THE FINAL STRAW

“Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails! … I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”—Psalm 143:7; Micah 7:7 NLT

“The straw that breaks the camel’s back” is the final item in a collection of burdens or troubles, perhaps even a seemingly small thing that threatens to take you beyond the point of endurance. The strain has been building up for a while, and finally you sense that you are about to crumble. You can’t stand it any longer.

But you do, or rather you did, otherwise you would not be reading this today. Looking back at those occasions when you survived what seemed so terrible at the time can be a great encouragement. Reading the Bible can also be reassuring, because it describes the lives of people who were saved against the odds.

“Help me,” cried the desperate mother on behalf of her daughter, whom Jesus then healed.

“Save us, O God of our salvation,” cried the people, and He did, countless times.

“Heal me, O Lord,” begged the prophet Jeremiah, who, despite his many troubles, including imprisonment and worse, lived a long and productive life.

“Have mercy on me,” cried a blind man to Jesus as He passed. Minutes later, he received his sight.

“Save me!” was the desperate plea by Simon Peter, sinking under the stormy waves. Jesus held out His hand, and did just that. Peter later declared that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” He knew all about it. He had been saved in so many ways.

One central feature of these examples is that each person, in their own way, called on God to help them.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble,” God tells us, but He doesn’t leave it there; He promises: “I will deliver you.”

So perhaps the best means of surviving the final straw—or any straw, for that matter—is to ask. Help is on hand.

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Mat.7:7-8 (KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jn.15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Mk.11:24 (KJV) What things soever ye desire , when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

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SHARING THE BALM OF LOVE

Some years back, at midnight on March 17—Saint Patrick’s Day—I received a call from my 27-year-old son’s roommate in Bermuda. My boy was missing, and his clothing had been found on a nearby beach.

My first reaction was to get on my knees and cry out to God in prayer. As I did, I saw a picture of my son entering heaven to the joy of my parents and other loved ones who had already passed on. I immediately knew he would not be found alive. Sure enough, five days later, his body washed ashore.

What helped me through those difficult days? What was the healing balm? Of course, my relationship with God was my greatest source of comfort, but another important key to my healing in a tangible, physical way was the love and encouragement I received from others.

On my first day in Bermuda, while asking for directions at a shop, I mentioned to the girl working there that I was the father of the young man who had recently drowned. “I’m so sorry,” she said tenderly, and gave me a hug. On numerous other occasions, I received similar encouragement from strangers.
God promises to comfort us in our times of tribulation. Jesus said He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to us. He wants us to be comforted. But if we keep our troubles locked inside, if we keep the pain in, we won’t receive the love and encouragement we need, and our healing process will be longer and perhaps never complete.

So don’t keep those emotions hidden. Don’t suffer in silence. Share your hurt so that others around you can help heal it. God works this way to draw us closer to one another and to make us His arms and hands and lips and ears for one another.

When we receive love and encouragement in our hour of need, we are later able to return that to other anguished or suffering souls who pass our way. “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

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1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV – Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 ESV – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

HIDING PLACE

In the tempestuous, stormy moments of our lives, we often focus so intently on finding a way of escape or rescue that we altogether forget about the most reliable and true source of shelter and refuge.

Last night, sleep seemed to totally elude me. I had been facing a low moment of discouragement, doubt, and frustration. I was restless in both mind and body. It was all I could do to prevent my thoughts from going places they ought not to go.

It was raining fairly hard outside. Although in the physical I was sheltered, warm, and dry inside the house, my spirit felt the exact opposite. The rain outside seemed to pour in unison with the ongoing difficulties I’ve been facing for a while. Inside, I felt exposed and unprotected from the cold winds, soaked to the bone and drenched by the rain that seemed like it would never stop.
I was quickly losing my grip on hope, and my faith was flickering low. I told God that I wanted with all my heart to hang on and be faithful, but that this would only be possible with His help. Then I lay in silence for a moment.

The answer I received was rather unexpected. I was guided to listen to the song “Hiding Place,” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

I put on the song, not expecting much. After all, I knew it like the back of my hand. Yet, each word seemed to hit the spot like a cup of hot coffee on a cold, rainy day, or like the sensation one feels when coming in from the winter cold to a warm place.

I’m not asking You to take away my troubles, Lord.
’Cause it’s through the stormy weather I learn to trust You more.
But I thank You for the promise that I have come to know.
Your unfailing love surrounds me when I need it most.
You’re my hiding place,
Safe in Your embrace,
I’m protected from the storm that rages.
When the waters rise,
And we run to hide,
Lord, in You we find our hiding place.

As the song continued to play, God spoke to me. Are you taking shelter in My promises and My love for you? Or are you too busy looking and hoping for a way of escape from all this?

I had clearly been doing the latter. I had been hoping and praying to be rescued from this situation, instead of using God’s Word and love for me as the shelter it was meant to be. No wonder I felt so exposed and vulnerable.

It’s not that I can’t or won’t bring you out of this situation somehow, He continued to speak to my heart. But meanwhile, let Me be the refuge and shelter I promised to be for you until the storm runs its course.

With these words came flooding back a series of promises I have known for as long as I can remember:

“God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.”

“I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”

“The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.”

None of these promises speak of “rescue” from trouble, although God can and does rescue us according to His will. More important, He is our “refuge” as we go through trials and difficulties. Just as running into a building during a storm does not cause the storm to cease; rather, it provides shelter until the storm runs its course.

With this renewed perspective on storms, I can now fully trust and rest in Jesus to be my refuge and shelter for as long as the storm lasts, leaving the final outcome in His hands.

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Proverbs 23:18 ESV / Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 10:28 ESV / The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Romans 8:25 ESV / But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

A CARD FULL OF HOPE

He looked so sad when I first saw him. He was quite a few years older than I, but like I did during my first days in that impersonal hospital ward, he felt scared and worried.

My bed was on the other side of the room, but I gave him a reassuring smile.

“It will be all right.”

But he turned away, closed his eyes, and pretended he was asleep.

A hospital is a strange place. All patients are on the same level; everyone faces a common enemy—fear. What’s wrong with me? Will I get better? Will the operation be successful?

Later that day, I again tried talking with my fellow patient. I’d already been there for nearly two weeks and was starting to feel like a veteran.
“Why are you here?” I asked.

He looked so despondent, I almost felt bad I had asked. Then he softly answered: “I was going on holiday. Car was in front of the door. I went to use the bathroom one last time. That’s when I saw the blood …”

He fidgeted with the hospital sheet. “And now I’m here instead of in a hotel in France with my wife. I feel like jumping out of the window.”

Right then the doctor stepped in with a solemn face and told my new friend: “Mr. Williams, your surgery is scheduled for first thing tomorrow.”

When the doctor left, I could tell he was in the depths of despair. He didn’t want to talk anymore and pretended to be asleep again.

Suddenly I felt the nudge of God’s Spirit.

Write a few verses from Psalm 91 on a card and give it to him before he goes to surgery.

Psalm 91? What if he doesn’t believe in You, Lord?

Just do it!

So I did. The nurse gave him the card the next morning before wheeling him out.

The operation was a success.

And so was the card. When I talked to him the next day, he said: “Thank you so much for those wonderful words. They gave me so much strength. Did you write that?

“No,” I answered, “God did. They’re from the Bible.”

“Amazing…” he mumbled, then he smiled. “Maybe I need to read that book for myself.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.—Psalm 91:3–4

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Romans 12:12 ESV / Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 15:13 ESV / May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope

THE SECRET SUPPLY

There is an old fable about two neighbors who planted similar orchards. One watered his plants every day, but the other, only every few days. When the dry season came, the trees of the first farmer withered, but the trees of the second kept growing steadily. Since these trees hadn’t been watered so often, their roots had grown downward to find the underground water tables.

I remember when I had to dig deep for the hidden waters. Our family was living in a city at the border of Brazil and Argentina. Business was going well, and we had just moved to a nice house with a yard that we transformed into a small football field for our boys. Then my husband had a sudden stroke and passed away after three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit. My whole world seemed to fall apart.

The emotions that come after losing someone so close can only be known by experience. It was like an arm or a leg was missing. I would often dream of him still being around and would sometimes see someone in the street and think for a split second that it was him, but of course it couldn’t be, as Jesus had called him home.

My faith in heaven and that I would one day be with him again was what kept me going. Those deep waters of knowing that God would never leave me nor forsake me gave me strength to face the many challenges that lay ahead.

Today I enjoy my grandchildren and consider myself tremendously blessed. When troubles come my way, as they still do, I remember how God didn’t fail me during that most difficult time and gave me strength to go on. My secret supply comes from Philippians 4:6–7, which I have posted above my desk:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

The strongest people out there—the ones who laugh the hardest with a genuine smile, those are the people who have fought the toughest battles. Because they’ve decided they’re not going to let anything hold them down, they’re showing the world who’s the boss.—Author unknown

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Romans 5:3-5 ESV / More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4 ESV / Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 4:13 ESV / But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

LIFE AS A CLIMB

The other day, some friends took me on what I thought would be a short climb. We parked the car and took a look at the summit. We got out our climbing gear and started putting on our boots and gathering what we needed in our backpacks.

It doesn’t seem that far or that difficult. Good! I thought.

During the winter, I had suffered a knee injury and subsequently felt a bit out of shape. In any case, I was looking forward to something simple.
We started walking uphill, and it wasn’t long before my legs began to hurt and I was having a hard time breathing, but I was still hopeful it would be a short climb. Then the path changed into a rockier, winding trail. We were still surrounded by tall trees that kept us from seeing any kind of view around us. I knew we must have been making some progress, judging by the time, but it wasn’t until we came out of the woods and stopped by a gorgeous lookout point that we could actually see the progress we’d made and how far we still had to go in order to reach the top.

Those few minutes spent admiring the breathtaking view of the lake beneath us, taking a picture and a sip of water, encouraged us and gave us the feeling that we were doing well and making progress, even though the summit still seemed quite far.

Then the path turned into a genuine climb, and I could feel myself beginning to panic a little. The sky had been gathering dark clouds, and a few raindrops started falling, making the rocks slippery. We met others along the way, some experienced climbers, some attempting the hike for the first time. The uncertainty of the weather made everyone feel some trepidation. The rain didn’t last long, but the clouds remained. It wasn’t an easy climb, but the view got more intriguing and majestic over time. It definitely made it worth it all.

At one point, on a particularly difficult passage, my more experienced friend whispered in my ear, “You’re doing well, you know. There are others climbing today who are having a much harder time.” Those few words had a profound effect on me: they turned my gaze away from myself and my personal struggle. I took a look at a girl climbing for the first time, who looked worried. She was slowly making it too, helped by her friend. I smiled at her and said a few words. What a help encouragement can be: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

And finally, the top!

There’s always something exhilarating about reaching the summit, no matter how tough the climb, but this time a magical sense of peace filled my soul and brought tears to my eyes. I was able to see the path we had taken to the top. Many turns were needed in order to get up here, and they had made the journey richer—not easier, but definitely more interesting and exciting.

On the way back down, I couldn’t help but reflect on some of the events that have taken place in my life. When you are in the thick of the forest and on a hard uphill climb, it’s often hard to make sense of things or understand where you’re standing or to gather the strength and conviction to keep going. All you can feel is the sweat, the strain, the tiredness. In that moment it’s so easy and even understandable to give up and turn back, and to be honest, a few times I have been so tempted to.

What has kept me going has been Jesus and His Word, as well as the encouragement and support of dear friends along the way.

Face the Wind

If a bird is flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger, it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher.—Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983)

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)

The things we try to avoid and fight against—tribulation, suffering and persecution—are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Huge waves that would frighten the ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. “We are more than conquerors through Him” in all these things—not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it.—Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

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Deuteronomy 20:4 ESV / For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Philippians 4:13 ESV / I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

John 16:33 ESV / I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

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PAINTING A RAINBOW FROM LIFE’S DARKEST STORM

I first learned about Fu-Hua Chuang when my family and I watched a documentary that featured several severely disabled yet talented young people. I was struck by the radiant smile that seemed to illuminate her whole being, reflecting the inner beauty of her soul.

In 1994, Fu-Hua was a lively and promising ten-year-old Taiwanese girl who ranked at the top of her class and dreamed of becoming an artist. But tragedy struck when she and her family were caught in a house fire. Although all of them survived, Fu-Hua slipped into a three-month coma caused by smoke inhalation. When she regained consciousness, it turned out that the poisonous fumes had irrevocably and radically altered Fu-Hua’s life, leaving her blind, mute, and paralyzed from the neck down. Aside from head and neck mobility, the only physical ability she retained was her hearing.

As time passed and her friends and former classmates gradually forgot her, Fu-Hua slipped into deep depression that spiraled into suicidal thoughts. What hope was there in a wheelchair-bound existence, dependent on her mother to dress, feed, and help her with all the basic necessities of life?

It was a Christian television program that pierced through Fu-Hua’s anguish, inspiring her to put her trust in God. As her faith grew, so did her hope; and from her hope, three dreams emerged—to attend university, to become a writer, and to spread love to every corner of the globe. Between physical therapy sessions, Fu-Hua listened to over 300 audiobooks, which enabled her to build academic competence and graduate from high school. Then her teacher helped her gain entry to university, where Fu-Hua has since been pursuing her bachelor’s degree.

Through a painstaking process of moving her head to communicate in Morse code, Fu-Hua has also composed over 300 poems that articulate with optimism her struggles, faith, and experiences. Using this same method, Fu-Hua has also given motivational speeches at high schools across Taiwan and China. Through her speeches, she has touched thousands with the message of God’s love and hope. Her dreams are coming true!

Fu-Hua had every reason to give up on life, yet she not only chose to live but to make encouraging others her purpose. While her life will always be fraught with pain, difficulties, and struggles caused by her physical condition, Fu-Hua says, “Life is a path. At times we encounter pain, failure, and sorrow, but if we have faith, the future is always bright.”

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Micah 6:8 ESV – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 7:13-14 ESV – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

SQUEEZED

There have probably been times when you’ve felt like you’ve been squeezed to the last drop and you didn’t have an ounce of strength or willpower left. The apostle Paul admitted to “despairing even of life,” and I’m sure that many of us have gone to those depths at one time or another. We’ve reached the point that we felt we couldn’t even bear to get up in the morning and face another day, and maybe you’re going through something like that right now. Perhaps you have been for a long time.

But here’s the important part: Despite Paul’s trials and tribulations—both in the form of outward persecution and in the form of inward despair, discouragement, and doubt—he held on, declaring that, “I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.”

That’s a good one for us to remember: “I’m going to keep holding on no matter what happens. I’m not going to let it deter me from the life path God has given me.” That’s the kind of determination that kept Paul going, so that even though he was “perplexed,” he was “not in despair.”

“Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” How can you be unmovable? By holding on to the Rock—Jesus. Everything else is unstable and can get washed away when the waves of life toss you to and fro. The only thing that’ll stay right there and won’t budge an inch is Jesus!

And don’t worry if you don’t think you’re strong enough to hold on, because you don’t have to be strong in yourself. God will give you the strength. All you have to do is put your will on His side and want to hold on, and He’ll give you the strength to keep holding on even when you don’t think you can anymore.
But you do have to determine in your heart that you’re going to follow God no matter what. As Isaiah said, “The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.” He must have been going through a pretty tough time, but he was determined to hold on regardless; and if you do the same, you won’t be ashamed either.

When your life is burdened with problems, it’s natural to wonder why. One reason for problems is that life itself is a constant struggle. Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever your job, this life, living on earth as a human being, involves a lot of problems, period. And believe it or not, that’s God’s plan.
Sometimes we’re tempted to wonder, How can I manage this? It’s just too much! We can be comforted to know that God allows this as part of His plan for us. He sometimes allows us to see the mountain ahead of us so we’ll come to the end of ourselves and acknowledge that we can’t do it on our own without His help.

If the problems were any smaller and we thought we might be able to handle them, we’d be tempted to try to do it in our own strength. It’s just human nature. But if it gets so difficult and so big, that’s often the point at which we truly commit all things to Him.

Regardless of how we may happen to feel, if we love God and are walking by faith and following His Word, then we know that our relationship with Him is firm. And we certainly know that His love for us is unchangeable, unwavering. He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. The mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So no matter how much we might feel “squeezed to the last drop,” we’re not alone. His love is there for us—always. If you “draw near to God, He will draw near to you.” A comforting thought!

The next time that something seemingly bad happens to you, look for the divine in it. Look for the soul in the mundane, everyday occurrences of your life. Look for the spark, look for the light.—Leigh Hershkovich

Overcast does not always forecast rain neither does difficulty always forecast failure.—Kevin McKoy

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2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV / Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Romans 16:17 ESV / I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

THE CAVERNS

For my son’s twelfth birthday, he wanted to explore underground caverns near our home. I was less enthusiastic, but despite my efforts to come up with alternatives, he couldn’t be dissuaded, so on a blistering hot day, my sister-in-law and I set out with our three children. Walking into the mouth of a huge cave, my heart was pounding, but soon I was pleasantly surprised to see the gently sloping walkways, clean and well lit. As we descended further, it felt as if the air conditioning had been turned on.

As we read the signs and studied the rock and crystal formations, we began to appreciate rocks in an entirely new light. What might have seemed inscrutable in the darkness, glistened beautifully in the colored spotlights. We spent hours underground and returned to ground level with a new appreciation of the wonders of God’s creation and the breathtaking beauty of hidden things.

I was at a point in my life when I felt like I was lost in some caverns spiritually. My world had flip-flopped and I felt distant from all I had ever known. I also felt quite isolated and purposeless. But a few hours in the caverns helped me to have a new perspective.

One thing I was reminded of is that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Even in a place that might seem terrifying, His light is there to guide each step and keep me from falling. Not only does His light protect me, but it helps me to see the beauty that is around. My life is filled with light as long as I am in His presence.

Sometimes God’s path leads to a place in the shadows. It takes time for our eyes to adjust to the changes and see things as they are. But even in the darkness there is growth and beauty and order. Like my son exploring the caverns that day, I realized that I needed to have a sense of fun and adventure.
It also made me appreciate those who had gone before. Someone had gone down into the darkness and had worked to make it a safe place, placing lights and signs. I realized that I needed to spend more time reading devotional material from those who understood the situation I found myself in. They can help teach me some deeper lessons of faith and encourage me to continue to trust God’s loving hand and direction in my life.

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Romans 8:28 ESV / And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV / Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Romans 16:17 ESV / I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

HARD TIMES

At the time I’m writing this, my car has been giving me trouble. It’s been like this for a while; and whenever it seems like it’s fixed, it’s not long before something goes wrong again. It’s already cost quite a bit of time and money, and it’s looking like more will be required before the root problem is found. When things don’t work the way they should, I get stressed, and this has been my nemesis of late.

Perhaps you’re going through a rough patch too. Or maybe you’re facing a major hardship or heartbreak. Maybe you recently lost your job or someone you were close to. Maybe you’ve been beaten down one too many times, and you just can’t imagine that anything good can happen in your life, that you could catch a break.

Whatever you’re dealing with, you’re not alone. Jesus Himself experienced hard times—He even asked His Father if it was really necessary to go through with His trial and execution.

Sometimes our hardships can be so overwhelming that we become paralyzed. When we feel trapped by fear or grief, unable to take the tiniest step toward recovery, what we need most is a guide—someone or something to give hope and illuminate the path toward healing. It can be a friend, an inspirational book or website, music, or most importantly, God. No matter what our circumstance or difficulty, we can rest assured that God will always be faithful.

If you happen to be struggling today, or if you know someone else who is careworn, then you have come to the right place for healing. I hope my car will—eventually—run as good as new. What is more certain is that God will help you through your difficulty. His Word promises “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV / But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 John 4:4 ESV / Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

IN NEED OF A MAKEOVER?

There are countless people whose lives have been changed by an encounter with Jesus, both within and beyond the context of Bible history.

Paul is often rightly cited as an example of the power of Jesus to transform lives. He was a Pharisee (a member of an ancient Jewish religious group) who was so dead set against the followers of Jesus that he took it upon himself to launch a crusade for their imprisonment and in some cases death.

Yet after “seeing the light” on the road to Damascus and his subsequent dramatic conversion, he went on to become one of the principal leaders of early Christianity. He is credited with writing approximately two-thirds of the New Testament’s text and was undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind the evangelism of the non-Jewish world of the time.

That is one outstanding transformation, and just because it is so outstanding, it can easily seem out of reach. Most of us want to improve ourselves, but we might not consider it likely that we could have such a remarkable makeover. After all, how many of the millions of converts to Christianity each year get their “names in the paper” like Paul, not to speak of the other 2.2 billion Christians alive today?

That’s why looking at some of the other people whom Jesus met can be a little bit more relatable.

There’s the woman with a dubious past who found peace of mind. There’s the tax collector who decided to mend his dishonest ways. There are all the nameless people who were just happy to hear Him speak. There’s the lady who stood up straight for the first time in 18 years. Even Thomas, whose analytical mind was often a barrier, discovered true faith at the touch of the risen Savior.

God’s makeovers happen in ways big and small. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” The new creation doesn’t usually happen at once, but the more we live in Him day by day, the further we go toward reaching our potential.

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2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Psalm 51:12 ESV / Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

UPCYCLED!

It never ceases to amaze me how Lidija, a dear friend of mine, can turn garbage into works of art. As a volunteer, she runs a day center called Koraci (Steps) and organizes art workshops for children, the elderly, the disabled, young people, housewives, etc.

Besides the more conventional techniques, such as ceramics, pressed flowers, and decoupage, I find her upcycled art the most fascinating, almost like a miracle performed each time she puts her hands on something of apparently no value. In fact, I keep a bag by my desk labelled “Lidija,” in which I collect all sorts of cans, broken pieces of glass, bits and pieces of material, discarded jewelry, small cardboard containers, and whatnot. If it wasn’t for Lidija’s bag, these would go in the garbage bin.

Over and over, I’ve seen all of the above transformed into astonishing pieces of art. Lidija’s motto is “Never throw anything away; it can all be used.” People who know her often smile when they see her eyes get that special spark—there she goes again—but she can already visualize what a random discarded object can become.

But there’s another field, even more valuable, in which Lidija practices upcycling, and that is at her workplace. For a few years now, she’s been working in a reformatory for juvenile delinquents, ranging from 8 to 18 years old. These kids, usually coming from the worst strata of society, are like diamonds in the rough; it takes someone with extra eyes of love and faith to see the potential in them. Every time I observe Lidija in action, showering love and attention on these kids, teaching them art, cooking, manners, giving them a hug or an extra snack on the side, treating them like they were her own sons, crying and praying for them, rejoicing when they succeed, well, that’s the best kind of “upcycling” I see!

Thanks to her loving care, some of them have made it to better lives, diamonds in the rough, forever thankful that one day someone picked them from the virtual garbage can and upcycled them!

Upcycling: Recycling means to turn waste into a reusable product or to refurbish a product for reuse. Upcycling, a particular form of recycling, involves turning waste material or an unwanted product into a better-quality product. Upcycling projects can be as simple as folding an old newspaper into a biodegradable flowerpot. Other options include jewelry made from zippers, felted slippers made from the wool of used sweaters, bags made from crocheted strips of plastic grocery bags, and T-shirts turned into trendy children’s dresses.

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Romans 14:1 ESV / As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

James 4:1 ESV / What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

John 3:16 ESV / For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.
—Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983)

Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
—Wendell Holmes (1809–1894)

Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011)

Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.
—Richard Bach (b. 1936)

Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.
—Belva Davis (b. 1932)

Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

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Numbers 23:19 ESV / God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Isaiah 45:7 ESV / I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

1 Peter 2:1-5 ESV / So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Announcement

Palm Sunday Service
Date: 25th March 2018 (Sun)
Time: 10:30am
Venue: Penang Corps - Worship Hall

Cell Group - NorthEast
Date: 25th March 2018 (Sun)
Time: 1pm
Venue: Penang Corps - Community Hall

Mobilise: Go Children and Youth Weekend
Date: 25th March 2018 (Sun)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Penang Corps - Worship Hall

Good Friday Service
Date: 30th March 2018 (Fri)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Penang Corps - Worship Hall

Easter Sunrise Service
Date: 1st April 2018 (Sun)
Time: 7am
Venue: VMCA

Easter Service
Date: 1st April 2018 (Sun)
Time: 10:30am
Venue:  Penang Corps - Worship Hall

ONE MAN’S TRASH

When we lack faith, we miss miracles that are trying to be delivered to us. Life is a lot about having the faith to see possibilities that others might overlook. Take apple seeds, for example. Most people throw away the core and seeds as worthless, but someone with faith as small as that seed might see in them a world of opportunity.

When His disciples were frustrated that they were unable to cure certain diseases, Jesus told them that they were ineffectual because of their unbelief: “‘You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.’”

Hey, wait a minute! Jesus said mustard seed, not apple seed. Right, but the point was that if we just have a little bit of faith we can accomplish a lot, even move mountains! And that was before the invention of dynamite or huge dump trucks to blast and haul mountains.

Behind my house is an old and venerable apple tree. Come late August the grass below is full of apples, most of them with a worm or two squiggling about, as we don’t use pesticides. The majority is only fit for the compost, but if you cut out the bad bits before the worm has gotten too comfortable, and slice or chop them up, you can make a fantastic apple pie.

This brings me to one of my favorite examples of a man who had a lot of faith to see opportunities in small possibilities. I am talking about John Chapman, affectionately known as Johnny Appleseed. Legends abound concerning this American folk hero, but there is enough truth about his life to warrant retelling:
Johnny Appleseed lived from 1774 to 1845 and came from the area of my hometown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He collected the discarded apple seeds from the apple cider mills, then cleaned and dried them in preparation for planting. He would put them in a pouch and set off to the pioneer areas out west that were just being settled at that time. He planted apple nurseries with his seeds and nurtured them until they were saplings, big enough to sell or barter for clothes and other items.

This barefoot tree-planting preacher was a welcome visitor to the settlers. They invited him into their homes, glad to hear news from the places Johnny had just been to and the stories he had to tell. He also was a kind of mobile lending library because he had his Bible divided up into sections and would leave one book with a settler home and then exchange it for another book when he passed through that same way again.

Apples from trees that are grown from seeds are seldom sweet, so the apples Johnny grew were usually processed into apple cider (used as a food preservative), and the trees were used to mark land boundaries.

Like Johnny, we can grab ahold of the opportunities that come our way. When the doors or windows of possibilities open to us, we can enter in and partake of the blessings that God has for us and for others that we touch. Realizing an opportunity when it presents itself is just the first step, and then come all the steps that follow to bring that possibility to fruition, not unlike the many challenges Johnny faced nurturing apple trees from seeds.

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Matthew 17:20 ESV / He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 13:31-32 ESV / He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”