It's in the valleys that I grow

poem by : Jane Eggleston

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys that I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountaintop
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God's love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it's in the valleys that I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I'm feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it's in the valleys that I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountaintops are glorious
But it's in the valleys that I grow!

carried in His strong arms

If you are discouraged & feel like giving up, I pray that today's daily devotion will nourish your spirit & soul.


Source : Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries
Contributor : Vernon Grounds


Carried In His Strong Arms

Feb 22, 2008


Scripture Reading : Isaiah 46:1-11

"Even to your old age & gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you & I will carry you; I will sustain you & I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)

Missionary couple Ray and Sophie de le Haye served heroically in West Africa for more than 40 years. As she grew older, Sophie suffered from the loss of all motor control of her body. That once-strong servant of Christ, who had carried on a ministry of unimaginable stress, was suddenly reduced to helplessness, unable to button her clothes or lift a cup of water to her lips. But she refused to become bitter or self-pitying. In her moments of utter weakness, she would quietly remind herself, “For this you have Jesus.”

Many centuries ago our heavenly Father gave a reassuring message to a burdened prophet of Israel—a message that we need today: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, . . . who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isa. 46:3-4).

What an encouraging picture of divine grace! It calls to mind the Good Shepherd bearing a helpless lamb. Whether young or old, we can learn to let God carry us. Weak and burdened, we can lean on His everlasting arms and remind ourselves, “For this I have Jesus.”

— Vernon Grounds

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
—Baker

You can rest in the arms of Jesus—He’ll never let you down.


tsk tsk

why? why? oh, why?

Source : Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries
Date of devotion : 7 Apr 2008 Monday

WHY? WHY? OH, WHY?

Why must I suffer disappointment, sorrow, and tribulation? What have I done that God should send me trials? Is He displeased with me? These questions are constantly asked by God's dear children.

Much of this fear and questioning is due to our misunderstanding of God's dealings with His own. He has His good reasons. And one of those reasons is for our spiritual discipline. We should be far more afraid of being left alone than of God's chastening, for He wastes no time on worthless objects that give no promise of fruitfulness.

On the shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest time comes.

God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11). — M.R. De Haan

When blades of distress cut deep in the soul,

Breaking up ground that was untouched before,

The Lord is preparing soil to bear fruit

Fit for the harvest to feed many more.

—by Hess

All sunshine and no rain make a desert.

often, the best comfort is just being there

To the suffering & friends of the suffering, I would like to share with you what I read today from RBC's "Our Daily Bread" (ODB) contributed by Philip Yancey. Philip Yancey is a truly God-inspired writer & I always look forward to reading his contributions.

Source : Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries
Contributor : Philip Yancey

"The Greatest Gift"
April 28, 2008

Scripture reading : Job 2

"Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." (Job 2:13)

We rightly disparage Job's three friends for their insensitive response to his suffering. Yet when they came, they sat in silence beside Job for 7 days before speaking. As it turned out, those were the most eloquent moments they spent with him.

Instinctively, I shrink back from people who are in pain. Who can know whether they want to talk about their predicament or not? Do they want to be consoled, or cheered up? What good can my presence possibly do?

Tony Campolo tells of going to a funeral. By mistake he ended up in the wrong parlor. It held the body of an elderly man, and his widow was the only mourner present. She seemed so lonely that Campolo decided to stay for the funeral. He even drove with her to the cemetery.

At the conclusion of the graveside service, Campolo finally confessed that he had not known her husband. "I thought as much," said the widow. "But it doesn't really matter. You'll never, ever, know what this means to me."

Most often those who suffer remember the quiet, unassuming person. Someone who was there when needed, who listened, who didn't keep glancing at a watch, who hugged, touched, and cried. In short, someone who was available and came on the sufferer's terms, not their own.
— Philip Yancey

In our shattered times, anguish relents
Not at mere idle words spoken in vain,
But rather from the silent eloquence
Bestowed by those rare souls who share our pain.
—Evans

Often, the best comfort is just being there.

tsk tsk

how to deal with fellow Christians who are suffering

What should you do or not do with regards to a fellow Christian who is suffering from a critical illness? You would probably admit that many a time in such a situation, you do feel unsure as to what is the right thing to do or say. Having been a cancer patient myself, allow me to provide you with a 10-point guide to assist you in ministering to your fellow Christians who are going through the pain & suffering of a critical illness.

The 10 Don'ts

1. Don't be judgemental. Don't pass judgement or give your views on why the person is sick or suffering. You are called to comfort, not to condemn others.
2. Don't preach. Don't be like Job's 3 friends who thought they knew all the answers but had not known suffering in their own lives.
3. Don't compare. Every person is different; every illness is different; and God has a different plan & purpose for everyone. Don't tell stories of how some people you know had been healed or had died from the illness. Hearing the stories about other people's illness will only make the person more miserable. It might even cause him to question why God is so unfair, why He healed some & not others. Even the Lord Jesus did not heal everyone during His time on earth.
4. Don't dispense advice or prescribe solutions. You are not a doctor or a dietician, so don’t be too eager to recommend an alternative cure or diet supplement based on hearsay. There is no scientific proof to all these cure-all claims. You will only confuse the person or make him feel guilty should he not get well.
5. Don't question the faith of the person or imply that his faith is weak at a time when he is physically & emotionally weak. God holds us responsible for every careless word spoken (Matt 12:36-37). Don’t expect everyone to have super-faith at all times. We all go through mountaintop & valley experiences at certain points in our lives.
6. Don’t play God. Don’t be too eager to tell the person what God can do in his life or pronounce God's judgement on him. You are not God. You don't know what is God's plan for him. God will enable the person to see His will & purpose in His own way & in His own time.
7. Don’t talk more than you listen. Do not feel that you need to entertain the person by telling stories or talking about work & church unless the person asks. At this moment, these are the least important issues to the person as his priority is to get well. Talk less, listen more. Let the person relieve his inner pain by pouring out his heart to you. Let the person have some peace & quiet moments; don't talk incessantly for it can be irritating to the person.
8. Don’t call. Don’t stress the person by making him repeat his story to everyone who calls. If you would like him to know that you care, simply drop him an sms, email or card to encourage him. Another way to show love is to offer help in practical ways.
9. Don’t visit, unless you feel your visit will make a difference to the person. If you do visit, a silent conversation or holding the person’s hand is the best thing you can do to a person who needs comfort & assurance.
10. Don’t act so holy that you are of no earthly value. Be realistic. Christians are also human. When hit by unexpected news of a critical illness, it is human to feel anxious, to express our fears or even to question God. Allow the person to feel angry, anguished, fearful, scared, unhappy. I believe Jesus understands as He was made human like us & had also suffered like us so He is able to help us overcome our anxiety, fears & doubts. I believe God wants us to cry & ask questions. I believe God wants us to get it off our chest. God listens with compassion when we bare our soul to Him, when we tell Him our inner fears, when we tell Him we are scared to suffer or die. God had experienced the pain of His Son's death. I’m sure God understands how we feel. I’m sure God knows we will react to bad news this way because He made us human with feelings. And He will heal our pain in His own way & in His own time.

Emotional pain takes a longer time to heal than physical pain. Some cancer survivors I've met told me the emotional wounds they suffered lingered on even years after they had recovered from their illness. I understand what they mean as I had been through it all. I understand because like them, I had also been hurt emotionally many a time by well-meaning Christians who made insensitive & careless remarks. I pray that God will potect me from such people.
Brothers & sisters in Christ, I pray that everyone of us will learn to be sensitive to others & be careful with our words & attitudes as we reach out to our fellow Christians who are suffering. Let us not be a stumbling block to others but to show them God's love & compassion.
p/s : part 2 on the "Do's" will be featured another time.
thanks for reaching out to me with God's love & compassion,
tsk tsk

hello 2008

A blessed New Year to you!

This is my new year prayer for you :

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May He remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May He give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed."
Psalm 20:1-4

Thank you for being my unseen angels.
Thank you for continuing to walk with me through 2008.

tsk tsk

The Millenium Prayer

I love Cliff Richard's Millenium Prayer. The song was released by Cliff Richard in 1999 to celebrate the millenium. The lyrics of this hit song are taken from The Lord's Prayer & sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Come every New Year's Eve, my mind will somehow tune to the Millenium Prayer. Join me to watch this very moving video on The Millenium Prayer by Cliff Richard :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1cG-4YSyhQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA5QJS3paAo

"Let all the people say Amen
In every tribe and tongue
Let every heart's desire be joined
To see the kingdom come
Let every hope and every dream
Be born in love again
Let all the world sing with one voice
Let the people say Amen"

Thank You, Lord, for another year,
tsk tsk

Rejoice in the Lord

I had visitors yesterday night - Elder Boon, his wife Cheryll & Mary. Elder Boon & I were colleagues 20 years ago. Mary is a good friend of mine – we both grew up in sweet old Batu Pahat, a bustling small town in Johor, Malaysia. They came to fellowship & minister to me. We had such a wonderful time together. They sang me hymns, one of which I love very much. It is titled, “Rejoice in the Lord” written by Ron Hamilton. Coincidentally, this was also the hymn Elder Boon sang to me when I was warded at SGH in Oct 2006.

Rejoice in the Lord

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant & molding a man
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long
In darkness He giveth a song

I could not see through the shadows ahead
So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead
I bowed to the will of the Master that day
Then peace came & tears fled away

Now I can see testing comes from above
God strengthens His children & purges in love
My Father knows best & I trust in His care
Through purging more fruit I will bear

Chorus :
O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake
He knoweth the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried and purified
I shall come forth as gold

I pray that the words of this beautiful hymn will minister to you as you walk your life journey with the Lord by your side.

thanks for journeying with me,
tsk tsk

Isa 40:28-31 Eagles and Renewal

The lifespan of an eagle is about 70 years. However, in order to live this long, it must make the toughest decision at 40. At 40, its beak is too long and curvy that it reaches its chest. Its wings, full of long, thickened feathers are too heavy for easy flying. Their claws will start to age, losing their effectiveness and making it hard for them to catch prey.

The eagle is left with 2 choices - do nothing and await its death or go through a painful period of transformation and renewal.

It first trains itself to fly beyond the high mountains, build and live in its nest and cease all flying activities. Then it begins what is called the molting process. It knocks its beak against granite rocks till the beak is completely removed. When a new beak is grown, the eagle will use it to remove all its old claws and wait quietly for new ones to be fully grown. When the new claws are fully grown, the eagle will use them to remove all its feathers, one by one. Five months later, when its new feathers are fully grown, it will soar in the sky again with renewed strength and would be able to live for the next 30 years.

In life, as an individual, in a ministry, even in an organization, sometimes we have to learn to make difficult decisions so as to make room for changes. Changes bring about renewal. And the only way for us to soar again is to let go old ways, old habits, old lives. For as long as we are prepared to surrender to God our old baggage - past glory or shame, past success or failure - be willing to become zero before God, with an empty cup mentality, God will be able to help us rediscover our potential and head towards a renewed perspective in any aspect of our lives.

There is another interesting feature of this molting process. During these four to five months, the eagle cannot hunt for food. Other eagles would drop food to this molting eagle. Invariably it is not the young eagles that drop the food. These are the eagles that have gone through the molting process themselves.

Enercal - Bee Lee's version

Dear Sock Kim,

Drink in your blessings, drink of the living water, drink your

e for Every blessing in Christ
n for Nearness of God in trials
e for Each loved one waiting to see the Hand of God
r for Redemption to abundant life
c for Call upon His Name
a for Absence of fear
l for Love, Life and Leaning on the Rock

TGIF

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24

IN HIS HANDS by Betsy Purser Patten

We know not what tomorrow brings although we plan ahead
For only God alone can know the pathway we must tread.
We cannot know the future not one minute nor one hour
Each circumstance that we must face lay only in His power.
It's vital that we live by faith from minute unto minute
And trusting that each step we take He's walking with us in it.
We cannot see the future nor the trials we must face
But in all things, God promised us sufficiency of grace.
This alone should give us hope whatever be our plans
In knowing that our future lies in His sweet, loving hands.

Jeremiah 29 the plans for you

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD ...

God has a plan for your life. He brought you into this world to fulfill that plan. It is the best plan that anyone could ever make for you. It is a plan that will bring Him the greatest glory and you the greatest good. From the beginning of this calendar year until its end, God is working out His plan.

As you follow God's plan for your life, you do so by faith. It is important to remember that He is the Guide and you are the follower. He does not need to bring you into His planning room as a consultant to help Him decide what is best for your life. God has called you to trust Him and to take the next step of obedience according to His will. God has said, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

Here are some ways that God is working out His plan:

He is your Shepherd—He is leading you.
He is your Provider—He is taking care of you.
He is your Strength—He is enabling you.
He is your Counselor—He is speaking to you.
He is your Shield—He is protecting you.
He is your Comfort—He is encouraging you.
He is your Father—He is blessing you.

By Roy Lessin, Co-Founder, DaySpring Cards

Another yummy, scrummy lunch with Wee Tsan & Fook Choon, who will be returning to Shanghai this Sunday. Thank you.

To tsk tsk

We ask the Lord to bless you
As we pray for you each day
To guide you and protect you
As you go along your way
His love is always with you
His promises are true
And when you give Him all your cares
We know He will see you through
So when the road you're traveling on
Seems difficult at best
Just remember we're here praying
And God will do the rest

from : PS & the BSF gang