is truth?” but he did not wait for the answer. Many of us do the same. We prefer to make our own truth because we do not like to change how we think and how we live. 

Jesus said, “I came to bring truth to the world.” If what He says is true, then all other so-called “truths” are fake news. There are many articles about “Defining your truth”, and “Living your truth”. One article on Huffington Post by Rebecca Mckown actually ended with, “Now you are ready. Your truth has been un-earthed. Now go and live your truth. I will be right beside you.”

No one on earth can be right beside us all the time except Jesus. No one died so that we can live victoriously. In all other world religions, we have to earn nirvana through good deeds. The good has to outweigh the bad. The way of Christ is counterculture. Christ became sin for us so we can be righteous, holy and pure and the Father can accept us into His Kingdom. We have access to our Father because Jesus reconciled us. How glorious is this way of God that we may have an intimate, loving relationship with the Son, the Father and the Spirit. It is wholly incomprehensible that God would want that with us. Thank You Lord that You made a way where there is no way! You opened up heaven’s doors, because You are the way, the truth and the life! 

WOYWW: Remain in Me

I’ve been preparing for an upcoming workshop and have been quite busy making samples.

The theme is especially for Mother’s Day.

“If you remain in me and My Words remain in you...” John 15:7

There are two important men named Saul in the Bible. One Saul was the first King of the Israelite nation but he became proud and unteachable. The prophet Samuel told him, “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he also hath rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23). The kingdom was given to David. 

The second Saul was a brilliant, charismatic man ,perhaps the most successful writer in the world. Saint Paul wrote two-thirds of the New Testament and the Bible is the best-selling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold. But Paul said of all his accomplishments: “I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!...”I once thought these things were  so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.” (Philippians 3:4-8) Saint Paul was humble and obedient, and put Christ and His Words first. 

We too need to remain and abide in Christ and let His Words remain in us. Philip Schaff, a historian, wrote: “Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander the Great, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of school, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.” Yes, we need to listen, read, and obey Jesus’ words! 

Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled

“Do not let your hearts be troubled...” John 14:27

In John chapter 14, Jesus says this twice, that we should not let our hearts be troubled. He has left us the tangible gift of peace. 

Yesterday when I was looking through Facebook, I watched a video about an ancient Japanese technique to relieve stress and anxiety. Since there’s a correlation between stress and high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, weak immune systems, etc., I started massaging my fingers and thinking, “Am I relaxed yet?” 

And then I watched a video of the Pope and an obviously distressed little boy. He was crying and could not seem to ask the Pope his question even if so many people were waiting for him to speak. In a touching moment, the Pope asked him to come closer and whisper his question to him. The boy approached and whispered, “My father died, but he is an atheist. Is he in heaven? He is a good man.” The Pope said that the boy gave him permission to tell his question to everyone as he answered it. I am sure many will be disappointed and even angry at the Pope’s answer when he said that God is a Father and will bring a good man home. That’s the short version of his answer, but I am sure it gave the little boy his much sought after peace. 

I believe that Jesus is the only way, but I also believe that the only way can make a way where there is no way. In the cross we see the only time in history where perfect love, mercy, holiness, justice and forgiveness intersect. That is why we can trust Jesus to give us peace in any situation. It is not the peace that the world gives, that hand pressure, or all the money in the world can give. It is the peace that only Jesus can give. 

Who is their God?

“Where is their God?” Psalm 115:2

One of my favorite actors is Gregory Peck and the reason is, I like most of his movies. One particular favorite is “Scarlet and the Black”, a film about a real priest and Vatican official,  Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, credited with saving 6,500 Jews and Allied war prisoners during the Nazi occupation of Italy. 

The Monsignor in the course of his rescue efforts entailing disguises as he leaves the Vatican, gets into conflict with the SS Head of Police for Rome, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler played by Christopher Plummer. Nearing the end of the war, as Kappler realizes he would be caught and imprisoned, he asked the Monsignor to bring his wife and children to safety. The Monsignor refuses and says heatedly, “You have audacity! After all the people you’ve killed! All you’ve destroyed!” Kappler in disappointment responded sarcastically, “So much for for your Christianity!”

When Kappler was in prison, he was being questioned and one of the questions was, “Who helped you rescue your family?” He realized that the Monsignor had helped him after all. His family was smuggled out to safety in Switzerland. In the credits, it was noted that the Monsignor was the only regular visitor of Kappler and that when Kappler was out of prison, he asked the Monsignor to baptize him and he became a Roman Catholic in 1959. 

“Who is their God?” the pagans and unbelievers ask. When they look at our lives, do they see the God of love and forgiveness? Do they want what we have? 

Abide with Me!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine grower.” John 15:1

Henry Francis Lyte wrote the hymn, “Abide with Me”. Some verses go: “Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me! 

“Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O thou who changest not, abide with me!”

Yes, all around may change and decay, but our God changes not. He is always there when we need Him. Nick Charles was a handsome man with a gorgeous mop of hair. He had been a playboy and enjoyed himself before he turned his life over to Jesus, and started peppering his conversations with “God bless you!” From his first job of cleaning rat feces on the floor, he became CNN’s first sportscaster. He got married to his third wife Cory who brought him closer to God, and had a little girl named Giovanna when he found out he had cancer of the bladder. He went the full round of chemo until his hair fell off. When the pain became so unbearable and he was so miserable, he prayed, “God, I’ve had enough. I don’t want to say goodbye to my family, but if it’s time, take me home.” 

What happened was a light shone in the corner of the room, and a figure that could only be Christ, sat beside him on the bed. He said, “Nick, I’m going to call you home but not tonight. Just hang in there.” 

When Nick Charles died, CNN wanted to make a feature about him but couldn’t figure out what to do with the story about Jesus Christ visiting Nick and comforting him, even though it profoundly affected many of the producers and staff. They finally did mention it in passing in the news. 

At the time Nick needed Jesus, He came in a way that profoundly helped Nick. We can be sure if we abide in the true vine, He will come in all sorts of ways when we need Him. 

Anything!

“If you ask anything of Me in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14

Once I visited my dad, and I don’t know why, but I started scrounging in his shelves and cabinets in the dining room. I found so many expired bottles of different kinds of sauces and condiments. Really old! Then I did it in our refrigerator in the office and I threw away several bottles there as well. I regularly find expired medicine in my cabinet too. 

The awesome thing about God’s promises is there is no expiration date! None whatsoever! It’s usually us that gets tired of waiting, of hoping, of planting seeds of faith. John 14:14 is one of those difficult promises. It has the word anything in it. Anything? Ask anything of Jesus in His name, and He will do it. What could Jesus have meant when He promised that to His disciples? 

We have to read the whole passage to realize that there’s a prerequisite. We have to KNOW Jesus. If we know Jesus, then we will know His father. Imagine if we want to ask the President to do something for us. We can’t even get into the gates, much less inside Malacañang. But if we know the President’s son or daughter, I am absolutely certain we can get him to grant us favors unreachable to the ordinary citizen. 

We have to ask in Jesus’ name, but we can’t ask if we don’t have a relationship with Him. Thank You Jesus that there is no expiration date to Your promises and there is nothing impossible when we are Your friend! 

Serve the Lord!

“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before Him.” Psalm 2:11

Yesterday during our Bible Study at the office, we watched a cartoon movie about Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympic gold medallist winner. He is also the main character in the 1981 Oscar winning film, Chariots of Fire. 

During the Olympics, Eric, a devout Christian, refused to run for the hundred meter dash because it was held on a Sunday even if it was his best event. Instead he ran the 400 meter and won a gold medal. Eric Liddell said that he did his best in running the first half of the race, and then depended on God for the second half. In spite of an amazing career as a runner, Eric Liddel chose to leave all the fame and glory and go to China as a missionary like his father before him. He believed that is what God called him to do. When asked if he regretted his decision, he answered, “It's natural for a chap to think over all that sometimes, but I'm glad I'm at the work I'm engaged in now. A fellow's life counts for far more at this than the other.”

When he got to China, he became a teacher at an Anglo-Chinese college for privileged Chinese students. He was also in charge of Sunday school. In 1941 when the foreigners in China were advised to leave because of the danger from the Japanese invaders, Eric opted to stay behind while his wife and daughters went back home to Canada. Eric served the poor in a rural mission station in Xiaozhang, where he was always overworked and exhausted by the stream of Chinese needing medical treatment. 

In 1943, he was imprisoned in the Weihsien Interment Camp. While there, for two years until his death, he served others unselfishly, helping the elderly, leading bible study. One man who was interned with him wrote a book about his experience and mentioned that Eric Liddel was "the finest Christian gentleman it has been my pleasure to meet.” 

Another survivor of the camp, Langdon Gilkey, said of Eric: “He was overflowing with good humor and love for life, and with enthusiasm and charm. It is rare indeed that a person has the good fortune to meet a saint, but he came as close to it as anyone I have ever known."

Wherever we are Lord, whatever our station in life or our job, may we serve You in whatever way we can, and be a light in the darkness.