Feeling Useless

They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, (Psalm 92:14)

• We see younger or more able men and women doing extraordinary things that we cannot do. They can; we can’t. That is how it is.
  
  
• It is easy to feel useless when we can’t do the things we were once capable of doing. But we can love and we can pray. These are the works that time and experience have prepared us to do well.
  
  
• Love is the very best gift we have to give to God and to others. It is no small matter, for love is the means by which we fulfill our whole duty to God and our neighbor.
  
  
• Our love for one person may seem to be a small action, but love is the greatest gift of all (1 Cor. 13:13). And we can pray.
  
  
• Paul encouraged the Colossians to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Our prayers are a powerful force in the universe!
  
  
• Love and prayer are mighty works indeed, the mightiest works for any of us. Why? Because our God, who wants to use us, is an all-loving and all-powerful God.
  
  
• Begin the day with God; kneel down to Him in prayer; lift up your heart to His abode, and seek His love to share. God pours His love into our hearts that it might flow out to others.
  
  

God’s Word Prevails

So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that same day. (1 Samuel 31:6)

• The book of 1st Samuel ended with king Saul died together with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on the same day.
   
• Saul started off well as a king. But he turned back from following God. He had not performed His commandments.
   
• The Spirit of God departed from Saul. God had rejected him from being king. His kingdom would not continue. His sons would not be king after him.
   
• God had chosen a man after His own heart. David would be the next king.
   
• Saul knew David would be the next king. He was angry and furious with him. He wanted him dead.
   
• He tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded his presence twice.
   
• Eventually David escaped and hid in caves and other places of refuge.
   
• Saul sought David everywhere, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
   
• David had opportunities to kill Saul. But he didn’t.
   
• Once he said to his nephew, one of his mighty men, Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?"
   
• Then he said further, "As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed.” (1 Samuel 26: 10)
   
• King Saul died. He was killed in battle.
   
• David became the next king. He was a man after God's own heart.
   
• Nothing can stop God's plan. God’s Word prevails.

My Only Toilet

Some old story... Toilet over the fish pond.

It was a stilt toilet near to the edge of our fish pond.

It was rather far to reach from home, especially during an emergency, running carefully on a rainy day or night, through windy, slippery and muddy paths and lanes, filled with duck and chicken droppings.

The pond was filled with many tilapia fish, catfish, and a whole range of other fish, over a wide area of neglected land overgrown with bushes.

The fish would fill the water around the toilet when droppings fell from the sky. Jumping up and down for food, they emerged and submerged happily and quickly, splashing water everywhere, high and low, at times wetting my pant and trousers.

It was rather scary and crazy doing businesses during a heavy downpour or during the flooding season, when water rose suddenly, especially during late nights when mosquitoes swarmed to feed on blood.

But it was always a nice place to hide and to fish during the holiday seasons,... while doing businesses, with no one taking notice of you for a long long while... LOL

Sigh!(3x)

Some old memories just never go...

I smile heartily! But I am happy.

I wonder how many today would still prefer a stilt toilet by the fish pond.

But that is our only toilet and I am proud of it..

Though I would prefer a safer and cleaner one today.

Have We Crossed The Jordan River?

God delivered His People from the land of slavery in Egypt. They crossed the Red Sea on dry ground while all the Egyptian army that followed them were drowned. God put them in the wilderness to test them. But they failed miserably. God never stopped feeding them and caring for them. But they could and would not stop murmuring and complaining against Moses (and against God) about food, water and their generally tough circumstances in the wilderness. God's wrath was kindled against them. He refused to bring them into the Promised Land. He kept them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, and they died there. Later, God brought their children across the Jordan River, again on dry ground, into the Promised Land, through Joshua, their new leader. God's People finally claimed the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

God delivered His People from the bondage of their sins. He brought them across the Great Sea into His care. He watched over them, provided for them, defended them, taught them, led them, gave them shelter, warmth, comfort, etc. But they still grumbled and cried continually about material needs and earthly wants. God was very angry at them. He chastised them every now and then. He kept them wallowing in their sins. He dismissed them in the hardness of their hearts, until that day, when they came to their senses, and cried earnestly to Him. God then brought them across the Jordan River. They fought their spiritual wars. They tasted their spiritual fruits and abundant harvest. It is indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.

How about us?

Where are we? Are we still in the land of slavery? Have we crossed the Red Sea? Are we still wandering in the wilderness? Or have we crossed the Jordan River? Are we living in the Promised Land? Is it indeed a land flowing with milk and honey?

Unfinished Business

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (Luke 23:42)

• We all have unfinished businesses in our lives.
   
• Our unfinished business may include apologies left unsaid.
   
• Or it may be unfinished spiritual decisions.
   
• One of the criminals who was crucified with Jesus needed desperately to make such a decision.
   
• Just a few breaths away from eternity, he realized who Jesus was.
   
• He wanted to be with Him in heaven.
   
• He recognized his sin and Jesus’ innocence.
   
• And he said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom”.
   
• And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
   
• God does not want anyone to perish.
   
• His offer of salvation is open to anyone, regardless of age, health, or stage in life.
   
• His offer is open to us.
   
• Don’t delay receiving Jesus as Savior.
   
• Resolve this important and unfinished business.
   
• And we will look forward to eternity with Him.
   
• The Lord God is waiting.
   
• He is waiting to see if we are willing to open the door.
   
• Oh, how He wants to come in!
   
• To be saved here means to be safe hereafter.
  
  
  

Jesus Leads us All the Way

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. (Psalm 23:2-3)

• Jesus is the one true Leader of His children.
   
• He knows what we need.
   
• He knows where we are most vulnerable.
   
• His leading is part of what makes Psalm 23 the most beloved song in the Bible’s hymnal.
   
• In verse 2, David says that the Shepherd “leads me beside the still waters.”
   
• In verse 3 he adds, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
   
• These twin ideas reveal why Jesus’ care is so complete.
   
• Whether it is times of refreshing and strengthening (“still waters”) or seasons of doing what pleases Him (“paths of righteousness”), we can follow Him.
   
• Our Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
   
• All we have to do is follow.
   
• Jesus knows the way.
   
• Let us follow Him.
  
  

Jesus, our Cornerstone

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. (1 Peter 2:4)

• The most precious things in life are not material items.
   
• Rather, it is the people who have loved us and built into our lives.
   
• And we don’t know what we would do without them.
   
• When the apostle Peter referred to Jesus as “a chief cornerstone, elect, precious” (1 Peter 2:6), it meant Jesus is truly precious to him.
   
• It was his prized possession above everything and everyone else.
   
• So is Jesus to us.
   
• Where would we be today without the constant unfailing companionship of His faithful presence, wise and perfect guidance, merciful patience, comfort, and transforming reproof?
   
• What would we do without Him? We just can’t imagine!
   
• Lord, help us not to focus on fleeting treasures, but on You, our most precious treasure.
   
• Lord, teach us the joy of reveling in You, and Your loving presence and provision in our lives.
   
• Of all that is precious, Jesus tops the list.