2017 - Penang Open Day @ PCH

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A HEART FULL OF JOY

The joy God can give you enables you to be happy even if things aren’t perfect in your earthly situation, because it reaches beyond that. God promises that things will turn out all right in the future, and that He has strength available for you in the present.

God wants to help you be happy even if things aren’t perfect yet and all the physical circumstances aren’t lined up. His joy can allow you to be happy and praiseful and carefree, even when you are surrounded by many cares, because it comes from the highest heavens, way, way beyond any of these earthly problems. Jesus is our bridge, our door to that world of happiness.

God loves you even when you’re bad or late or behind or sinful or unloving or disappointing. He never stops loving you, and most important, never stops having the faith that victory is right around the corner, because it is. His faith in each of us can enable us to be joyful even when things are looking pretty bleak, because we can trust that the best is yet to come.

To have this joy, it’s vital to see today in the context of all eternity, not letting the little things that happen here and now have so much of an influence on our happiness and peace. Today’s problems become small compared to the eternity of good that can await us with Jesus. So look forward with faith, and that will make your present much better too.

We sometimes feel that we can’t be joyful unless all our problems are gone. The minute something negative crops up, it pokes a pin in our joy balloon and we feel that the joy is gone. But God’s spiritual joy is based on so much more than that. We can be happy during the rainstorms of life because we know that above the clouds the sun is still shining.

Start looking for the things in each day that He brings along to make you happy, to give you pleasure or enjoyment or satisfaction or contentment. God wants to see you enjoying these gifts and taking pleasure in every blessing that He’s given. But He also wants to teach you about a more permanent joy, a more lasting happiness that isn’t dependent merely on earthly things.

The happiness God brings is faith-based; it sees beyond the moment and revels in the eternal nature of God’s love. You’re allowed to be happy. You’re allowed to be hopeful for the future even if you’ve made a mess of the present. You’re allowed to believe that God loves you even if you think you’ve disappointed Him. You’re allowed to give and share large portions of love, because you’re never going to run out of love. You’re allowed to have fun and let yourself relax, because these things are good and healthy and He loves to see you do them.

The point is, God wants you to be happy. And nothing in your circumstances needs to change before you can start. All you have to do is accept the joy and relief and encouragement He wants to give you, accept His promises, claim them, and change your perspective. And that can happen instantly, the minute you reach out with faith and believe.

If you haven’t yet experienced the joy of the Lord, you can right now by praying the following prayer:

Jesus, I need something in my life that can bring me the kind of joy that circumstances can’t rob me of. I’ve been told that You can give me joy that nothing can steal from me—not pain nor sorrow nor loss. If You can bring that into my life, I want You. Please walk with me as my friend and give me a reason to live every day. Thank You so much.

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Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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.

John 14:27 ESV / Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

FINDING “IT”

Nehemiah said it was the source of true strength. The psalmist David found it in God’s presence and offered it back to Him as a love gift. Jeremiah found it in God’s Word. King Solomon said it was one of God’s rewards for right living. Jesus promised it to His followers and said it came through believing and doing what He said.

The apostle Paul named it as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as well as one of the hallmarks of the kingdom of heaven within. And Paul should know; it sustained him through imprisonment, persecution, and numerous other perils. The apostle Peter said it couldn’t be put into words, but that it was “full of glory.”

“It” is “the joy of the Lord.”

And the good news is that the joy of the Lord is not reserved only for prophets, psalmists, kings, and apostles. Many millions of believers of all ages and down through the ages have thrilled to it and lived by it—and you can too. It’s free, and it can be yours starting right now with a simple prayer asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit’s “joy unspeakable.” Jesus has promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you. … If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Then don’t be surprised if you’re happier than you’ve ever been in your life, or that your joy and happiness spill over on others. Like all the other best things in life, the joy of the Lord is best when shared.

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Romans 14:17 (NIV) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

2 Corinthians 11:23 (NIV) Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

Acts 20:24 (NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

THE LOVE OF COLORS

One of the first presents I remember receiving was a small set of tempera paints. Later came a set of oil paints, a tripod, and some canvas. I remember my first “masterpiece,” painted when I was 11 and on summer vacation in the mountains. It took me days, and the result was nothing amazing, but the sense of accomplishment was immense.

My subsequent teenage years were a riot of hobbies, art, music, politics, and whatnot. Then I got married and started traveling. It was inconvenient to carry around a set of oil paints—and anyway, who had time to paint? The last canvas I painted was a sunset in Sicily while pregnant with my first child.

Then nothing for many long years.

When my children were small, I encouraged them to draw, and my son Mark showed a particular inclination for art and eventually became a cartoonist. He would often ask, “Mom, why don’t you start drawing and painting again?”

Once, at the end of a visit, he again asked if I would paint something for him, and this time, I agreed. Mind you, it felt like aeons had passed since that last sunset in Sicily, and I was very rusty! I could hardly handle the brush, and it took a while to remember the most basic shading techniques.

I finished the painting—mostly to please my son—and intended to put my art supplies away again afterwards, but only two months later, some friends asked me to help paint a large 6×8-meter mural. It was daunting, and to top it off, I had to work while standing on an elevating arm! The response was encouraging, though, and that turned out to be the beginning of a new hobby painting murals in schools, hospitals, youth centers, and private homes.

Now I enjoy transforming any gray, shabby place into a celebration of colors and cheerful images. Once, an elderly patient confided that since those happy kids on the hospital wall in front of his bed “were continually smiling” at him, he didn’t feel so lonely anymore! Those “happy kids” were the creation of our paintbrushes.

I believe everyone has some forgotten passion buried deep inside, waiting to be reawakened. Watching people’s reactions when their space is transformed has certainly awakened my old passion for art, and now my paints are always ready for the next gray wall.

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Matthew 16:25 ESV / For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

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.

Genesis 2:7 ESV / Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

UNEXPECTED

Our jeep bumped along the rugged trail that was going to take us to the main road and back home to Nairobi, after a successful humanitarian aid project in a distant rural area of Kenya. My thoughts were already traveling to the busy week ahead. The next project was around the corner and needed to be planned and organized, and there seemed to be too few hours in the day to get it all done.

My knee had been bothering me for the previous few days, and that eventually escalated into a constant dull pain. So far, I had managed to ignore it, but I knew I’d probably end up needing to get it checked. I just couldn’t seem to find the time and kept putting it off.

After arriving home, I went to bed early, feeling exhausted and achy. During the night, a pounding pain woke me up, and I discovered swelling all around my kneecap. I popped some painkillers and tried to catch a bit more sleep. In the morning, the pain was even more intense, and I called my doctor, who immediately summoned me to his office. There, a thorough checkup, blood tests, and an x-ray confirmed that there was a deep-seated infection in my leg that was threatening to spread.

The doctor furrowed his brow as he looked over the results. “We need to hospitalize you immediately.”

I tried to argue. “But I have pressing appointments and work to do this week.”

“Your work has to wait!” the doctor insisted. “This infection has to be stopped, or you might even lose your leg!”

Relenting, I hobbled over to the adjacent hospital to check myself in. Then a nurse met me with a wheelchair and escorted me into a small room. After she left, quietness enveloped me, and the fact that I was grounded sank in. The room was sterile and white, and flower-curtained windows faced a treelined courtyard. There was a small TV attached to the wall, a sink with a small mirror, and a metal-frame bed. I sank into its covers, frustration and worry welling up inside of me.

Soon, the door opened and a nurse entered to set up a drip. “Don’t worry, dear, you’ll be better soon,” she said reassuringly, then smiled and left the room. I was alone again.

I realized that I had two choices. One was to let the situation pull me down, dreading each minute I had to spend there. The other was to start searching for a glimpse of the silver lining that must be hidden somewhere behind the dark cloud. I decided to choose the second option and prayed that God would help me find joy in this unexpected and potentially depressing turn of events.

A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. It was a colleague with a large bouquet of flowers. This was soon followed by several phone calls by loved ones offering their best wishes for my recovery. I began to cheer up.

A tray with tea and cake was wheeled in for an afternoon snack, and I couldn’t help but grin when I realized that it had been a long while since I had been served in bed! Later in the day, I rested, read, and watched a movie. It felt great to just relax and let myself enjoy this unexpected but much-needed break.

Within a few days, my knee improved and I was able to go home. In the meantime, others had managed my project just fine.
I’m glad that I chose joy, which brought along peace, and in turn helped to get me back on my feet quickly.

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Philippians 4:6 ESV / Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV / Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

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.”

THE TEA LESSON

One thing that I enjoyed about the years I spent in Japan is how adept the Japanese are at turning everyday activities into art forms. Such routine tasks as making tea, arranging flowers, gardening, and raking rocks have been transformed into cultural and spiritual experiences. I admire how they hold on to and appreciate the beauty of the simple tasks of life.

It is said that the tea ceremony is the culmination of all the arts. In the Japanese town where I lived, an annual public tea ceremony is held at a teahouse that was constructed in the local castle especially for this purpose. The not-to-be-missed experience unfolds like this:

As we enter the hushed interior and remove our shoes, a woman dressed in a traditional kimono welcomes us. Her relaxed manner, her graceful movements, and the absence of all clutter in the room have a calming effect. The straw tatami mats gently massage the soles of our feet. The tearoom has large rice-paper doors that have been opened to reveal a lush garden with a fountain. The sound of trickling water soothes our nerves. On the wall is a poem extolling the beauties of the magnolia, and beneath it is a flower arrangement that is stunning in its stark simplicity. The angle at which each flower was placed has significance; together they illustrate the relationship between heaven and earth.

Our hostess prepares the tea with the dexterity of a dancer. Each motion—the tuck of the napkin in her oversized belt, the whisk of the brush in the tea, the swirling of the hot brew in the bowl—has been carefully choreographed and refined over a thousand years by the tea masters. Our hostess has practiced her role ever since she was a girl.

We take the handmade, intentionally rough bowls and make the customary polite comments on their beauty. There is a front and a back to these bowls and a specific direction and manner in which they should be turned. Cakes are served on leaves. We exchange the usual pleasantries with our hostess about simple things and eventually leave as quietly and respectfully as we arrived. Somehow we feel different.

What the Japanese tea masters and others like them have discovered is that simple tasks can be turned into joyous, meaningful occasions.

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2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV / Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 ESV / Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

PURSUING HAPPINESS

“Do you want to be happy?” The splash on a magazine cover caught my eye and made me chuckle. Surely everyone wants to be happy; and you’d think that after millennia of philosophers and theologians tackling the problem—not to mention the self-help books and articles published every year on the topic—we’d have figured out the formula!

So how easy is it to be happy?

Consider what Abd-ar-Rahman III, the Emir and later Caliph of Córdoba in the 10th century, had to say: “I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches, honors, power, and pleasure have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot; they amount to fourteen.”

Only 14?! If someone like that could hardly ever find it in himself to be happy, what chance is there for the rest of us? For some reason, the more we pursue happiness, the more it seems to elude us, remaining just beyond our reach.

God expects believers to be happy. “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” King David confidently proclaimed. Yet I’ve felt unhappy on occasion, so what am I doing wrong?

I think my problem is that I look at happiness as a destination, a place I’ll be at when I can achieve this goal, go on that vacation, get that dream house or car or job—maybe win the lottery—whereas it’s really the scenery that I could experience along the way as I draw closer to God and reach out to others. Rather than a goal in itself, I’m learning that happiness can be the byproduct of a life lived on good terms with God and my fellow man.

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Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV / Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

1 Peter 3:14 ESV / But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Psalm 37:3 ESV / Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

COME TO HIM

“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.”

Martha was someone who learned a lesson on the importance of valuing above all things the peace and inspiration that Jesus gives. Once, when Jesus came to visit, she was so concerned with the duties of a hostess that she rushed and fussed, but in the hurry and flurry of her busy activities, she didn’t make time for Him.2 There’s a lesson here for all of us.

Lord, help me to come to You so that I can enjoy Your company.

Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.—Isaiah 55:3 MSG

Just as birds have their nests … and the deer have bushes and thickets … so too we should choose someplace every day … as a retreat to which we may occasionally retire to refresh and recreate ourselves.—St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622)

Lord, help me to make space in my busy days to come quietly into Your presence.

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,
And the billows cease to roll.
—Manie P. Ferguson (1850–1932)

God is a tranquil Being, and abides in a tranquil eternity. So must thy spirit become a tranquil and clear little pool, wherein the serene light of God can be mirrored.—Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769)

Lord, help me to not only find a place that is quiet externally, but also to find quietness within.

[Jesus] did not come merely to give bread; He said, “I am the bread.” He did not come merely to shed light; He said, “I am the light.” He did not come merely to show the door; He said, “I am the door.” He did not come merely to name a shepherd; He said, “I am the shepherd.” He did not come merely to point the way; He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”—J. Sidlow Baxter (1903–1999)

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John 3:36 (NIV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

James 4:8 (NIV) Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

TIPS FOR OVERCOMING STRESS

I have always been a very active person. Ever since I was a teenager, people have told me that “Busy” seems to be my middle name.
After my husband passed away, I started to experience stress. I found myself getting overwhelmed by even small obstacles, and I knew I needed to find strategies to cope with and minimize stress in my life.

The first and hardest step was to slow down and adjust my work to my capacity. I longed to keep going at the same speed as I always had. It wasn’t until I lost my memory for a whole day after a very stressful week that I finally got serious about setting limits to the things I take on and the hours I put in.

Second, I now make a to-do list for each day, right after my morning devotions. After breakfast, I begin tackling the items one by one, and whatever doesn’t get done by the end of the day moves to the next day’s list. This has freed me from a lot of anxiety over what to do next and whether I’m forgetting something.

Third, I focus more on my spiritual life, like reading or listening to the Bible and other inspirational materials daily and listening to uplifting songs as I tidy, cook, or sew. I’ve also committed to fellowshipping with other Christians on weekends.

Fourth, I go to recreational activities more often, like the beach or birthday parties, which help to clear my mind of worries and put things in perspective. When taking the dog for a walk at the end of the day, I thank God for the sunset and the mountains, and all my other blessings, instead of thinking of work, and this has also had a soothing effect on my soul.

Children sure know the secret—they seldom have problems with stress and they always enjoy the moment. They don’t worry about the future, because they know their parents will take care of them. Jesus said that we should be like little children to enter the kingdom of God. So in addition to all my other strategies, I try to remind myself daily that my Father will care for me now and forever, and that He wishes for me to enjoy the biggest gift He has given me, life itself.

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Philippians 4:6 ESV / Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

John 14:27 ESV / Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22 ESV / Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH PEOPLE

The Bible is a rich storehouse of spiritual and practical advice, and examples of strong relationships are one of the recurrent themes. In fact, Martin Luther commented that the entire Christian life consists of relating to people around us.
So what can we learn from the Bible about how to succeed with people?

Treat others with kindness, the way you would want to be treated.
In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.—Matthew 7:12 NIV
We should not live to please ourselves. Each of us should live to please his neighbor.—Romans 15:1–2 NLV
Be gentle and kind to everyone.—Titus 3:2 CEV

Look for the good.
Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.—Philippians 4:8

Be adaptable.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.—Romans 14:19 NIV
I am not anyone’s slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so that I can win as many people as possible. When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to win Jews. And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can.—1 Corinthians 9:19–22 CEV

Always forgive.
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”—Matthew 18:21–22 NLT

Be supportive.
Share each other’s burdens.—Galatians 6:2 NLT
I am glad and rejoice with all of you.—Philippians 2:17 NIV
We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.—Colossians 1:9 CEV

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1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV / Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Proverbs 19:17 ESV / Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Galatians 6:10 ESV / So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

BUILDING A LEGACY

Have you, like me, ever wondered what kind of an impression you make on people? Or more importantly, if you have any lasting impact on people’s lives?
Living in multi-religious India, where Christians form only 2% of the entire population, I am constantly mindful of the fact that people will probably judge my God by the way I live my life. I know that the way I conduct myself will play a big part in helping others form positive opinions of Christians in general, and even of Jesus Himself.

My aunt once offered a glass of water to an elderly couple who had been stranded on the road outside her house and were waiting for the tow truck to arrive. The husband gratefully accepted the glass of water and said, “You must be Christian.”

While driving home from work the other day, I got mad at a motorcyclist who had brushed against my car. Then I suddenly realized that as he looked at my angry face telling him off, he must have also seen the cross hanging from my rearview mirror. Did he go about the rest of his day with a good impression of the Christian woman he’d encountered? I don’t think so, and I instantly felt ashamed of my example.

As you can see, I have some room for improvement, which is why I was encouraged by the following game that my extended family recently played. We prepared cards with each of our names on them, and we all wrote encouraging things on one another’s cards. Then all the cards were gathered in a pile, so we didn’t know who had said what.

When my turn came to read what others had said about me, I was a little surprised that no one had commented on what I felt are my more visible skills, abilities, and talents. Instead my card contained points like:

“You have strong faith in prayer.”

“I like how you have such a good relationship with God.”

“You put Jesus first in all you do.”

Later, I realized how much these compliments meant and how precious they were, coming from the people who know me the best. These are small examples from everyday life, but in the end, these everyday attitudes and actions are often what make the greatest impression and what we will be remembered for.

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1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Romans 14:21 ESV / It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV / And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

THE CLEAN PLATYPUS

Some days seem magical—things go well, I try some new ideas, I have something to show for the hours I’ve spent at various tasks. Then there are other times when I get to the end of the day struggling to find something of note that I accomplished. Sure, the kids were fed and dressed, they did their home-learning activities, they played in the park … but I still feel I want more. I want to be able to check off several things from my long to-do list. I want to be able to say I made leaps of progress. But rather than that, I feel like I’m falling further behind in so many areas of life.

At the end of a long day a few months back, I was trying to push off the weight of despondency from having so much to take care of, with problems piling up faster than I could keep up with. Then I walked into the bathroom and found Patrick (two years old) had taken his soft, fuzzy, stuffed platypus, filled up the sink, given it a good wash, and now had poured baking soda (which I use for cleaning the sink) all over it.

I didn’t need more messes to clean up. But it did look kinda cute, so I chuckled to myself, thinking, Even though I can’t seem to get around to any of my other goals, at least the platypus is clean!

Later, as I looked at the children, happy, cozy in bed, waiting for their bedtime story, I decided to change my criteria for “accomplishment” and a “good day.”

Now I go down a new list and see how many “checks” I can put.

• Did I help my children smile today?
• Was I patient when things didn’t go smoothly?
• Did I show each son that I loved him personally?
• Was I available to help, listen, and encourage, even at the cost of not “getting something done”?
• Did I pray for someone today?
• Did I laugh and choose to take things in stride when I felt like I was being pushed over the edge?
Tomorrow’s another day. Eventually the to-do list will work out. Plod. Breathe. Smile. Plod. Breathe. Smile. We’ll get there, eventually, wherever “there” is actually meant to be.

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Matthew 6:33 ESV / But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 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.

Luke 12:34 ESV / For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

MUD AND PALACES

As much as we would like it, life is not always as wonderful as we’d wish, and we sometimes find ourselves having to brave the tumult of experiences that are hard to bear. Sometimes, when our patience and faith are tried, when all our attempts to do the right thing end up caked in the mud of problems and troubles, it seems impossible to find a sense of value in what we’re doing.

It’s easy under these circumstances to feel like our days are as hard to wade through as a mud pit, but we can draw encouragement and motivation from the fact that we’re not alone. God’s power and love have to be demonstrated in the worst of times as well as the best. They have to work in the mud, not just the palace.

Consider the apostle Paul. Here is a man whom many Christians look to as an example of unshakable faith in the face of ongoing persecution and difficulties. However, even though he usually remained positive in the face of his struggles, he had his share of “mud” times.

Immediately after his encounter with Jesus and subsequent conversion in Damascus, Paul threw himself into the life of a disciple. He gave it his all, only to find that his change of heart had so enraged his former Jewish colleagues that they had assassins planning to kill him before he could leave the city. Neither was he trusted by his new brethren in Christ—his prior persecution of Christians even caused many of them to doubt the sincerity of his conversion.

When he was abandoned and shipped off to his hometown of Tarsus, it must have been very difficult for Paul to avoid feeling that he’d failed. But he didn’t give up, and in time God sent Barnabas with the vision to spread the gospel in Asia Minor and eventually throughout the Roman Empire.

It’s true that many great men of faith had moments when they were “flying high,” like Joseph with Pharaoh, or Elijah calling down fire from heaven, or Daniel in the lions’ den, but most of the time they were down there in the mud with everyone else, because that’s where their faith could be clearly demonstrated and strengthened.

One moment, Joseph was on top of the world; the next, he was being sold into slavery in a foreign land. Then he worked his way up until eventually he was running the household of one of Egypt’s most prominent figures. But again, his success was short-lived, as he found himself the victim of this man’s vengeful wife, who landed him in a prison cell for standing up for his convictions.

He must have felt like a total washout, but he used what little he had to carry on, even interpreting dreams for some other unlucky souls down in the “mud” of the prison. It was two years before he was released and catapulted into the position God had prepared for him as second in command in Egypt.

And then there’s Moses. God had allowed Moses to be raised in Pharaoh’s court; yet young, strong, and confident Moses was not ready to become the instrument God would use to free His people. God had to put him down in the mud of Midian, struggling for 40 years in the wilderness as an exile until he was ready for God to fulfill His plan through him.

And what about Jesus? He certainly had “mud” time! He even said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

If you’ve ever felt like things in your life have gone so wrong that God could no longer rescue you, just remember what King David said. He’d done some terrible things, yet he knew that he’d never be abandoned by the divine love that held on to him through everything.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

Jesus works in each of our lives in a tailor-made way because no two people or lives are exactly the same. God’s examples of those He calls great all had one thing in common: they were determined to stay faithful through times when they couldn’t see God’s plan for them. Whatever the present and future hold for you, remember that He’s promised He will walk through it all by your side, whether in the palace or the mud.

—

Acts 7:29-30 (NIV) When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.
“After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

Matthew 8:20 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

STEP BY STEP

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)

Winners have the ability to step back from the canvas of their lives like an artist gaining perspective. They make their lives a work of art—an individual masterpiece.
—Denis Waitley (b. 1933)

Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945)

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.
—Mark Caine

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
—Lao Tzu (c. 604–531 BC)

Life is a series of steps. Things are done gradually. Once in a while there is a giant step, but most of the time we are taking small, seemingly insignificant steps on the stairway of life.
—Ralph Ransom (1874–1908)

Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal and just keep taking the next step towards completing it.
—John Carmack (b. 1970)

The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.
—Author unknown

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.
—Author unknown

Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970)

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs.
—Vance Havner (1901–1986)

Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–1961)

May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet,
Trials to keep you strong, sorrow to keep you human,
Hope to keep you happy, failure to keep you humble,
Success to keep you eager, friends to give you comfort,
Wealth to meet your needs, enthusiasm to look forward,
Faith to banish depression,
And determination enough to make each day better than yesterday.
—Author unknown

—

Psalm 37:23 (NIV)
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
James 1:12 (NIV) Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Announcements

Penang Open Day 
Date: 30 Sept (Sat)
Time: 9am - 1pm
Venue: TSA Penang Children's Home
Reminder: Please return and settle your coupons by 24 Sept (Sun)

Senior Citizen Fellowship
Date: 23 Sept (Sat)
Time: 8am
Venue: Dim Sum @Abu Siti Lane

Visit by Colonel Lyndon and Bronwyn Buckingham
(Territorial Commander & Territorial President for Women's Ministries)
Date: 23-24 Sept (Sat-Sun)
Details: Working visit and will bring forth the word of God on Sunday, 24 Sept.

Birthday Celebration
Date: 24 Sept (Sun)
Venue: After sunday holiness service.

RED NILE

For my ninth birthday, I got an instruction book on watercolor painting. I was thrilled and eagerly flipped through its pages, only to frown in disappointment—the entire first quarter of the book consisted of tonal exercises and descriptions of brush strokes and color mixing. How boring! Sighing, I skimmed the book’s next section: advice on various paintbrushes and grades of paper. I don’t need all this. Where’s the fun part?

I skipped to the middle of the book, where a still-life painting of strawberries caught my eyes. The finished product looked promising, and the step-by-step instructional photos seemed easy to follow. Here was the real action! I dipped my paintbrush into the water and began.

The base wash of lemon yellow for the highlights on my strawberries went smoothly enough, but when I tried to apply the orange paint for the mid-tones, it turned out that my mixture contained far too much water and far too little paint. I had never mixed paint and had no idea how it’s properly done.

The thin, poor-quality paper I was using refused to absorb the deep red for the darkest tones and began to dissolve into soggy shreds, over-saturated by the abundant, watery washes of paint that I hadn’t allowed to dry. My beautiful colors resembled a plague-stricken Nile River!

In a desperate attempt to salvage my efforts, I tried to paint on the strawberries’ green caps, but my oversized paintbrush sent green paint streaking into the red wash, forming a grotesque brownish pool. By the time I managed to clean up my soggy mess, I’d determined to never pick up a paintbrush again.

By morning, however, my devastation had given way to new resolve: I would spend some of my precious pocket money on the correct materials, and I’d take the time to study and practice. Eventually, I had the pleasure of painting those landscape and still-life pieces—yes, even the strawberries—and I saw then how all that “boring stuff” had been the foundation for my later success.

I often long to reach my goals quickly and easily and become dismayed and disheartened when I face obstacles, setbacks, and difficulties along the way. I haven’t discovered a magic pill for success, but the “Red Nile” lesson reminds me to buckle down and persevere through the tedious, unpleasant, or tough times. That’s the only way to get strawberries on a canvas.

—

Philippians 3:13-14 ESV / Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.