Show Love

I read this entry in my devotional book and had to post it... such a good and beautiful reminder for all of us, especially for those who tend to forget sometimes or become absorbed in the everyday living. Showing love, whether it be overflowing or minor, can go a long way for others. I know that because I've experienced it countless times! Give a hug to someone who may need one... write a short note full of love for someone who needs to hear it..

"Put on as the elect of God, kindness" (Col. 3:12).

There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.

People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.

There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil, of good cheer to the downhearted one--Oh, how much it may mean! The word of courage to the despairing. Speak it.

Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, mayhap, our ways diverge, never to meet again, The oil of kindness has worn the sharp, hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Saviour.

A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart. Therefore, "Give others the sunshine, tell Jesus the rest."

"We cannot know the grief
That men may borrow;
We cannot see the souls
Storm-swept by sorrow;
But love can shine upon the way
Today, tomorrow;
Let us be kind.
Upon the wheel of pain so many weary lives are broken,
We live in vain who give no tender token.
Let us be kind."

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love" (Rom. 12:10)

No doubt about His enduring promise!

Sometimes I ask God 'why' about things like why did He let me become deaf at 18 months old, why did my mom have cancer when she was such a healthy human being, and so forth on. The more I ask why and try to find the answer, the more I am at a loss and I had to let it all go. Now I am simply waiting on Him. I know I will see my mom again soon! Why should I still grieve for her when she's with Jesus rejoicing and dancing? Of course there will always be times when I will miss her terribly and I will always miss her in a way everyday even without thinking about it. 

I was thinking about how a thousand years here on Earth is but one day to God in Heaven and how even days is but a mere minute to Him and that gives me great comfort because that means I will arrive in Heaven just one minute after my mom got there! 

I have no doubt that someday we will understand that God has a reason behind every happening and every no that He gives us through the course of our lives. Yet even in this life, He always make it up to us! When has God ever taken anything from a person without restoring it many times over? It is true that God never touches the heart with a trial without intending to bestow a greater gift or compassionate blessing. The person who knows how to wait has grown to an expectional degree in God's sufficient grace!

"He Worketh"

"He worketh" (Ps. 37:5).

The translation that we find in Young of "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass," reads: "Roll upon Jehovah thy way; trust upon him: and he worketh."

It calls our attention to the immediate action of God when we truly commit, or roll out of our hands into His, the burden of whatever kind it may be; a way of sorrow, of difficulty, of physical need, or of anxiety for the conversion of some dear one.

"He worketh." When? Now. We are so in danger of postponing our expectation of His acceptance of the trust, and His undertaking to accomplish what we ask Him to do, instead of saying as we commit, "He worketh." "He worketh" even now; and praise Him that it is so.

The very expectancy enables the Holy Spirit to do the very thing we have rolled upon Him. It is out of our reach. We are not trying to do it any more. "He worketh!"

Let us take the comfort out of it and not put our hands on it again. Oh, what a relief it brings! He is really working on the difficulty.

But someone may say, "I see no results." Never mind. "He worketh," if you have rolled it over and are looking to Jesus to do it. Faith may be tested, but "He worketh"; the Word is sure!  --V. H. F.

"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Ps. 57:2).

The beautiful old translation says, "He shall perform the cause which I have in hand." Does not that make it very real to us today? Just the very thing that "I have in hand"--my own particular bit of work today, this cause that I cannot manage, this thing that I undertook in miscalculation of my own powers--this is what I may ask Him to do "for me," and rest assured that He will perform it. "The wise and their works are in the hands of God."  --Havergal

The Lord will go through with His covenant engagements. Whatever He takes in hand He will accomplish; hence past mercies are guarantees for the future and admirable reasons for continuing to cry unto Him.  --C. H. Spurgeon"

~L.B. Cowman, Streams In The Desert

Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (Philippians 3:7)

"O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee,
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's glow its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee,
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that lifest up my head,
I dare not ask to hide from Thee,
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossons red,
Life that shall endless be."

~George Matheson

Shevet Achim, Israel

This have been on my heart for some time and now I want to share about it.

For the last four years since my visit in 2006, I've been praying about going to Israel as a part time missionary or as a volunteer to work among people there for at least a certain period of time.

There was opportunities for me to go but every time I brought it up before the Lord, He said, "No, not now. Wait." So I waited and waited.
Over and over, I had to surrender that dream into His hands and not pursue it on my own (otherwise I'd just mess it up).

Then, last May, a dear friend of mine, from college, told me that she was going to Jerusalem for four months this summer to work as a part-time staff volunteer at a place called Shevet Achim.
Shevet Achim was founded with the purpose of helping non-Israeli children receive lifesaving medical care in Israel. The name is taken from the Hebrew of Psalm 133, which promises that unity between brothers leads to life.
I was immediately attracted to the program for some strange reason that I can't quite explain and for the last few months, I've been following up on their updates via email and I began to pray about doing it, possibly next summer for two months, but had some doubts about it. What if they don't want me because of my hearing loss? What if....? You can imagine.
Then the Lord spoke to me, "Do not be afraid. Do not doubt. For nothing is impossible with Me and with Me, you can do all things! My timing is always perfect."

Then I felt this great peace in my heart and knew that if they told me I couldn't work with them, God will provide another opportunity and BETTER timing too!
So, I decided to email the international director of the program and told him about my heart for Israel and how I desire to go there as a volunteer and minister to the people. I also mentioned my hearing loss even though I didn't want to.

Not expecting a reply for some time, I was surprised to hear back from the director the very next day!
The very first thing he said was that he liked what I shared and the second thing was that my hearing loss is my best qualification (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) and then he attached a staff application!
I was so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy and encouragement- I couldn't believe that they want me to work with them regardless the fact that I cannot hear!

Curious about what the staff do, I sent another email and found out that not they only take care of the children, they also host families of the children and need help with cooking and cleaning and the list goes on. At once, I knew that is what I've been looking for and what I wanted to do, being a servant to others. "
As Elisabeth Elliot said about being a servant of God, "It's a tall order to take the lowest place, to lay it all at His feet, and to listen for His next small wish. Yoked with Him, we can do this as easily as we can conquer more exalted worlds."

God is so faithful!!!

I also got another encouraging email from the director after I asked about the funds, "But we’re encouraging short-term people to first ask God’s help with the airfare, and then direct any other support that comes in to Shevet Achim staff support. It will all go into one pool and we’ll share and trust the Lord to meet all of our needs. If you don’t have enough personal support for monthly expenses, we’ll be glad to take you anyway. And if you have more than enough, you’ll be a blessing to others."

Even though I have nearly a year to pray, prepare, and get the funds I need, I know that it will all work out if it is God's will. But how can it not be His will if He didn't put this burning desire in my heart in the first place and love for Israel and the people there?

Thank You, my Abba, for providing this great opportunity and for teaching me the value of patience and waiting upon You and Your timing... there is nothing more perfect.

His Wind.

Be still.

"He is here for the broken and life to the one who is undone.
He is peace to the wounded and hope for the helpless one.
He is here, He is here.
Be still, my soul, be still...
Wait patiently upon the Lord, be still my soul, be still...
When the waves rise against me and the wind tries to blow me away, I will stand on the mountain and safe in Your arms, I will sing..."
~Kari Jobe

This is just a tiny glimpse of what I'm going through right now... with all the chaos going on and unexpected things happening among disappointments and joys.
But.. praise to the Lord for His faithfulness! He is my peace and strength and I will be nothing without Him.
I will sing in Your arms...